Join in the fun this Saturday (Sept. 25) at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market.
For Autumn Harvest Day, there will be prizes for the most immense onion, the most ponderous potato, the craziest carrot, and the tiniest tomato.
Bring your vegetables to market so they are ready for judging by 11 a.m., with prizes being awarded by 11:30.
And race drivers get ready! The first-ever Clover Valley Farmers’ Market “Zucchini 500” will commence Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The entry fee is $1 to be part of this historic race.
Get there early to build your own racing machine. Vegetables (it may be a variety as zucchini are in short supply this cool year!), axles, and wheels will be ready to assemble into speedy racers.
It’s the vegetable challenge of the season!
Colourful tree fruits and fall vegetables certainly take centre stage at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market this time of year. Several varieties of apples and pears are available this Saturday, so get your pie pastry and freezer containers ready!
Late-summer vegetables also are in abundance, including root crops such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, and rutabagas. The brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts) love the cool, damp weather.
And there are countless varieties of squash to choose from—Hubbard, acorn, butternut, and turban squash just start the list.
Market vendors are quite knowledgeable about the crops they are selling and can provide the information you want to know. Not only can they explain how the crop was grown, but also they often can suggest the best storage and cooking methods.
There always are recipes available at the market, so pick some up!
You can find fall bulbs at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market ready to plant for your springtime pleasure. Ideally, your bed should be ready to place bulbs during the first few October and your choices for planting are numerous.
Separate beds of bulbs can spotlight areas of the garden. A bed of mixed tulips can be gay and attractive, but it is not as striking as bold patches of separate colours—either blending harmoniously or contrasting sharply.
Groups of tulips in front of shrub borders give bright patches of colour against a background of greenery, and many of the smaller, hardy bulbs can add early interest in rock gardens.
Also look for the “Get Outdoors” Club at the farmers’ market this Saturday. This Fort Frances junior sportsmen’s club was established in 1991 and is an active group involved with many projects.
Recently, they built birdhouses and loon platforms and placed them. They also monitored galerucella beetles that were released in 2000.
The group also constructed three beaver bafflers to protect wildlife and help the people who were flooded, and they picked up garbage along roadsides and rivers.
They learn survival techniques, camping, snowshoeing, try target practice, and even find time to fund raise. Come and meet some of these adventurous youngsters this Saturday and learn about their club activities.
Tickets for the return visit of the popular “Legends” concert also will be available this Saturday at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market.
Every last seat was sold out the last time this group visited Fort Frances as a fundraiser for the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, so don’t delay in getting your tickets this time around.
