Catalyst Awards!

Wow! We had the pleasure of receiving the Catalyst Award for Lessons Learned this year!  Thank you Office of Sustainability!

New Co-ordinators 2013-2014!

We, the outgoing market team, would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make the McGill Farmers' Market a success this past year.  Thanks to our vendors, our visitors, our stakeholders, our advisors, our donors, our volunteers, our friends, our farmers, everyone!  We really appreciate the energy, love, and excitement that went into the market, both during the fall, as well as throughout the whole year of planning.

We'd like to welcome the new co-ordinating team for 2013-2014, and introduce them to you!

Co-coordinators
Clare Heggie

Hi! My name is Clare, and I will be one of the co-coordinators of the farmer's market this year. I am entering my second year at McGill studying urban systems and environment. I wanted to get involved with the market because I love cooking and baking, and if you have fresh, seasonal ingredients the rest will follow! I look forward to bringing this to the McGill (and Montreal) community. Besides cooking, I enjoy biking and exploring, thrifting, reading, and watching movies.

Jessica Rozon

Hi, my name is Jessica. I am a U4 student studying environment at McGill. Perhaps you've seen me around campus cleaning dishes at Plate Club, getting dirty in the garden at Campus Crops, working at the McGill Bookstore or cramming away in the GIC.

As urbanites we are often disconnected from where our food comes from and what is put into it. Access to local, organic food in an urban setting empowers us to have a say in our health and in our relationship with Planet Earth.
By taking on the role as Co-Coordinator of the MFM, I hope to support local organic farmers' independence, while providing a medium for community-based solutions to the issues that result from today's capitalist food system.

Promotions and Outreach Coordinator

Sam Quigley

Hey everyone! My name is Sam and I am the new promotions coordinator for the market. I'm just finishing my second year at McGill in English Literature and hail from Boston, MA. I am very passionate about sustainable food and love to garden, raise chickens, and brew beer, so I couldn't be more excited to help run an event that does such a great job bringing people together over delicious local, organic produce on campus. See you on McTavish this fall!

Finance Coordinator

Kathleen Bradley

Hi guys! I'm Kathleen--3rd year philosophy, economics, and management student (it's really less ardous than it sounds). I'm in LOVE with food--give me 5 minutes and I'll talk your ear off about practically anything food related. My extra-curricular life at McGill has over the past few years started to revolve around sustainbility and I'm pretty happy about that; currently I'm working on the student-run cafe project and with a food waste redistribution group called Second Servings, and I'm REALLY excited to be working on the Market with you guys this summer and next year. In my spare time I like to yoga (is that a verb yet?), climb things, cook, go to whatever shows I can afford, cook again, eat, and then cook some more. I've been thinking about some cool ideas for the Market and am really excited to share them with y'all and hear what ideas you guys have come up with!

Co-ordinator Call-out 2013-2014!

The McGill Farmers’ Market is hiring!
Interested in helping to organize the 2013-2014 Farmers’ Market and CSA Program? 

We're looking for passionate and committed members of the McGill community who want to help prepare next year's market! We are hiring for 4 coordinator positions: two (2) co-coordinators, one (1) promotions & outreach coordinator, and one (1) finance coordinator. All backgrounds and levels of involvement are welcome. We especially encourage first and second year students to apply. Candidates must be available April 2013 - May 2014.

Please email your application to mcgillfarmersmarket@gmail.com with subject line “Coordinator Call.” Include your CV, which position you are applying for, and a cover letter stating why you are the ideal candidate for this position. Stipends for all positions are $1250 for the year (May 2013 - May 2014). Deadline for applications is February 25th, 2013 by midnight. We will contact you for an interview. Coordinator training is in April 2013.

Farmers’ Market Co-Coordinator (2) – Stipend position
Responsibilities:

1. Must be available from April 2013 - late spring 2014.
2. Hold weekly to bi-weekly meetings with coordinator team, and meetings with stakeholders.
3. Oversee all necessary rentals, permits, strategies and grant applications.
4. Manage the coordination of the market, including space, vendors, and general market activities.
5. Manage the coordination of the CSA program, including space, vendors, and general procedures.
6. Provide support to the other coordinators.
7. Work with the finance coordinator to  continue MFM’s financial self-sustainment.
8. Work closely with the promotions coordinator to create an effective, comprehensive and environmentally-friendly promotional campaign.
9. Attend and assist CSA pick-up and farmers’ markets.
10. Provide support for general market activities.
11. Analyze and strategize about ways to improve market’s institutional structure, the CSA program, finances, and promotions.

Assets:

• Bilingual (French & English)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Available during the summer of 2013 and into early summer 2014

Promotions and marketing coordinator (1) – Stipend position
Responsibilities:

1.     Must be available from April 2013- late spring 2014.

2.     Work with finance coordinator to create a comprehensive and environmentally friendly promotions & merchandise campaign.

3.     Advertisement for the fall market and the summer & fall CSA project. This includes:

• Design tasks (posters, promotional packages, merchandise, etc)
• Outreach to other student groups (first years, listservs, etc)
• Outreach to wider community (businesses, potential vendors, faculty, etc)

4.     Maintain MFM social media outlets (website, fb, twitter, booking interviews)

5.     Attend and assist at CSA pick-up and farmers’ markets.

6.   Attend all coordinator team and stakeholders meetings.

7.     Provide support for general market activities, including market co-coordinator tasks.

8.    Responsible for volunteer coordination.  This includes:

• Recruiting volunteers
• Planning volunteer training
• Creating and updating the volunteer schedule
• Planning tasks for volunteers

Assets:

• Experience working in promotions
• Bilingual (French & English)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable promoting MFM among the McGill and downtown Montreal community, including student groups and local businesses and organizations
• Experience in web design and other promotional media is an asset
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Finance coordinator (1) – Stipend position

Responsibilities:

1. Must be available from April 2013- late spring 2014.
2. Manage finances and bank account for the farmers’ market and CSA project. This includes accounting and recording financial transactions.
3. Finalize 2013 budget and draft 2013-2014 budget in conjunction with other co-coordinators to ensure a financially sustainable market.
4. Work with promotions coordinator to create a comprehensive and environmentally-friendly promotional campaign.
5. Attend and assist CSA pick-up and farmers’ markets.
6. Provide support for general market activities.
7. Attend all coordinator meetings and stakeholder meetings.

Assets:

• Experience working in finance
• Excellent accounting skills
• Comfortable working with marketing principles
• Interested in organizational structure and strategy
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Please email your application to mcgillfarmersmarket@gmail.com with subject line “Coordinator Call.” Include your CV, which position you are applying for, and a cover letter stating why you are the ideal candidate for this position. Deadline for applications is February 25th, 2013 by midnight. We will contact you for an interview. Coordinator training is April 2013.

CSA 2012: A Season in Review

After a fantastic season at the McGill Farmers' Market and in preparation for our CSA Program of 2013 (for which you can sign up now here) we'd like to review some great moments from the CSA this year!

A happy summer CSA basket-holder holding her veggies for the week!

 This is what pick-up looks like on a typical summer day.

 Tomatoes were a favourite of many this year!

Not only delicious, the baskets look great too!  This week we had cucumbers, tomatoes, leeks, beets, lettuce, kale, onion, beans, parsley... YUMM!

Free entertainment from the goofy Market Organizers!

A bike basket full of veggies--we can't wait!

You're sure to get some strange things, too....

If you'd like to see more photos, check out our facebook albums from the CSA this year!  You can find them all here.

And if you'd like to sign up--head on over to our CSA 2013 Registration Page!

Sign up for CSA 2013!!

A Video!

A day at the McGill Farmer's Market from TVM Student Television on Vimeo.

Beet soup

Look at those gorgeous beets!

Beets are pretty awesome.

Last year, when I got my first bunch of beets, I was surprised to realize that beets come not only in the most common burgundy variety, but also in a variety with red and white stripes, and another variety with a beautiful, rich orange hue that makes me think of the rising sun. Upon further investigation of beets, I also found out that swiss chard is a type of beet green! Who knew? There's also the whole history of beets as sweetener, but I won't get into that. But of all the things I like about beets, I think my favourite is that they're really tasty in chocolate cake, and chocolate cake is never a bad thing in my books.

I apologize if that was boring for some of you, I just get a little excited about my veggies sometimes. Anyway, I'll get on with the recipe.

My sister shared this recipe with me a couple years ago, and I thought it was the perfect way to use some of my beets. When I got fennel in my basket a few weeks ago, I made sure I saved some for this recipe, so if you've been waiting for a good recipe for your fennel, this is it! This beet soup is pretty easy to make, and it tastes delicious. I used two weeks' worth of beets, but you can supplement with canned beets if necessary. Usually the soup comes out a gorgeous red, but my beets were of the orange, and red and white striped varieties. As a result, my beet soup looks a bit more like carrot soup with a red undertone. Nonetheless, it's really tasty, and it tastes great with a dollop of goat cheese.

Happy Cooking!
Maxine

p.s. If you're not in the mood for soup, here's another good recipe. I made this delicious dish with my beets last year: http://www.food52.com/recipes/7032_warm_orzo_salad_with_beets_greens

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Beet Soup (adapted from Oprah.com)

3/4 cup orange juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 fennel bulb, trimmed and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 pounds beets, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
5 cups broth
1 1/2 tbsp. ground coriander (optional)*
1 1/2 fennel seeds (optional)*

1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, chopped fennel, onions, coriander, and fennel seeds. Sauté until the vegetables soften, about ten minutes.
2. Add cubed beets, salt and pepper to taste, and orange juice to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until the beets are tender, about 40 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, and blend until smooth.

*While these ingredients are optional, I would highly recommend them!