sosnicki organics

So march is almost over and I would say it's been one for our record books around here. Beautiful temperatures have allowed us a head start on growing AND the added bonus of saving on supplement heating costs of the big glass beasts!! There were many nights this month the furnace didn't even run out there and it was awesome!!! Now the shift in weather has us snuggling up again, covering tender seedlings, checking the furnace before we go to bed and during the wee hours of the morning. Back to normal again. I wonder what April has in store? Hoping for the best but can always deal with the worst. Happy Spring, here's some cheerful pics. And YES, that Spinach is from OUR fields! Available each Thursday at Dufferin Grove. Ben and I are eating a ton of spinach!! The carrots are also a spring treat! I've been juicing them along with our cabbages.

What a riot of a March! Total paradise outside and hot as hades in the greenhouses! So we've got mass germination and mad watering going on! A bit worried that with all this glory weather something wicked this way comes....two roads over a couple weeks ago a farmer we knew got struck by lightning and his barn caught fire. The weather is behaving unusual. Of course everyone is happy to see this warmth and summer temps, but perhaps we may pay for this....Too good to be true. Hmmm.... For now, I will post pics and relish this absolutely amazing weather! Happy growing and living folks!

So a while back at the Brickworks Farmers Market, one of my fav Evergreen volunteers, Marcella told me something interesting. She had been using apple cider vinegar on her hair for a long while. Waaa? Her hair looked shiny, clean, soft. She told me that after a while she didn't have to wash her hair as often! I was very skeptical. After all, I've been messing with my hair and using 'products' since the dawn of time it seems. It all started in the 80's....enough said ;) My mom always colored her hair too. From 80's perms that were dyed blonde to a bright red bob for my wedding, my mom's hair was the only thing processed about her, the rest was legit. From her homemade food, herbal remedies, canning, preserving, modest wardrobe, she was the ultimate farm woman, down to earth hippy lady. All except the hair. My mom didn't even wear make up! No perfume- she would get a headache. Just the hair. And we all know how our mom's influence us. By the time ...

On a hot summer day in 2011 on our farm, one of our Mexican men, named Domingo collapsed.  When the paramedics arrived he was experiencing some major seizure activity. He was taken to a local hospital and later that day transported to a larger hospital in Burlington for care.  He saw many different doctors, underwent many tests and once diagnosed (for an ailment he sadly brought with him from Mexico) was treated and I am happy to report he is now doing fine. It was a terribly scary ordeal. As Domingo's employer, I worked closely with the local Mexcian Alliance, The Mexican Consulate in Toronto to ensure Domingo was treated fairly and received after care and any medications he needed to make a full recovery. He spent 13 days in the hospital and I made sure RBC paid him a sum of around $1200 for missed wages and additionally covered the cost of his medications (considering he is required to contribute $3.36 per week into an insurance policy).  Domingo has an Ontario health ...

So long overdue, our kraut is hitting the markets! Can I say sorry for taking so long? We've been cra-zy busy with cabbage storage and when it's just Ben, his mom and I- time is pinched! So now I have all the offerings I am proud of at a winter market! Our winter veg and an array of specialty foods! The sauerkraut is a super, super food! The only ingredients are our organic cabbages and unrefined mineral rich sea salt. After a couple weeks she ferments down nicely and because of the natural chemistry of cabbage - a super food is born! This stuff boasts beneficial bacteria, Vitamins C & K, Awesome minerals (besides those in the sea salt too!) and nutrients like potassium, magnesium and calcium. Excellent for your guts because of the bacteria! Put down the 'shake your belly' plastic yogurt and have a daily tablespoon of raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut instead!! Enjoy! I just have to mention today marks our 10th Wedding Anniversary. We've been together now for ...

The winter markets are better than ever, so it's a great time of the year to reacquaint yourself with the farmers market or come out for the first time! Fresh produce is definitely not as plentiful, but there are a bevy of great storage crops and farmers there that would appreciate your support! Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market is turning out to be a great one happening every Saturday morning. Come eat, have coffee or hot chocolate, go skating and enjoy many other activities during your shopping experience. This past Saturday the market celebrated Chinese New Year with music and entertainment! I have a feeling, knowing these organizers like I do, more events like this are to follow in the coming weeks! Stay warm, enjoy winter and visit a farmers market soon! If you slip by our tables you will be sure to find Russian Blue Potatoes, Red Gold Potatoes, Buttery Fingerlings,  Leeks, Celeriac, Garlic,  huge Cabbages, tubs of frozen Sweet, Sweet Corn, Perogies, Cabbage Rolls and...

It is due time to update and get a little fresher around here!  Over the next few months at the markets and online we are getting a facelift!  Our much loved original farm website created in 2004 is being retired and a new one will be taking it's place. Gone will be our also much loved generic logo as well and replaced by an exciting new one, which will essentially become our 'brand'. I am pleased to share a taste right now of our new image: The new logo itself though simple represents our farm quite well.  I tend to think of water drops, irrigation, movement, growth, change, corn stalks, cabbage, even brussel spouts when I look at it. Plus it's hard to miss all those various 'S's within it! For other farmer's wishing to brand themselves or brush up their image, I have advice to share:  Especially to all you FarmStart farmers that I am SO PROUD of  for getting your certification for organic production! A huge congratulations!  You do not have to get fa...