the Cobblestone Farm Paris

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

We just wanted to wish all of our friends and customers a Happy New Year!

Toronto Garlic Festival - We Were There - Were You....

2011-09-27T06:10:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we went to the Toronto Garlic Festival and it was buzzing with people and vendors. The weather was wonderful, sunny and warm and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves. What a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, taking in the fresh air, appreciating the new fall colours, relishing in the warm breezes and of course buying Ontario Garlic.

We learned something new while we were there to - Did you know that some people like to eat hot peppers right out of the basket! Such Daredevils! I doubt that I'll ever develop tastebuds of steel!

Vendors provided a great variety of items to touch, taste and buy, like spices, produce, pottery and of course tasty foods. We were located between "Add Love & Stir" and "Organic Crepe." From our taste experiences, we can say that the Buckwheat Crepes with Peaches and Chocolate were STUPENDOUS and that the Dip and Prezzels were habit forming (sorry - just couldn't stop!!)

It was a great festival, lots of fun for everyone. Of course we (the Cobblestone Farm Paris) sold Gourmet Garlic, Hot Peppers and some Butternut Squash.We also talked a lot about our farming practices and our Market Garden Produce. If you're wondering - Customers order produce they want from our list, they e-mail us their choices - we pack up their order - Customers pick up their order at our farm.

We spoke with so many nice people and we hope to hear back from some of you! I am really interested in getting the recipe for the hot pepper marinade, if that customer is willing to share - please - please!

It was great to see everyone, and Toronto was definitely the place to be to enjoy Canadian Culture and Canadian Hospitality.

SanMarzano September Days.......

2011-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

The weather has really cooled off here in Paris. It must be a sign, winter will be just around the corner.
Oh well, it is not here yet!

If any of you are interested in making sauces, we have SanMarzano Roma Tomatoes - they are great for sauce and stewed tomatoes. I made my first batch of sauce and it was soooooo gooood!! We also have heirloom Sicilian Saucers, sweet Low Acids and tasty Cherry Tomatoes.

So, be sure to check our website and order some of our tasty, no spray veggies while they last! At least before we get our first frost. Check our current Produce Availability at: http://www.thecobblestonefarmparis.com/STAND.html

Summer Days

2011-08-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Garden has produced an amazing bounty this year. Soon it will be time to make Tomato Sauce, I am eager for our San Marzano's to ripen. Only a few here or there right now.

If you are planning a trip to Paris Ontario and have a chance to stop by the farm, be sure to place an order for a custom basket of fresh produce. Check our website Stand page to see what is available and then just let us know what you would like.
http://www.thecobblestonefarmparis.com/STAND.html

Hope to see you before the snow flies!

Heirloom, Hybird, and Non-GMO Vegetables Ready at the farm

2011-07-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

The produce is coming on now and we have a large selection of fresh items for sale. Check out the "stand" page on our web site to see the most up to date selections

Here is a sampling of what we have today:

Rhubarb - 8 to 10 stalks - $3.00

Broccoli - 400 grams - $3.00
Chiogga Beets - package of 8 - to 10 - $3.00
Eggplant - package of 4 (6 to 8 inch) = $3.00
Green Onions (Green Banner) - packages 8 to 10 - $2.00
Hot Peppers - 200 grams - $3.00
Herbs - Oregano/Dill - 125 grams - $3.00
Kohlrabi - Large Purple or White - $3.00
Sweet Banana Peppers - 200 grams -$3.00
Swiss Chard - White - package of 8 to 10 stalks - $ 3.00
Romaine - Large Jerrico - $3.00
Waldmann Frilly Lettuce Leaves - 200 gram packages - $3.00
(packaged as whole leaves or cut for salad)
Zucchini - package of 4 (between 6 to 10 inches in size) - $3.00 or
- package of 2 at least 11 inches or more - $3.00

Pastured, Free Range Brown Eggs
$3.25 with your egg carton or $3.50 with ours

Garden is Growing 2011

2011-06-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Our garden is pesticide/chemical free and we hand manage our plantings by laying landscape fabric and straw. Early this spring we planted Asparagus and Rasperberry Bushes. Theses plants will need a year or two to get situated but after that, we should have enough produce for our customers.

This spring we have Garlic Scapes, Rhubarb, Herbs and Spinach ready to go (eggs too!). If you would like to purchase something from our farm, please contact us through our website.

As the season progresses we will have beans, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, onions and squash (many varieties). Be sure to check out our website and look at the "Grow Plan" to see what is planted in the field. We only plant non-gmo, heritage and hyrid vegetables.

With rain in the air today, our garden is happy and growing and hopefully it will produce a bounty for us this summer!

Is it Spring Yet?

2011-04-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

We started our seedling on April 9, we watered gently and sat back and waited for our new little seedlings to sprout. We just can't wait for spring this year,the field has already been plowed in anticipation of a great summer season! A few of our seedlings are poking their heads out, beans and broccoli seem to be the fastest growers however leeks and onions are joining in too.

Today however is a cold winters day. Believe it or not, April 17 and SNOW in the air!

The chickens don't even want to come out.
Crazy spring weather!

Tomatoes on the window sill

2010-08-17T04:32:00.000-07:00

A sure way to tell its August! Tomatoes on the window sill.

Our garden is starting to produce tomatoes! about six a day. So far we are picking them a bit early, when they start to ripen and letting them fully color on the window sill.

We plan to sell "No Spray" Green Beans, Sweet Japanese Egg Plant, Cherry and Grape Tomatoes and Low Acid Tomatoes this year, as well as Free Range/Pastured Brown Eggs.

We also planted some authentic Italian San Marzano Roma tomatoes this year. They are just starting to ripen and I made my first sauce yesterday. Yum!!! We eagerly wait for the annual tomato sauces each year. It takes about 4 hours to prepare one batch and we usually do about 6 batches. Lots of work but the taste is amazing!.

Not sure if we will have any Roma Tomatoes left to sell, it will depend on how the season works out. Last year a late blight killed the plants and devastated the crop. Hopefully we'll have better luck this season.

How good are Free Range or Pastured Eggs?

2010-08-09T04:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know that happy chickens lay healthy eggs?
Are you interested in learning more about eggs? check out this article.

Check out this link to see the analyses - Mother Earth Egg.pdf

Not just birdbrains, Chickens are capable of complex thought.

2010-06-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to read a book called "The Inner World of Farm Animals" by Amy Hatkoff, 2009 and I wanted to share some of the amazing information with you.

Researchers are learning that human brains and avian brains process information in similar ways.

University research shows that chickens are unique creatures with social structures, feelings and emotions.

Did you know that:

Chicks can tell people apart and remember the experiences they had with them, per researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada.

Chickens have a sense of the future, they demonstrate self-control and the capacity to delay gratification.

Much of a chicks behaviour is learned rather than instinctual and they form strong social friendships - preferring some individuals over others.

The University of Bristol has shown the chickens can learn from videos.

Chickens use their right and left sides of their brains to perform different functions. This process is called lateralization and was originally thought to be a unique human ability. Lateralization was the necessary component language, consciousness and tool use. Dr. Lesley Rogers, Professor of Zoology at University of New England, Australia

Chickens also follow the direction of eye gazes. This would mean they have an awareness that others exist and then grasp that they are looking at something.

Chickens have demonstrated the ability to count and use basic geometry University of Trento, Padua and Chieti

Chickens know what is good for them. If they are in pain, they will choose and continue to eat foods laced with painkillers, and when they recover they will select food without the drugs. - Professor Marion Stamp Dawkins, Professor of Animal Behaviour of Oxford University.

One of the capacities we associate with consciousness or higher cognition is the ability to think about something that is not in the immediate vicinity. This is call object permanence. Researchers at University of Trento and Univeristy of Padua Italy have found that as soon as chicks hatch, they are able to remember that something exists, even if they are unable to see it."Human babies acquire object permanence somewhere between 5 and 8 months.

Chickens have highly developed communication skills.- Dr. Gisela Kaplan, professor Univeristy of New England.

Researchers have identified 31 different call-types with very specific meanings. Chickens use separate alarm calls depending on whether the predator is traveling by land or sky. They also have nesting, mating, laying, contented, and all clear calls. They also make appropriate response calls to different alarm calls but only when another chicken is present to hear it.

The more they like something like a particular food, the faster they speak.

Is it time to reevaluate how they are treated?

I think they should be treated with respect, dignity and kindness. They should receive the best possible treatment from their handlers and not have to live in fear or pain. They should enjoy their time here.

Fresh Free Range Eggs

2010-06-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

I have always loved animals, and I hate to see them mistreated. I grew up with pets, like dogs and cats and I was taught to treat them with kindness and respect. Animals after all are similar to us, with varied personalities, having likes and dislikes as well as the ability to experience emotions.

So, this year, on the farm, we decided to purchase some laying hens. It has been a great experience. We set up a safe place for them to sleep and lay eggs and we ensure that they have ample opportunities to graze and scratch around or just lay in the dust in the field. They have access to fresh water and feed, but they prefer to spend their day hunting, in search of young grasses or tasty tidbits in the yard.

The hens are such fun to have around and the eggs are a bonus. If you are interested in purchasing free range eggs, give us a call before you come to make sure that we have some available.

2009 Season

2009-11-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

We had a good growing season this year but lots of rainy, cloudy days made produce ripening a slow process. We purchased some chickens in the spring and they were a pleasure to have around. We plan to have more next year, so if you are interested in free range brown eggs, be sure to stop by.

We have decided to grow Squash, Yellow Beans, Roma and Cherry Tomatoes again next season. Now we are busy preparing for the winter season and cleaning up the garden. If you have any requests for specific fresh local no-spray produce, please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

the Stand is Open

2009-07-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

We decided to grow "no spray" produce again for the second year. Some plants are lush, while others are growing more slowly this year. If we get some hot days things will pick up.

The stand officially opens today. We will have yellow beans, broccoli florets, radishes, yellow zucchini, peppers and maybe some Rhubarb.

Tomatoes are growing but they are not ripe yet.

If you have a chance please stop by the stand and be sure to send us an e-mail with your feedback.

Have a great summer.

The Garden is Growing!!

2009-05-25T08:36:00.001-07:00

We have been busy preparing the garden over the last few weeks and have just begun to plant. So far we have beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and eggplants planted. Aside from the vegetable garden we have started a small Apple orchard this year. It will take a few years to get established but it should be nice when the trees start to produce fruit.

If the weather cooperates between now and the end of June, we will probably put out our vegetable Stand early in July.

Hope you have a chance to stop by the Stand.
Have a Great Spring!!

December.....

2008-12-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

The breezy Fall days are gone and now we face the chills of December. When I think about the warmer days of summer, I realize that we learned a lot about managing a small vegetable garden. We had the chance to experiment with produce we had never grown before. What an experience. Fresh, vibrant, sweet or hot - the flavors were exploding with each bite. It was a pleasing experience, but a lot of work!

My family can still enjoy the garden fresh flavors of summer at diner time - Italian Tomato Sauce -amazing stuff -I know I am gong to run out. Dill Pickles that have a bit of a kick, frozen Peppers, Yellow Beans or Squash. Enough variety to enjoy through the cold winter months.

Hope you had a chance to store some summer freshness yourselves.

Next...on to dreaming about next years garden......if you have any requests, please let me know.

Where did the time go?

2008-10-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

I can not believe it is almost the end of October... where did the time go?

We had a great growing season however Septembers' cooler weather and rain wrapped things up in the garden quickly. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers were all done. Squash was still growning, and we were hoping produce would mature before frost hit but it was not as plentiful as planned.

So, now the stand is packed away, and we are busy trying to clean up the garden. We have had a plentiful Thanksgiving and many things to be grateful for, like good times with family and friends.

Remember to enjoy the Fall Colors and have a glorious season.

September Already!

2008-09-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

We come from a long line of small garden farmers who believe that foods grown and cared for with love and picked at their peak taste better than those foods produced by volume and picked to ship great distances.... And so far, it seems we are right!!

We have cherry tomatoes and carrots that are just so incredible! The flavor is so bright. The low acid tomatoes we planted, Golden Girl, have been a great variety! sweet and juicy. Unfortunately, I think people are not attracted to the colour, yellow or orange. I guess it is just something about tomatoes are supposed to be RED. Give them a try, you'll be surprised.

Anyway the yellow beans were a great success, sweet and juicy - even right off the plant. We have a few left but they are really at the end of their season. Spaghetti squash and Cucumbers are almost at the end of their run to.

Just starting now we have a great crop of Roma tomatoes and various Sweet Peppers. We have already been making tomato sauce for the winter - this is just soooooo good!!!- like a rose sauce less the heavy cream or wine and even our 5 year old loves it!. If you are looking to make sauce, these tomatoes and peppers are the ones you need - No Spray, fresh and sweet.

We also have hot peppers, Kung Pao and Jalapenos that pack a punch and are necessary for any really good sauce. Our beef steak tomatoes and red beauty peppers are just starting to get ripe.

Latter down the road we should have some butternut squash - sooooo.. tasty with red onion, red potato and olive oil, maybe some basil, oregano and salt. Sorry but the zucchinis have already been spoken for (bread and pasta).

And hopefully in October we will have a few pumpkins for sale, unless our son picks them all early and we have pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin seeds and fall pumpkin display.

If you have a chance, let us know which vegetables you liked best and would like to see again. Maybe you could even suggest some new ones for next year. So far we have a request for Beets and Garlic.

Enjoy your fall!

What's in the field?

2008-08-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

we have Vegetables ............
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Corn - Peaches and Cream
Cucumbers
Japanese Eggplant
Lettuce
Onion - Spanish, Red
Peas - Snap, Sweet
Peppers Hot- Hungarian Hot Wax, Kung Pao,
Peppers Sweet -
Pickles
Pumpkin
Rhubarb
Squash - Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn
Tomatoes - Cherry, Roma,
Water Melon
Yellow Beans

and Herbs

basil - Italian, Sweet
bay Leaf
chives
dill
oregano
parsley -curly and a flat.
rosemary
thyme

and Fruit .....

Apples
Blackberries
Pears
Raspberries

Fall 2008 new plantings:

Garlic - music

About

2008-08-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Cobblestone Market Garden is a small no spray vegetable garden located in Paris Ontario. We are starting out with very little experience, but a lot of perseverance as of spring 2008. The work crew includes 3 optimistic individuals, each bringing special skills and abilities to the operation.

The crops have flourished with all the rain and yields per plant are high. Attracting customers however has been a bit of a dilemma. Paris does not have a Farmer's Market, and the stand at the roadside has not been enough to slow down potential customers. Maybe the blog will help!

We would love to see this business grow over the next few years.