Awesome farmers market

shdybrady · #1 05/12/12, 09:00 PM

I am doing some work up here in waterloo canada and I went to the farmers market today to burn some time. That place was awesome. There is a high population of amish people here. Its awesome seeing them ride there horse drawn carriages up and sell what they can. They have a livestock section and a true meat market. Most of the meat is raised by the amish and processed by them too. It was easily bigger then 2 walmarts put together. I really wish we had something like this where I lived. I really wish I had the resources to start something like that back home. For those who something like this where they live you truely are lucky.

chewie · #2 05/12/12, 09:14 PM

that sounds so neat, wish we had one like that. take some pix! if we had a good one here, I'd probably do more shopping at that and less of my own gardening.

CountryWannabe · #3 05/13/12, 11:22 AM

That sounds great. We do have a small farmer's market June through October here, and there is a larger one about 10 miles away - but only fruit and veggies. Regulations for meat vending are pretty stringent here.

Mary

edcopp · #4 05/13/12, 11:35 AM

Unfortunately the United States has regulated itself out of business in many cases.

pheasantplucker · #5 05/13/12, 07:20 PM

My wife and I were at the last Farmer's Market of the year two weeks ago in Marco Island Florida. Not too big, but I'd say it was perhaps the nicest farmer's market I've ever been to. I'd like to see the one you described!

Big Dave · #6 05/13/12, 08:03 PM

Tryed to star one here. I am the only farmer in the county. Really. Extention agent wished me luck.

Truckinguy · #7 05/13/12, 09:21 PM

Was that the one in St. Jacobs? I haven't been there but it's supposed to be quite the place. Probably one reason that it's so big is that it's within an hour or so drive of a large population area. That's a beautiful area around there with some lovely old small towns. It's a great way to spend a day driving around and exploring the small shops and restaurants in the various towns and Stratford isn't too far from there if you want to experience some world class theatre. I go to Guelph to buy my rabbit feed and usually make a day of it if the weather is good. Welcome to Ontario!

shdybrady · #8 05/13/12, 09:30 PM

Indeed it is. I am staying right in waterloo by the conestoga mall and its about 4 miles away. Its an awesome place. If I have time I will get some pictures. But the place is absolutely huge. But its great because as you are shopping through all the amish and native american shops there are local musicians playing. The day I went there were two talent young blues players. They look to be about my age (23). I am just so glad to actually see a community. It seems that much of the usa has lost that

Truckinguy · #9 05/14/12, 05:53 AM

Check it out at St. Jacobs Farmers' Market | St. Jacobs Country

Seymour · #10 05/15/12, 08:36 AM

welcome to Ontario, i've been to the market once, but its a 8 hr drive south for me. Ontario's the only place you can have your a/c and your heat on in the same afternoon!

sidepasser · #11 05/15/12, 08:45 AM

Oh I could spend some serious money in that place..lol..look at all the shops and the cheeses and fruits..that would make a fabulous day trip.

Oak Leaf · #12 05/15/12, 05:24 PM

I've been! We have family in the area and would visit the St Jacobs Farmers' Market when we were in town. My Mom grew up there and said there's some sort of set up where you can sell your veggies wholesale (from your farm, garden etc) and they resell them at the farmer's market. I would love to be able to do that! Cuts out the hassle of standing behind a booth all day long!

Truckinguy · #13 05/16/12, 12:48 AM

Well, it's well within my 100 mile diet boundary... a little over an hour drive... I see a trip in my near future! I"m a little embarrassed to say I"ve never been there.

Reb · #14 05/16/12, 05:23 AM

Here in southern MD, we have a really big Farmer's Market. It's open every Wed and Sat. You can find a myriad of things, including fresh local produce, Amish and otherwise, and flea market stuff, clothes, furniture, antiques, etc. I love going there and usually can find what I'm looking for. They also have animals, dogs, cats, chickens etc. Reb

sheepish · #15 05/16/12, 05:23 AM

St Jacobs is the market where we buy a lot of the canning and freezing vegetables that we don't produce ourselves. We have come to know many of the producers personally. There are several who use almost no chemical input, even though they don't have organic certification.

You can learn to distinguish the farmers from those who buy from the Ontario Food terminal and resell at market stalls (hint: look for pineapples and oranges.)

The Menonite maple syrup producers sell excellent product and the honey guy has a small variety of his own really good honey, depending on the time of year. One year we bought all the flowers for my daughter's August wedding from the several flower vendors.

The inside marketers also are good to visit. There is meat, eggs, cheese, teas, kitchen wares, and lovely warm flannel sleepwear, to name just a few of my favourites. Oh, and don't miss the apple fritters.

I would definitely recommend a trip to this market. Also, from the south end of the market there are horse-drawn wagon tours of the nearby Mennonite farmland that you might find interesting and educational.

shdybrady · #16 05/16/12, 06:19 AM

this will give you an idea on how influencial the amish community is here. The home depot, which is about 2 miles down the road, has a barn for the amish to park their horse and buggy while they go into homedepot lol. I am going to try to pick up a few things before I go back. Hopefully I will be able to get them across the border lol

wildcat6 · #17 05/16/12, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Tryed to star one here. I am the only farmer in the county. Really. Extention agent wished me luck.

That's actually pretty scary. Not enough of the new generation taking interest in farming. I don't see how a population can take care of it's self if we lose all our knowledge of farming.

**fordson major** · #18 05/16/12, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edcopp

Unfortunately the United States has regulated itself out of business in many cases.

we fought and fought hard to keep the govt. out of farmers markets here in Ontario, still fighting them today. they occasionally give ground to us.

rileyjo · #19 05/16/12, 10:52 AM

The St Jacob's Market is pretty cool. Sometimes I slept in my car overnight in the parking lot and got out and wandered around as folks were setting up. People were friendly and took time to chat. For me, I would take the evening ferry over to the mainland, spend the night, drive and shop my way thru the pretty countryside and be back for the next late afternoon ferry. Great fast little holiday and I always came home feeling relaxed.

If you get out and drive around, there are farms with signs on their gates explaining what they sell. I was able to tour a pastured poultry farm and chat with an Amish farmer who grew vast quantities of mums.

DebM · #20 05/16/12, 12:08 PM

>They have a livestock section and a true meat market.

Oh the horror, livestock and meat at a farmers market? I can see U.S. city, county, state & fed agents arming themselves with citation books, bio-hazard gear and defibrillators now just at the thought that the idea may cross the border

Enjoy Canada!

Debbie
former market manager