Farmer's marketing?

To my fellow Canadians,

Help!

You may or may not have heard but the city of Toronto is trying to cope with a city workers strike. To most of us living here that means major garbage blues. No pick-up, no clean-up, no nothn'. Just a real stink wafting out of our backyards and its only week one and a half. I'm not looking forward to the possibility of week five in hot weather. On a positive note our raccoon population is having a veritable smorgasbord.

I'm coping alright with the no-garbage pick up. I'm washing out smelly containers and stomping on them. This works on two levels. Stomping the containers into smaller shapes helps save space in my ever bulging blue box but the bonus feature of all this stomping is helping to get rid of any evil thoughts I may be having. I'm using my old composter in the backyard for fruit and vegetable scraps, minus all the bells and whistles we get to throw in the city's green bins. However what I'm not coping with is the disappearance of my local farmer's market.

I have been frequenting a farmer's market at my local civic centre since the band of merry farmers first appeared many moons ago, but they have gone with the wind along with the permits that allow them sell their produce on city property.

This is a double edged sword - I'm losing out on seasonal Ontario produce and my farmers are missing out on selling me their wares.

Farmer's Market season is my favourite time of the year. I love running across the grass to see what's in store for me that week. Will it be asparagus? Are the blueberries here yet? How about those heirloom tomatoes I dream about. (Remember that I'm a foodie and this is my happy place, my produce nirvana. And yes, I'm well aware of the fact I need to get a life.)

I don't even wear makeup on market day, its running shoes, funny sun hat, bundle buggy, and money. Market day is all about the food.

There is something spiritual about buying the food of the land from the farmers that grow it. Some people weep over the great Masters, I weep over a perfect head of lettuce. Food is a gift and I love my presents.

Somewhere in the city of Toronto there are sweet strawberries, those ripe luscious first berries of summer, just waiting to go home with me. But I'm having a terrible time locating them.

All of the markets that are held at civic centres are gone right now. The parking lots markets are still around and the ones held in parks are available but remember the bathrooms are closed.

After hours of searching the net, calling markets, and emailing farmers here is a list of markets in the city of Toronto that are still open. If you find any more let me know.

BirchCliff Village Farmers' Market
1512 Kingston Road (east of Warden)
Fridays, 3- 7 pm, June 5 to October 23, 2009
www.marketsbythebluffs.com

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers' Market
873 Dufferin St. (in Dufferin Grove Park)
Thursdays, 3 - 7 pm, Open all year
www.dufferinpark.ca/market/wiki/wiki.php

East Lynn Farmers' Market
1949 Danforth Avenue, near Woodbine (in East Lynn Park)
Thursdays, 3 - 7 pm, June 4 to October 29, 2009
www.farmersmarketsontario.com

Liberty Village Farmers' Market
(Liberty St - Atlantic Ave)
Sundays, 9 am - 2 pm, June 7 to October 27, 2009
www.farmersmarketsontario.com

Riverdale Farm Farmers' Market
201 Winchester (in Riverdale Park) during the strike the market is being held on the Boulevard on the north side of Winchester St.
Tuesdays, 3 - 7 pm, May 12 to October 27, 2009
www.friendsofriverdalefarm.com/market.htm

St. Lawrence North Farmers' Market
92 Front Street East (at Jarvis)
Saturdays, 5 am - 5 pm, Open all year
www.stlawrencemarket.com

St. Andrew's Farmers' Market
Northeast corner of Maude and Adelaide Streets
Saturdays, 9 am - 1 pm, June 6 - October 31, 2009
www.farmersmarketsontario.com

Sick Kids Hospital Farmers' Market
555 University Avenue
Tuesdays, 9 am - 2 pm, June 2 to October 27, 2009
www.farmersmarketsontario.com

The Stop's Green Barn Farmers' Market
The Green Arts Barn, 601 Christie Ave. (entrance from Wychwood)
Saturdays 8am - 1pm, year-round
www.thestop.org/green-barn-market

Withrow Farmers' Market
725 Logan Ave (in Withrow Park)
Saturdays, 9 am - 1 pm, May 23 to October 31, 2009
www.withrowpark.ca/wiki/wiki.php.

For the rest of Canada as you're smugly smirking at the fate of Torontonians check out these links for a farmer's market near you.

For more information on farmer's markets in Ontario check out:
http://www.400eleven.com/farmers-market.html

For more information on farmer's markets in B.C. check out:
http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/

For more information on farmer's markets in Alberta check out:
http://www.albertamarkets.com/

For more information on farmer's markets in Saskatchewan check out:
http://www.saskfarmersmarket.com/

For more information on farmer's markets in Manitoba check out:
http://100milemanitoba.org/subpages/manitobafarmersmarkets.htm

For more information on farmer's markets in Quebec check out:
http://www.homemakers.com/Life&Times/travel/quebec-farmer-s-markets-n238572p1.html

For more information on farmer's markets in Nova Scotia check out:
http://www.nsfarmersmarkets.ca/

For more information on farmer's markets in New Brunswick check out:
http://www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/foodmiles/markets.htm

For more information on farmer's markets in P.E.I. check out:
http://www.organicpei.com/content/page/market_where/

For more information on farmer's markets in Newfoundland check out:
http://www.homemakers.com/Life&Times/travel/newfoundland-and-labrador-farmer-s-markets-n238746p1.html