Hello Market Friends:
I’m hoping the first shock of the cold has passed, and many fridges and pantries are empty enough that venturing out for food seems like a good idea, because we haven’t seen some of you in a while! We’ve settled into our indoor quarters, there’s still lots to choose from, and it’s cozy and fun inside.

Chocolate fans, time to stock up! ChocoSol will be in the garage this week! The other bi-weekly vendor will be Kevin of Shared Harvest, and the rest of the usual suspects will be on hand, too.

In the rinkhouse, you’ll find Ruth from Monforte Dairy, just back from Terra Madre in Italy. Along with good cheese there should be some good tales to tell.

The chestnuts from Seth of Forbes Wild Foods that we roasted in the bake-oven last time were so delicious that we’re hoping to do more.

Here’s an impressive list from Marvellous Edibles of what will be on their tables:

Greens: mesclun, mustard, arugula, mild and wild brassica mix, purple mizuna, kale;
Brussel sprouts, red and green cabbage, winter squash;
Sieglinde, Adirondack Blue and Red Thumb potatoes;
Jerusalem artichokes, parsnip, celeriac, carrots, beets and turnips, apples and even a few tomatoes.
Roasting chickens, soup chickens, ducks and eggs.
Fermented cucumber and summer veggie pickles.

ALL certified organic, and all from Ayse and Jens‘ beautiful farm.

This is the week we begin stamping Loyal Eaters Cards! You can pick one up at the market if you haven’t already, and collect a stamp each week that you come and spend $10 or more. Once you get to ten stamps, you’ll be rewarded with market bucks and a chance to win a bag of goodies from the vendors. There will be weekly mini-draws, too.

Come on over to catch up with friends, neighbours, farmers and vendors, and go home with  your favourite comfort foods.
See you at the market!
Anne Freeman

This Week’s Vendors:

Garage (south end):
All Sorts Acres
ChocoSol
Plan B
Shared Harvest
Ted Thorpe

Rinkhouse (north end):
Ali Harris
Bees Universe
DeFloured
Forbes Wild Foods
Kind Organics
Marvellous Edibles
Monforte Dairy
Spade & Spoon
Urban Harvest

Everyone really enjoyed the market birthday cakes last week, and (since you asked), you can find instructions for the sensational Parsnip Cake in the ‘About’ section of our website, under Recipes.

We’ve been hearing some happy market memories from fans. From one of our longest time and distance market friends, Deirdre Newman, a lovely tribute:

“One of the aspects of life in Toronto I miss the most is Dufferin Grove. Even in this rich country – France –  where food  – and eating – is so highly valued, there is NO market here in Corsica to match Dufferin. I miss my Thursday afternoon bicycle rides along Harbord Street, my friendly shopping at the market, and wobbling back, balancing my bike laden with groceries.”

And from a current regular, Chang Norman Liu, a vivid recollection:

“In the summer of 2010, Debbie-of-the-peach-orchard gave me an entire basket of elderberries. As soon as I brought them home I took a pic of them.

Afterward I had deep blue stains on my hands for a long time. Whenever I looked down at my hands, I felt like a medieval monk who had been entrusted the laborious but satisfying transcription, one ink-stroke at a time, of a precious manuscript…” 

Speaking of medieval manuscripts, except for the tractors, the images from the farms this week remind me of  illustrations of gleaners working in fields where the first snow half covers the mud. Who dreams of earning their living from the land in November?  Not the faint hearted! Remarkably, we’ll still have lots and lots of choices to eat, and don’t worry, we are moving indoors,so you can shop in cozy comfort.  Several of the vendors will be alternating weeks so they can share a spot. Check the list to see who’s coming each time.

Ted Thorpe called to say he was waiting for the mercury to rise a little to harvest because everything was frozen in the ground, but he was full of optimism.

Here’s Jenn’s Everdale list: “We are bringing very limited greens so people should come early! All our gai lan, collards, parsley and cilantro were taken by Jack Frost. We’re going to be doing loose kale and chard. We’ll have: Arugula, Beets (red/rainbow), Broccoli, Carrots (orange and rainbow), Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onion, Shallots, Parsnip, Purple Potatoes, Radicchio, Purple/White Daikon Radish, Spinach, Winter Squash (all sorts!)
Sent along a photo of us getting the carrots out of the field for storage. We had to sweep the snow first before we could find them. All those bins are just about 1/3 of what’s left to come out. We’ll be storing them all winter and they are super sweet right now from the cold weather!

Angelos of Country Meadows will be away for a few more weeks working on the olive harvest in Greece. First reports back are pretty good.

Get your Loyal Eaters Reward Card! Stamping begins next week. You can read all about the program here.

Note that we will only have the ATM for one more week. There is no storage space for it during rink season. You can get emergency market bucks from me (Anne) using a credit card.

A note from Seth of Forbes Wild Foods: “We will have some of the oh so tasty, local North American Sweet Chestnuts for baking or roasting over an open fire. Also in the fresh department we have  Golden Chanterelle mushrooms for those who prefer their sweetness from fungi, and the ever-prized Matsutake (A.K.A. Pine) Mushrooms from B.C.  This is on top of my usual line of wild wonders.”

Come enjoy all the wild wonders of your winter market!
Anne Freeman

P.P.S. In park news, there will be a Rink-themed tour this Saturday from 1-2 pm, led by Jutta Mason and followed by hot chocolate. RSVP to: mail@celos.ca

Vendors this week, with location (subject to last-minute changes):

GARAGE (south end)
All Sorts Acres: lamb, sheep dairy, wool
Culture City: fermented condiments and preserves, tempeh (alternating weeks with ChocoSol)
Everdale: fresh organic produce (alternating weeks with Shared Harvest)
Plan B:local and imported organic produce
Ted Thorpe: veggies and greens

RINKHOUSE (north end)
Ali Harris: rotis, fritters, sandwiches, drinks
Bees Universe: honey, bee products, eggs
DeFloured: savoury and sweet gluten-free baking
Dufferin Park Bakers: wood-fired oven breads, salads, snacks
First Fish: frozen and smoked wild Arctic char
Green Florin: natural nuts, dried fruits and oils from Moldova
Forbes Wild Foods: wild mushrooms, maple syrup & more
Kind Organics: sprouts, salad mixes, teas, microgreens
Marvellous Edibles: certified organic poultry, veg. & more
Spade & Spoon: preserves, maple syrup
Urban Harvest: seeds, body care

Market nostalgia: Assistant Market Coordinator Nicole Jacobs and her daughter Carrie Ann, who is getting ready to head to university. Seems like only yesterday….