Fresh, organic, Caledon-grown - a win/win/win!

Thinking about going organic? Or about supporting Caledon farmers? Or visiting the new Bolton Farmers Market this summer? Did you know that you could create a win/win/win and combine all three?

Whole Village, a biodynamic farm nestled in the northwest corner of Caledon, supplies residents with fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit grown without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. You can buy a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share of this delicious produce and conveniently pick it up each Thursday at their booth at the Bolton Farmers Market. If you live in northern Caledon you may wish to arrange to pick it up at the farm or at the Orangeville Farmers Market (Saturdays).

Your CSA share will provide you with nutritious, fresh, organic, Caledon-grown produce for the season, from approximately mid-June to the last week of October. You have the choice of purchasing a small or large share. The small share is $500 so over a 20-week growing season that would equate to a cost of $25 per week for your farm-fresh veggies. The large share is $700 and can feed a family of four or two vegetarians. The small share provides a bit more than half of the large share and is suitable for a small family, a couple or a single vegetarian.

Crops will include greens such as lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, herbs and green onions, plus carrots, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beets, onions, parsnips, potatoes and corn, all harvested fresh as they come into season.

Last week my family and I visited Whole Village and tasted yummy samplings of mustard greens, kale, and arugula, as greens are one of the first things ready for harvest. We were very impressed with the farm and the knowledge and dedication of the people working the fields. We purchased a small CSA-share and look forward to picking it up fresh each Thursday at the Bolton Farmers Market and “topping up” with other locally-produced food and treats.

For more information, or to purchase a Whole Village CSA-share, contact Graham Corbett at (519) 942-0168 or email him at csagarden@wholevillage.org

For more information about the Bolton Farmers Market contact Sandra Dolson at the Town of Caledon at (905) 584-2272 or email her at sandra.dolson@caledon.ca

Green T brewed up a great night!

On Wednesday night the picturesque Caledon town of Palgrave was home to the biggest Green Tea event so far. Over sixty people jammed into the tiny community room in the United Church and chatted with like-minded folks, sipping aromatic fair trade coffee courtesy of Buckstown Beans and organic teas from the Tea Boutique, while waiting for the exciting line-up for this environmental speakers’ event to take to the stage. And making that waiting a lot more fun were the amazing vocals of Kate Moura from Bolton's Moura Music Studio and her talented young student Michelle Woodhouse.

Opening remarks from Caledon Mayor Marolyn Morrison set the tone, touching on the importance of buying local and supporting local farms and businesses. Karen Hutchinson from Caledon Countryside Alliance was up next, sharing information about the Inglewood Farmers Market, Eat Local Month and the Eat Local Challenge Week. Karen even treated her audience with a basketful of fresh ground cherries that were the perfect accompaniment for chef RoseMarie DuPont’s mouth-watering baked goodies.

Palgrave United Church's Turkey Task Force was honoured with an Eat Local "Local Hero Award". Green T also officially launched their new website http://www.greentcaledon.ca/ and kicked off a membership Drive. Soon Lime Green T-shirts will be all over town!

Jeff Gold, one the founding members and project manager of Whole Village, wound up the evening with a terrific pictorial about life in the sustainable farming community in northwest Caledon. Watch for more news soon on Green T’s next Green Tea, scheduled for November 13th – mark those calendars!