Blog Post
Barrie's Asparagus
Sylvia Pond • October 22, 2019
Four generations after Cedardale Farm was established great-grandson Tim Barrie operates it as Barrier’s Asparagus and Country Market. As you may have guessed they grow asparagus, and they do so much more too!
If I was going to see it and smell it, I had to taste it! A freshly brewed espresso to start the day could not have been more perfect.
We took a stroll out and around the farm store passing by some potted potatoes growing and cute store front signage.
Even the family dog hung out with us.
Then we went inside! WOW!
Barrie’s Asparagus has created and partnered up with other local producers to offer a variety of asparagus products you can enjoy year-round! Asparagus salsa, fusilli, vegetable crackers and pickled asparagus to name a few of my favourites.
They have also partnered with many other local farmers to offer their products at the store too! This isn't just an asparagus store! You can do so much shopping here and pick items you may not have seen before!
For the final part of my visit we went out to the fields where the magic happens. Where the asparagus grows. My visit was in late July so asparagus season had passed. The prime time for harvesting is early summer for asparagus in Ontario so these fields were currently filled with ferns. This was my first time seeing what it looks like after asparagus is harvested. For the next few months the grounds and soil will be taken care of and planting will start in the early spring for another season.
Do you cook with asparagus?
There are so many ways to enjoy this delicious vegetable, I even love it raw.
I am waiting for the next asparagus season to come to cook up some recipes to share with you.
For now, I have my jars of pickled asparagus for my Caesars!
To finish off, here is the Q&A I ask all the farmers I visit to answer.
1.What do you want people to know about farming and/or what you do?
I would want people to know we are proud of to be farmers and we take great pride in growing amazing food .
2. What do you love most about being a farmer?
working the land that has been in our family now 6 generations…the feeling that we are carrying on a tradition of those before us.
3. If you weren’t a farmer what would you be doing?
pro hockey player but the the only thing that stopped me was talent
4.Describe what your favourite meal looks like?
Asparagus on toast with a cheese sauce that my wife makes my son and I every day during harvest.
Show Barrie's Asparagus some love on social!
Did you know that Lentils grow in Ontario?! Well you do now! I only learned about Ontario Lentils this past summer when I met the fine folks from Lau tea da Lentils !
Did you know that Lentils grow in Ontario?! Well you do now! I only learned about Ontario Lentils this past summer when I met the fine folks from Lau tea da Lentils !
I don’t know how many times I bugged Trevor (farmer and owner of Herrle’s) to have me for a visit at the store and farm but we finally made it happen! I mean, I have shopped there many times and I don’t think I have gone one summer without enjoying at least a few cobs of Herrle’s famous corn so I wanted to make sure I got to feature this wonderful destination on this blog.
When Borealis Grille & Bar posted a contest on Instagram for a day trip to YU Ranch , I jumped at the opportunity to enter given my already blooming farm project. As you may have guessed by this blog post existing, I was one of the winners! Yay! A group of us met early on a Monday morning and all got a bus for the one-hour ride to the ranch. Upon arrival we were greeted with the smell of meat being smoked and a plate of beef being passed around for sampling, paired with a cold Wellington Beer. Now if that isn’t the best way to start a Monday, I don’t know what is!
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning at the St Jacobs Market . I was walking around doing my groceries when I noticed an incredible display of lettuce. A voice called out to me “Hey! Have you ever tried my lettuce?”. That’s the day I first met Amanda (aka my Lettuce Lady) from Chilligo Creek Farm . We chatted about her farm and I purchased a bag of her mixed greens to take home. I made a salad that day for lunch, and of course took a photo, tagging and connecting with the farm on Instagram. The lettuce was SO good, flavourful, fresh and there was so much of it! That’s when I started bugging Amanda to let me visit and see what her farm is all about!
Well if the name didn’t give it away, here is your introduction to John and Sarah Moylan along with their four daughters who operate 5 Chicks and a Farmer near New Hamburg, Ontario.
If you are from Waterloo Region you have likely heard of Martin’s Family Fruit Farm. Their farm, processing facility, and store can be found just on the other side of the St Jacobs Market.
It all started here for me, my journey into the local farm and food community. The wonderful family at Vibrant Farms were the first to welcome me for a tour and visit to their farm near Baden, On.
Yup that’s me. In the middle there on my momma’s lap. I had a happy family, food in my belly and was motoring around since I learned to run before learning to walk. Reality however was a little different. Times were hard for my parents. The food stamps we were allotted as a family didn’t get us much, especially when you went to the store and all you saw were empty shelves. The beginning of my food journey was quite minimal. Most of the traditional Polish recipes require the most basic ingredients. Most often we ate things like potatoes with buttermilk, pierogies, soft boiled eggs, goulash. My family was lucky to have connections to extended family who lived on farms and occasionally gave us goose, chicken and fresh eggs and milk. There was a lot of political unrest and although my parents worked to provide for us, eventually they made the decision to leave Poland.
If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed many recent posts and stories of my visits to local farms. As someone who is passionate about food and community, I have become more and more interested in learning about farming and sustainable agriculture. It’s become important for me to know where and who my food comes from, while also enjoying as much local food as possible! I want to eat food that grows here, that’s raised here, and whose producers are ethically aligned with environmental sustainability. Eating something out of boxes that have been sitting on a shelf or buying produce that has been travelling cross country on a truck isn’t ideal for me.
Sometimes I travel for work. Sometimes far. Sometimes near. Hotels are great. Secure. Nice amenities. No clean up. But lately I have been loving booking with AirBnb! Last week for a little trip to Toronto I think I stayed at the cutest BNB in the city!! This place had charm. With lights strung in the main room, vintage furniture filled with vinyl and cool art work and posters that filled the walls. I felt at home as soon as I checked in. It only made sense to take out my camera and photograph this lovely space.