Navigating Smokey Conditions |
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Have a veggie subscription with us? You are getting this email because you do not have a box scheduled for this week, but can still make a regular order through our store. If so, please complete the checkout process to submit your order.
Order vegetables before Wednesday at 12pm for pickup and delivery this week.
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NEW! We now have volume deals available on our online store. Mix and match 3 bags of greens for $18, 2 herbs for $6, and more! Savings are calculated in your basket.
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Mixed feelings about the pathway mulch between our fruiting crops in the field. Next time we're aiming for a thicker layer and to put it down much sooner after forming beds |
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Farm Update
We were definitely caught by surprise with the wildfire smoke last week. While we've dealt with smoke pollution in previous years, but this situation called for a different approach.
Our crops are outside, so to keep our local food system functioning, the reality is that we have to work outside. We were very lucky last week that our main harvest day was finished just as the smoke arrived on our horizon.
With the severity of the smoke, we reduced our work to packing produce which had already been harvested and only essential harvest. Pairing back meant shorter days for the crew to reduce exposure, but included lots of checking-in on each other, conversation about risk factors and symptoms, and of course, the option for anyone to take a break or step out at any time.
While there are certainly no regrets about making those adjustments to keep the crew safer, this is a really, really challenging time of year to hold back on field work. This is especially challenging as we are directly in the wake of a heat wave which has posed its own limitations.
Last week's transplanting, weeding, and trellising that we didn't do is still there waiting for us, but is now in addition to this week's transplanting, weeding, and trellising some now seriously unruly tomatoes. It is normally difficult to keep up with everything in July, so this is definitely a new level.
The goal of this weekly Farm Update is to connect and share honest insight into our part in the local food system. While the situation right now is more challenging than normal, its certainly not all bad. Here are some good things happening right now:
The second succession of carrots is ready and theyre beautiful. We're so glad to be back into our own carrots again - and nice ones! Fruiting crops in the field are taking off. We finally have zucchini, eggplant, peppers and hot peppers, and very soon will have tomatoes and melons there too The fields are in pretty good condition and we feel set up for success in planting the rest of the winter cabbages, carrots and beets next week.
And difficult situations force you to make really hard, but good decisions. We always learn something valuable in tough situations and we will draw from that experience in the future
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy week!
Have a question or something you would like to hear more about in a future newsletter? Let us know at the market, farm pickup, or send an email!
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Really happy to have lots of beautiful carrots ready |
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FARM STORE NOTES
FROM OUR FARM:
Fresh (uncured) garlic bulbs! Best stored in the fridge or use in 1 week.
Big abundance: Basil, Green onions, beets
From the Fields:
Bunched: Beets (red, golden, white and striped), sorrel, kale, chard, radish, carrots, green onions, torpedo onions, fresh bulb onions, limited fennel.
Bagged: Salad mix, spicy mix, mustards mix, limited arugula
Heads: Garlic! cabbage, choi, mini lettuce heads, magenta lettuce
Herbs: Green or red Genovese basil, tulsi (holy basil), Thai basil, mint, oregano, marjoram, dill seed heads, cilantro, flat parsley, curly parsley, rosemary
Baskets: zucchini, summer squash
From the Greenhouse: Cucumber, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, sweet pepper.
From Hoophouses and Tunnels: Basil, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant
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FROM OUR SUPPLIERS:
Blueberries are here! Options from two locals farms: Bluegroves and Blueberry Hill
Savoy cabbage from Our Fields Farm
PRODUCE
Blueberry Hill (Rodney): Fiber pints and flats (12 pints)
Bluegroves (Eagle): Clamshell pints, flats in fiber baskets
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Sweet potatoes, Galia melons
Through Pfenning's: Ontario mushrooms. Canadian tofu. From further away, citrus, ginger, turmeric, celery
Our Fields Farm (Aylmer): Savoy cabbage
DAIRY and EGGS
HOPE Eco-Farms (Aylmer): Eggs
Through Pfenning's: L'Ancetre butter and grass-fed cheeses
Gunn's Hill (Woodstock): Brie, Handeck and Five Brother's cheese
FROZEN
3Gen Organics (Wallenstein): Ground pork, sausage, bacon, ham, tenderloin, chops
YU Ranch (Tillsonburg): Pasture-raised ground beef, beef patties, stewing beef
New Leaf Foods (London): Plant-based beet burgers
BAKERY
J&D Peters Tortillas (Aylmer): Corn, spelt, whole wheat and unbleached flour tortillas.
La Houlette de vie (St. Thomas): Sourdough bread and pastry with grain that Seth fresh-mills himself
Artisan Bakery (London): Sourdough bread and pastries made with local flour
PANTRY
Aldred Maple (West Lorne): Amber, dark, or whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup.
Wildflowers Honey (St. Thomas): Unpasteurized honey from hives all over Elgin County, including our farm!
Mat's Fine Oils (Staffordville): Fresh, organic and cold-pressed, hemp and sunflower oil. Store in the refrigerator.
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PICKUP/ DELIVERY OPTIONS
Farm pickup: Thursday 4pm-8pm.
Home delivery: Thursday or Friday in London/St.Thomas, Saturday in KW region
Western Fair Market pickup: Saturday 8 am to 3 pm / Sunday 10 am to 2pm
Kitchener Market pickup: Saturday 7 am to 2 pm
We love to re-use wherever possible! We can take our CGF boxes and liner bags, strawberry and blueberry baskets/boxes, milk bottles, and egg cartons.
For deliveries, please leave these return items out where you would like your order dropped off. Thank you!
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Ruby
2014 - July 14th, 2026
With heavy hearts we share that Ruby passed away last Tuesday. Ruby was a beloved, cornerstone figure at the farm, arriving here as a young dog when the farm was also in its early years. A natural pack leader, Ruby took her job incredibly seriously for the 10 years she was part of the Common Ground family. A thick-coated dog, Ruby would seek summer sanctuary in a cool, quiet corner of the barn. Without fail, she would perk right up if there was a bonfire lit (she absolutely loved sitting by the wood boiler) or when her special friends would visit her on Farm Pickup day. She truly loved everyone who took the time to say hello and show her love.
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Community Solidarity Box Program
This Program aims to make healthy food more accessible to economically-vulnerable families in our community.
In the Solidary Program, families in our community who need a little extra support can receive a medium farm share every week. Fresh, local food, grown with care — at just 1/3 of the cost. The remaining 2/3 is covered by the farm and community donations.
To learn more or donate, click the link below!
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Why am I on this list? At some point you signed up for our previous "farmstand" list or our newsletter list. Want to get off the list? No problem: . Common Ground Farm 6986 Middle River Road St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3S9 |
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