MARKET MUSINGS

June 25, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jan Freedman

Just in time for the official start of summer, our final farmer, Summerside Farm, has now arrived at the Market with his gorgeous vegetables.
From now on, each week there will be more and more Ontario produce available from our farmers.
There is considerable information to share this week, so let’s begin.
This year’s Garden Tour takes place on Sunday, July 6. The tour starts at noon, rain or shine, and is a self-guided tour of eight amazing properties, different every year.
You will have the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and diverse gardens in the community. You will also have the chance to talk to the garden owners who will delight in sharing details and information with you.
Over the years, the Aurora Garden Tour has selected gardens that serve a wide variety of purposes. Yard spaces, large or small, can accommodate multiple needs for today’s busy families. Learn from what others have been inspired to create.
Whether you desire a place to relax, entertain or simply to putter in, you can create a garden space to suit yourself- simple or exotic, low maintenance or low water consumption gardens. You can enjoy flowers, shrubs, vines or even fruit trees. You can create a mini market garden and grow your own vegetables.
If you haven’t the space for a garden, then why not get creative with a planter box or some plants in pots. The Wiedemeyers at the Market will be happy to advise you which tomato or pepper plants will do well in pots.
You could add a trellis for height as well as for hanging some garden art and, voila, you have your own garden to enjoy.
Tickets for the Garden Tour will be on sale at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, June 21, June 28 and July 5. The Aurora Garden and Horticultural Society hosts monthly meetings with interesting speakers on all things in our natural world. Do check them out or visit them at the Market to buy your Tour ticket at $15 per person.
On June 28, the Aurora Cultural Roundtable members will be at the Market for a morning of family fun with free programmes throughout the morning.
From 10 to 10.30 a.m., the Aurora Public Library will present bee themed stories, rhymes and more. Then, from 10.30 to 11.30, the Aurora Cultural Centre will host a family friendly art activity for all ages. From 11.30 to 12.30, the Aurora Historical Society will present a “Guess What?” hour during which you can handle culinary artifacts from Hillary House and guess how the old kitchen tools work. We invite you to bring the family and enjoy these free cultural programmes.
Right on the heels of our very successful Strawberry Festival, the Farmers’ Market’s next special event is our Art in the Park day along with an Appreciation day hosted by Kerry’s Place for their clients and families on July 5.
The event is co-ordinated for us by artist Deborah Campo. The musical performances will begin with Alex Nugent as a wandering Town Park musician from 10 – 11 a.m., followed by Patty McLaughlin and the Song Circle Musicians from 11.30 to 12.30 a.m. From 1 to 2 p.m., Katherine Lynn Kirby will perform folk music.
In between the latter two performances, a magician will entertain.
The artists whose work will be on display and for sale will include Deborah Campo, Marianna Badescu, Stephanie Davidson, Sharon Kolinsyk, Najima Kauser, Anna Kroeplin, Pamela McNeill, Sabine Masoud Oveissian, Sharon Posner, Ben Tipton and Malcolm Watts.
They will be joined by crafters Linda Leeman and Nancy Wood.
The activities planned by Kerry’s Place include an inflatable jumpy castle which will be located near the Armories and horse-drawn wagon rides from 11.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. which will leave from the Armories.
The Optimist Club will have their mobile kitchen set up near the snack bar for Kerry’s Place guests. There will also be arts and crafts programmes throughout the day with activities such as colouring books, crown decorating and button making. This is always a busy and fun day so I encourage you to bring the family and enjoy all the activities that have been planned.