Eating “Family Style”
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful outdoor wedding at Ruthven Park in Cayuga. One thing that stood out in the…
Joe Farrell
Corn Smut
An elder who gifted us with white corn seeds set the intention “I hope you get some smut on the corn you’ll grow.” Two weeks ago when walking through the rows of corn at the Edge of the Woods farm, much to my delight I saw this intention come to fruition. Corn smut was indeed growing on a number of the corn stalks.
An Affinity for Fennel
To be honest, I’m not sure where my appreciation for fennel came from. I was never really a fan of anise or black licorice flavoured candies as a kid. But once I started cooking in professional kitchens I quickly grew a fondness for its slightly sweet anise flavour. Not only does it have a diverse range of culinary uses, it also has a long list of medicinal qualities like helping with digestive and respiratory ailments.
Learning while playing together
This week I had the pleasure of helping plan a menu and facilitating an interactive workshop for the Tsya:ta nihati tehotinonnyahkwenh (Star Dancers) Summer Camp.…
Our First Crop Planted and Harvested
Hard work and patience have finally come to fruition with the harvest of our first crop; garlic. I am currently feeling a sense of accomplishment…
Loving you is sometimes chard
There is a particular leafy green that always catches my girlfriend’s eye at the Farmers Market. She usually lets out an excited shriek and claps…
Sweet, Sweet Corn!
It’s that time of year when local sweet corn starts showing up at farmers markets and grocery stores. I have always been excited to throw a cob in a pot of boiling water and enjoy it with salt and butter. I was never really into eating it off the grill with a nice char until a few years ago.
Found Friendship in the Weeds
Found Friendship in the Weeds By Joe Farrell Over the last month, I have been so fortunate to cook with a buddy whom I hired…
Chop chop chop
Each time I have the opportunity to cook with youth, my own understanding of the culinary trade and craft strengthens. It improves my ability to…
Family, Friendship & Powwows
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of going to pow-wows with my family in Manitoulin. Attending the Wikwemikong Annual Cultural Festival pow-wow and dancing with my mother and sisters are youth summer memories that I hold dear. At a young age the beat of the drums struck right to my core, pulsing straight to my heart.
Like Peas in a Pod
The reality of the season and summer farm life has finally set in. There is always something to do and never enough hours in the…
Strawberry Time!
Strawberry season is upon us. It is a wonderful time of year that needs no introduction.
Suburban Sidewalks to Field Rows
Growing up in the suburban wasteland of Mississauga my connection to farm life was limited to class trips and the odd family visit to a farm. When I was five, I distinctly remember the whole community gathering to watch the last standing barn burn down in our subdivision. I recently learned that the only farm operating in Mississauga will be harvesting for the last time this year.
The politics of food is seedy
This past weekend I was invited to speak at the local March Against Monsanto. From farmers, to students, to politicians, each speaker shared compelling reasons…
Feeding Community First
Feeding community first is a statement that resonates with me and will be a thought I will continue to explore. To me, it is the responsibility we all have to care for and provide for our immediate community and the communities we are connected to. I will be planting with this intention this year.