By written by : Delano D’Silva, Vendor at the Bobcaygeon Farmers’ Market

Preparation time- 10 min

Serves: 4-5

Ingredients:

2-3 tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion or 1 small shallot

1 tsp sugar

½ -1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Liter beef stock (preferably homemade)

1-3 tsp Sybil’s Green Curry Paste

2 cups 2 day old bread from farmers market

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

Dice onion and slowly cook with oil and sugar until onion is caramelized. Add beef stock and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 tsp of Sybil’s Curry Paste and salt and pepper. Taste and if the taste of curry isn’t present add another teaspoon.Spoon soup into oven safe bowl, add bread and cheese and broil until cheese browns and begins to bubble.

Serve!

Better yet, most of our regular vendors will be on board too. They offer all kinds of baked goods, meat products, honey, maple syrup and other yummies as well as finely crafted art work.

And it keeps getting better…We have all kinds of special events and surprises this season. We will, of course, be kicking off the season on May 24 weekend. This will give everyone an opportunity to stock up on all the good stuff they’ve run out of over the winter.

May 28^th we will be partnering with the Bobcaygeon Horticultural Society and their annual mega plant sale, which will be held at the Curling Club. We will also host the Gala of Hope at our Community Table. This is an organization that has raised over $1 million for the cancer centre in Oshawa, which is where women from this area go for treatment. They will have T-shirts and hats for sale and all the information on the centre.

Unlock the Summer, June 4^th, WOW! What a line up. We will be opening at 7 AM that day in order to coincide with the humongous garage sale going on at the Curling Club. Early shoppers take note: we will have the coffee on and be ready to serve it up when you arrive. EMS will have the P.A.D. display and info sharing at the Community Table. And to top it off, Tom Brown, weather guy for CTV, will be at the market. Keep your eyes opened…

June 11^th the Boyd Heritage Museum will be at the Community Table holding a 50/50 Draw.

So come out and support these worthy causes and fantastic volunteers and celebrate the local abundance we are so lucky to have in our area.

Inch by inch, row by row,

Come and see our market grow…

Look at the logistics of eating local produce; it  becomes down right practical and sensible. The food is fresher and it does not have to travel that far to the market and eventually our table. This becomes a great bonus to the environment – less distance, less gas. And we all want to save on gas consumption these days! These are all factors contributing to the sustainable food system as promoted by the food charters.

The City of Kawartha Lakes is establishing a new way to look at our eating habits. The Vancouver Food Charter explains that a food charter is…”an important step forward on the path to a just and sustainable food system for the city and its residents…an ambitious, forward thinking document that promotes education, celebration and real projects for a healthy economy, a healthy ecology, and a healthy society.”

As you can see, it is not just the consumption of locally produced fresh food. Food charters, farmers’ markets, eating local produce and eating healthy are facets of embracing the many aspects of humanity. From birth to death and every celebration in between, food is central. Besides eating and celebrating, the very act of bringing fresh produce to a centrally located market place becomes a social act of bringing community together.

Local markets have been around ever since ancient times; ever since there were farmers with produce to sell. The market became the focal point of the community. It was a place to meet, to exchange news and stories, visit with your neighbours and friends as well as make your household purchases. And anyone who has attended a market can testify that these activities still go on today.

Last year our local libraries focused on “The 100 Mile Diet” by Alisa Dawn Smith. A perfect read for those looking for more information on the subject. This winter, it became the TV series, The 100 Mile Diet Challenge, in Hope, B.C.

But the best sign of the health of our communities is the increase in the number of farmers’ markets being created. They in turn contribute to our sustainable food system. This is a sustainable food system for all people, whether it is produced on local farms, backyard gardens, balconies or in community gardens, sold off the farm or in farmers’ markets; it is for everyone in our society.

Before I close, I’d just like to mention that the information for this article was taken from good old fashion newspapers, books, experience as well as the internet. Looking forward to seeing you at the market! And don’t forget…

“Get Fresh at the Bobcaygeon Farmers’ Market!”

Bobcaygeon Farmers’ Market
Bobcaygeon Fairgrounds

Saturdays, 8am – 1pm

Welcome to the Incredible Bobcaygeon Famers’ Market!

The Bobcaygeon Farmer’s Market will be operating every Saturday starting May 21st (Mini-Market) and June 18th (Full Market) with over 35 vendors and a multitude of fresh and local food growers, producers and artisans as well!

Join us at the Bobcaygeon Fairgrounds from 8am to 1pm in beautiful Bobcaygeon, ON in the Kawartha Lakes on the Trent Severn Waterway (Lock 32).  Look for the signs for just ask a friendly local resident who would love to help!  It’s easy to find.

The Bobcaygeon Farmers’ Market is dedicated to providing only products that are locally grown and/or processed.  For example, the produce must have been grown on their farm or the lasagna is made from the fresh organic beef raised locally.  We also have local artisans providing some wonderful creations.

To ensure that local really means LOCAL, we have enacted the 100km rule.  Therefore you can be ensured that you are supporting growers and processors within 100km of Bobcaygeon, and in most cases, from Bobcaygeon itself!

Most mornings you will be entertained by local talent (and I mean talent!) and we always offer sensational organic fair-trade coffee at very reasonable prices.

Please join us – it isn’t just a market, it’s a fun outing that’s great for the whole family!

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