​The official start to Summer is just around the corner. But by the temperatures this week, I would say it is here now. The heat has certainly been great for the strawberries; it has helped ripen them.

Now is the time to indulge in lots of strawberries for breakfast, lunch and supper. Forget those big red but tasteless imports, and go for some fresh picked local strawberries that are oh so juicy and chocked full of vitamins. 

Be sure to stop by our market this coming Sunday June 25th for our Strawberry Sunday Event. You will be surrounded with a day of strawberry theme local food. We will have a Kids' Table where the kids get to create their own strawberry sundae (remember I said kids – no adults sneaking in line). Enjoy a tasty homemade strawberry lemonade to quench your thirst while having your strawberry theme lunch. 

Mensen Farm will be on site with a good supply of their fresh picked strawberries. Other vendors and bakers will be sure to sooth your sweet tooth with tasty strawberry pies, jam, chutney, muffins, shortcake, chocolates and more. Kids can enjoy a strawberry theme scavenger hunt. 

Are you tired of the word strawberry yet? I did not think so! We will also have Slicker's homemade ice cream to put on all those fresh strawberries you buy. We have even got some of our very own organic strawberries, and will have a limited amount for sale (if I dont eat them all ). 

To top off the fun filled day there will be live music by The Ray Harris Duet. Our friends from Le Saladier woodturning (regular vendors at our market) are going to be making Gigantic Homemade Bubbles with their bubble recipe. These bubbles will be bigger than your kids !! 

Want to learn more about tea?  Visit with Susan Peters who is a tea sommelier and tea blender. Another new vendor to join us Sunday is Paula Lampron from Funked up Fluff with her colourful knit socks. All this and so much more....


For this week's recipe, let the strawberry theme continue 

Berry Salsa
Serves 6

1 and one half cups chopped strawberries – Mensen Farm, Wendy's Market
3 tbsp maple syrup – Antoine's
2 tbsp mint – Wendy's Market
Whipping Cream  – Limestone Creamery 

Gently stir the berries, maple syrup and mint together.
Just before serving make the whip cream, gently fold into the berry salsa.
Serve with your favourite scones or on top of pancakes 


Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for supporting Local Farmers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open 7 days a week. Monday - Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm
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​Not sure what to do with real, local food? To help bring people back to eating close to home, Wendy’s Country Market and Furnace Falls Farm are creating recipes for the preparation and preservation of local ingredients. Drop by the market to meet chef Mark Beacock, taste the produce, sample the products, and take away the recipes. Learn more about our project supported by the Greenbelt Fund, and help us with your feedback!

Download the Flyer.

A mix of Heat, Sun and Rain are all good things for Planting season to begin. It takes many months for all those little seedlings that we (Leigha) started in the greenhouses to get to the point to be ready for planting outside. Now is the time to celebrate planting season. 

We are having our Seedling Sunday event this Sunday May 28th. We are happy to say we are offering many more varieties of plants this year. And most of our heritage tomatoes plants are grown from seeds that we saved. There are many, many heritage tomato varieties, and it is so much fun growing new (old) tomatoes. Come and see everything from the Garden Peach to the Green Zebra. Take home something new!

And since you can't have tomatoes without basil, pick up a few of those plants too. You will find different varieties of green and red basils, as well as globe basil which makes a nice little bush. 

This Sunday, we are offering a children's workshop -- and a challenge. Kids can plant their very own tomato plant to take home. Then later in the year, kids bring a sample of one of your tomatoes for our tomato tasting event in September and win a prize. 

If you are looking for flowers then you are in luck we have a good mix of annuals and perennials to suite your location (sun, shade, wet or dry). We can help you with your gardening questions and keep the fun in gardening. 
  
In keeping with the planting theme we will be offering up a very tasty seasonal / wild food lunch. At the same time you can learn more about foraged food by Chef Mark. 

Plan to come for the day and enjoy the music by Jeff Gaulton while strolling around and visiting the many vendors (artisans, bakers and farmers). I am sure you will find some tasty rhubarb desserts, and if you are gluten and dairy free then we have you covered: RnD bakery will be on site with samples (best allergy free bagels ever). And if we haven't convinced you that we have special, unique things, there will be Donkey Milk Soap from a new vendor.
 
We are also happy to welcome representatives of the Rideau Waterway Land Trust. They will have an information booth on Rock Dunder. Learn more about one of the treasures of the area, pick up your season's pass, and find out why you should support our local Land Trust. We're lucky to have one.
 
So come on out and enjoy a day in the country!

Seasonal Recipe of the Week 
  
One of spring's first fruit of the season is rhubarb (though botanically it is a vegetable). It possesses a mouth puckering tartness that I love. Al ot of people combine it with lots of sugar, but I like the puckering bite that it has. Mixed with a bit of apple in a crumble it it delicious. 

Try this tasty crisp with a twist. The surprise is a touch of basil which adds an extraordinary taste and scent to the fruit mixture. 


Rhubarb Surprise Crisp
Serves 6

2/3 cup maple syrup – Antoinne Farm
2 to 3 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups sliced rhubarb – The Farmer's Daughter
2 cups sliced apples – Hall's Apple Market
2 tbsp fresh snipped basil – Wendy's Market
1/2 cup flour – Purest, Ironwood Organics, Sonset Farm
1/2 cup oats – Ironwood Organics
1/3 cup maple sugar – Antoinne Farm
3 tbsp butter melted – Empire 

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl stir maple syrup, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Stir in the rhubarb and apples and basil. Transfer to a 2 quart square baking dish and spread evenly. Set aside.

2. For the topping in a medium bowl toss together flour of choice, oats, brown sugar,. Stir in the melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over fruit mixture. 

3. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or till fruit is tender and topping is golden brown. 

Yummy! You may want to top with some of Limestone Creamery's Whipping Cream or Slicker's Homemade Rhubarb Ginger Ice Cream ...

Enjoy!

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for Supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the Market.
We're open 7 days a week. Monday - Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm

Even though April showers forgot to turn off in May (!!) we do have May flowers and other great plants in our greenhouses, all ready to share with you to brighten even the cloudiest day.
​Despite the rain, I love spring. Walking through our greenhouses and seeing all the different plants is a great way to both start and end my day. 

My love of plants comes naturally: both of my Grandmothers had lots of plants surrounding their houses. One Grandmother had every type of plant you could think of to grow as a houseplant, and was always collecting slips of plants from friends to add to her collection. My other Grandmother taught me a lot about the wild flowers and their names and uses as we walked along the pathways at their cottage. And I remember seeing a picture  of myself when I was young surrounded by amazing flower gardens that my Mom made. Over time the flower gardens switched to large vegetable gardens, and then to multiple fields of vegetables and a full blown market garden business (Corn Acre Farms). So began my life long journey and passion with plants. 

I am so very glad to have been able to share all this with my daughter, and even more excited that she has carried on the love of plants by starting our seeds and nuturing them for all of you to enjoy. With her help, we have been able to expand this year and offer so many more varieties of flowers, herbs, and vegetable plants. We focus on many heritage varieties of tomatoes and look to the past when picking out our selection of seeds for our flowers. A look around our greenhouses will sure to send you on a trip down memory lane with names like larkspur, zinnias and cosmos.
 
If you have never grown any plants before then now is the time. Start with a cherry tomato. A few marigolds and a basil make great companion plants ... and now your off!

I think it is also important for all of us to take the time and introduce a child to the amazing world of plants. Even if it starts with picking a bouquet of dandelions. 
 
Dandelions are in the recipe of the week. You can eat the leaves, buds and bud stalks, flowers, heart, and the young root of dandelions. 

The Recipe of the Week
 
Mushrooms Stuffed with Dandelion Hearts

Dandelion hearts - In your yard or ours! 
Cremini mushrooms - Carlton Mushrooms
Sunflower oil - Kricklewood Farm
Rosemary - Wendys MArket
salt and pepper
 
Bring the hearts to a boil and cook for 5 minutes to remove bitterness. Take the Hearts and mix with sunflower oil, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Take mushrooms and fill with the hearts. Bake in oven for 15 - 20 minutes at 350. 

Enjoy!

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open Thursday through Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm
(After the long weekend, it will be 7 days a week.)

Our past is important to our future for so many reasons. 

I attended a memorial this past Easter weekend for one of our community leaders (who never thought of herself this way). She was a very important fixture in the area and was a force behind many great things in the Seeley's Bay area. It was during her grandson's speech about how his grandmother taught his sister to cook and spent time in the kitchen showing her how to prepare different meals that I was brought back to how important all this knowledge is. The day brought me back as well to all the great times I had with my grandmother and I was so glad I got to have all the time we spent together. And so glad that my parents are around to pass on their knowledge to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Our ancestors made use of a lot of seasonal produce and preserved, canned and dried. They learned what plants worked well with others, how to make use of space and followed weather patterns and were great at foraging. They really paid attention to their surroundings because they had to. In recent times many of these skills have been lost and forgotten.

This brings me to our next step with our new farm. Our focus at Furnace Falls Farm will be connecting people with the countryside again. Teaching others how to use some of the ancient grains that were once used every day. Teaching classes on preserving, foraging, canning and much more. While staying at the farm, people will get a chance to learn how different crops are grown and get a deeper understanding were their food comes from. 

In our greenhouses at the market we are also focusing a lot on heirloom tomatoes and vegetables, tried and true perennials, and lost or forgotten hardy annuals. Stop by and I am sure you will recognise certain plants from the past.

I am very excited to have this chance to connect others to what I feel is a very important part of our future, The PAST!


Recipe of the Week: Tasty Wholesome Dessert

Spelt Apple Blueberry Crisp
Serves 6

1/3 cup melted butter – Stirling Creamy Butter
2/3 cup organic rolled oats – Ironwood Organics
1 cup maple sugar (less if wanted ) – Antoines 
1/3 cup spelt flour – Sonset Farm
2 tsp vanilla
dash cinnamon
Apples – Halls Apple Market
Blueberries – Briarlea Blueberry Farm

1. Mix together butter, oats, flour, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon with a fork.
2. Peel and slice apples enough to generously cover in 2 layers of a 8 x 8 inch deep pan
   
3. Crumble mix over apples.
4. Bake at 375 for 40 min 

Spelt is an ancient grain grown as far back as 5000 BC. It has a slight nutty taste with a bit of sweet flavour. It is an easy substitute in recipes that ask for wheat flour. Spelt has slightly less calories then wheat and is also higher in protein then wheat.
When working spelt into a recipe use a bit less liguid then regular recipes since it is more soluble then wheat.

Enjoy!

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open Thursday through Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm

April Showers bring May flowers. With all the rain this week might be a good time to start thinking about bog gardens. I am seeing lots of potential in our low spots in our fields for ponds! (Subtle hint to my family). Imagine all of the edible plants we could grow!

There are lots of fun activities for families to enjoy this month. The town of Delta is hosting their annual Maple Syrup Festival on Easter weekend. After you have filled up on pancakes loaded with maple syrup stop by our market and pick out the fixings for your Easter feast. We will have a selection of fresh turkeys, smoked hams, lamb and tasty pies for dessert. Call ahead to reserve so you are not disappointed. 

The weather is supposed to be mild for Easter weekend so take a sneak peak in our greenhouse and start planning your gardens. We will also have a list of our spring transplants available for you to take home so you will know what to expect in the upcoming months. We are very excited about our new selection of heritage tomato transplants saved from our own seeds.

Save This Date on your Calendar: Our first event for the season is on April 30th. 
It is a Spring Celebration Event. Meet local farmers, artisans, bakers who will be on site selling their wares. We just got word that Jasper Apple Farm will be coming to our event with a selection of their Apple saplings and That Bear Root Gardens will be on site with their organic seeds.

Mid to late April is a great time to sow your first cold season plants (spinach, peas, lettuce onion sets, cabbage, radishes). It’s also a great time to plant bareroot perennial fruit – and we will have a good selection. 

Our Farm Fresh takeout will be serving up a tasty lunch made with local ingredients.

Bring the kids for our annual Spring Scavenger Hunt. It is a good time to come out from Hibernation and enjoy a day in the country and help celebrate the beginning of a local food filled year .

This Week's Recipe: A Touch of Spring

Lamb Souvlaki
Serves 12 

1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup sunflower oil – Kricklewood Farm
1/4 cup apple cider – Halls Apple Market
1 tsp oregano – Burt’s Greenhouses
3 cloves garlic, crushed – Forman Farm
4 lbs lamb stew, cut into 1 inch cubes – Mcoll Farm
2 medium onions, cut into 1 inch pieces – Peter Oetelar
2 red sweet peppers cut into 1 inch pieces – Suntec Greenhouses
skewers

1. 1. In a large glass bowl, mix together lemon juice, sunflower oil, apple cider, oregano, and garlic. Add lamb, onions and green peppers and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.
2. Preheat grill for med-high heat. Thread pork, peppers and onion on skewers.
3. Lightly oil grate. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes or to desired doneness. 

Serve over a bed of greens of choice. 

Enjoy!

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open Thursday through Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm

​Our "night life" goes from dinners at a reasonable hour to "WOW I can't believe how late it is!" Guess this means spring is on its way. 
 
The signs of spring around our farm / market include an abundance of plants in the greenhouse awaiting transplanting. The chicken coop needs a spring cleaning and some work to be done on its fences. And there is some new fencing to be put in for our new spring arrivals (more to come on that later). It's also time for us to be planning for our first event of the season (Spring Celebration on Sunday​ April 30, 2017). Oh yes, and the addition of another greenhouse – but first we have to dismantle it and move it to its new location. Good thing the days are getting longer: we are going to need it! 

Over at Furnace Falls Farm the transformation has begun. The kitchen has been framed in and I can't believe how big the window over the sinks is. Now that we can see the space, I can envision the big kitchen table as a focal point, and can't wait till our guests get to enjoy that first meal ...  or maybe we will have to have the first meal there ourselves. 

In busy days ahead, it is always good to have a back up plan to simplify some of your meals. We have put together a meal in a bag to take the thinking and planning out of your day. 

Stop by Wendy's Country Market and pick up our Meal of the Week 

Wendy's Market Taco Salad Kit 
Serves 4 

Wendys Country Market Hot Sauce
Wendys Country Market Sunflower Apple Mint Vinaigrette
Wendys Country Market Tomato Jam
Against the Grain Purple Corn Tortilla Chips
Bush Gardens Chili Pepper Gouda 
Eighth Line Farm Ground Beef
or Paradise Pork Sausages 
Burt's Greenhouse Mixed Greens 

Instructions 

1/2 cup Vinaigrette
1/4 cup Tomato Jam
1 tsp Hot Sauce
Mix together for the dressing. Add desired amount to greens.
Top with crumbled tortilla chips and grated cheese. 
Add cooked sausages or ground beef. 


Enjoy!

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha 
Thanks for supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open Thursday through Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm

This week is practically Balmy outside!!! I love it but it is a bit worrisome since it is 15 degrees and it's only the end of February. This warm weather system sent the local Maple Syrup producers into overdrive getting everything prepared for an early syrup season. Ideal temperatures are thawing in the daytime and freezing at night. Let's hope for a long and steady Maple Syrup season.

Maple Syrup is a great natural sweetener in salads, entrees, and desserts, plus it just makes everything so very tasty. It features 54 different antioxidents (the darker the syrup the higher the antioxidents). It also contains a significant amount of calcium, trace B vitamins, and is a good source of 3 essential elements: calcium, iron and thiamin.

We really appreciate all the time it takes for the producers to make this tasty liquid gold. Remember that it takes 30-40 gallons of sap to produce a gallon of Maple Syrup.

I was digging around in some old recipes and thought it would be fun for people to have glimpse into the past. It is interesting to see how measurements were way back when. I know from looking at some of my grandmother's recipes that none were very exact. It was a pinch of this and a handful of that. Some of the recipes were even missing sections, and if you followed them exactly, you were in trouble. I think my grandmother just made it up as she went along. However she did it, I could not wait to visit and sample her desserts – especially all those sweetened with Maple Syrup, and there were a lot.

Here is a recipe from The Every Day Cookbook, circa 1890.

Flannel Cakes

Beat 6 eggs very light, stir in them 2 lb of flour, one gill of yeast, small spoonful of salt and sufficiant milk to make a thick batter. Make them at night for breakfast, and at ten in the morning for tea.

Have your griddle hot, grease it well and bake as buckwheat. Butter and send them hot to the table, commencing after the family has been seated.

​Have a jug of Maple Syrup on hand at the table for easy access, Pour over the flannel cakes as you wish.

Our ingredient list has been added to the original:

Eggs – Beking's
Flour – Ironwood Organics
Yeast
Salt
Butter – Empire Cheese Company
Maple Syrup – Gunnebrooke Farm, Antoine Farm

Notice, not a lot of details about amounts or technique in these old recipes. This shows that cooking was a daily thing and that you just went by instinct on what the consistancy was for a lot of things.

At Furnace Falls Farm we will be introducing people to some of these old tried and true recipes. Perhaps we can even help you with some of those old time recipes that don't have a lot of instructions, and help you make it LIKE GRANDMA.

Have a Great Week.

Rick & Wendy & Leigha
Thanks for supporting Local Producers.

Visit us at the market.
We're open Thursday through Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, Sunday 'til 5 pm