Dear market friends,

The best thing I did tonight was read the Red Barn Troll link that Lorenz kindly provided (below). I know I'm still just sitting in front of a monitor screen in my messy study, but reading the Barn Troll with all the photos is SO close to taking a walk in the fields. Johanna (whose web-log it is) is a wonderful chronicler of selfish donkeys, greedy coyotes, and tractors in different colours.

From Alvaro of Plan B Organics:

"You should check out the Hamilton Magazine article on organics this month. We're bad! Dangerous, even. This week we'll be bringing lots of: Carrots Cukes Zukes Chard and Kales and other greens Also, plentiful spinach, Beets, Tomatoes, Onions, beautiful fresh beans, Rutabagas and if it's kosher, we'll bring in some apples from Leamington. I wish I could sell my brined dills as we have 140 gallons ready in the basement but that is in the future."

Question for Alvaro: why in the future?

From Lorenz of Greenfields:

"There couldn't be better weather for harvest right now. Greenfields is buzzing with activity, not only for the 30some new hives of bees but an extended farm crew made up of present and former interns and then some extra help. We are making use of the dry weather to pull endless amounts of beets and rutabagas. Cut and pack never ending rows of winter squash... (you get the picture). Our onions turned out very well and are curing nicely so that we expect to have red and yellow onions available right through the winter months.

For a look at the farm this time of year log onto http://greenfieldsfarm.ca and click on "Red Barn Troll".

New for market this week are Edamame beans, an edible soybean that can be boiled and then snacked right out of the pod. A must try ! Also new are Tomatillos, still lots of our sweet green Bell Peppers, we'll also have some red Peppers this week. Basil is slowing down. Lots of Garlic, Spanish, Red and Green Onions. More Leeks, Zucs and purple Cauliflower. Tomatoes are still in abundance and Eggplants are looking sharp. Plus all the regular stuff. And from another Ontario organic farm we will have Golden Delicious and Royal Gala Apples this week."

From Market manager Anne:

"Laura will take a break until her next varieties of grapes and apples are ready. So Alvaro will bring apples, and John Ferrari phoned to say the weather is holding out fabulously in Timmins and someone gave him a tip about a couple of picking spots that are still particularly good, so there should be plenty of blueberries."

It looks as though the weather will continue doing summer, and despite the equinox today we'll still have enough light until the end of the market at seven. Long shadows, though, and the park looks a bit like a dream.

See you at the market!