Planting!

There is a certain optimism you have when you plant something.  And, you are watching for different hints of growth depending on what you planted and how you started it.   

RASPBERRIES

Spool of Drip Irrigation Line

When you plant Raspberries, like we did on Mother's Day weekend it's a big job.

Raspberry Canes put in trench after the Drip Line is in

New Raspberry Canes

The line gets laid in the trench

This is what the new Raspberry Canes look like now.  Less than one month later.  We won't be picking any fruit off of them this year - but we will next year!

GIANT PUMPKINS

We are growing Giant Pumpkins this year!  I thought it would be fun for the kids (fun for me).  I met some wonderful people (Sheila & Mike)  from the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario.  They invited me out to one of their meetings back in March.  It was very interesting.  I found out that there are a lot of people interested in growing Giant Pumpkins.  Check out their website   http://www.gvgo.ca/

We usually plant our Pumpkins right from seed into the ground.  I wanted to start these Giant pumpkins off in pots so I would be able to monitor their growth and be able to take some pictures to show you.

These plants are ready to be planted in the ground now. I have to find the perfect spot!  These are not your average Pumpkins.....The minimum space requirement for one Pumpkin is 100 square feet!

Market is Open & Working Ground

Sorry I haven't Blogged in over a month.  We opened our On-Farm Market on May 17th.  I decided to repaint the interior of the market. It's a beautiful lime green and really looks great with all of the Foodland Ontario wrapping. http://www.ontario.ca/foodland/foodland-ontario

I enjoy seeing our customers come into our market, it's like reuniting with old friends:)  We get caught up on everything that has happened over the winter.  I often hear about how they only have a bag or two of strawberries left in the freezer and can't wait for ours to start.  I hear about how good people feel, the sense of pride, and  accomplishment that they were able to put down their first batch of Dill Pickles last fall and how everyone loved them.  I hear about the plans for this years Dill's and how they will need to put down a few more, or that they are going to try Salsa this year...  

Another thing that we talk about in the market is the weather.  As you know it was a cold winter and a wet spring.  The weather has put all farmers behind.  Everyone is scrambling to get their crops in.  As farmers we are all in the same boat right now, whether its getting peas, tomatoes & peppers in OR soybeans and field corn in, the push is on and we all will work day and night to get our crops in.  It's what we do, it's how we roll.

I took a few pictures of the ground getting worked
it's always a good feeling when I see them out there - to me it means that it won't be long before the seeds get planted.

We usually plant corn in April. This year it was last week!

And so it begins...

I love this time of year. It's the time of year when we are able to put all of the plans we made over the winter into action. Our seeds have been started in the greenhouse, we planned what we are going to plant in each field and now we wait for Mother Nature to be nice and let us get on the land.  So, while we wait for that opportunity we check on our Rhubarb to see how it's coming up, we prune our Raspberries and monitor new growth and we take the protective layer of straw off of our Strawberries. Depending on the weather, I would say that our Rhubarb will be ready by the middle of May or so. Asparagus will also be ready soon too. We don't have the right soil to grow asparagus so we support local growers from the Aylmer area to supply our market.

Click on the link below to find out when your favourite fruits and vegetables are ready
http://www.ontario.ca/foodland/availability-guide

Asparagus has an unique taste and I love it! You can prepare it so many different ways. Steamed, sauteed, roasted, boiled and my favourite - grilled!

You don't need a recipe for this.

Toss your Asparagus in a really good Olive Oil, then put it on the grill. I like to cook my meat first, then just slide it over to one side of the barbecue, reduce the heat and then place my Asparagus down. The Asparagus will pick up the juices from the meat. Once the Asparagus has turned in colour, you know that bright green colour, you can take it off. It will be done just right, you don't want to over cook it. Plate your Asparagus, drizzle some Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt & Black Pepper on it. Top it off with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. If you don't have the fresh grated that is ok, just use what you have.  It is soooooo tasty, you might not even eat you meat!

Click on the link below for some awesome recipes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/28/asparagus-recipes_n_1375346.html

That's all for now, in my next post I will share some tasty Rhubarb recipes.
Have a great day:)

Perfect Wedding Gift!

You're Invited! Someone you love is getting married. Woooohoooo! The invitation just came in the mail and you've already filled out the R.S.V.P and told them you're coming. In the back of your head you have already planned a shopping trip to look for the perfect wedding gift. STOP! Let me help you. Let me help you give the Bride & Groom the gift of Local Goodness.  I can't think of a better gift. The deadline to purchase a Talbotville Berry Farm Market - Style CSA Program (Option 1 or Option 2) is April 30th. The newlyweds will be able to use their Gift Cards to purchase anything that we sell, at our On-Farm Market or at our table at the Horton Farmers Market on Saturday's 8a-12p. If you've got a group going in on the gift together Option 2 is perfect, it will cost you $500 but we will load your card with $600.  Call me (Shirley) today 519.615.1164.

Bring it on!

It seems like before we even close down our on-farm market for the winter we are already planning for the next season.  Thinking about what we did that went over well during the season and what we could do to make it even better in the upcoming season.  We talk about produce our customers ask about and want.

One thing everyone was asking about last year was Kale.  We didn't grow it ourselves but got it in from another local grower.  We already grow a huge variety of produce here on our farm and I know that it is a huge responsibility for Gerry - but I talked him into growing a few new items this year.... And, you guessed it, we have added Kale and Romaine Lettuce.  So get ready to make your green smoothies.

 Leave us a comment and let us know if you think we should open at 8am instead of 9am so we can serve you a Green Smoothie on your way to work:)

Ontario Farm Fresh Founding Member

My Dad was one of the founding members of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association.  The 35th Anniversary was February 2008. Unfortunately, he passed in January 2008. He would have been so proud to walk up with the rest of the guys and be recognized at the award ceremony.

It is an honor for us to hang this plaque in our market. We are proud of who he was and what he stood for.

This is what the original Ontario Farm Fresh advertising looked like. And, yes, I have this hanging in my market too:)

The Early Years

I've always been a farm girl. 

My parents are Peter and Mary Oostvogels. They are in heaven now. And I know they are looking down on the farm and are proud that together with my husband, Gerry, we've kept their dream alive.











Growing up on a farm was fun. We grew up swimming in a pond, building forts in the barn and learned how to drive a tractor before a car.

Cindy & I lost in the corn field

We were always outside

In from the field

Growing up on a farm you spend a lot of time with your family...You build a bond that cannot be broken