Heritage seeds

Seeds of Diversity is a great webpage. It lists many seed sources.

Greta's Organics
399 River Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1C9
613-521-8648
fax: 613-521-5792
www.seeds-organic.com

Hawthorne Farm Organic Seeds
RR 3, 5961 5th Line Minto , Palmerston, ON N0G 2P0
519-343-3375
fax: 519-343-4074
sales@hawthornfarm.ca

Mountain Grove Seed Company
RR #1 , Parham, ON K0H 2K0
613-375-6622
morden@frontenac.net 
Mountain Grove Seed Company provides a local source of quality seeds. Seed production at Mountain Grove Seed Company incorporates organic principles and is chemical free. Seeds are collected from the Mountain Grove area (Parham, ON) that have grown well for generations. These are called Local Historic Seeds. We also specialize in a variety of heirloom seeds. Our seeds are harvested and packaged by hand. Seeds are available by mail order and at selected retail outlets.

Elphin Gold Organic Farm
At Elphin Gold Organic Farm, Laurie and Pat Brownlee are committed to healthy food and healthy values. They have been using organic methods since 1994 and were among the first producers to sell at the Perth Farmers’ Market. They also sell from the farm and hope to establish a farm store in mid-2009.

Seeds of Diversity
Box 36 Stn Q, Toronto, Ontario M4T 2L7
905-372-8983, toll free 1-866-509-7333

A grassroots seed exchange whose members offer seeds and bulbs of heirloom and scarce varieties of vegetables fruits grains herbs and flowers

Terra Edibles
Terra Edibles is proud to offer organically grown seeds for hundreds of varieties of heirloom tomatoes, beans and other popular vegetables, as well as herbs, flowers and aromatic sweet peas.
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Lanark Farmer's Markets
Perth Farmer's Markets May 8, in the Crystal Palace! 8 to 1 p.m.

See my photos from Seedy Sunday!

'Hamilton Market goes locavore at expense of local immigrants'

Orillia, ON

I seldom read Macleans. It is simply too slick for me. The stories are too short, and not geared to me and my target market. Scuse the pun. They sent Joe a copy to encourage him to buy it. (Magazines are desperate for more subscriptions, in order to retain advertiser dollars. They are selling at incredible rates.)

The Hamilton (Ontario) Market (I've been in the 1980s!) used to have new immigrants with produce to present a world view. They closed the market for upgrade to meet code, and reopened without allowing the previous venders (who had Vietnamese, Sicilian, different cultural foods based on immigration)

Bala Market beekeeper

"The son of Sicilian immigrants, his family has had a stall at the market for almost 50 years." 


He wasn't allowed to reopen with the new locavore mindset and rules for vendors. This works in Yuppieville, perhaps, and works for one man...Darren Barefoot. But he's in Vancouver.

Then there is Vancouver!

But this is going too far for a place like Hamilton. And I don't think it should be where we are headed.

From Macleans:

The catch was the new Soviet-style application procedure that required vendors to “itemize each particular kind of produce/foodstuff sold, and to write a paragraph on how their business promoted the market and the city of Hamilton.” Priority was given to vendors whose goods are grown using “natural” or organic methods, and produced within a 100-mile radius of the market. That’s right: the Hamilton Farmer’s Market was rebranding, pitching itself at the yuppie constituency that has transformed the traditional farmers’ market into a place where highbrow vendors sell artisanal cheese, boutique lavender, hipster cupcakes, and organic bread.

Gravenhurst Market

I've visited the Perth, Gravenhurst, Bala, Huntsville, Rosseau  Markets, etc. They are adamant, since they take place in the summer, that products sold are ONLY local goods. THis makes sense for a summer market and produce, but sends me ballistic for other reasons. 

Market Produce

For example, Muskoka Hospice was selling some products as a fundraiser. Locally made bird houses. I offered them free copies of my book for a tax receipt for me, and profit for them. No go, since the Muskoka market rules only permit individuals to sell their individual products. Hospice had a co-op student working the booth for them. Since she hadn't written the book she couldn't sell it. That said, there were many authors forced to sell their one book, while paying full price for a booth. I couldn't afford that.




I wonder how far this locavore movement will take us? I believe we should be incorporating this into our practices, but with a day like today (-25 C. at dawn) it is impossible to sell local fruits and veggies except seasonally. I think we are doing ourselves more harm by limiting such vendors. We need to take a more Global view. This is a different story than Cheap-Mart, and their practices of undermining local businesses.

Perth Market bread

I avoid Cheap-mart like the plague. There may be those who want to buy inferior products, with manufacturers forced by this big box store to produce cheaply made goods, to make poorly made products. You must read The Wal-Mart Effect: 

How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works--and How It's Transforming the American Economy, for the back story. 

Outsourcing is a seriously wicked result of their business practices. It's the reason for the type of backlash in many states, whereby American citizens resent migrant workers, for example, for being eligible for healthcare. It is the reason why product recall after product recall from China continues to illustrate the serious moral and health issues that result from outsourcing. 


I suggest we buy locally, if possible, but we must honour those who have immigrated and introduced Canadians to Mexican, Italian, Vietnames foods. It is the reason why we enjoy a variety of people and their cultures, but sourced by those who contribute to our economy. An indoor market, like the Hamilton Market, has such a wonderful history.

Gravenhurst Market

Market Days - 2010

Nothing better than visiting the market. The Gravenhurst market featured a Baby pit stop, for breastfeeding mothers.

It's nearly the end of the summer, but the markets go until September. Then, the Fall fairs begin!

Monday: Bala, The Shield Parking Lot - Hwy 169, 9 - 2:00
Tuesday: none I've found... :-(
Wednesday: Gravenhurst: Muskoka Wharf, May 20 to October 7, 9 - 2:00 ]
Thursday: [ Huntsville: Can. Tire Parking Lot, 9 - 2:00]
Fridays: [ Rosseau: July 1st, 9 - 2 | Baysville: 5pm - 8pm ]
Saturdays: [ Bracebridge @ Memorial Park, 9-2 | Dorset: 10 - 2:00]

Canada Day, July 1st

Happy July 4th, to my American friends!

Entertaining our family (daughter/granddaughter this week, son & friend the last) has kept me busy and I am belated in posting our Canada Day - Gravenhurst Market photos.

It has been wet, cool and rainy. We have had some house issues, too. The eavestrophe has leaked; we have wall damage where we have had ants take advantage of the wet wood, and the refrigerator crashed. Praise the Lord for our wonderful 'peeps' who will fix us all up shortly. If we must support the local economy this way I feel satisfaction that they are all good folks and deserve our business!

The Gravenhurst Market had a prize for the best costumed proprietors. It was so much fun.

Here is Barb, at her empty bake table. Barb handed out 200 Canada Day pencils with her baked goods. It was a busy day.


Karla (left) was dressed to the nines. She came 2nd in the contest.

Then I caught one fellow (the sausage man has the water gun) using Barb's gun.


Then there was and a fellow who was trying to avoid being arrested. He has his hands up. The police were in line beside him.

It was a very busy day. Parking was tricky. Some of the tourists dressed for the day, too!



This lady had a terrific Birthday Cake Hat.

This couple had Canada Day caps, and he had a bright red t-shirt.


Lots of fun had by young and old.

Farmer's Markets: My World XXXIII

This post was inspired by my friend, Weaver of Grass, in the UK. She visited Canada and posted photos about a market.

The markets: they're back! We make a point of visiting weekly. We love the various goods, but love the vendors. Such great people. The photo at right shows an Orillia beekeeper, and my family at the Bala market.

Those in purple are open in May. The others will open at a later date. Check the hotlinks for local contact information.

Monday: Bala, The Shield Parking Lot - Hwy 169, 9 - 2:00
Tuesday: none I've found... :-(
Wednesday: Gravenhurst: Muskoka Wharf, May 20 to October 7, 9 - 2:00 ]
Thursday: [ Huntsville: Can. Tire Parking Lot, 9 - 2:00]
Fridays: [ Rosseau: July 1st, 9 - 2 | Baysville: 5pm - 8pm ]
Saturdays: [ Bracebridge @ Memorial Park, 9-2 | Dorset: 10 - 2:00]

Market days are fun. It takes one back to the days when one had to go to market to pick up fresh goods. There are may in other countries who do not need the refrigeration we need, as they can pick things up on the way home from work.

I love the variety of goods: stone work, jewellery, iron and metal work, fudge, baked goods, fresh produce, Vietnamese food, BBQs with freshly cooked lunch, crepes, honey, meat, wood carvings, clothing, and a great variety of arts and crafts.

Friends visit each other, cottage neighbours run into one another, and there is a festive air for all.

What is the most fun is that on a quiet day, or if a storm is brewing and business is slow, the vendors visit with each other!

The food is great; pancakes, popcorn, fudge, sausages, fresh baked goods, fruits, veggies, jams, spices and all are invited to partake!

We bought Guinevere (the dragon) from the Gravenhurst market. She was delivered the same day. It was my hubbie's anniversary present!

We were married by the lake, on our lakeshore, in Aug., 2002. Wedding photos by local photographer, Terry Hrynyk. Read the May, 2009, issue of Muskoka Magazine for more info on Muskoka Weddings!)

To market, to market!

What fun it is to be able to go out to the market again. The Gravenhurst market continued every Wednesday, from 9:00 to 2:00, all winter. The Bala market has begun again, it is on Mondays. The first one was a bit quiet, but I am sure it will pick up as folks realize it is back on. It was a quiet winter, but we are anxious to see our friends back in town.

We traveled to Seguin township, and Rosseau's market is on Fridays. Thursdays the market is on in Huntsville. Bracebridge market is on Saturdays.

Market days are fun. It takes one back to the days when one had to go to market to pick up fresh goods. There are may in other countries who do not need the refrigeration we need, as they can pick things up on the way home from work. I love the variety of goods: stone work, iron and metal work, fudge, baked goods, fresh produce, Vietnamese food, BBQs with freshly cooked lunch, crepes, honey, meat, wood carvings, clothing, and a great variety of arts and crafts.

Friends visit each other, cottage neighbours run into one another, and there is a festive air for all. What is the most fun is that on a quiet day, or if a storm is brewing and business is slow, the vendors visit with each other!