Your organic farm in the Eastern Townships
It has been several years since we have ended the season with such dreadful weather.Freezing rain, snow, sleet, power outages…we have seen it all. And on top of that, we have had to rush to take down our market stalls to make room for the Christmas tree vendors. In short, the last week of deliveries…
As the season is drawing to a close, I have finally allowed myself a serious read –the first of many that will surely fill the long winter months that I am already looking forward to. The stack of books beside my chair is tall, but I decided to start with an essay that still touches on agriculture, even…
The curtain has fallen on Montréal’s public markets – and, with it, the last tracesof summer in their once-bustling aisles.Jean Talon and Atwater are not really closed, but drab walls have been put up in their central sections in anticipation of winter. And so it is that those who love to wander from stall to…
If, for some of you, the week is looking a bit gloomy with the predicted rain and grey skies, for this market gardener, every shower or downpour will be more than welcome.It will indeed be nice to count on the rain to water the few vegetables still lingering in our fields—but that is not really…
An autumn veil has gently settled over the farm – rich in ochres and earthy browns.Verlaine said it best: “…the long sobs of autumn’s violins…” (if only we could all write like Verlaine! 😊) Every year, there’s a moment when you just know: summer has officially slipped away. For me, that moment came today – on this…
As our very own Canadian Thanksgiving approaches, I thought a little detourvia Ferney would not hurt –Ferney, where Voltaire spent the last 20 years of his life cultivating a strong interest in agriculture and craftsmanship. Philosopher, satirist, businessman – yes. But farmer? Well yes, that too. The man dabbled in everything, and from his French estate…
What is the connection between Mozart’s Don Giovanni and market farming?None really, except that it is one of my favourite operas and it is currently playing at the Opéra de Montréal. Were it not for the still-too-busy schedule of these market gardeners, you would have found us in that cavernous lair that is Wilfrid Pelletier Hall –…
Two nights of frost at the farm this past weekend have solvedmany headaches for this market gardener.First, on the vegetable front, where the solanaceae (like tomatoes, peppers, etc.) and other fragile-skinned vegetables have given up the ghost without a second thought. Then, amongst the annual weeds, who have decided they had caused enough trouble this…
Our CSA and market season is past its halfway point,so I thought now would be a good time to share a little glimpse of what is still to come — and what you might expect to find tucked into your vegetable baskets over the coming weeks 😊…Excluding this week, there will be 7 market weekends…
The season is gently tilting downhill now – and, I must say, I welcome it.I know this because this past weekend, we planted the last trays of summer vegetables – leafy greens, and more leafy greens. I am exaggerating a bit, because I am still hopeful that in a few days, we will get in…