What to do with POTATOES!

We have produced and saved 1113 lb.s of compost from our waste bin during the month of June!

Flats of Ontario Strawberries have been purchased and frozen for future, strawberry compotes and strawberry coulis and to add to our fresh Fruit smoothies. A HUGE Hit!

Our rainbow Swiss Chard is growing like crazy with all the rain and now this heat. We will sauté it for greens and freeze.

Potatoes are flowering, way before any potato bugs could enjoy them…..meaning our potatoes are flourishing under ground and we will keep checking to see if we can enjoy some new mini potatoes in the coming weeks.

A few ways to enjoy our delicious Potatoes

Try boiling them up, melt butter in stainless bowl, (like double boiler) over water with cooked potatoes, Add Chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley (1-2 tsp of each) and salt & pepper to butter. Scoop out potatoes from water and add to butter/herb mixture. Place lid or foil over potatoes and hold till rest of meal is ready to serve.

Enjoy the first potatoes of this season. Sautee Or Steam Swiss Chard or Spinach in very little water. Drain from water, add butter, salt and pepper to taste

Yummyyyyy……. Add to anything that you have just grilled on your bbq and you are set for an outstanding fresh dinner.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

We had the wonderful opportunity to cater a fantastic event on July 24th, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. We served up. Pulled pork or grilled vegetables in a pita, the best dang butter tarts and kiju organic juices, a local producer in waterloo.

Each year, an ever-increasing number of men, women and their families are joining Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is a fun opportunity for men to educate the community about a very serious subject and to rally the community to take action to prevent sexualized violence. 

Interested in learning more or getting involved with Walk a Mile in Her Shoes? Check out their Facebook Page and Web Site for more information.

Start a Wedding Blog

AY's Wedding specialist Andrea shares some of her favourite wedding tips to help make your wedding a success!


Blog About It!


Consider keeping everyone informed by setting up a wedding website or blog.  Out of town bridesmaids or friends can easily feel left out of the planning process, be sure to keep in touch.  Try short, fun emails or blog entries that are full of info with dates, times, locations for any upcoming events or appointments.  You can list activities or events that are happening while your guests are in town.

Check out B&B locations for your guests to stay while celebrating your wedding day. Anything you can do to make the day a more intimate experience for your guests makes it that much more of a special day.

Check out some of our favourite wedding website providers and blogs!

Blogger - www.blogger.com

Wordpress: http://www.wordpress.com

Shared Weddings: http://www.sharedweddings.com

Keeping it Casual; 7 Ways to Use Mason Jars for Decor & Food

Mason jars aren't just great for soups, pickling and juice you can use them as a creative element to serve up your favourite meal or drinks.

Be sure to wash your jars throughly before serving any of these great mason jar ideas!


1. Use a variety of mason jars for Candle holders. Pour sand or kitty litter in bottom, about an 1/2 inch deep, put 8 hour votive candle in centre.  Display a variety of sizes (3, 5 or 7) always odd numbers, around floral  from your garden.

2. Serve up your signature drink; cosmos or Caesar in a mason jar

3. Put a layered salad or coleslaw in a mason jar and attach forks to the side of it with a piece of String, ribbon or Raffia (You can either put dressing on the bottom of the jar, layer salad on top, make sure there is a secure lid for each guest to shake up their salad before enjoying.

4. Serve up individual fruit salads or berries in small jars for dessert. Allow your guests to top off with chocolate, whipped cream, maple syrup or just enjoy their own local sweetness.

5. For Breakfast, put layered granola in mason jar, attach a spoon and supply yogurt or milk for guests pour over.

6. Instead of using a basket for your cutlery, put forks, spoons & knives in their own individual large mason jar at the end of your buffet

Wedding Tips from a Pro

AY's Wedding specialist Andrea shares some of her favourite wedding tips to help make your wedding a success!

This article is the first in a series showcasing innovative wedding ideas and creativity.


Colour is  Key


For a fun and contemporary look for your wedding, put together a great colour scheme. Check out home improvement stores, Home Hardware, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire. Don’t rely on bridal magazines or websites, visit the paint display section and get paint chips and colour wheels to play with. These will give you great ideas for complimentary colours that will work well together to give you beautiful colour combinations for everything from gowns to flowers.


Looking for some online colour wheels or combinations?

Benjamine Moore & Co. - http://www.benjaminmoore.com
Behr - http://www.behr.com

May was a GREEN month

We've saved 1392 lbs OR 632.73 kilos (WOW!!) of compost during the month of May.

The City of Guelph high recommends composting. According to their web site " Almost 30% of the waste you produce can be composted at home and used to benefit your garden."

Interested in getting involved? Backyard composters can be purchased for $35 at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre, 110 Dunlop Drive (519-767-0598), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Stay tuned as June's pile continues to grow and our carbon foot print continues to shrink.

An Extrodinary Niagara-on-the-Lake Experience!

We had an extraordinary opportunity to travel to Niagara on the Lake to visit the Jackson Triggs Winery. We had an amazing personalized Wine Tour from Michael.  Arranged by Lynda from Vincor. We continued to several other wineries including Tawse & Featherstone Winery.  Featherstone owned by Dave & Louise who used to own Guelph Poultry here in Guelph and now they make fantastic wines!  The Riesling Challenge was held here in Guelph on the weekend and not sure of the outcome, BUT Featherstone has won at 2 or 3 times in the past for their fabulous Riesling. Our Transportation to and from the wineries was provided by Red Car Services, Guelph (Barry was fantastic).