It can be hard these days to find food you can trust.
We are all looking for food that will best nourish our bodies while least harming the environment. Food that hasn’t been sitting on a truck for days on end while its nutrients diminish to nothing.
We had the same difficulty finding the delicious fresh vegetables that we grew up eating, so we started growing our own.
Summer squash thriving in the no-till garden at Bird’s Nest Garden Farm
We have 30 years of veggie growing experience and it has been our pleasure to provide fresh veg to our community for the past 8 years.
2023 may see us pivoting towards completing long term projects on the farm and away from the constant vigilance required by annual vegetable production. We’ll see what this winter brings as we map out our plans.
A true sign of fall: cured, cleaned garlic ready for use and storage.
So the market garden season is wrapping up. It is hard to believe on a warm, sunny day like today that there is one final market left. It feels much more like late August than October. Especially in the hoop house.
But here we are on the eve of another Thanksgiving. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler. The trees are turning. Chores and veggie tending have slowed enough to allow for time to review the last few months.
What a summer. Heat. Drought. Well running dry. Flea beetle plagues. And now hordes of slugs. Quite the year to start a market garden. But every year has it’s challenges. Next year we will be stretched in new directions. They tell me, that’s what farming is all about. Better learn to be flexible.
But we made it through, thanks to some timely help from friends and family. And also thanks to our customers. Lovely people who understood the difficultly of growing vegetables without rain. And didn’t get mad when the kale and lettuce we had on our table since early June suddenly were no longer available in August.
First day for Polka Dot Hen Produce at the Wiarton Farmers Market. We sold tomato seedlings, herb divisions and herb bundles. Glad I had my helper/photographer along!
Our First Market Day
The weather was perfect.
The customers were engaged.
The other vendors were welcoming.
What a nice start to our season.
Spring was definitely in the air, so many folks at the Wiarton Farmers Market were ready to talk gardening. It was really fun to geek out on the heirloom tomatoes. Customers were interested, or at least very kind, and let me prattle on about the wonders of Saint Pierre, Cherokee Purple and Matt’s Wild Cherry. I also learned some great new tips for using catnip and lemon balm. I could have easily spent all my earnings with the other vendors at the market. Vending next to the chocolatier…deadly. And so good. I will have to pace myself.
However, there was quite the wind-up before this long-anticipated day. So many things to learn, so many things to consider. Where to start? Continue reading “To Market”
In 2022 we are offering curated veggie boxes on Tuesdays. Some spots are available for the four-week block in August. If you would like more information , please email Erin at erin@polkadothenproduce.com .
We are so happy to be returning to the Wiarton Farmers’ Market downtown location this year as well. Find us Fridays in Downtown Wiarton from 10-2 at “the Parkette” (590 Berford St.)
This is how we rolled in 2021:
After years of selling our fresh veggies and plants at the Wiarton Farmers’ Market, 2020 saw us pivot to local fresh veggie box deliveries.
We all had to make some changes that year, eh?
In 2021, we continued to deliver curated fresh veggie boxes to a select group of Wiarton folks on Tuesdays.
The veggie box program comes with a weekly newsletter that includes storage tips and recipes for each weeks’ veggies.
You have the option of providing your own containers to reduce plastic bags.
Weekly veggie boxes are limited and prepayment is required to reserve your season’s produce.
Also in 2021 are returned to the Wiarton Farmers’ Market on Fridays with produce kits and plants.
Our produce kit combinations gather all the veggies and herbs you need for seasonal specialties. Some of the most popular kits are:
mixed green salad
tzatziki
bruschetta
salsa
cucumber salad
Each season brings its own enticing mix. Some larger mixed veggie bags are also available for you to add your own creativity.
All veggies are picked the morning of or the afternoon before market.
Wiarton Farmers’ Market runs every Friday from Victoria Day until Thanksgiving.
