The Taste Of Local History

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

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