Let’s Chat About…Local Farms
Food Security, Sustainability, Local, Organic, Wild, Farmed, Grass-fed, Pasture Raised, Antibiotic Free, Non GMO… There are so many ‘buzz’ words when it comes to talking about food.
The truth of the matter is that, if you’re lucky enough to have food security, you’re likely eating about 3 meals a day. That's a lot of consumption over the course of a week, a month, a year. It's a lot of opportunity to make wise decisions
What I try to be mindful of is Food Sustainability. Now this doesn’t just mean the food itself but rather how its produced, distributed, packaged and consumed. There are so many factors at play!
I am by no means an expert in food sustainability and I won't pretend to be. Honestly, I have a lot to learn!
As a Chef, I love working with exotic and international flavours which means I'm purchasing products that are shipped from around the world. I dont strictly use local, organic and in-season ingredients. While I do preserve and pickle some of my favourite vegetables, fruits and meats at the peak of their season here in Ontario, I enjoy eating fresh berries in the winter and tomatoes all year round.
What I am doing is making a conscious effort to connect with and support more local growers who have this incredibly important and thankless job of producing food to nourish us while protecting the environment and our future. All I want to do here is highlight some absolutely awesome local people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with in hopes that you too might find ways to support them.
Local Farms:
Mad Meadow Farms: A small scale farm in #hamont finding our way through our first season. We use organic and regenerative methods to help make Mother Nature happy.
I first met Madeline 4 years ago at The Kitchen Collective. She was working for another food company preparing meals. We had an instant connection. I think it was her love and passion for food and learning more about cooking techniques while being really really interested in farming that drew me in. Mads had big dreams that completely aligned with mine. We would prep at opposite tables and chat about the past and dream about the future. She seemed intrigued by my childhood of raising chickens and rabbits and being in my grandparents' beautiful garden. She asked a lot of questions about food preparation and techniques and we just always had a million things to talk about. She worked for another local gem Kala’s Farms where I always got all of my squash from and learned as much as she could about farming. Fast forward to 2021 and she has bought her own farm and has started harvesting AMAZING organic produce. I’ve got to be honest, I get teary eyed just thinking about how far she's come and what the future holds for her and her farm as well as how lucky we all are that she's so engrossed in making Mother Nature as happy as possible.
How to support them: She supplies to local restaurants, and Chefs like myself and pop’s up at some awesome markets around the city. I also purchased all of my seedlings from Mad Meadow Farm this year and picked them up at The Mustard Seed Co-op.
Instagram: @madmeadowfarm
Pear Blossom Orchard: A small organic family farm nestled in the picturesque wine region of Niagara, Ontario.
I met Elaine through my Mother- in- Law Rowena (a retired organic grower- I hit the jackpot, I know)
The first time I tried her lettuce, I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY. Like seriously, I have NEVER tasted lettuce this good. I couldn't stop thinking about it, talking about it and telling everyone that I know to get some. Throughout Covid, Elaine started offering farmstead pickup of weekly bags filled with her organic produce and microgreens. Everything was beyond exceptional. Rowena dropped off a bag one week and I had the whole lot of snap peas eaten before they even hit the fridge. So crisp and sweet and perfect. When we met for the first time I was captivated by Elaine. We chatted a bit about my plans to grow a garden next season and she flowed with amazing advice on how to get started and create ‘till-less agriculture’. There’s nothing like the advice given from someone who is passionate, generous and willing to mentor. I immediately and excitedly bought my supplies from Dubois and really look forward to guidance and chats from those who know best!
How to support them: Connect with Elaine thought her website pearblossomorchard.com
Instagram: @pearblossonorchard
Pure and Simple Farm: Femme + Youth Led. Low impact farming based in food sovereignty
Farm Store Open Weekends 9-4
This story is farm community greatness at its best. I had reached out to Mads (and my whole network really) because I needed Zucchini Blossoms for a very special client on her very special birthday. She didn’t have any but she was able to connect me with someone who did ;)
Alissa provided me with the most gorgeous Zucchini Blossoms literally the day after we connected (it was a short turnaround time) yet she still pulled through for me and I appreciate that in so many ways.
This group of Youth are the real deal and I'm in awe of everything they’ve done and they stand for. I haven't had a chance to make it out to the farm yet but I will! Its located in Millgrove ON and they have a Farm store which is currently open on weekends where you can get their produce as well as Wild Meadows Farm meats and eggs (another place on my list to check out) They also host some awesome Farm events that I can’t wait to experience.
How to support them: Connect with them though pureandsimple.farm
Instagram @pureandsimplefarmz
Meat and Fish
VG Meats: 4 brothers working together in a true farm-to-fork butcher shop, delivering high care and high quality meat that will always perform on your plate.
VG specializes in small herd, high care beef that is never fed antibiotics, is fully traceable and is the first tenderness tested beef in Canada. In addition to beef, they also offer local chicken, pork and turkey. I’ve purchased and enjoyed a few Tomahawk steaks from the lovely brothers of VG. In addition to a gorgeous meat counter at their Stoney Creek location they also have ‘freezer bundles’ which are a great economical option for people. They offer a Premium Line of meats AND started VG’s Farm to City Program offering which brings our fresh, ethically-raised local meat straight to your door. They’re making it really easy for you Friends!
How to support them: vgfarmtocity.ca or visit their location at 131 Upper Centennial Parkway
Stoney Creek, ON
Instagram: @vgmeats
Murray's Farm Butcher Shop: Farmer Owned, Murray is the only farmer in Canada with registered herds of Gloucestershire Old Spot, Herefords, and British Saddlebacks. He’s raising heritage breeds that are fed a pure, clean, non-GMO, natural and healthy diet of oats, peas, barley, and green hay; plus, whatever natural goodies they root up while foraging around the farm. No corn. No soy.
Do I even need to say more? You MUST get to Murray’s and get yourself some meat! This hits close to home for me because Murray does it right! Exactly how we raised our chickens and rabbits. All the good stuff to consume and graze on and a great life. When it was their time they were met with respect and compassion then they were handled humanely and butchered skillfully using every bit of that animal.
I’ve yet to have a better Pork Chop and their meat counter is packed full of house made sausages and burgers. It's also not just pork Friends. The Butcher Shoppe stocks eggs and poultry and next door is their produce and pantry market
How to support them: www.murraysfarm.ca or visit the Shoppe at 182 Ottawa Street, Hamilton
Instagram:@murraysfarmbutchershoppe
Springhills Fish:Fish Farm. Local a-fish-ionados. Delivering tasty and ethical fish in Ontario. Family run since '95. Trout, char, pickerel and barramundi!
Not gonna lie, I had no idea there were people farming sustainable fish basically in my own backyard. I cannot rave enough about Springhills amazing fish. I got a 4 fish sampler which includes all of the above fish and they're all amazing! Be sure to check out my instagram for a recipe and me totally gushing about their products.
How to support them: Do yourself a favour and head to springhillsfish.ca to order some awesome fish. Start with a sampler pack and then continue to order your favourites month after month because they now deliver to HAMILTON!!! Woohoo. And watch for my (likely frequent) recipes using their amazing products
Instagram:@springhillfish
Well I could go on and on and on about farmers/producers but I don’t want to lose you in some long ass, long winded blog about my favs so maybe we’ll create a series where I can highlight a few awesome humans who are doing awesome things to feed us on a regular basis.. What do you think, would that interest you?
Xoxo
-Erica