I came to Newfoundland for the first time just over four years ago. I can still vividly recall taking the ferry across from Nova Scotia in the late winter, listening to the groaning sounds of the ice around the boat. Within two months of arriving I made my first trip to Bonne Bay, a remote fjord on the west coast of the island. I went to learn about the food system and fisheries in the region as part of a PhD program I was beginning at Memorial University that fall.
Maple syrup conjures up images of towering arboretums in places like Quebec or Vermont, but it’s a little known secret that the rugged and hardy maple trees of Newfoundland make darn fine maple syrup. With nothing more than a half dozen maple trees, some old salt beef containers and a handful of 25 cent metal tree taps, you’re good to go and can expect to end up with over a dozen bottles of hand made maple syrup.
Spectacular vistas, whales breaching, ice bergs floating by, and a foragers paradise. We are blessed with many wilderness areas that offer abundant edible plants. I rarely go on a hike without stopping to have a little taste of this or that. In this post, I will touch upon some of the edibles currently available in our wonderful wilderness.
Thanks to the listing from Seeds of Diversity, I was able to locate a gentleman in Newfoundland who has a great deal of experience growing a wide variety of potatoes here. Last week, I recieved by my set of samples from George, and here's what my benefactor told me about the varieties:
Red Dutch: A very dry, yellow flesh red from Holland in the 1940’s. An excellent potato. Late maturing.
Northern White: A white flesh variety, from Quebec apparently, from the early 1900’s. Very high yield. Good taste.
Agrifoods has posted their annual listing of agricultural events: summer festivals, farm days and harvest fairs that your family can enjoy this year! We'll be referencing these events and this listing a lot in the coming months and adding our own updates as more activities are planned across the province. So bookmark this post and keep coming back to it for farm fresh fun times!
The provincial Harvest Celebration last weekend was a great success! But that certainly doesn't mean that the agricultural community is taking a break now. Producers, farmer's markets and community gardens province-wide are bustling with their harvests, and fall fair organizers are busy putting together many more events. This coming week is absolutely hopping with harvest celebrations! Below is information on what's going on in Stephenville, Harbour Grace, and Torbay. And like we mentioned in the last post, there's a schedule of events from Agrifoods that can keep you up to speed on where to go for your local food celebrations in October too!
Stephenville Community Market Harvest Day Festival
September 25th
The Community Market and Garden at the Lions Club site on Woodland Street, Stephenville, will be the location of a Harvest Day Festival being celebrated this Saturday, September 25th.
Highlights of the day's scheduled activities include:
Admission is free for the Harvest Day Festival Activities with the exception of the dinner and dance for which there is an admission charge of $12 per person. There is a $5 admission for those wishing to attend only the dance. Tickets may be picked up at the Lions Club from Wednesday to Friday or from members of the Market Committee.
The Stephenville Food Bank will have a booth at the festival and the general public are asked to bring along donations of non-perishable food items.
For further information please contact Mary-Ann Lainey, Market Coordinator, ph. (709) 643-2795, or Bob Diamond, Market Committee Chair ph. 709 643-6362
Harbour Grace 52nd Trinity-Conception Agriculture, Homecrafts Fall Fair and Miss Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant
September 23rd-26th
SW Moores Memorial Stadium, Harbour Grace.
Featuring Aerial Trapeze Acts, School Tours, Vegetable Bus, Local Artwork, Let's Make a Deal, Games of Chance, Giant Parade, Seniors' Day, Petting Farm, Face Painting, Live Entertainment, Magic Show and...
September 21-26 Thomas Amusements. Sponsored by the Trinity- Conception Fair.
September 23-26 Produce & Preserves Events. For more information call 596 6201
September 23rd Grade 5 Agricultural Spelling Bee. 7:30pm Call 945-3007 for additional information
September 24th Miss Teen Trinity Conception Pageant – Doors open at 6:30pm
September 25th Hypnotist Gary Summers. Doors open at 6:30pm
September 25th and 26th 52nd Miss Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant. For information call 596-0506
September 26th Trinity- Conception Fair Baby Contest. 1:30pm Ages 1-2 1/2 years and Prince and Princess 3:00pm Ages 2 ½ to 4 ½ For more information: 596-6201.
Torbay Farmer’s Market
October 3rd (Please Note that the market scheduled for Sept. 26th has been cancelled due to issues following Hurricane Igor)
The Town of Torbay will be hosting its annual Torbay Farmer’s Market. Come out and enjoy the afternoon with events for the whole family, including lots of activities for children!
There is sure to be something there for everyone, from produce and baked goods to arts, crafts, clothes and so much more. There will also be some food available and free hot chocolate for everyone.
The market will be located at the Torbay Kinsmen Community Centre from 12:00pm – 4:00pm on both Sundays. Booths will be inside and outside.
For more information please contact Jeff Lawlor, Economic Development Officer, at 437-6532 ext 264 or jlawlor@town.torbay.nf.ca.
Save the dates of Sept. 16-19 if you're in the Torbay area because you're not going to want to miss the provincial Agrifoods & Garden Show 2010 Harvest Celebration! This annual event showcases NL's agricultural merits with fall fair activities, a farmer's market, petting farm, healthy cooking displays, and booths from organizations across the province. Keep an eye out there for the NL Agricultural Historical Society showcasing root cellars! Check out the poster for the event here:
And if you're not nearby enough to go to that harvest celebration, there are still lots of others happening across the province in the next few months! And each highlights the great things that different regions have to offer agriculturally. For a list of the different regional celebrations see the schedule of agricultural events. If there's a community garden in your area, odds are they'll be celebrating the harvest and having work-bees to wrap up the growing season too, so contact them directly to get involved. You can find community gardens listed in the FSN Food Security Initiative Inventory by region.
Fall fairs, harvest celebrations, and agricultural shows are a great way to enjoy a day out with your family and friends, learn about our provincial food system, and reconnect to farming traditions. And don't forget all the yummy local food there! See you at the fair!
