Last night was FreshFest at the CASO Train Station on Talbot Street in downtown St. Thomas. Welcome to all new members who signed up for the newsletter there! We had a great time! I loved the tomato and goat cheese tart - it was a combined effort from the chef from Braxton's in town here, and produce from market vendor McSmith's Organics. And of course, the flourless chocolate cake from Kim Saunders of the Windjammer in Port Stanley gets me every time.

I meet alot of folks coming to our market from Port Stanley, Aylmer, and London. You are one of the most effective forms of advertising - sharing your experience by bringing your friends and family (Thanks J.F. for bringing new friends every time to share the experience).

I got a first-hand taste of that market atmosphere from a unique perspective this past Saturday. An early appointment had me away from the market for the first hour. When I arrived just after 9am, I could 'feel the buzz' from almost a block away. I parked down on the corner, passing crowds of people both coming and going. Because I am already in that market bubble Saturday mornings, I don't get the chance to see that from the outside. It was an awesome perspective - you can't help but be drawn into the cheer and enthusiasm happening there.

Fall is in the air and I love it! We have two months left of this market season where the stalls overflow with Autumn's harvest. We are stocking the pantry and lingering a little longer over the morning breakfast sandwich and coffee. Socks and sweaters are once again part of the early morning attire.

Vendors in the North Pavilion include: DeBackere Farms, Palmers Maple Syrup, Paw4Mance Natural Dog Food, Berry Hill Fruit Farm, Janis Smith Fresh Cut Flowers, McSmith's Organics, Empire Valley Farms, Lindsay Shitake Mushrooms, Shasta Dolphin (hand knitt hats, mittens, and children's accessories), SW Gardens (hostas, lillies, etc.), Green Leaf Pastries (oh my- yummy scones), Grammies Creations (away this week), Chris Dancey Heirloom Organic Tomatoes, Mark Wales Farms (intensely flavourfull garlic), Erie Gardens, and Janssens Farms.

Gail McNaughton will be at the market this week with her commerative greeting cards and mystical artwork. Also, Isabelle Nethercott will be there apprenticing in face painting for the kids. The IPM Souvenir Van will be there also.

Congratulations to Geraldine Smith who won the customer appreciation draw this week. We have more and more folks signing up for the draw every week also. I wish you all luck with the draw!

Remember to bring your own bags and coffee mugs (and containers when possible). Look forward to seeing you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

519.777.9529

2 Manitoba St, St. Thomas

hortonmarket@hotmail.com

http://www.hortonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/

Local Food = Good Times

I actually heard the words 'rain' and 'saturday' used together in a sentence regarding this upcoming Saturday at the market. Can this be? We have not seen rain at the market, nor in other areas, for quite some time now. Not much changes at the market in the event of rain... perhaps just a little more indoor time. Fresh cut flowers from Janis Smith's table can brighten any table.

I just returned from a presentation by municipal councillor Gord Hume at the St. Thomas Seniors Centre. His new book is called the Local Food Revolution. His presentation included pictures of the St. Thomas Horton Farmers' Market of which he visited a few weeks ago. And the importance of farmers' markets in the local food movement. One of the key things farmers markets provides is a distribution channel that is sustainable. Your produce leaves the farm, touches the table at the market and arrives in your home in one to two days. The alternative channels pass through far more handling stations, transportation time, and lack of sufficient growing time in the field. One of Gord's key points: we as citizens have a right to access nutritious, local, sustainable food and we can ensure that who we elect for council has a vested interest in the same. (Of course, I have so much more to say about this huge topic; will share more with each post.)

New vendors at the market this weekend..... Tammy from Gredig's Orchards is returning this season with Paula Reds and Ginger Gold apples. Caverly Smith will be bringing some of her original artwork in watercolour and acrylics, and you never know who else might show. Last week we had Simpson Farms bring some very big brocoli and Jacqui from Moonstone Aromatherapy had an extra table set up inside with a pampering hand exfoliation station.

Kim of Green Leaf Pasteries is away another week - I know, no scones! She will be back on the 28th and a few other vendors are close to finishing in the next few weeks - I will keep you posted.

One of my roles as market manager is to round up the trash when market day is done (I know there are a few guys who will say that I round them up to round up the trash - R & J :-) and I have often picked cans and coffee cups out of the trash and threw them in the blue bin beside the trash can. The coffee cups are acutally compostable but I am aiming for at least recycled please. There are blue bins at every door, at Farmgates station and in the North Pavilion. Better yet, purchase one of the Fire Roasted travel cups from the coffee guys at Part Time Peasant, get a discount on your coffee refills, and work with the first 'R' - Reduce. Please continue to bring your shopping bags, baskets, and containers to fill. Many Thanks.

This is crazy but I am already planning for back to school for the kids - how did that happen? Feels like we just got started! Let's slow down, stay for the two-count coffee (& perhaps the 2nd breakfast sandwich), chat, and savour every moment. Please stop to say Hi. I have stopped writing the column for the Weekly News for now; that was volunteer and consuming too much of my world at the moment. You will hear from me here and I will definetly be seeing you at the market.

P.S. - since my Aunt Patti, the volunteer photographer is in Nicaragua right now, I will be using some repeat photos and some from last year at this time. sorry for the repeats and three-peats as I am sure I pick my favs over and over again.

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

hortonmarket@hotmail.com

Do you CAN (preserve, freeze, blanche)?

I am rather excited about the guest we have presenting this weekend at the market! (If your not, that's okay - we have lots of vendors selling their fresh preserves!) Deb from Bernardin Canning will be there to demonstrate, to field questions, and to make the art of canning easy for everyone. She will be set up in the North Pavilion and will be available all morning. We have 100 Bernardin shopping bags to give away filled with helpful information. I have a box of mason jars that I have pulled out of the pantry and will be making my first real attempt at canning (starting with tomatoes).

If freezing is more your thing, which I love because it is quick and easy and it seems to make the market season last that much longer, then you could check out these easy tips offered from Monika at R-Grow farms. Freezing corn and melons - and if you scroll down on the site you can find tips for freezing pretty much anything else we have to offer at the market. If we could only find a way to freeze lettuce......

We had another record day at the market last week. Every table outside was occupied and only 3 spaces available inside (because vendors were on holidays!). A total of 41 vendors and our highest vendor revenue day yet. Our market is generating a good buzz, with tourist appeal. One visitor last week was from Saskatchewan; another from Cambridge. Folks are starting to bring their guests to the market first before any other planned visits. This ties in well with our new membership with Savour Elgin - the county's very own culinary trail. I attended a meeting today regarding the final details of the launch, happening at Fresh Fest on August 26th. All the details are in place, the material looks entincing, and the member list is growing.

Along with my standing order of fresh-baked scones and hot samosa, I'll be looking for corn, melons, pickling cukes, garlic, dill, peppers, beans, maybe sweet potatoes, and of course tomatoes. I am tempted by the soft peaches to make jam, and hopefully a basket or two of blueberries to freeze. If you are looking for me this week, you will likely find me close to the canning demo.

Congratulations to Angie Mailhot who won the customer appreciation draw this week. The ladies from the PAN Mission Nicaragua trip left a few items to donate to the winning customer. The ladies left today and are likely arriving in Nicaragua right about now (as I type this). I am always amazed by what travel does to the senses; this morning they got up in St. Thomas, Ontario; tonight they lay down to sleep in Managua, Nicaragua, Central America. I look forward to stories of their adventure which you can follow on Patti's blog.

The weather seems to have eased up a bit tonight; the cricketsong is beautiful as I sign off, the air conditioner finally getting a much needed break. Feel free to bring your fans for the indoor market space this Saturday - I am not even going to pretend - it will be hot, humid, and muggy in there.

See you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

St. Thomas Horton Farmers' Market

2 Manitoba St., St. Thomas, ON

http://www.hortonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/

hortonmarket@hotmail.com

I recently spent a little time in nature in the beautiful north - sharing space with the river otters, loons, a rather large snapping turtle, and some amazing friends. The trip home took ten hours because we decided to just head south and stop whenever the urge hit. While in Bancroft where we stopped for lunch, I caught a glimpse of the farmers' market happening on the main drag. A few temporary tents and an artistian exhibit tied in with a coffee shop and bakery business. This was a Thursday market that had maybe 15 vendors; it is hard to say what their Saturday market would be like but it reminded me of a few things to be extremely grateful for at our own Horton Farmers' Market.

The building and outdoor pavilions of our market were built to last. The upgrades, including the most recent project of the re-opening of the building, have enhanced the convience of our facility. We have excellent shelter from two market troublesome weather conditions - rain and wind. We don't have to worry about setup and take down of tents, and we have washrooms and hydro on site. We still have free parking and the outdoor vendors get to drive up to their stalls and use their vehicles as additional storage/space to vend.

Another key element is the richness and diversity of our area farmers' market-garden crop. The kids and I play a game where we try to name all the vegetables we know of a certain colour. My favourite is purple - on market day I have found cauliflower, beans, carrots and eggplant all in a beautiful shade of purple.

This saturday we have few more new vendors including Chris Dancey bringing her heirloom tomatoes, herbs, and organic popcorn. The young girls from Purple Panda creations are back with their new venture into entrepreneurism selling their handcrafted jewlery and other items. Artisit Heather Keating will have some of her creations on display and Jaina is returning with her daughters selling Indian Samosa (I bought 6 that disappeared in less than an hour after market ended). Freshfest will be there every Saturday until the even on August 26th and Janine Tucker will have a stall with En Fleur Lavender in Bloom.

I am would love to list all the vendors every week just to remind everyone who is there and what is available but the list is extensive and keeps growing. Even if they are not your regular vendors, please take time to say Hi and chat if space and your schedule allow. Stan from Kosic's Tomatos always has a story to tell; Gary & Pom at Lotus Thai are famous for their spring rolls; Ralph Troupe of Troupe Farms has a whole crew of folks both behind and infront of his stall who are happy to chat, and the team at R-Grow Farms - I love seeing the creative ways they display their sweet potato and yellow watermelon.

Congratulations to Deb Dees on winning the customer appreciation draw. Deb is a long-time market attendee and she and I often chat on market mornings about life. My daughter draws the winner out of the ballots each week and she is always so excited by her task.

Please mark Thursday, August 19th, 7pm on your calendar as busy and plan to take in a presentation at the Senior's Centre in St. Thomas by municpal councillor Gord Hume. His book is called the Local Food Revolution and he has a lot to say about food and politics. His book will be available then or you could pick up a copy at Municipal World in Sparta.

My apologies in the delay of this post. My timing was a bit off this week and I haven't quite got the Wi-Fi-while-travelling thing down pat.

Look foward to seeing you at the market!

Cheers,

Tricia Herbert

Market Manager

519.777.9529