Author Lynn Ogryzlo will be at Ancaster Farmers' Market! Wed Sept 21st!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce renowned author, Lynn Ogryzlo is coming to Ancaster with her new book - The Ontario Table. More then a cookbook, Lynn challenges us to the "$10 a week challenge" - If every household in Ontario spent $10 a week on local food and wine, we’d have $2.4 billion in our economy at the end of the year. Thats one year! Think of what local farmers and producers could do with that kind of support and investment! We invite you to join us on Wednesday September 21st from 3-5pm for a meet and greet and book signing with Lynn! Ancaster Farmers' Market is located at 272 Wilson Street East. (behind St John's Anglican Church.

Two days, three trips, and lots of corn

Hamilton Eat Local made the most of Cornfest at Shearlea Acres this past weekend! With a public Rural Routes trip Saturday morning, a trip Saturday afternoon with members of the Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) program and a trip Sunday with the Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, more than 100 people took an HSR bus out to the Lynden, ON farm.

The rain held off while we got a tour of the grounds. The 80-acre property holds a wide variety of fruits and veggies. Farmer Kevin Clugston showed off his crops and equipment while he explained how daily operations work at Shearlea. We then stopped to visit the family's miniature horse and Silkie chickens before heading to the farm store for all-you-can-eat free corn and other treats.

At the farm store, the kids in particular enjoyed the chance to fill their shopping bags. Some of the freshly picked produce was new to them, so they were excited to bring home new dinner ideas. Once shopping was done, there were places to sit and take in the countryside air and an outdoor play place for the kids to enjoy before boarding the bus and returning home. Special thanks to Hamilton Community Foundation for their support, so that we are able to offer Rural Routes to organizations such as the Kiwanis Club and CATCH. Thank you to Shearlea Acres for their time, offering us tasty fruit and cake, and donating some of their popping corn for the kids.

There are two scheduled Rural Routes trip remaining - the Boar and Chick Farm on Saturday September 10th. Enjoy a family day meeting farmers Tania and Mark. NEW! Sat October 15th tour is heading to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm. For more information visit www.environmenthamilton.org and click on "Rural Routes"

Neighbour to Neighbour takes a trip to Simpler Thyme

Members of the Neighbour to Neighbour community centre, with the support of Hamilton Community Foundation and Hamilton Eat Local, enjoyed a trip to Simpler Thyme Organic Farm on July 30th. The curious and energetic group was given a tour by farmer Ann Lanigan, who offered a unique look into life in one of Hamilton’s rural communities.

As she showed us some of the more than 250 varieties of fruits and vegetables she grows, the group learned that Ann’s work at Simpler Thyme was a labour of love. When she moved out to the Freelton area from downtown Hamilton 25 years ago, she didn’t plan on farming, she explained. Now, she has volunteers from across the world who are there helping her grow and harvest.

First, she talked with us about concerns facing farmers in Ontario, as well as her efforts to eat a completely local diet. She then led us through her garden, where she challenged us to identify the various plants. With the help of one member of Neighbour to Neighbour, she even discovered a new variety in her garden. Then, in the forested half of the 50-acre farm, she described the hard work that goes into harvesting maple syrup from the trees in a traditional and sustainable way.

At the greenhouse of Bill Orosz, who owns half of Simpler Thyme, Ann showed us the various natural methods (from thick plastic to geothermal technologies) that the building uses to simulate a warmer climate. In the greenhouse, Bill has grown bananas, papayas and other tropical fruits. We then stopped by to see Ann’s pigs and chickens before heading back to her home for refreshments and market shopping.

The adventure with Neighbour to Neighbour is one of five trips for Hamilton community centres that Hamilton Eat Local is helping to organize this summer and fall. Be sure to get your tickets for Hamilton Eat Local's Rural Routes tours, which are open to the public.

Farmers' Market Update

Now in the heat of summer, to keep your fridge stocked with fresh, local fruits, veggies and other products from Hamilton's farmers' markets!

Ancaster Farmers' Market is one of the city’s largest and most scenic outdoor markets, open every Wednesday from 3-7pm until the first week of October. Come by for live music every week, and to visit market mascots Benni the pygmy goat and Frank the giant rabbit! The market is located at St. John's Anglican Church, 272 Wilson Street East (corner of Halson St), in the Ancaster Heritage Village.

Binbrook Farmers' Market is open Saturday mornings from 8am to noon at the Binbrook Fairgrounds (2600 Regional Road #56). It's sponsored by the Binbrook Agricultural Society, which is gearing up for its 157th Binbrook Fair from September 16th-18th.

Downtown Farmers' Market underwent renovations over the winter and was reopened in Jackson Square (York Blvd side) in February. Its hours are Tuesdays 7am-6pm, Thursdays 7am-6pm, Fridays 8am-6pm and Saturdays 6am-6pm. In addition to its themed cooking classes, Saturdays at the market feature Kids in the Kitchen (10-10:30am), the Market Fresh Cooking Demonstration (11-11:30am) and live entertainment every other weekend in the market food court.

Dundas Farmers' Market is located in Municipal Parking Lot 7D at Hatt Street and Miller’s Lane and is open every Thursday from 3-7pm until October 27th.

Locke Street Farmers' Market is back for a second year, open every Thursday from 3-7pm at 211 Locke Street South (Fenian Films parking lot - across the street from Locke Street Bakery). The market will run until the end of October.

Makers' Market, open outside Christ’s Church Cathedral (252 James Street North), is in its fifth season. Browse art, photography, jewellery, clothing, gifts and accessories made by local and independent artists. It’s open on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm, and during Art Crawl on the second Friday of every month.

McMaster Farm Stand was started last year as a project of the McMaster Students Union, and is back for another season, having celebrated its grand opening for the year on July 13th. It will be open two days a week, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am to 3pm. The farm stand will feature deals on in-season produce. It is located on the McMaster campus, across from University Hall and in front of the Nina de Villers Memorial Garden.

Mountain Farmers' Market has a wide selection, friendly people and a great view of the city! It’s open every Saturday from 7am to 1pm until late October. It’s located at 19 Viewpoint Avenue, just off Concession Street.

Ottawa Street Farmers' Market is open year 'round, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am-3pm at 204 Ottawa Street North. The market is gearing up for "Sew Hungry: Food Truck Rally 2011" on Ottawa Street. The big event will take place on Friday, September 16th, 2011. Keep an eye on the market's Facebook page for details.

Master Gardeners at the Ottawa St Market

With so much heat and so little rain, it's a challenging time for backyard gardeners. Luckily for you, Master Gardeners will be at the Ottawa Street Market this Saturday, July 23! They'll be available to answer your questions and give you tips from 8am to 12pm. Don't miss out!

For those of you that come by, look for the Environment Hamilton table, where we'll be distributing the brand new, 2011 version of the Passport to Hamilton adventure maps, along with the Hamilton Farm Map and Directory and other EH materials.

See you Saturday!

Rural Routes takes home agri-innovation award

Check out the video below on the recent Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence ceremony, at which Rural Routes was named an award winner! Karen Burson, who accepted the award for her work on last year's series of local farm tours, appears around 2:25.

In case you missed the coverage in the Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton Eat Local was a regional winner at the agri-award ceremony on June 24. MPP Ted McMeekin presented the set of awards on behalf of the Ontario government for the winners' efforts to strengthen the province's farming industry.

Congrats to Karen and to the whole Rural Routes team!

Rural Routes heads to Murphy's Country Produce

The sky was clear, the air was fresh and the strawberries were ripe for the picking at Saturday’s Rural Routes trip to Murphy’s Country Produce in Binbrook.

The July 9^th adventure was the first of the summer in Environment Hamilton’s series of bus trips to local farms, and it was a great success! Brian Murphy, his daughter Megan and the friendly staff at Murphy’s invited the 40 of us to harvest from fresh and plentiful fields of strawberries, raspberries, sweet peas and fava beans.

Some spent an hour and a half filling their baskets in the fields, while others took some time to enjoy the beautiful day in the shade. Before leaving the farm, everyone stopped at the market to buy whatever they had missed during the pick, or to pick up some cherries and strawberry jam.

Many thanks are due to Smart Commute and HSR for their support.

Be sure to get your tickets soon for our next trips! On August 6^th, we’re heading to Shearlea Acres in Lynden for their eighth annual Corn Fest! The Boar and Chick Farm in Troy, which specializes in meat, will be the destination for the September 10^th trip. An October trip is also in the works, though details are to be determined.

Rural Routes is back!

Get your tickets for this year’s series of bus trips to local farms! A great family outing! It’s a great chance to learn about the people and places that grow and raise your local foods. We’ve got three trips planned for the summer, with one in the works for October.

Saturday, July 9^th: Murphy’s Country Produce

Saturday, August 6^th: Shearlea Acres Farm Market

Saturday, September 10^th: The Boar and Chick Farm (see free range animals)

October: Trip to be announced

Tickets are on sale at Bread and Roses Café (27 King William Street, off James Street North). An adult ticket costs $7 and a child/senior ticket costs $5. On the day of the trip, meet at the Hamilton GO Centre (36 Hunter Street East) at 10 a.m., where we’ll board a chartered HSR bus and head to the farm. The farm visit will offer an opportunity to hear from the farmers, shop at the on-farm market and, in some cases, participate in an activity. Expect to arrive back at the GO Centre by 1:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Juby at jlee@environmenthamilton.org, or call the Environment Hamilton office at 905-549-0900.

Locke Street Farmers Market presents .... Taste of Locke

Taste of Locke

Thursday, June 9th, 6-8pm, at Fenian Films (211 Locke St S)

Locke Street Farmers’ Market is celebrating its second season by partnering with Locke Street restaurants and shops to bring you a Taste of Locke.

Come enjoy live music and samples featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients from the Market farmers. Try samples from Cheese Shoppe on Locke, Earth to Table Bread Bar, Forrat’s Chocolates, Goodness Me!, Il Fiasco, Chuck’s Burger Bar, and The Courtyard while exploring Locke Street. Return every Thursday between 3 and 7pm to stock up on fresh, local foods from the Market.
Learn more at lsfm.wordpress.com. Tickets are $15 and are available for advance purchase at Cheese Shoppe on Locke and Earth to Table Bread Bar.
Space is limited, so get your tickets soon!

Feed the Dream! Support Student Nutrition Programs

Did you know that 1 out of 4 children in Hamilton live in poverty?
Over 23,000 students receive breakfast / lunch / snack at their local school / community centre daily.

Help support these programs:

Hamilton Partners in Nutrition Presents:

Feed the Dream

in support of student nutrition programs.
Saturday June 18th
Discovery Centre
57 Discovery Drive

Auction: $30 / person
Auction and Cruise $50 / person

11:30am boarding
12:30pm cruise departs
3pm auction starts

TICKETS on SALE NOW.

feedthedream.eventbrite.com
905-522-1148 ext 0.
sprc@sprc.hamilton.on.ca