Old Fashioned Christmas on Knox Farm = Fabulous!!

The Christmas Season is when we find time to spend with family and friends, to celebrate traditions old and new and to create everlasting memories. Having moved to Brooklin over eleven years ago, we have accumulated a number of local Christmas traditions: Christmas in the Village at Grass Park, a drive down Old Scugog Road to take in the Christmas lights, the Oshawa Santa parade and a visit to Cullen Gardens to take in the Christmas displays. Many traditions are passed down from one generation to another but a new one can be started at any time. This fall I discovered that Knox Pumpkin Farm will be hosting their 1st annual Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm which means I have a new tradition on my list.

The one hundred and fifty year old, 300 acre Knox farm is just 10 minutes east of Brooklin located near the hamlet of Solina. The farm has been in the Knox family since 1946 and they grow a number of crops including pumpkins, squash, corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and hay. Their family has a large network of friends and family who have pitched in over the years to keep the farm operating through its many transitions from Dairy to Beef to a blend of Beef, Cash Crops and Pumpkins. The Knox’s love having people on the farm so several years ago, the family decided that they needed to share the farm experience with their community and they opened their gates to the public and school groups each October.

I recently had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Jenny Knox, whose enthusiasm and passion for farming and traditions is evident from the moment you meet her. She generously shares her knowledge with fellow farmers and gives her time to various organizations. I was amazed to learn that in addition to their responsibilities on the farm, all members of the family also work off of the farm. So it is remarkable that they actually find time to sleep, let alone plan to host a month long Christmas celebration after hosting thousands of people in October!

A Knox Family Christmas always includes 4 Christmas trees in the farm house including one that is at least 14ft tall, fresh greenery inside and out, candles, lanterns, sleigh bells on hooks and at least 40 family members for dinner.

This December, the Knox farm will be providing for all who attend, an Old Fashion Christmas experience including Fresh Christmas trees and Greenery, Mulled Cider, Caroling by the Campfire, Sleigh Rides, a live Nativity scene, a Christmas Boo-tique, pony rides, animal viewing in the barn, face painting, visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus, delicious homemade kettle corn, a straw jump and the corn maize. Additionaly, on the weekend of December 18th and 19th, a very special opportunity is being offered as Santa and Mrs. Claus will be hosting families in the Knox Family log cabin built in 1850 (pictured above). These special tours will include a wagon ride out to the cabin, children activities and of course a special talk with Santa.

When you visit the farm you may see some familiar decorations, it turns out that the Knox family purchased a few items from Cullen Gardens after it closed including Bambi, Thumper and many lights. So it looks like one of my old traditions has been woven into a new one. I suggest that before you head out to the farm please visit their website at www.knoxpumpkinfarm.com as admissions rates apply and remember to dress warmly.

I wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday Season.

Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm

I am excited! I have just come back from an interview with Jenny Knox of Knox Farm's in Hampton who will be hosting their first annual Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm. I will be writing an article for the Brooklin Town Crier December 3rd Edition but in the meantime please check out www.knoxpumpkinfarm.com for information about the activities.

End of the Harvest.

Last Wednesday, my last Coopers Farm CSA boxes for 2010 arrived on my porch. While I was grateful that they extended the CSA program an extra three weeks this year, I always hate when it comes to an end.

Luckily, I have lots of potatoes, parsnips, carrots and squash stored that will get me through the next month which will help with my withdrawal. These last three years as a CSA member, have really made a difference in terms of the quality of food that we are eating as well my family has used this experience as an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the hard work of our local farmers. Thank you Lisa & Steve Cooper for all that you grow!

While this may be the end of the harvest, it will not be the end of my writing. I am working a couple of articles with the hopes of having them published in the December issue of the Brooklin Town Crier.

Pumpkin Patches and other fun farm experiences in Durham Region

Durham Region has many farms that not only grow pumpkins but offer fun farm experiences for the whole family.

• Knox Pumpkin Farm, Hampton, www.knoxpumpkinfarm.com
• Coopers CSA Farm and Corn Maze, Zephyr www.coopersfarm.ca
• Brooks Farm, Zephyr, www.brooksfarms.com
• Pingles Farm, Hampton, www.pinglesfarmmarket.com
• Whittamore’s Farm, Markham, www.whittamoresfarm.com
• Lintons Farm, Oshawa, www.lintonsfarmmarket.com

These next few weeks are perfect for a family visit to the local pumpkin patch.

National Local Food Day in Canada?

I recently read that the NDP have introduced a Private Members Bill, C-579 that would declare the last Friday before Thanksgiving as “National Local Food Day”.The bill has already garnered support from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU).

I think this is a great way to support local farmers and have Canadians reflect on where their food comes from.

Read more: http://www.ndp.ca/press/allen-introduces-national-local-food-day-bill#ixzz12Ttgeklg

Adventures in Canning - Brooklin Town Crier August 20th Edition

Last summer my garden was overflowing with zucchini. I did everything I could think of to use up the 12 zucchinis I was harvesting a week, I made endless batches of zucchini basil soup, zucchini bread, stir fries with zucchini and chocolate zucchini brownies. It was at that point that my family was starting to dread having me in the kitchen, in fear that I might start making zucchini pancakes, that I had to try something different. I decided to try canning as a way to preserve the zucchini by making zucchini relish. How hard could it be?

It turns out that it was not hard at all. It is important to obtain instructions about how to can, which can be found at the end of this article under resources. I soon realized it is important to have the right tools, which of course I didn’t, but after a few near misses, I went out and purchased a proper canning pot, a canning rack and jar tongs for my next batch. After about an hour, I had twelve jars of beautifully preserved zucchini relish.

Canning provides a number of great benefits which are relevant to today’s lifestyles. People who grow their own food or participate in a CSA Farm share may find that they have a surplus of produce. Home canning allows you to preserve that fresh, home grown flavor from your garden or farm share, for use all year long, and saving money on your grocery bill. In addition, canning locally-grown produce reduces the carbon footprint created by transporting vegetables around the world in the off-seasons. A study by Carnegie Mellon found that 11% of the average American’s household food-related greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation of foods.

I did not grow up in a house that canned, so I felt like I was on a little adventure as I attempted a time honoured tradition that was done by many generations before me. It made me feel connected to the food and to history. As I began to share my experience with my friends and colleagues, it became apparent that home canning was experiencing a revival. Which makes perfect sense when you think about how more and more people are incorporating elements of a local diet and want to enjoy it throughout the year. While I can’t pretend that I could sustain myself on only zucchini relish over the winter, I did manage to enjoy moments in the winter where it felt like the heat of the summer, as I bit into a dill pickle or scooped my tomato corn salsa.

This summer I plan to expand my inventory to include: vanilla peaches, pumpkin butter, dilled green beans, Herb Seasoned tomatoes, Blueberry jam and apple sauce. So if you are up for a little adventure, you might just find that with a little bit of work, canning can be very rewarding!


Resources:
www.bernardin.ca
https://eatrightontario.ca/en/viewdocument.aspx?id=195
www.canadianliving.com

Zero Mile Diet?

This week on my way to work, I was listening to an interview of Carolyn Herriot who has just released a book called the Zero Mile Diet. Carolyn lives in Victoria, BC and enjoys a much shorter winter and a much longer growing season.

While I have not yet picked up a copy of her book, I found the interview quite interesting. She raised a number of important points about having a greater understanding of what we are putting into our bodies as well as increasing the amount of fresh produce we consume while at the same time minimizing the amount of processes food. However the interview left me wondering how realistic the zero mile diet would be in Ontario. As you know, I am very supportive of local farmers, farmers markets, CSA shares as well as growing some of my own food. Before I pass judgment, I guess I better hit the library and read more about it!

For information about the book, check out:www.harbourpublishing.com/book.php?id=761

Local Perspectives - International Grapes make Ontario Wine?

Brooklin Town Crier July 9th Edition - 2010

I have to say that the latest addition of the LCBO to Brooklin has received a warm welcome in our neighbourhood. It is a good place to pick up some local wine or beer, when hosting friends or enjoying a nice meal. However, it is important to check the wine label to ensure that you are actually buying Ontario wine.

Consumers may unknowingly be supporting foreign grape producers or their products because wines labelled “Cellared in Canada” can actually have up to 70 per cent foreign grapes according to Ontario laws. These wines usually sit on the shelf under the Ontario banner, so it is easy for consumers to be confused.

Why is this important? Last year, Environmental Defence reported that the equivalent of more than 10,000 tonnes of grapes were imported, while Ontario farmers with high-quality crops of the same variety were unable to find buyers and were forced to leave the grapes rotting on the vine.

If you want to buy Ontario wine, you must look for the VQA label. This means that the wine is made from 100% Ontario-grown grapes that have meet a high standard for the grape variety. A list of Ontario VQA wineries can be found at: www.vqaontario.ca/wineries. A recent trip to the Brooklin LCBO revealed that they now have VQA wines in their own section, which is very well signed and prominently displayed near the front of the store.

Brooklin is fortunate to be in close proximity to two local wineries, so we are not limited to just the LCBO to find local wine. Ocala Winery in Port Perry boasts a vineyard made up of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Auxerrios, Muscat, Vidal, Seyval, Baco Noir, Marechal Foch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. In addition, Archibald Orchards and Winery in Bomanville offers a selection of 20 different fruit wines to choose from, ranging from very dry to dessert "ice wine” types. My favourite is Spiced Winter Apple, a dessert wine reminiscent of apple pie.

I am hopeful that the recent attempts to bring this issue to light and the efforts by the LCBO to make it easier for consumers to understand what they are purchasing will lead to more informed local purchases.

Plentiful Zucchini

I definitely learned my lesson from last summer. Between the farm share from Coopers CSA Farms and my six zucchini plants, I was overwhelmed with zucchinis. This summer, I only planted one zuc plant and expect the rest to be delivered from the farm.

My first delivery of zucchini came last week. Last night, it was way to hot to bake so I decided to make Creamy Zucchini Basil Soup. It is so simple and totally delicious!

Creamy Zucchini Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 pounds zucchini, sliced 1/4 in. thick
4 cups chicken broth ( I prefer homemade)
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves, washed and stemmed, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons sour cream, plus more for garnish
Sprinkle of Kosher salt

Preparation

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and cook another 2 minutes; then add chicken broth and 1 cup basil leaves. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 20 minutes.

2. Purée the soup in batches in a blender. Add 2 tbsp. of sour cream. Season with salt to taste.

3. Divide soup among bowls and garnish each with some sour cream, and a few basil leaves.

Ah... Yummy Ontario Produce

Ontario Strawberries are the reason I started out promoting and enjoying local food. Nothing beats the smell and the tasted of a freshly plucked strawberry from the field. So this time of year puts a spring in my step and makes my belly sing! Ontario produce is finally here!!

Over the past four weeks, we have embraced for the third year, Coopers Farm CSA Share with much delight and glee. So far, we have received: strawberries, rhubarb, a variety of lettuce, green onions, spinach, asparagus, garlic scapes and sugar snap peas.

One of my favourite recipes at this time of year is Strawberry and Rhubarb Sorbet courtesy of Canadian Living www.canadianliving.com/food/strawberry_rhubarb_sorbet.php. This recipes works best with fresh ingredients but I have also made it in the dead of winter with frozen from the farm, which is just as good.

Good Things Grow in Durham Region (as published in the Brooklin Town Crier May 21st)

Thinking of all the delicious produce that will be coming my way over the next couple of months from my Farm Share is making my mouth water. I have survived the winter and early spring months, but just barely. The supermarket-ripened produce from overseas pales in comparison to picked fresh and ripe Ontario produce, but, given the short growing season, this is our reality.
Spring is a perfect time to start thinking about how we can increase the amount of local produce in our diet. When we support our local farmers, we are supporting responsible land development and providing an economic reason for the farms to stay operational.
Supermarkets are now highlighting produce that is from Ontario, making it easier to buy local. Even though supermarkets tend not to buy from the smaller farmers, it does mean that your produce is not traveling long distances.

Farmers Markets - Produce that you purchase at your local farmers’ market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness means that, not only does your food taste great, but also that the nutritional value is at its peak. In addition, you will find that there is a greater variety of produce that you do not always find in the grocery store because the farmer does not have a high-yield demand so is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables. My favourite find at the market was purple carrots! (My Earlier post lists the farmers markets in Durham Region)

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farms - This is a great way to experience local produce while supporting a local farmer. You can either arrange for your weekly supply of produce to be delivered to your home or you can pick it up from the farm. In return, you are supporting sustainable farming practices and contributing to a reliable, healthy, local food supply that provides decent and reliable income for the farmers. This will be my third year participating with Coopers CSA Farm in Zephyr. Here is a list of CSA farms that deliver to Brooklin:
 Coopers CSA Farm – www.coopersfarm.ca
 Svetec Farm -www.svetecfarms.com
 Zephyr Organics - www.zephyrorganics.com

Visit a Local Farm - Durham Region is home to incredible farms with over 70 Durham Farm Fresh members harvesting more than 30 different fruits and vegetables. Everything from strawberries and apples to pumpkins, squash, and Christmas trees are locally grown and sold at farm gates and markets across the Region. For a listing of farms in Durham Region visit www.durhamfarmfresh.ca.

Urban Farming (a.k.a. “Growing your own”) – There are so many reasons why we should all try to grow something edible in our gardens or in a container. There is so much satisfaction in picking a sun-ripened tomato off the vine or snipping a few fresh herbs into your soup. It also provides a great opportunity to teach children how food grows. I know from personal experience that it has taught my daughters a greater appreciation for the food on their plate. If you do not want to grow the food in your own backyard, you could get involved in a community garden which allows community members to come together to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and learn from each other. Visit the Whitby-Ajax community garden website for more information at www.wacg.ca.

I would like to challenge you, the readers, to try something new this summer, whether it be a new variety of tomatoes from the farm stand, trying your hand at growing your own vegetables or visiting a local farm. You will be amazed by the freshness and flavour of the produce and at the same time be supporting an important segment of our economy.

Famers Markets in Durham Region

Produce that you purchase at your local farmer's market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness means that not only does your food taste great but the nutritional value is at its peak. In addition, you will also find that there is a greater variety of produce that you do not always find in the grocery store because the farmer does not have a high-yield demand so is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables. My favourite find is purple carrots!

Check out the following markets:

Ø Brooklin Farmer’s Market (64 Baldwin Street, Home Hardware parking Lot) Saturdays 8am-3pm

Ø Whitby Farmer’s Market (201 Brock St South, Whitby)
Wednesdays 9-4pm

Ø North Oshawa Farmers Market (1661 Harmony Road North, Oshawa)
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Ø Oshawa Centre Farmers Market ( 419 King Street West, Oshawa )

Southeast Parking Lot

FRIDAYS 8:3 0am to 4:00pm

Local Perspectives – Connecting Farm to Fork, Brooklin Town Crier Article, April 23rd Edition

There was a lot of activity at the Luther Vipond Arena on April 6 to 8th, but this time it wasn’t a hockey or lacrosse tournament. Instead, the arena hosted the 5th Annual Durham Farm Connections. The program was set-up to enhance knowledge, understanding and appreciation of agriculture in the Durham Region area, to provide opportunities to learn first-hand where food comes from, and to foster a broader understanding of the importance of agriculture today. Durham Farm Connections does this through two avenues: 1) a public open house and 2) a program geared to grade three students.

Approximately 650 people attended the Open House on the evening of Wednesday, April 8. This was a great opportunity to meet over 100 farmers from across Durham Region and their livestock, learn about the importance of the environment, learn about crops and farm machinery, and view agricultural murals made by the participating schools.

Approximately 1,200 students from across Durham Region, including students from Meadowcrest and Winchester, rotated through different farm-themed stations such as agricultural technology, land stewardship, production of dairy, eggs, pork and beef, horticulture, field crops and a sheep demonstration. There was a farmer at each station to talk to students and answer their questions. After completing all eight stations, the students watched a live demonstration of sheep shearing and wrapped-up the program by singing the program’s theme song.

This program provides an experience that aligns with the Ontario grade three curriculum requirements to learn about plants, soil systems and the differences between rural and urban communities. Students developed a better appreciation of the unique features and people in the community in which they live. Not only does agriculture usually define the community boundary between urban and rural, but in this region, we are situated in a location and climate range that allows for very diverse agricultural production. However, I was surprised to learn from the event organizer that, when asked, many of the students who participated in the program have never visited a farm before.

The Durham Farm Connections inaugural event which took place in 2006 received a Premier's Award in recognition of the success of the program. In speaking with Mary Ann Found, one of the key organizers for this year’s Durham Farm Connections programs, she said, "This event provides an important lesson for students about how their food is produced.” A former school teacher, Mary Ann has been active in the Durham Farm Connections Program and was a lead proponent behind the creation of the “Why Farming Matters” agricultural awareness trailer that operates in the Durham area.

International Earth Day on April 22nd provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our roles as consumers and to appreciate the contributions farmers make to our well being and to the richness of our community. In recent years, the number of farms in Durham Region, along with the rest of Ontario, is on the decline. Without local farms supplying our food purchasing systems, we will continue to find more and more foreign produce in the grocery stores and the loss of an important piece of our heritage.

Exploring the Farm - Online

There are many ways we can expose our children to the wonders of the farm. In researching for my latest article for the Brooklin Town Crier, I came across the following websites:

•www.durhamfarmconnections.ca - A website with information about the program as well as online activities for children

•www.farmsfoodfun.com - Explore the many games, activities, trivia challenges and fact sheets all about Ontario’s Agriculture and Food Industry.

•www.moomilk.com - A website filled with information, games and activities about dairy farming and milk products.

Great Quote

“We don’t think much about food because we have so much of it. But we should. There is no more essential commodity than food. Without food, people perish, social and political organizations disintegrate, and civilizations collapse.”

– Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug

Coopers CSA Farm - Wins Big!!

Congratulations to Steve and Lisa Cooper from Coopers CSA Farm and Maze! As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this farm and have just bought my "share" for a third year in a row.

Lisa and Steve Cooper, durham region residents, were named Outstanding Young Farmers of the year at a province-wide awards ceremony in Belleville. They were chosen from a list of six nominees by the Ontario's Outstanding Young Farmer committee. The award is a recognition program organized by past winners and funded by industry.

There is still time to buy your share which provides you with fresh, local veggies and fruit for 23 weeks. Visit: www.coopersfarm.ca/index.html for more information.

Durham Farm Connections coming to Brooklin - April 7, 2010

Durham Farm Connections - April 7, 2010 at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena
4:30-8:30pm

This event offers many opportunities for Brooklin residents to learn how Durham Region Farmers help to put the food on your dinner table.

Admission is Free but donations of canned goods are accepted.

• Meet farmers from across Durham Region and their livestock.
• Learn how to protect our environment
• Learn about crops and farm machinery
• Cooking Demonstration (5:00pm and 6:30pm)
  
• Sheep Shearing (6:00pm and 7:30pm)
  
• View the agricultural murals made by participating schools
• Milk Maple the cow! (5:30pm and 7:00pm)
  

How to Color Easter Eggs with Natural Dyes

Color Easter eggs with beets, onion skins and blueberries. A good friend of mine has passed along this information and I thought it was worth sharing as we are approaching that time of year for those of us that celebrate Easter. It is a great teaching opportunity for us to share with our younger generation. For more information check out: http://bit.ly/15C6c

Maple Syrup Facts and Festivities

As winter begins to fade, it brings me back to one of my favourite memories of my childhood, going on a school trip to a maple syrup festival and eating maple taffy that has been poured on a bed of snow outside a sugar shack. There is nothing like the unique taste of maple on a crisp winter’s day.

While the maple leaf is a symbol of our country, it is important to note that not every maple tree can produce the sap used to make maple syrup. In Ontario, there are seven types of maples and only two, the sugar maple and the black maple, can be used in maple syrup production. The sugar maple grows in eastern North America, more specifically: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and 14 states in the USA. Canada produces 84% of the world’s maple syrup with over 90% of the supply coming from Quebec and 5% from Ontario. While our contribution is small, the maple industry in Ontario is worth approximately 15 million dollars annually.

I often wondered what brought about the flowing of the sap in late winter. After speaking to Paul Southwood, a Brooklin resident and maple syrup enthusiast, I learned that the ideal conditions are days with temperatures above freezing followed by nights that are below freezing. Aboriginals were the first to discover this delicious treat by cutting a slanting gash into the sugar maples and boiling the sap into sugar. Maple sugar was the first kind of sugar produced in eastern North America until cane sugar was introduced in 1875 by the Europeans. Maple syrup production has changed over time and has seen the sap collection change from buckets hung from every tree to the use a system tree taps and plastic tubing that are connected to the evaporator which boils the sap into syrup. On average and depending on the weather, each tap will release 40 litres of sap to produce one finished litre of maple syrup.

Once you have a container of this golden sweet stuff, you need to look beyond using it as a pancake and waffles topping and experiment with salad dressings, pies, cakes, cookies, frosting, bbq sauce, ice cream, salmon, ham, chicken; boiling it further can produce maple sugar, maple butter and my favourite, maple taffy! For maple recipe ideas check out www.foodland.gov.on.ca Another important fact is that maple syrup is best stored in the freezer as it will not freeze solid, and in just a few minutes at room temperature will make pouring a little easier.

The next few weeks provides us with an opportunity to experience the maple syrup harvest. I encourage you to take part in the upcoming festivities (see below) to enjoy the walk through the sugar bush, meet the people involved in the maple syrup production and best of all; sample the sweet maple syrup.

Maple Syrup Festivals and Farms

Bruce’s Mill (Stoufville) March 6-April 11th, www.maplesyrupfest.com

Horton Tree Farms – Maple Festival (Stoufville) mid-March – mid April www.hortontreefarms.com

Kortright Centre for Conservation (Kleinberg) March 6-April 11th, www.maplesyrupfest.com

Purple Woods Conservation Area (Oshawa), March 13-21 and weekends March 27/28 and April ¾, www.cloca.com/msf/index.htm

Siloam Orchards (Uxbridge) March 20-April 10th, www.siloamorchards.com

Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival (Sunderland) March 27-28 www.maplesyrupfestival.ca

Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival, Oshawa

March Break (March 13 to 21)
Weekends: (March 27/28) & April (3/4)
Hours 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

A visit to the Festival makes a great family outing!
www.cloca.com/msf/index.html