FARMER'S FRUIT MARKET - OPEN

For over a month a sign at 1620 Gerrard Street East in bright green letters has been taunting the Coxwell and Gerrard area .  All it read  "Farmer's Fruit Market" no date when it is opening or any other information.  Today as I went for my walk to No Frills to my surprise the little market was open.  They were not fully stocked yet but the produce they had was beautiful and well priced.  They were obviously overwhelm by the amount on customers on there first day open. That did not stop almost every customer in there from buying something and saying as they were paying we will be back and man are we ever happy you opened.

I picked up everything I was planning on buying at No Frills and checked out in probably half the time it would have taken me at the grocery store.

Here is what I bought with todays prices:

Fresh Grapes - $2.94
Zucchini - $0.20
Strawberries - $1.59
Organic Blueberries - 2 @ $1.99 each

for a total of $8.71

October 7, 2008 - Day in the life of...

I decided to start once and while writing a brief journal of a day in the life of Christophe. That way he can look back at this and see what things were like when he was a baby.

Today was a busy one we started the day off late by sleeping in then off to our weekly trip to the market where mama bought tones of veggies. Christophe got to take the bus as mama hurt her foot the day before and the 30 min walk seemed a bit too much. We also stopped at Jerry's this great little grocery store at and Monarch Park to pick up a few items.

Once back home we built a fort using a bed sheet and the 3 kitchen chairs in the living room and played, nursed and napped in it while we waited for our friend Amitav and his mom Sara. Christophe really seemed to enjoy having a friend over; we have had other moms and babes over but never one in his age range (Amitav is around 7 1/2 months also). After some play we walked Amitav and Sara back home stopping on the way for some hot chocolate (for mama) and to check out a new second hand clothing store in the Beach.

Once we got back home we prepared supper; home made pasta for mama and papa; avocados for Christophe. I was amazed Christophe actually ate some food. We have been having a hard time convincing him to eat anything that is not breastmilk.

We were supposed to finish the night with a bath but all tired from a long day we fell asleep in mama's arm before the bath was even poured.
All in all we had a great day.

Tasty Tuesdays

This Tuesday is not about recipes but about how to get great produce in Toronto. I am always surprised find out how many people do not know about all the different Farmers Market in Toronto. Almost everyone knows about St-Lawrence Market but did you know there are tones more to discover. We frequent regularly the East York Farmers Market, East Lynn Farmers Market and Withrow Farmers Market. For a complete list go to tfmn.ca.

Generally I find that produce from Local Farmers Markets taste better, keep longer and cost less. On top of all those things you are supporting local farmers and by doing so you help the environment by minimizing how far your food has to travel before it gets to your plate. Did you know that on average your food will travel 2400 kilometers. Most of the vendors to not travel more then 200 kilometers to sell there produce, you will find produce coming from Picton (185km), Innisfil (96km), Queensville (62km), Campbellville (63km), Waterford (130km) and
many more.

If you make it to the East York Farmers Market make sure to stop at the Round Plains Plantation booth and pick up some purple or white sweet potatoes they are fantastic. This is also were we get all our jams and jellies from Hattie's Booth; some of our favorites are strawberry jam, plum jam and apple chutney.

In short eat fresh and cut your carbon foot print.

Long Week - tired little guy

Monday: trip to the mall (see monday's post)

Tuesday: Morning trip to the market to pick up some veggies. Afternoon trip to the library to pick up some books. Evening attended our first La Leche meeting.

Wednesday: Morning yoga class. Evening mama and papa get there hair cut.

Thursday: Afternoon mama has an appointment with her naturopath. Evening annual midwives pot luck picnic.

Friday: Sleep, Eat and play in bed...