2013 Eastern Ontario Garlic Awards winners; raising the bar on locally grown garlic

Garlic growers from across the region have come to appreciate the tone that the Verona Lions set for their annual garlic festival. Because the festival takes place within the context of the Frontenac Farmers Market, it has avoided some of the trappings that other festivals have succumbed to over the years.

The booths are mostly devoted to garlic production or other kinds of agricultural products, and the crowds, this year having to dodge raindrops, have become steadily larger over the years.

One of the features of the Verona Garlic Festival is the awarding of the Eastern Ontario Garlic awards, the official competition for the best garlic produced in the region.

The awards were founded by Maberly’s Paul Pospisil, with a view towards promoting continual improvement in the quality of garlic grown in the region. The awards were judged this year by the News’ own Wilma Kenny, who is certified by the Ontario Horticulture Society.

The awards this year celebrated one of the most accomplished growers in the region over many years, as well as newcomers and a home grower.

David Hahn won his 6th Champion Grower award his time around. New growers from Perth, Ali Ross and Glen Gangnier, also produced top-notch all around garlic, taking the Reserve Champion's prize. Bill Kirby of Yarker won the single bulb category.

Diane Dowling, president of Local 316 of the National Farmers Union, presented the $100 grand prize to David Hahn and she also stood in for Kim Perry from Local Family Farms in presenting the $50 prize to Glen Gangnier.

Exhibitors in past years have learned the meaning of “quality” from the scores assigned by the judge on their garlic entries. In this way, the Garlic Awards have contributed to raising the bar on the quality of garlic grown in the Eastern Ontario region, giving it the excellent reputation that it justly deserves.

A great vote of thanks to the Lions Club of Verona for again hosting this competition.

Seven vendors offered up a wide variety of goods and services at the second Sharbot Lake Winter Farmers’ Market, which took place at the Oso Hall on January 19.

Regular vendors had for sale their usual wide variety of local produce, baked goods and other locally produced goods, including fresh herbs and body products from Dragon Fly Herbs, fresh meats and produce from Maple-Lim Farm, Elphin Gold Farm and Johnston Lake Organic’s. Peigi Wilson was selling her gluten free and regular four berry pies, corn muffins and unique bacon/maple biscuits. Those looking for a bit of body relaxation and rejuvenation could choose from shiatsu massage courtesy of Catherine Smith of Healing Energetics or foot treatments courtesy of Melanie Fyfe of Healing Feats. While Lynn Shwadchuck was busy selling coffee and Queen Elizabeth cakes at the market’s main table, children had a wealth of board games and craft tables to keep themselves entertained while their caregivers perused the plentiful goods and services offered. The market organizers are offering up a number of workshops at the winter market and the day I visited, 11 participants were gathered in the hall’s kitchen for a one-hour workshop on how to make your own farmers cheese, presented by Pat Furlong-Brownlee of Elphin Gold Farm.

Market manager Mary de Bassecourt said she is pleased with the support for the winter markets so far and hopes to see more shoppers “Come in out of the Cold”. The market offers the perfect opportunity for members of the community to meet for a hot drink and fresh baked snack and to visit and relax at one of the many tables. The next market day will take place on Saturday February 2, and the workshop, led by Peggy Green, will be on Home Gardening in Drought Conditions. The cost for the workshop is $10.

The market will run regularly on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9:30am-12:30pm until the end of April. Topics covered in the workshops will include techniques for water conservation; ways to prevent soil erosion; understanding your gardening zone; and how best to choose drought-resistant varieties of plants. For more information about the market visit slfm.handsonharvest.ca