Late fall has so much to offer, and it's always best to grab and enjoy local offerings of produce while they are fresh, or to preserve so you can still enjoy their delicious flavours throughout the winter months. October and November offer a wide variety of delicious produce, even with the cooler weather. Root veggies like carrots, parsnips, and beets, and cruciferous veggies like brussels sprouts and cabbage fill our farmers’ tables. Apples, pears, and greens like kale and spinach are plentiful, along with late-season storage crops like onions and garlic. 

Growing up in London, Roots & Shoots owner and operator Bess Hilton was always surrounded by plants, animals, and nature. Her mother always had a large garden filled with native plants and wildlife, and she has memories of playing in the nearby trees or searching for bugs and butterflies while her mom would be tending to her garden. "My mom would always tell me about how beneficial different creatures were to helping naturally control bugs," said Bess. "We would take walks in the woods and she would point out all the different types of native flowers and plants, and I would search for fossils and stones in the creek." As Bess grew older, she found herself wanting to reconnect with her roots through exploring growing her own plants, just as her mother had when she was a child, and in 2020 she officially started Roots & Shoots. 

On Saturday October 25, the Horton Farmers' Market will be hosting their first annual PumpkinFest - a celebration of autumn, the bountiful Southwestern Ontario harvest, and Halloween. As an ode to fall fairs past and present, PumpkinFest will also feature different contest categories including arts and crafts, photography, baking, pumpkin painting and carving, and a costume contest! With chances to win ribbons, Horton Market Dollars, and some sweet treats, now is the perfect time to sign up before some entry windows close! 

Cooking root to leaf means using every edible part of food that we buy. Approaching cooking like this helps us waste less food while also saving money by making the most of every part of our purchased ingredients and enjoying it! Here are some tips on how to utilize root to leaf cooking with some veggies that can be found at Horton. 

Thanksgiving is always something to look forward to; friends and family gather around tables filled with seasonal flavours, family recipes, and autumnal comforts, while sharing stories and reflecting on the years passed. It is a time to celebrate, a time to reflect, and a time to connect - both with one another and with our communities. So why not tailor your meal to also support the local farmers, bakers, and makers in your community by creating a feast that is truly rooted in your community. By sourcing your Thanksgiving ingredients from the Horton Farmers' Market, you can serve dishes that are fresher, more flavourful, and are deeply connected to the place you call home.