Market Times - June 27, 2011

Photo: Nathan Payne

Bricks and Broccoli in Parkdale: Our New Home
What’s large, brick-coloured and at the corner of Queen and Dufferin?  Our new home — but we need your help to move in and build the store.  What can you do?

• come join the Ride for Real Food, the WEFC Bike-A-Thon
• buy from our new community bond series;

Visit us at the Farmers' Market and on the web to find out more: www.westendfood.coop.

WEFC Events
The Co-op is getting around — we’ve been at the Gladstone for the launch of the Food Close to Home campaign; many thanks and welcome to all supporters old and new who turned out that day—we are making good strides towards our goal of raising $60K by Sept. 1.

We were at Totstock this past weekend, and what an amazing event it was! (with proceeds to WEFC) — thousands of people young and old turned out to play games, listen to bike-powered music, and eat delicious food from some of our market vendors and others. The Totstock crew are fantastic organizers, we’re lucky to have them in our neighborhood!

On Canada Day, July 1, we will be at the Peggy Nash BBQ with a special friend. And Monday, July 4th look for us on Breakfast Television!

This week at the Market
Summer is officially here and so are the first fruits of summer - strawberries! Pat from Baba Link will also have some haskaps, honeyberries, and blue honeysuckle berries -- ask her all about them, they taste amazing!  Have you tried garlic scapes yet?  They are the spiraling green tops of garlic plants that are delicious sauteed, added to eggs, or made into pesto! Send us your favourite garlic scape recipe and we'll put it in the next newsletter and on our website.  The Market runs on Monday from 3-7 pm at Sourauren Park.

Community Groups at this week's Market:

• We will again be joined by one of our original community partners, The Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre.  PARC will be accompanied by Silver Brush, a social enterprise that specializes in painting and renovations and which will be working with us on the new co-op store!
• Have a question about your bike? Bike Pirates will be at the Market doing safety checks from 3:00-5:00pm.  Bring your bike down and they will look it over, make small adjustments, and let you know what needs to be fixed or replaced.  Bike Pirates is a volunteer-run, non-profit, do-it-yourself workspace located at 1292 Bloor St W. near Lansdowne.

Under the Market Music Canopy this week:

• From 3 to 4:30 – The Horables, Jewish Folk and fine tunes on mandolin, fiddle, accordion, ....
• From 5 to 6:30 – Lutia’s Celtic Harp

At the Cannery
Our June 28th Canning Workshop filled up in less than a day, but we will be able to do another strawberry jam making workshop, July 12. Check out the WEFC Cannery Page for updates and recipes.

A reminder that Small Change Fund is raising funds for us to be able to offer canning workshops to those who can't afford the workshops in Parkdale. Check out the details and contribute at http://smallchangefund.org/projects/community-canning-toronto/

See you at the Market on Monday!

Get Involved
There are many opportunities for volunteers -- you can sign up to join the volunteer pool, and tell us what you'd like to do.  To support your co-op financially you can donate online now.

Baba Link - Herbs, berries, veggies, and preserves

Bizjak Farms - Fruit, berries, ...

Fresh City Farms - Greens and veggies grown in the city!

The Fresh Veggies - Vegetables, asian greens, etc.

Pine River Organic Farm - Asparagus, onions, and other veggies and herbs

South Etobicoke Produce - Greens, veggies, rhubarb, and more - grown in the city!

Kind Organics - sprouts, micro-greens, gourmet salad blends...

The Bus Kitchen- savoury and sweet meals and treats, granola...

Matchbox Garden - Seeds, seedlings, seasonal veggies

Choco Sol - bike powered chocolate, direct trade coffee, local hemp...

Fish Shak- roti's, fish fritters, soup...

Earth & City - mostly raw, all vegan, sweet and savoury treats with seasonal and local ingredients

Forbes Wild Foods - wild and foraged foods, maple syrup, preserves...

Exact Edge - Knife and other sharpening

Ying Ying Soy Food - organic tofu and soy products

De la Terre - Sourdough breads, baguettes, pastries, ...

Le Tibet - momos and noodles

Ali's Bakery - Breads, loaves, pastries, sweet and savoury  treats

Bees Universe - honey, candles, honey/bee products, eggs

Deer Valley Farm - Venison, chicken, soup, mushrooms ...

Greengate Farm - Naturally raised beef and pork, frozen prepared  meals

Monforte Dairy - sheep, goat, and cow milk cheeses, summer sausage, ...

Field Sparrow Farms - grass-fed naturally raised beef, veggies

Wheelbarrow Farm - Berkshire pork, veggies, sausages

City Seed Farm - just picked veggies and greens, brought to market by bicycle!

Oso Leo & Two Century Farm - apples and cider, wild leeks, ...

Defloured - gluten free gallettes, tarts, pot pies, cookies, and treats

Enfleurage Organics - soaps and other body care