We are thrilled to be participating in the second annual East Gwillimbury Farm to Fork Thanksgiving Tour taking place this weekend on Saturday, September 30th. This self-guided tour features stops at local farms where you can learn about farming as well as purchase everything you need for your Thanksgiving dinner. Our kid friendly stop features a mini potato dig, mini colouring pages for our Spud Wall of Fame, interactive display boards about nature on a farm and giant colouring posters to take home. For the adults we offer complimentary recipes, recipe booklets, fall decorative items and farm fresh local produce. I will be staffing an educational section explaining how we plant, grow and store potatoes over the winter. Hope to see you there! To find out more about the tour or to purchase wristband tickets you can visit www.experienceEG.ca
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Our battle with Mother Nature continues here at the farm. If I were to review the weather this year, I guess I could say “it could have been better…but it could have been worse.” An overly wet spring left us with flooded sections and drowned out seed potatoes. The summer saw severe thunderstorms rolling in one after another. Dramatic fluctuations in temperatures created foggy conditions continually for the early morning starts. Now this unseasonal heat has halted the harvest until temperatures return to somewhat normal. And the tough reality is that despite this surprise mid-summer weather, winter is coming and we must get the crop harvested before the snow flies. Yet there is always hope with a rainbow (or two!) To hear more about potato farming in York Region, you can click on “BJ’s Radio Interview.”
It’s funny how things can change so much yet remain completely same. These photos were taken approximately 30 years ago in the mid 1980’s. To my untrained eye I am surprised to see how similar some of this equipment looks when compared to what we are using today. In fact, the bulk truck still resides at our farm as far as I can tell. (Of course, I could be wrong since distinguishing between different makes and models of vehicles has never been one of my strong points as RJ and my sons could tell you!) While today’s equipment is more sophisticated, the basic work flow is still the same. In these photos of the potato harvest of yesteryears, RJ is using the windrower to dig up potatoes. Don follows with the harvester to pick them up along with a few extra rows. The potatoes get loaded into a bulk truck and taken to the farm for storage over the winter. To have a closer look at some of the equipment we use today you can visit our "Photo Gallery.”
The cavalry has arrived! Let the fall harvest begin! Over the next 5 to 6 weeks everyone at the farm will be working together to bring in the potato crop. I wanted to post this funny little video before everyone gets too tired to appreciate the humour in it. I debated for quite some time whether to call it “The Cavalry Arrives” or “The Almost Crash.” I leave it up to you to decide since I still cannot make up my mind. Stay tuned for harvest updates broadcast directly from my back porch! To see a video of the potato harvester operating at actual speed you can visit “The Potato Harvester.”
 
Many people have mixed feelings about the Labour Day long weekend. It signifies both the end of summer and a new start for so many people who head back to school and work. It is the busiest time of the year for us here at the farm as we continue to supply fresh sweet corn and potatoes for our produce stand while we prepare to start the harvest. To celebrate the start of fall, I present a new recipe for sweet corn salad. This recipe combines leftover corn on the cob with fresh produce, bacon and cheese. How could it be anything but delicious?! Click on the PDF file above to download or print the recipe. For a second very interesting and unusual recipe you can try my “Mexicana Sweet Corn Salad.” Happy Labour Day to you all!
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The Common-TaterThompson Potato FarmFarming is fascinating! 
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