The North Hatley Farmers' market runs from only 10-12 on Saturdays. We wouldn't miss it for the world. Everything is done so well.
This is a hand-made sign for one of the vendors - a goat farmer.
The weather was perfect for a stroll around the market and it looks like everyone in the neighbourhood thought so too. Sanders (below) is a HUGE organic farm south of where we are staying. We'll check them out again in the coming days to see if we can learn anything.
It seems like their season is in synch with ours .... melons were at their peak this week. They were sampling melons today.
There aren't as many bakers as in past years. We took home some pastries for tomorrow's breakfast and lunch.
I love how this flower grower incorporates native grasses and flowers into their arrangements. We saw many folks leaving with a bunch of flowers in their arms.
These permanent structures were built a few years ago. Prior to that they had semi-permanent supports with canvas roofs. They are so good at placing the pavillions so that customers are forced to meander through the market. You can never see the whole market from one spot. There is an air of mystery. What is around the next corner?
After visiting the market, we wandered the back roads to see if we could find some more on-farm markets. It was one of those days where you look for one thing but find another. Any ideas of what this building is used for? It's a Waldorf School gymnasium. Can you imagine being inside this space for your gym classes? We drove onsite and came across a family who were doing some volunteering today. They told us that this school started on the organic farm where we are staying. It started in the 80's and then moved to this new location sometime later.
That's their vegetable garden with its floating row covers. Be still my heart. Every school should look like this one.
It is called L’école des Enfants-de-la-Terre. Cool name: The Children of the Earth School.
There are some fine, productive farms tucked into these hills.....
.... and some farms with a few horses and not much else.
At one point we spotted a pull-off where you could overlook a river. It was interesting to see the bog-like vegetation even in these forests. This is probably foreshadowing of what we will see tomorrow, if we make it to the Johnville bog.
We couldn't wait even a day to see what is new at La Station fromagerie, our favourite cheese producer. They have a nice little patio alongside their on-farm store where we shared a bottle of local chocolate milk....
.... admired the views of the distant mountains...
... and enjoyed grilled cheese sandwiches with apple jelly. Yum!!!!!
Inside the store, three young ladies were pretty well run off their feet, cutting cheese for clients. The place was humming with customers.
We took more backroads back to Lennoxville, our closest commercial centre.
Marché 5ième Saison has been on our radar. It's very close to Bishop's University in Lennoxville. Students were back and gave a lively buzz to the atmosphere. We will be trying some Chana Masala and Paneer Tika Masala for supper in the coming days. Yum! Should go nicely with the salad ingredients we brought from home.
Yesterday, our Welcome Centre guy, Patrick, gave a little snort when we told him that we would be staying in an old cabin on an organic farm. He indicated that most people want luxury on their holidays. No luxury here, just wandering the hills and valleys and enjoying what is presented to us.
“We’re all a little weird.
And life is a little weird.
And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours,
we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—
and call it love—
true love.”
Robert Fulghum, True Love
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