Farmers Market

Every Monday From 3PM - 7PM

The Sorauren Farmers' Market

is hopping with activity!

Open every Monday.

Come join us in the Wabash Field House.

Now open all year round!
November to May- inside, in the Field House

May to October - outside, in the Park and around the Field House

See this week's event listings or the Market Times (below) for more details.

Previous issues of the Market Times are also available.

Market Policy and Vendor Inquiries

If you are interested in vendor opportunities at the Sorauren Farmers' Market, we thank you for your submission, but at this moment our Market is full and we do not have the capacity to take on any new full time vendors for the 2012-2013 season. We will have upcoming opportunities, so please fill out the online application form. We will contact you to confirm that we have received your application.

Market Policy (PDF).

Vendor Agreement (PDF)

Online Application Form.

**Call Out for Musicians at the Sorauren Farmers' Market!

We're searching for performers to brighten our market day with their talent. See the official posting for details**

Vendor Profiles

Find out more about the people who produce and bring you the foods that you enjoy and keep you healthy.

Recipes

Discover what kinds of deliciously local meals you can make with the foods you get from the market.

These Are The People In Your Neighbourhood...

Get to know some of the friendly faces you see each week at the Sorauren Farmers' Market!

Market Times - May 14, 2012

Market Times
Monday, May 14, 2012

Fiddleheads!
Photo: Nathan Payne

WEFC News

Many thanks to the great volunteers that came out this past Wednesday to help with the barn board shelving! We still have a ways to go, and are continuing our Wednesday workbees (from 10am-7pm each Wednesday), so if you are interested in coming to help with finishing barn board and taking a sneak peek at the WEFC Food Hub space, send Lynn an email at lynn@westendfood.coop.

Wanted: a driver with her/his own vehicle (large van or pick-up truck would be most handy) to help transport Wishlist donations to the co-op as they arise. If you're interested in this volunteer opportunity send an email to wishlist@westendfood.coop. And while you're at it, check out our Wishlist to see if you have any high-quality, gently-used items to donate!

We're getting ever closer to our Parkdale Village Community Open House day on June 2nd. Don't miss this opportunity to tour our new Food Hub space, join the historical walk throughout Parkdale, enjoy live performances and local food from some of our Sorauren Farmers' Market vendors. Our partners in putting on this event include the Parkdale Residents Association, Parkdale Community Development Group, Parkdale News website, and the Parkdale Village BIA, and check out the facebook event page for more details.

Greenest City, a community-partner of ours, is in a competition to receive $4,000 for building a greenhouse in their successful and beautiful HOPE garden. You can help them along by voting for their project online here - they're the only Canadian entry!

Market News -- We are OUTSIDE!!

The time of year has finally come for us to expand the market and move into the field.

The Sorauren Farmers' Market kicks off its outside season with local musicians Michael Opolko and Jan Kudelka serenading you as you shop for the seasons first veggies and a huge variety of local foods from our 28 vendors. Returning vendors this week include Baba Link Farm, Brittania Bakes, City Seed Farms, Earth and City, Enfleurage, Exact Edge, and Le Tibet! Come on out for some fantastic food, listen to some great live music, and let yourself get caught up in the magic of the market.

Also, Bike Pirates will be back. Bring your bike and Geoff will help you tune it up!

Save your Clothes and Books!

We've been getting lots of great clothes and books donated, so keep 'em coming!

It's spring and time to clean out your closets to make room for the new. Donate your gently used clothes and books to the farmers' market for our Annual $2 Sale. We will accept donations every Monday at the market from 3-7 until mid-May.
Please, no undies or clothes with holes or stains.
All proceeds will go towards continuing Sorauren Farmers' Market programming and events.

At The Cannery

Wednesday May 23rd will be our first wild foods fermentation workshop where we'll be making pickled fiddleheads and wild leeks! This workshop will take place the week of May 21st, and will be at FoodShare.

We will be using sustainably-harvested wild produce from our producer-members.

Registration is now open, so sign up now!

Upcoming Events

Fri May 11 (10am-7pm): Artists in the 'Hood Fundraiser for Town Square - Join the Sorauren Park folks for a special art showing in the gallery space above Pizzeria Defina at 321 Roncesvalles Ave. Five artists have gathered to present a three-day show, Artists In The Hood, with a percentage of proceeds donated to the Wabash Building Society for the Town Square fund. It's the perfect mix of art, community and socializing. The show is still open on Saturday from 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-4pm.

Sat May 12 (10am): Sorauren Park Garden Day! - Join our friendly volunteers on Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. at the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse for the annual gardening day. We'll be providing TLC to the gardens around the Fieldhouse. No experience necessary, but a good idea to bring gardening gloves and any gardening gear you might have, e.g. pruners.

Sat May 12 (1pm): Toronto Parks Summit - The Wabash Building Society will be among the groups speaking at the city-wide Park Summit, organized by Park People, on Saturday, May 12 at the Brickworks, starting at 1 p.m. Keynote speaker is Robert Hammond, co-founder of the famed High Line elevated park in Manhattan. Registration is free (and/or PWYC) but space is limited, click here for details.

Sat May 26 (10-5 pm): Intro to Organic Gardening and Permaculture Workshop -
Join Garden Jane at the High Park Children's Garden for this lively and engaging workshop.
$70-$100 sliding scale, Includes resources. Pre-registration required.

Register Now: Summer Eco Camps in High Park - The Children's Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs offer fun, environmentally focussed day camp programming that incorporates art, urban nature exploration, organic gardening, vegetarian cooking, storytelling and more. Our camps run all 8 weeks throughout the summer starting the week of July 3-6. Check out our new programs for Eco Sprouts - 4 to 6 year olds and Eco LIT's - 15 to 16 year olds. For more information see our website.

Ongoing (Various tours from May-October): Otesha Project Bike Tours: Dig into Food Issues from the Seat of your Bicycle! Grab your bike, your rubber boots, and your desire to understand food security and sustainable food systems on a deeper level. The Otesha Project is seeking volunteers for spring, summer and fall cycling & outreach tours.

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Get Involved with the Co-op

There are many opportunities for volunteers at the WEFC -- 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.

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For more events and information check these out:

Garden Jane Gardening and Local Food Events
Ecological Farmers of Ontario Events & Courses
Everdale Events & Workshops
Food Forward Calendar of Toronto Good Food Events
Foodlink Waterloo Events
Sustain Ontario Calendar of Events
The Stop Community Food Centre Events Calendar
FoodShare Toronto Upcoming

THIS WEEK AT THE MARKET

Alli's Baked Goods
Breads, loaves, pastries, & other treats

Augie's Ice Pops + Soups
Homemade soups, with both vegetarian and meat options, and ice pops.

Baba Link Farm Herbs, berries, veggies, and preserves

Bees Universe
Local honey, candles, bee pollen, and creams

Bizjak Farms
Tree fruits: apples and pears

Brittania Bakes British-style specialty baked goods

Choco Sol
Bike powered chocolate, direct trade coffee, local hemp, and more

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

Country Meadows Organics Olives, olive oil, sheep and goat cheeses, and seedlings

Deer Valley Farm
Grass fed venison, poultry, + fresh mushrooms

de Floured
Gluten-free gallettes, tarts, pot pies, cookies, and treats

De La Terre Bakery
Organic sourdough, artisan loaves and more

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

Enfleurage Organic soaps and body care products

Exact Edge Knife and other sharpening

Fish Shak
Rotis, sandwiches, & fritters w/ local & seasonal ingredients

Fisherfolk Sustainably-caught, fresh and frozen fish and seafood

Forbes Wild Foods Wild and foraged foods, maple syrup, preserves, wild leeks

Greengate Farm
Naturally raised beef & pork + prepared meals

Growing Spaces Preserves, jams, soup, and gluten-free bean burgers

Kind Organics
Sprouts, micro-greens, gourmet salad blends, kale chips, apple chips

The Living City Farm Seedlings, greens, seasonal veggies

Monforte Dairy
Sheep, goat, cow milk cheese, salamis

Le Tibet Tibetan momos and noodles

Wheelbarrow Farm
Berkshire pork, veggies, and more

Ying Ying Soy Food
Organic tofu & more

These Are The People in Your Neighbourhood:

Ely Hara

Ely Hara

Ely arrived at the market with a willingness to dive in and help, as well as the most wonderful positive spirit, just when she was needed the most! She first came to the market because she wanted to get involved in the community and buy her produce from local farmers. She loves coming to the market to shop, see familiar faces, and make new friends....
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Market Times - May 7, 2012

Market Times
Monday, May 7, 2012

CountryMeadowsSeedlings
Photo: Susanna Redekop

WEFC News

Mark your calendars for June 2nd! West End Food Co-op, in collaboration with the Parkdale Residents Association (PRA), Parkdale Community Development Group, Parkdale News website, and the Parkdale Village BIA will be putting on a full day of fun, live performances, and local food. This Parkdale Community Open House will be held at the outdoor ampitheatre at the corner of Dufferin and Queen - directly across from the WEFC Food Hub. We'll be hosting tours of our new digs, still in construction mode, but don't miss this opportunity to take a peek into what we've been working so hard towards. More details to come soon!

WEFC is also collaborating with artist Margaret Krawecka to bring you The Hunger, a performance-installation that strives to distill the essence of the original Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. Sound loops and kaleidoscopic video projections will be used to create a cinematic landscape exploring the theme of escapism through consumption. The installation will be experienced through movement, sound and visuals, and also taste and smell; engaging all of the senses. A unique experience not to be missed, The Hunger will be featured at the Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement from May 24-27, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards WEFC's Open The Store Doors Bond Campaign.

We need volunteers to help with putting finish on barn board this coming Wednesday May 9th! This will be the first of a series of Workbee Wednesdays at the WEFC Food Hub, and you can volunteer your time anywhere between 10am-7pm. If you're interested in helping out send Lynn an email at lynn@westendfood.coop.

Market News

VolunteersatWork This past Saturday a number of volunteers gathered for a market work day. It was a beautiful, sunny day and on top of the time they dedicate to the market each week, they chose to spend it painting signs and preparing things for the beginning of our outdoor season. We have THE GREATEST volunteers! Thank you for your time, energy, spirit and great food! to Katie, Erin, Ely, Ayal, Eric, Meghan, Gwen and all of those that help in so many different ways.

At the market this week, you can truly feel that spring has sprung. Pick up some of Country Meadows Organics' seedlings to plant in your garden, and enjoy growing your own local tomatoes, greens, leeks, beets, and herbs all season! Angelo of Country Meadows Organics has a wide range of seedlings available, and he can help you make gardening and planting decisions with his own expertise. Check out his value pack deals for great companion planting ideas.

The Living City Farm is back for the season, and they also have seedlings for your garden! Eric Rosenkrantz (the friendly face formerly of Matchbox Garden) brings fresh greens and veggies to the market from his new endeavor, The Living City Farm. The Living City Farm (a collaboration between TRCA and Rosenkrantz Sustainable Agriculture) is a food and farming business, integrating sustainable practices into all parts of the food cycle. This project will produce over 100 varieties of vegetables, fruit, animal products and plants for market, wholesale and CSA, while offering educational opportunities.

Save your Clothes and Books!

We've been getting lots of great clothes and books donated, so keep 'em coming!

At The Cannery

Beets&RadishesForRelish This past week, our beet and radish relish was a deliciously fun time. Thanks to all of our fantastic participants!

We have a wild foods fermentation workshop that's in the planning stages, but we do know that we will be making pickled fiddleheads and wild leeks! This workshop will take place the week of May 21st, and will be at FoodShare. When we know more details, we will post them on the website and also send out a notice via our email list. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Events

Sun May 6 (1-3pm): Momos and Moo-moos: How Food Has Shaped Parkdale - Join WEFC's Operations Coordinator Ayal Dinner, and Conservation Council of Ontario's Chris Winter as they lead this Jane's Walk throughout Parkdale, showing us how the diversity of food shapes this west end community. From roti shops and Tibetan momos to community gardens and trendsetting restaurants, this area is quite the unique destination.

Mon May 7 (6-8pm): TYFPC Meeting: Our Local Food System: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know - The Toronto Youth Food Policy Council is hosting their bimonthly community meeting at Metro Hall this coming Monday. This meeting's theme is discussing what we need in order to co-create a just and sustainable food system for all stakeholders.

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Get Involved with the Co-op

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For more events and information check these out:

THIS WEEK AT THE MARKET

Alli's Baked Goods
Breads, loaves, pastries, & other treats

Augie's Ice Pops + Soups
Homemade soups, with both vegetarian and meat options, and ice pops.

Bees Universe
Local honey, candles, bee pollen, and creams

Bizjak Farms
Tree fruits: apples and pears

Choco Sol
Bike powered chocolate, direct trade coffee, local hemp, and more

Country Meadows Organics Olives, olive oil, sheep and goat cheeses, and seedlings

Deer Valley Farm
Grass fed venison, poultry, + fresh mushrooms

de Floured
Gluten-free gallettes, tarts, pot pies, cookies, and treats

De La Terre Bakery
Organic sourdough, artisan loaves and more

Fish Shak
Rotis, sandwiches, & fritters w/ local & seasonal ingredients

Fisherfolk Sustainably-caught, fresh and frozen fish and seafood

Forbes Wild Foods Wild and foraged foods, maple syrup, preserves, wild leeks

Greengate Farm
Naturally raised beef & pork + prepared meals

Growing Spaces Preserves, jams, soup, and gluten-free bean burgers

Kind Organics
Sprouts, micro-greens, gourmet salad blends, kale chips, apple chips

The Living City Farm Seedlings, greens, seasonal veggies

Monforte Dairy
Sheep, goat, cow milk cheese, salamis

Wheelbarrow Farm
Berkshire pork, veggies, and more

Ying Ying Soy Food
Organic tofu & more

These Are The People in Your Neighbourhood:

Richard Underhill

Richard Underhill

If you don't recognize Richard as an avid supporter of the Sorauren, Dufferin, and Trinity Bellwoods Farmers' Markets then you just aren't coming often enough. He is a staple at all of them as well as being very active in community and political projects. He also happens to be an incredibly talented musician...
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Market Times - April 30, 2012

Market Times
Monday, April 30, 2012

FreshGreens
Photo: Nathan Payne

WEFC News

Construction in the Food Hub is going strong - thanks to Fourth Pig Worker Co-op, and the help of many WEFC volunteers. If you recall the barn board that WEFC volunteers gathered from Baba Link Farm in December, we've had folks hard at work cutting it to the right size and preparing it to be BarnBoardShelves turned into shelving. Check out some of our barn board shelves in the photo!

We are still in need of various donated things, and particularly at this time we are seeking bookshelves - specifically 12" deep and faux or real wood preferred. If you or anyone you know has bookshelves to donate, please contact us at info@westendfood.coop. Soon we will have a list on our website of items that we are looking for via donations. Stay tuned!

And a small Bond Campaign update: we've raised just over $16,000 so far. You can now keep up to date with our progress on our website homepage, where you can scroll down to see our new campaign tracking widget that regularly updates us with our new fundraising total. Check back often to see how we're doing!

Market News

Come on by the Sorauren Farmers' Market for some delicious food and great company. Our vendors are bringing in some fresh spring greens and spinach, as well as wild-harvested greens like wild leeks, nettles, and soon we'll enter into fiddlehead season! If you come to the market hungry, you won't be disappointed - soups, sandwiches, koftas, rotis, pizzas, and other munchables are waiting for you.

If you happen to have a gluten allergy or intolerance, you must try DeFloured's galettes, cookies, and other baked goods. You won't be able to tell the difference! See what a Sorauren Farmers' Market regular had to say about this dynamic duo who bring their scrumptious goods to the market each week.

Save your Clothes and Books!

We've been getting lots of great clothes and books donated, so keep 'em coming!

Musicians Wanted

We are seeking musicians for our farmers' market! If you or someone you know would like to play at the market, please check out the full posting here.

At The Cannery

Beets&RadishesForRelish Our sauerkraut fermentation workshop this past week was a smashing success!

And we have another upcoming canning workshop planned for this coming Tuesday May 1st, where we'll be making a scrumptious beet radish relish (try saying that ten times fast!). The workshop will take place in the evening at FoodShare (90 Croatia Street).

Register here to reserve your spot, or for more information about our workshop!

Upcoming Events

Sat April 28 (1-4pm): Clean Train Festival - Join MP Andrew Cash and MPP Jonah Schein as they lead this live music-filled festival to raise awareness about the proposed diesel trains. There will be performances, speeches, and childrens' activities for the afternoon. Also check out the Facebook event page

Mon April 30 (7pm): Hunger, Food Security, and Our Communities - Another Story Bookshop presents an event hosted by owner Sheila Koffman and WEFC Director John Richmond to discuss local and global food systems in preparation for the upcoming Food Awareness Week (May 7-12th).

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Get Involved with the Co-op

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For more events and information check these out:

THIS WEEK AT THE MARKET

Alli's Baked Goods
Breads, loaves, pastries, & other treats

Augie's Ice Pops + Soups
Homemade soups, with both vegetarian and meat options, and ice pops.

Bees Universe
Local honey, candles, bee pollen, and creams

Bizjak Farms
Tree fruits: apples and pears

Choco Sol
Bike powered chocolate, direct trade coffee, local hemp, and more

Country Meadows Organics Olives, olive oil, sheep and goat cheeses, and seedlings

Deer Valley Farm
Grass fed venison, poultry, + fresh mushrooms

de Floured
Gluten-free gallettes, tarts, pot pies, cookies, and treats

De La Terre Bakery
Organic sourdough, artisan loaves and more

Fish Shak
Rotis, sandwiches, & fritters w/ local & seasonal ingredients

Fisherfolk Sustainably-caught, fresh and frozen fish and seafood

Forbes Wild Foods Wild and foraged foods, maple syrup, preserves, wild leeks

Greengate Farm
Naturally raised beef & pork + prepared meals

Growing Spaces Preserves, jams, soup, and gluten-free bean burgers

Kind Organics
Sprouts, micro-greens, gourmet salad blends, kale chips, apple chips

Monforte Dairy
Sheep, goat, cow milk cheese, salamis

Wheelbarrow Farm
Berkshire pork, veggies, and more

Ying Ying Soy Food
Organic tofu & more

These Are The People in Your Neighbourhood:

Geoffrey Bercarich

Geoffrey Bercarich

Geoff has got the coolest job... he's a pirate. Even better, he's a bike pirate. He and a few others joined us at the farmers' market last summer to teach people how to fix their bikes...
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Market Times - April 23, 2012

Market Times
Monday, April 23, 2012

Bee'sUniverseHoney
Photo: Susanna Redekop

WEFC News

We're just sent out our press release about our Open the Store Doors Bond Campaign, and already we've seen friends sharing the message on facebook, tweeting about their bond purchases, and helping us to spread the word. Every little bit helps, and you can help us too by buying a bond, telling others about our Bond Campaign, and sharing info about how they can get involved. We also have lots of info about our bonds, and friendly people to tell you all you need to know, at the Sorauren Farmers' Market every Monday from 3-7pm - come visit us! And if you want to stay in touch about our latest Food Hub developments, check out our blog on the WEFC website. We've got more walls going up, plumbing, and even some shelves already on the walls. You can really start to imagine how the store will look when it's stocked and open... let's make that dream a reality!

AlternaTable There were a few great events that WEFC was a part of this past week including having some of our producer-members and staff on hand at the Green Living Show, as well as a table at the Alterna Savings AGM. Pictured here is Mark Ventry of ON Co-op, behind our WEFC table.

We've also added a new feature to our website: a Producer's Corner. The Producer's Corner is a place for our producer-members to have an exchange and dialogue, sharing growing tips, posting internships and job opportunities, listing farming equipment for sale, and much more. Only our producer-members can post, but all postings can be viewed publicly. Thanks to our OMIF grant for the encouragement to get this exchange going and connecting our producers.

Market News

Forbes Wild Foods is back this week, and they have fresh wild leeks! Forbes specializes in foraged, wild foods that are ethically harvested throughout Canada. From fiddleheads and sea asparagus to black walnuts and chanterelles, their fresh offerings are both seasonal and help you discover more about what you can eat that's found by your feet! Ever tried pickled milkweed pods? How about jellied wild rose petals? Try Forbes' wide range of preserves, syrups, and jellies.

Save your Clothes and Books!

We've been getting lots of great clothes and books donated, so keep 'em coming!

Musicians Wanted

We are seeking musicians for our farmers' market! If you or someone you know would like to play at the market, please check out the full posting here.

At The Cannery

Cabbage4Kraut Our next fermentation workshop is planned for this coming Tuesday April 24th, and we're doing another round of sauerkraut! Back by popular demand, this workshop will take you through all of the steps you need to know to make your own sauerkraut at home. Expert advice and troubleshooting tips from our Canning Coordinator James Partanen and Heather Kilner. Our last sauerkraut workshop was such a hit that a participant blogged about their awesome experience online!

Register now for our sauerkraut workshop!

And we have an upcoming canning workshop planned for May 1, where we'll be making pickled beets. Register here for our pickled beets workshop!

Upcoming Events

April 27 - May 12: PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE:
Co-Creating Regenerative Futures for the City, and Beyond -

Hosted by Garden Jane and Jillian Hovey. Click here for more information and registration.

Sun May 6 (1-3pm): Momos and Moo-moos: How Food Has Shaped Parkdale - Join WEFC's Operations Coordinator Ayal Dinner, and Conservation Council of Ontario's Chris Winter as they lead this Jane's Walk throughout Parkdale, showing us how the diversity of food shapes this west end community. From roti shops and Tibetan momos to community gardens and trendsetting restaurants, this area is quite the unique destination.

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Get Involved with the Co-op

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For more events and information check these out:

THIS WEEK AT THE MARKET

Alli's Baked Goods
Breads, loaves, pastries, & other treats

Augie's Ice Pops + Soups
Homemade soups, with both vegetarian and meat options, and ice pops.

Bees Universe
Local honey, candles, bee pollen, and creams

Bizjak Farms
Tree fruits: apples and pears

Choco Sol
Bike powered chocolate, direct trade coffee, local hemp, and more

Country Meadows Organics Olives, olive oil, sheep and goat cheeses, and seedlings

Deer Valley Farm
Grass fed venison, poultry, + fresh mushrooms

de Floured
Gluten-free gallettes, tarts, pot pies, cookies, and treats

De La Terre Bakery
Organic sourdough, artisan loaves and more

Field Sparrow Farms grass-fed naturally raised beef, veggies

Fish Shak
Rotis, sandwiches, & fritters w/ local & seasonal ingredients

Fisherfolk Sustainably-caught, fresh and frozen fish and seafood

Forbes Wild Foods Wild and foraged foods, maple syrup, preserves, wild leeks

Greengate Farm
Naturally raised beef & pork + prepared meals

Growing Spaces Preserves, jams, soup, and gluten-free bean burgers

Kind Organics
Sprouts, micro-greens, gourmet salad blends, kale chips, apple chips

Monforte Dairy
Sheep, goat, cow milk cheese, salamis

Wheelbarrow Farm
Berkshire pork, veggies, and more

Ying Ying Soy Food
Organic tofu & more

Spring Recipe: Wild Leek Pizza

Arugula Pizza

Spring has sprung! And it's time for fresh baby greens to be popping up at the market. Wild leeks are now in season - try them out this adapted recipe that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser...
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WEFC Events

Sorauren Farmers' Market
21st May 2012
On Monday in the Fieldhouse (mostly) from 3 to 7, come join us for great food (more...)

May 23rd Fermentation Workshop
23rd May 2012
Learn to ferment wild leeks and fiddle heads with expert preservers James and (more...)

The Hunger - a performance installation
24th May 2012
Don't worry, Gretel. Sleep Well.

Parkdale Village Community Open House
2nd June 2012
Doors Open at the WEFC Food Hub

Community Supported Orchard Summer 2012
5th June 2012
Reserve a share of the harvest in advance!

To Make a Farm: Toronto Film Premiere
21st June 2012
The West End Food Coop is thrilled to announce the Toronto film Premiere of To (more...)