Special Olympics in Windsor

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I have blogged less lately due to my commitment to the 2009 Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games. I will take a brief hiatus until after the games as we have a lot of things to finalize before the big day arrives.

I do not just believe in supporting local food-wise, but feel that supporting your community any way you can is imperative to a city's health. So get involved with something that means a lot to you!

The opening ceremonies and all of the competitions are free to watch so grab your family and friends and come celebrate with us!

Opening Ceremonies
Thursday, July 23rd
WFCU Centre @ 7:30 pm

Games
Friday & Saturday, July 24th & 25th
Softball & Soccer @ Mic Mac Park
Gymnastics & Track & Field @ University of Windsor (St. Denis Centre)

All events are free to attend.

http://specialolympicswindsor2009.com/

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Fishing Derby for Kids

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Join the Lakeshore Sportsmen and Conservation Club (LSCC) for their 2nd annual Kid's Fishing Derby!

Wagner's Orchards & Estate Winery
1222 Lakeshore Road # 103 (formerly 8th Conc.)

Sunday, July 12 - 9am to 12 pm
Free for Children 12 & Under

Refreshments (including lunch) available.

FREE t-shirt, rods and reels for the first 100 children!

Enjoy fishing and farming on a Sunday morning. Contact bmiehls@hyattlassaline.com or show up early to get registered.
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Food News

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The Lakeside Locavore Lunch happens this Sunday, July 12th (12-2:30pm) at John R. Park Homestead. $20 gets you a plate and utensils and tickets to trade for tastes of local foods.

This event highlights Locavore opportunities in Essex County. You can learn more about this 'green' movement as you savour an afternoon by the Lake enjoying live music, tasting locally grown foods, a fine array of local wines and more. Also featured will be 'food for thought' sessions ? wherein local farmers and food producers share their specific knowledge about their products and the delicious bounty that our region offers and the benefits of buying local.

I went last year and it was a good start for this kind of event but there were a few issues that I hope they have fixed (including boring speeches that you could barely hear but did not really have to do with local food anyway). Still, if the weather's nice it is a good event to attend. Check our their PDF for more information.

The WindsorEats.com next Wine Trail Ride takes place on Saturday, July 18th but do not wait to get your tickets as they are almost sold out! $25 gets you tastings and tours at 2-3 wineries plus a meal at the end of the trip.

Get more info and purchase your tickets through their website.

And do not forget that the Downtown Farmers Market runs every Saturday starting at 8am! Rain or shine, head out and support your local food producers.
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Emerging Market

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Saturday was a fabulous day full of sunshine and fresh produce.

Shoppers at the new Downtown Windsor Farmer's Market lined up to buy fresh fruit and veg (many of which sold out quickly) and listen to the free concert provided by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Bradley's Potatoes

Tecumseh Atta Flour

Richard Thibert, Thibert Farm

I loved the selection and the prices were fabulous. I arrived at 10 for the grand opening but since the market started at 8, I missed out on great things like fresh strawberries and green beans.

Plenty of bloggers were on hand to cover the event. Check out these blogs for more info and great photos:

• Photo404 (pic of me with hubby carrying all of our food, video too!)
• Schnurr's Sound Off
  
• Western District

The market's official website is now live so bookmark it and check it often.

A big thanks to the volunteers that made this happen! Great job!!!
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Happy Canada Day!

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I hope you are enjoying your Canada Day, perhaps with Canadian food and drinks or (even better) Ontario products!

We had a nice meal of local chicken with BBQ sauce from Windsor Ravioli (in fresh buns with local lettuce), local green beans and steamed Dainty Rice. Dessert was easy with fresh chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies from Thibert Farms in Comber.

Richard from Thibert Farms joined us at our CSA meeting this weekend to tell us about his farm in Comber and all of the food that he produces. He has a great vision of what a farmer can and should provide to ensure quality products that we are comfortable eating.

Here's some of what is offered at Thibert Farms:

• Bakery products like cookies and bread (featuring the farm's own grains, ground using a stone flour mill that is located at the bakery)
• 60 % whole wheat stone ground flour
• Pancake mix
• Natural beef
• Pork
  
• Free range chicken

The farm is open on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm or by appointment. Visit their website for more info.

Orrrrr...

...this Saturday the Downtown Windsor Farmer's Market opens in the old Greyhound bus terminal! I am so excited for this and I know that many other are too.

Starting at 8am this Saturday, everyone can stop in and enjoy the outdoor market at 44 University Avenue East. The market closes at 3pm and runs every Saturday until October 10, rain or shine!

Stop in this week for Thibert Farms, Bradley's Potatoes, A&M Farms (veggies), Chana Foods (flour), and C'est Bon Nuts.
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Viewpointe Grand Opening

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Don't forget that Sunday (June 28th) is the last day for Viewpointe Estate Winery's Grand Opening.

Celebrate in style with:

• culinary demos
• sensory classes
• vineyard & winery tours
• barrel samples

You can download a PDF of all the details here.

If you head out that way, do not forget to stop of one of the many other wineries that are also located along County Road 50 in Harrow.

Need some veggies or fruit while you are out that way? The same road is also home to "The Fruit Wagon" (a.k.a. Balsillie Fruit Farm). Check out their website.
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Food News

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Apparently there was a launch party for the Buy Local map and I missed it. It would have been nice if this was advertised (as it was open to the public) and if traditional and non-traditional media would have been invited. Since I come up at the top of many food-related searches to do with Windsor and Essex County, I would hope that anyone out there doing local food-related events will let me know. I post all of the information I get (it must be local food though, not just a food event that is here) and it’s free, so why not take advantage of the free advertising?

If anyone out there associated with the map is reading, also consider inviting the local producers that did not buy into your map to your next event. Show them what they are missing out on and make it desirable for them to want to be part of the next map.

On a sad note, I have heard that despite the Buy Local map and exposure that Lakeside Jersey Dairy has received, it will still close in the very near future. If there is an angel out there looking for an investment, I would hope that you consider this business. Once we lose our dairy the chances of ever having one here again are very slim.

And finally, not to get into too much politics, but a CUPE rep was on the news last night and mentioned the food bank and how it is needed by the CUPE workers who are suffering financially due to the strike. Since the strike was the choice by the majority, I will not give to the food bank just because it will help the strikers; instead, we should all consider giving to our local food banks throughout Windsor & Essex County to help ALL of our citizens who are in need. And, a good friend made an excellent point… she said, “I just hope that anyone who has to make use of the food bank right now remembers to give back once the income begins again.”

If you buy local and give that to the food bank you are giving back to the community in an even bigger way! Here are some non-perishable local items that you can give:

• Thomas' Organic Canned Tomatoes
• Thompson's Beans
• Dainty Rice
• Lakeside Pickles
• Sunshine Farms (pickled veggies)
• Tecumseh Atta Flour
• Do any Erie Street stores do dried pasta?