Daily Archives: January 22, 2009

Green Barn Farmers’ Market (St.Clair & Christie)

Posted on January 22, 2009 | 1 Comment

By: Bess Stathopoulos

This market has recently moved to its permanent home at the Artscape Wychwood TTC Barns, 79 Wychwood Avenue in the covered street barn. The nearest subway station is the St.Clair West Subway Station.

History & Profile of Market

It is a neighbourhood based market, one of the Toronto Farmers Market Network (tfmn.ca) of organic or sustainable vendors, primarily farmers. You will find local seasonal food here, from baby greens in May to bushels of tomatoes in September. You’ll also find honey, bread, cheese, fish and meats, grains, jams, syrup, wildcrafted foods, mushrooms, and lots of friendly gossip year round. They often feature local music and an area for kids to play and network. They are a natural growth component of the Artscape Wychwood project, where a neighbourhood managed to save a 4 acre site and 4 of the 5 buildings on it from being demolished to instead create a diverse park. The Green Barn is one of the buildings on the site transformed into a geothermally heated/cooled hub of environmentally aware food activism for the neighbourhood and the city.

Vendor Profiles

Stoddart Family Farm brings seasonal garden produce as well as duck, guinea fowl and chicken. You may purchase Ontario grown and spun wool from Silvia’s flock of Organic sheep at their booth. The Stoddart family host a herd of heirloom cattle and White Park.

Number of Vendors: Approximately 35 – 40 vendors

Forbes Wild Foods, bring maple syrup and wild rice to the market which they have traded with First Nations people for some of the foods they glean on farm land and in wild areas of Ontario, always sustainably, always ethically. You’ll find incredibly delicious treats here like wild strawberry jam, dried chestnuts and Ontario black walnuts.

If you’re looking to do your week’s shopping at a friendly place where you can meet your neighbours, talk to the people who crafted your cheese or grew your beets or knew the lamb (and how to cook it) that you’re having for dinner, then this is the place for you!

Days and Times of Operation: Saturdays, summer market from 2pm to 5pm, winter market from 9 am to 12 noon.

Bess Stathopoulos is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd – Johnston & Daniel Division.

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Toronto’s Condo Building Boom Reins In Somewhat

Posted on January 22, 2009 | Leave a comment

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By Robin Tully

The Globe and Mail reported last month that the first of Toronto’s condominium pre-sale campaigns was in the process of dismantling. Minto Urban Communities “paused” development of its Minto King West project as a result of slow sales and tightening credit.

The good news is though that there are enough projects in the works in Toronto right now to keep the construction and related industries busy through 2009 according to Stephen Dupuis, the Chief Executive Officer of Toronto’s Building Industry and Land development Association.

So far, all those pre-sale campaigns that took place and achieved their sales quotas will be “all systems go”. Construction of condo units has a ripple effect: for every unit built, it means appliances get installed, hardwood and carpet get installed, kitchen cabinetry gets installed, and so on. It puts many sectors to work. If we stay busy through 2009 completing what’s in the pipeline, we’ll find ourselves that much closer to exiting the recession!

Robin Tully is a Broker with Royal LePage R.E.S. Ltd., JOHNSTON & DANIEL DIVISION Brokerage

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Make Everyday Feng Shui

Posted on January 22, 2009 | Leave a comment

By Yvonne Huh

By now, you have probably heard of the latest fascination in the world of interior design, Feng Shui.  Simply defined, Feng Shui (“fung schway”) is the art of spacial flow and object placement, dating back to 4th century China.  But much more than a fleeting design trend, Feng Shui is a tried and true way of creating a happier and healthier life through a balanced and harmonious environment – home, office or any space that you occupy.  Using Feng Shui, you can enhance many areas of your life, including health, wealth, relationships, career and more.

 

Did you know that Donald Trump employs a full-time Feng Shui consultant?  The famous Trump Tower in New York City is perfectly Feng Shui.  Here at home, some large corporations (Royal Bank of Canada and CIBC Wood Gundy as examples) design many of their offices according to Feng Shui principles.

 

The Prevalence of Ch’i

It’s no surprise that Feng Shui has become popular here because much of the world (except North America) has been practising Feng Shui or some derivation of it for centuries.  The heart of Feng Shui, “Ch’i” (energy), is widely accepted in many religions and cultures, including:  Hindus (prana); Catholics (Spiritus); Japanese (Ki); and Egyptians (Ka).  The belief is that everyone and everything possesses its own unique Ch’i.  Your personal blueprint is created from the combination of your own Ch’i in relation to the Ch’i of your environment.  If you have imbalances or blockages of energy, this can translate to slower, more difficult areas for you.  With Feng Shui cures, however, you can improve and strengthen these areas by shifting and increasing the energy in your environment. 

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One of Toronto’s Best Kept Secrets

Posted on January 22, 2009 | 2 Comments

By Diti Dumas

“Bennington Heights” is one of Toronto’s most desirable, sought-after and exclusive neighbourhoods. Over the years it has been the home of many influential Torontonians, including author Margaret Atwood, whose novel “Cat’s Eye” is based on her childhood growing up in Bennington Heights. Bennington Heights is bounded on two sides by the bluffs of the Don River Valley ravine and on the north by Mount Pleasant Cemetery. These geographic barriers have helped to preserve the tranquility and the uniqueness of this neighbourhood.

This small enclave of homes, situated at Bayview Avenue and Moore Avenue is home to “Bennington Heights Public School”. This “small, private-like” school landed a perfect score on all 3 Rs in the Grade 3 provincial testing for many years in a row – many families buy into the neighbourhood to enroll their children into this exceptional school.

Community spirit is evident by its’ many street parties, barbeques, and annual street sale. Many residents, including myself, share the thinking, “Once you’ve lived in this unique community, you don’t move out quickly” and “now I can’t imagine living anywhere else – it’s like country-living in the city!” “Many breath-taking views can be captured moments from your front door by walking on the amazing nature trails directly behind many of the homes” they also stated.

The outdoor trails and paths lead to areas such as Rosedale, Moore Park and right down to Bloor Street. Close to parks, schools, neighbourhood tennis courts, TTC, shops, restaurants on Bayview and minutes drive to Front or King Street – this neighbourhood is definitely one of “Toronto’s best kept secrets”.

Neighbourhood Factoid: The first resident of this neighbourhood was Thomas Weatherhead, a lawyer for the East York School Board. In 1925, Weatherhead purchased 30 Rosemount Avenue but he had Rosement Street name changed to Bennington, which was his wife’s maiden name. The Bennington name was also adopted by the school – Bennington Heights School when it opened in 1950.

Diti Dumas is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S.Ltd./JOHNSTON & DANIEL DIVISION, Brokerage.  Diti is a regular contributor to the Muddy York BLog.  Diti’s Website is located at www.ditidumas.com

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Posted in Bennington Heights, Neighbourhood Information

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