Dear market friends,

Last week, after the market, the farmers met with the park staff and market manager Anne Freeman and me, to talk about various market issues. It's surprising how tricky a market can be, and how many different points of view there are. However, some rules were clarified, and we'll see how well they work. The market rules will be posted in the market web site page by next week (and they may change a little again as the market evolves organically -- in both senses of the word). One decision was that we will not have crafts at the farmers' market anymore. Craft markets will be separate, and the first one will be on May 2, a beautiful market (of artists as well) organized by Carolin Taron. You can find out more on the web site: http://www.dufferinpark.ca/home/currentevents.html.

Farmers' news:

From Greenfields:

"Things are in full swing at the farm. Fields are being plowed, early crops are starting to emerge, compost is being spread, trees that have fallen in winter storms are being removed, the greenhouse is lush and full and the chicks have arrived ! (see http://johanna.wandel.ca/babbles/archives/000063.html)

Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes) are the big itemn once again this week, dug fresh (as I write this) from our farm they are a very tasty and versatile tuber rich in iron and inulin amongst other benefits. Also a great local treat this week are Baby Bok Choys and our regular Mixed Greens. Local Shitake mushrooms will be complemented by Maitake mushrooms this week, also from our local grower.

Kale, Chard, Broccoli, Fennel, green and yellow Zucchini are all looking great this week. Green Leaf Lettuce at $ 1.50 and Sugar Snap Peas at $ 2.00/pint are both looking great and are priced well this week. Lots of Avocados for $ 1.00 this week.

Treat yourself with some golden Pineapples and Strawberries. Local Red Delicious apples are also in."

From Jessie Sosnicki:

"The greenhouses are nice and green now. We are finished transplanting all the different varieties of tomatoes. All our broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower seedlings are thriving. (we seed a new batch each week, to have these crops come on in succession all summer long.) Herbs are doing wonderful, cucumbers, zucs and melons are up as well. I've seeded a few different kinds of watermelon this year that I am excited about.

The onion seedlings got their first hair cut yesterday! Peppers seedlings are also up and going. Lots to water and watch in the greenhouses now!. The Polish ladies (Ben's mother and family friends) have been busily helping us out, and watching them work with the seedlings is always awesome. Their hands move soo fast and they always have neat stories about growing up and farming. Just when I think I know exactly what I'm doing, they teach me a way to do it faster and better.

Ben would like to mention that our mini potatoes are going to be $3.00 this week instead of $2.50. It's late in the season and we have to watch our storage costs."

Mojdeh Shams will be back this week with her wonderful Persian-inspired salads, but Maria Nasterska is still in Poland until next week. Otherwise everyone will be there except for Ted Thorpe, who called last week to say he'll be back in a month or so, with the first of his crop.

Everything is happening fast now, even the wild greens in the laneways and park corners are coming up, ready to gather for cooking. Jesse Archibald's baking class will begin in a week and a half: for more information, go to http://www.dufferinpark.ca/oven/bakeoven.html, or e-mail Jesse directly at jessearchibald@yahoo.com.

see you at the market!

Jutta