Fiddle Foot Farm

CSA Registration for 2014 Season – NOW OPEN!

At last, spring is in the air! We are planning our crops for the season and are now accepting registration for the 2014 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership. For those who are interested in eating locally grown produce at its best, fresh and in season, consider becoming a CSA member.

The CSA model is a mutually beneficial arrangement between producers and consumers. It allows people to become members of a farm and in so doing, engage in their agricultural community. After growing vegetables in partnership with CSA members for 6 years, we recognize the importance of this arrangement both financially and socially in building a sustainable and local agriculture. It is unlikely that we would be farming today if it were not for the Community Supported Agriculture model.

If you are interested in finding out more about our CSA offering, please review the material listed on our CSA Registration Page. We have also put together a list of FAQs to help answer some common questions. If, after reviewing the information provided, you have any further questions, please be in touch – fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com

UPCOMING MARKETS:

Saturday April 12th – Town Hall, Orangeville, 8am – 1pm

In addition to potatoes and beets, we will also be featuring certified organic vegetable seeds from our friend Kim Delaney at Hawthorne Farm, Palmerston. We have really enjoyed varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers that we have grown of hers in the past. We will be bringing a great selection of her seeds for any of you who would like to grow some of your own vegetables this year. Consider it a mini Seedy Saturday – a chance to get excited and imagine creeping cucumber vines and the distinct smell of tomato plants!

For those gardeners who would rather start with seedlings than with seeds, we will be bringing tomato and pepper plants to the first Farmers’ Markets in the spring in both Orangeville and Creemore.

Orangeville OPENING MARKET DAY – Saturday May 10th, 8am – 1pm

Creemore OPENING MARKET DAY – Saturday May 17th, 8am – 1pm

Looking ahead to 2014

Happy New Year and warm winter blessings from the snow-covered farm. It is sometimes hard to believe, looking out at the white fields, that they will soon be planted once again and booming with growth and vitality!

We are looking forward to the season ahead. We are currently interviewing applicants for our apprenticeship program and making plans for the growing season.

Thank you to all those who participated in the Winter CSA program. We hope that the vegetables inspired many comforting wintry meals to keep everyone warm this winter.

Stay tuned for Summer CSA Membership information and registration which will come out shortly. If you would like to be added to our contact list to make sure that you are notified when registration opens, please send us an email to fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com

People are always asking what we as farmers do over the winter. Well, this winter, among other things, we had a baby! Our son arrived just in time to celebrate Christmas with us and with family. We are enjoying the early days and look forward to watching him grow and explore the world around him.

Winter CSA and Winter Markets

Looking out over the snow-covered fields this morning, having done our last outdoor markets and having delivered our final Summer CSA shares, we can now officially feel the change of season!

It has been an exciting season here at Fiddle Foot Farm, very productive in vegetables and meat and also in the further development of our farm and of course, lots of learning! Thank you to all those who took part in our Summer CSA program, to our market customers, and to the restaurants in the area who chose to serve locally and organically grown vegetables.

We are now accepting registration for our Winter CSA shares which will begin on November 19th. You will find all the information posted on the Winter CSA page.

In case the blizzard kept you away from the final Orangeville Farmers’ Market, here is a glimpse of what you missed! Snow blanketed our display but didn’t keep us from “sporting” our costumes in Hallowe’en spirit.

Markets begin indoors in Orangeville tomorrow (November 9th) and will continue on the second Saturday of each month. The market will be in Town Hall and will run from 8am – 1pm. Come on out if you are in the area to support local producers throughout the quieter months. We will be bringing winter vegetables, pure pastured lard and some of our preserves made during the summer months.

There will also be an indoor Christmas market in Creemore on Saturday December 7th – hope to see you there!

The Farm Through Emily’s Eyes

For several years, we have been very fortunate to work with apprentices on our farm. Through the C.R.A.F.T. (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) network, we collaborate with other farms that host apprentices to provide a rich learning experience for those interested in pursuing ecological agriculture as a possible career. Each year, we get the opportunity to work with and watch apprentices experience the steep learning curve, joys and challenges of farming. Every apprentice brings their own unique energy and perspective to the farm and offers us great learning opportunities.

The apprenticeship model, at least here in Ontario, has been a huge factor in the growth of sustainable, ecological, and organic agriculture, with many apprentices going on to start their own farm businesses and careers.

This year, we are excited to be working with Emily, Melanie and Michael. Here is a reflection provided by Emily on her first seven weeks on the farm. Thank you, Emily, for offering your thoughts and words…

Upon my arrival at Fiddle Foot on May 15^th Melanie was the first of the four (Amy and Graham and the other two interns, Mike and Melanie) that I met and right at the onset of our hellos our respective gazes drifted to one another’s necklaces—both of which are made of jade and which we have both worn for the majority of our respective past year. Mine is a koru, which represents a fiddlehead unfurling into its adulthood as a fern, so it was quite perfect that this is what our first conversation centred on. Not that we were deliberately seeking to continue with the fiddlehead theme, but later that evening Melanie led me and Sacha (Amy and Graham’s dog) down to the Boyne River, to collect some fiddleheads for dinner. All this to say that after some reflection, perhaps all these fiddlehead references were what first led me to believe that which I am now certain: Fiddle Foot Farm is a wonderful fit for me.

That first evening feels like months ago, but it was a mere seven weeks ago. My mind has absorbed so much, although the reality is also that there is likely a great deal that I’ve been taught that never had a chance to permeate into my memory as my mind is feeling super-saturated with new knowledge—which is a good thing, really! In seven weeks I have learned how to: milk the cows; drive a tractor; transplant copious amounts of seedlings; trellis tomatoes and peas; harvest green garlic, salad, kale, radishes and more; hand-weed and hoe; pickle garlic scapes; package CSA shares; and work at a farmers’ market. These are just a few examples.

So far it seems as though the biggest learning curve, apart from the general one of perpetually doing physical work, has been working with the animals. During the first two weeks I could hear and feel my heart palpitating when I had to step near the rooster (he sometimes attacks us, although really just Mike and I seem to be the targets) but now, at least with my makeshift shield (a plastic bin) in hand, I have very little qualms with my ability to approach the rooster. From the perspective of the CSA Member and Market-Goer the animals may not seem like a big part of the farm, but they in fact provide us with manure, lawn mowing of pastures, milk and eggs for home-consumption, and endless joys and challenges.

Other challenges that persist seem to be efficiency with the time that we have as well as carefully listening to verbal directions throughout the day. Hopefully I will never again make the mistake of planting 2 rows of peppers, only to discover that we need 3 rows in the same space, and to yet further discover that the second planting was done too close and that a third attempt would be required. Oh and if you happen to come by the farm in the next couple of days you may notice a pond-like depression in one of the gardens… I need to revisit my digging-with-the-tractor skills.

The challenges, however, really are not in the foreground of my experience at Fiddle Foot. In fact, somehow they end up feeling rather inconsequential amidst the ephemeral wonder of garlic scapes, the glowing (thanks to Melanie for using this description) nature of the rainbow chard, the tenderness of the calves’ affection, the goofiness of Floppy the pig, the allure of a bird nesting in a enormous thistle, the beauty of the fireflies along the periphery of the property, and the hearty laughing that occurs daily during the conversations had by the five of us on the farm.

I think we all feel fortunate to be part of the team that we’re a part of, and I’ve been learning so much from the four others that are on the farm this season. From Amy and Graham I’ve witnessed immense dedication and have learned heaps about what it takes to successfully pull off small-scale ecological farming: Amy selflessly providing us with a cheese and yogurt-making ‘workshop’, Graham puttering around in the fields or on the tractor until the sunshine descends behind the hills, and both of them portraying on a daily basis—perhaps unbeknownst to them—their passion for growing food. From Mike

I have learned about fishing, sustainable agriculture from the perspective of his program at Sir Sandford Fleming, punctuality (how do you always get to the house before us in the mornings!?), and the plot of and quotations from several semi-obscure TV shows and movies. From Melanie I have learned about holistic nutrition, yoga, cooking techniques, the meaning of a real-life doppelganger, and confidence around the cows and pigs.

The combination of the people, the animals and the land means that every day provides a new lesson, a new discovery and something new to laugh about.

Summer CSA 2013 is Now Full

Thank you for all the interest in the CSA program. The CSA membership for the 2013 summer season is now full. Contact us to the added to the waiting list.

Please let us know if you would like to be added to our Contact List to find out about our Winter CSA offering as well as pastured chicken and pork available in the fall.

If you were not able to join our CSA program for this season but are interested in our produce, then please visit us at the Orangeville and Creemore Farmers’ Markets on Saturday mornings – we’ll be there all season.

We are very grateful for the help and positive energy that our apprentices are bringing to the farm. Michael, Melanie and Emily are really taking to life on the farm!

Day by day, we are filling the gardens with seeds and transplants. It is a very busy time of year on the farm, but an exciting one as the gardens start taking shape in reality, no longer existing only in our minds!

We have been quite fortunate to receive some attention from various local media outlets.

Here are links to the articles:

Food In the Hills – “The Kohlrabi Challenge” – a focus on Community Supported Agriculture, Spring Issue 2013

In the garden – Top right, Amy Ouchterlony divides carrots into CSA boxes. Bottom left, Rob Day in the bean patch. Lower right, Trevor Zurowski picks carrots with a friend. Photos by Pete Paterson.

Alliston Herald – “Putting Families Back in Touch with the Farm” – Farm of the Month Feature, May 30, 2013

by: Brad Pritchard

Amy Ouchterlony and Graham Corbett operate a biodynamic farm located just outside Mansfield.

Thanks to a friend and avid supporter of local agriculture for the nomination, we recently were chosen as the recipient of the Dufferin Chamber of Commerce Business Award in the Category of Agricultural Excellence, which was an honour.

See You at the Market!

Tomorrow (May 11th) is Opening Day at the Orangeville Farmers’ Market. We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and reconnecting with the market community. We are busy harvesting today so that we can bring: Arugula, Spicy Salad Mix, Red Russian Kale, Green Garlic, Leeks and Parsnips (over-wintered in the field) and many varieties of Tomato Seedlings. We will also be featuring a new product – Fresh Stone-Ground Flour and Rolled Oats from our friends Heather and Paul of LoonSong Garden. We missed the timing for fiddleheads, but will instead be bringing lovely wetland flower arrangements for Mom!

For those in the Creemore area, the Creemore Farmers’ Market will be starting next weekend, Saturday May 18th. We would also love to see you there!

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The CSA is quickly filling up, at this time we have ten spaces left, so if you are interested, please don’t delay. Information can be found on the CSA Page of our website. CSA shares will be starting in the third week of June.

Other news from the farm:

Two of our three apprentices, Michael and Melanie, have only been here for two weeks, but are already helping out so much! They have both gotten comfortable around the cows and two new calves. Our third apprentice, Emily, will be joining the team next week – we are looking forward to her arrival.

Dixie and Lily (cows) each brought healthy young calves into the world in the last two weeks. The calves are growing fast and enjoying their new home!

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This season’s pigs will be arriving on the farm this weekend to spend the season with us here at Fiddle Foot Farm.

We have begun transplanting and planting our first seeds

DSCN7410 in the gardens, with great excitement for the growing season ahead. The garlic crop is noticeably larger every day – it won’t be too long now before the scapes appear! In the mean time, scape lovers can find pickled scapes on our market table (while last season’s supply remains!)

Hope to see you at the Market!

CSA Registration for 2013 Season – Now Open!

With spring right around the corner, we are planning our crops for the season and are now accepting registration for the 2013 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership. For those who are interested in eating locally grown produce at its best, fresh and in season, consider becoming a CSA member. The support of our CSA members plays a vital role by providing not only up-front financial security but also the value in knowing for whom we are growing food!!

Sold Out of Winter Veggies, but luckily Spring is around the corner!

Thank you to all those who have been ordering vegetables from us throughout the winter. We were happy to be able to offer as much as we were able to without a root cellar. But alas, the time has finally come when we must say that we have sold out of winter vegetables.

We are making plans to build a root cellar this year which would allow us to grow and store a greater supply of winter root crops, knowing that they will keep well into the early spring. It is our hope to be able to offer a Winter CSA share next winter as well.

So, for now, we are perusing seed catalogues, planning and imagining the garden for the upcoming season.

Stay tuned, we will be posting CSA 2013 registration information very soon. We are finalizing the on-line registration option, which will be on our CSA Page. If you would like to be added to our contact list to make sure that you find out when it is time to sign up, please send us an email and let us know – fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com

Winter Vegetables Still Available – January 2013

We are happy with the way our vegetables have kept thus far and are also happy to be able to continue offering them to local restaurants and to anyone brave enough to make the trip down our road to the farm!

At this point, you are welcome to put together your own selection of vegetables for pick-up from the farm. Here is a list of the vegetables that we have available at this time. Place your order by sending us an email (fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com) or by phone at least two days before you would like to pick up. Vegetables are available while quantities last, we will update this list to reflect what is available.

Item	Price (5 – 25 lb)	Price (30 lb +)
VEGETABLES

Carrots – Orange	$2.00 /lb	$1.50 /lb
Baby Carrots – Orange	$3.00 /lb	$2.50 /lb
Garlic	$8.00 /lb	$7.00 /lb
Potatoes – Banana Fingerling	$2.00 /lb	$1.50 /lb
Potatoes – White	$1.50 /lb	$1.25 /lb

PREPARED & DECORATIVE GOODS
Pickled Garlic Scapes – mild and spicy (prepared in a certified kitchen)	$12.00 per 1 L jar
Braided Garlic (13 heads per braid)	$20.00 /braid
Caramelized Onions	$5.00 / 250 mL jar
Fresh Farm Eggs	$5.00 / dozen

Fall Harvest Baskets Available throughout November!

We have had a great first full season here at Fiddle Foot Farm and are now enjoying the fall bounty of vegetables. We still plan on offering a Winter CSA in future years, but this requires a large root cellar, which we were not able to construct this season. As a result, we will not be able to store vegetables into the winter months.

If you are feeling the natural urge at this time of year to stow away food for the fall and winter and your local Farmers’ Market has ended, you are in luck! Here at Fiddle Foot Farm, there are still plenty of delicious vegetables growing in our gardens. We just need to find a way of getting these vegetables to you!

Our Fall Harvest Baskets is a way to extend the market season both for you and for us. Fall Harvest Baskets are different from our CSA program in that you can order just one if that is all that you need. There is no commitment to pick up a basket each week. Place an order for a basket for whenever you would like one.

WHAT? (Revised List – slightly different than the photo)

Regular – $40	Deluxe – $80
5 lb carrots	10 lb carrots
2 lb hakurei turnip	3 lb hakurei turnip
5 lb yellow onions	5 lb yellow onions
5 lb potatoes	10 lb potatoes
2 lb red onion	3 lb red onion
1 lb garlic	2 lb garlic
	3 lb squash
	2 lb parsnip

Fall Harvest Basket - Regular — Regular Basket – $40

WHEN? Baskets will be available on Tuesdays and Saturdays starting Oct 27th until the supply runs out! Orders must be placed at least two days before pick-up, but the sooner the better to give us a sense of demand. We will send this email weekly as a reminder.

WHERE? Fall Harvest Baskets can be collected:

In Orangeville on Saturday mornings (+ $5 delivery fee)

Between 9:30 – 11am in the STAPLES parking lot

At Fiddle Foot Farm (directions on our website) on:

Tuesday afternoons (3 – 7 pm, or by appointment)
Saturdays (2 – 4pm, or by appointment)

Custom Orders:

In addition to (or instead of) a Fall Harvest Basket, you can place an order for any individual items on the list below. Please note, we are asking that orders be made in 5 lb. increments.

Vegetable	Quantity – order in increments of:	Price (for 5 lb)	Storage Recommendations
Carrots	5 lb	$10.00	0-2℃, 90-100% humidityIn a bag in the fridge if you don’t have a root cellar
Hakurei Turnip	5 lb	$10.00
Potatoes	5 lb	$7.50
Fingerling Potatoes	5 lb	$10.00
Onions	5 lb	$7.50	0-2℃, 65-75% humidityIn a paper bag or mesh bag in a cool basement or garage
Shallots	5 lb	$10.00
Garlic	5 lb	$35.00

TO PLACE AN ORDER

Simply send us an email, providing us with the following information (we suggest you cut and paste this list and fill it in):

1) Pick-up Date

2) Pick-up Location (On-Farm or Orangeville)

3) Size of Basket (Regular or Deluxe)

4) Number of Baskets

5) Custom Order (if you choose this option)

6) Payment Option (cash or cheque made out to Fiddle Foot Farm)

Should you have any questions or need for further clarification, please be in touch with us by email (fiddlefootfarm@gmail.com) or by phone (519-925-3225). If you know anyone who might be interested in this opportunity, please let them know.

Thank you,

Amy & Graham