Eat In The Past
2024 will be a year of change for me. I'm not hanging up my hoe, but heading in that direction after 26 years.
No preordering will be available for 2024-sorry! But yes, I'm still selling some of your favourite seedlings.
I will start selling my seedlings on Wednesday May 15-18 to my regulars, 11-5 pm. Have you bought from me in the past? Yes? Then you are welcome to come out on these days for advance sales.
I will open to the general public on Sunday May 19th and on from 11-5 pm.
Looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces.
I won't be offering to pick out your plants for you this year, preorders are no more. I will offer a good selection of everyone's favourite tomatoes and other plants such as peppers, herbs and other lovely surprises. There will be fewer plants than in the past, so if you would like some, I wouldn't wait too long to get here. The plants will be waiting for you in my driveway when the weather is warm enough.
Plant prices will stay the same, $4. I have been fortunate to collect many used pots and trays this year (should I say previously loved?) and see no reason to increase my prices at this time. I think we all need a little break from rising prices and I'm happy to give you one.
Welcome to Tree and Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm.
It is hard to believe, but 2024 is my 27th year in business. I'm delighted to still be able to do what I love, although my life and my business have changed significantly in the last 27 years. I began my business as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), then with my friend Maria at Traves Farm started the Fonthill Farmers Market, sold my specialty produce to some of Niagara's finest restaurants, wholesaled to Toronto markets and stores, expanded to sell seedlings, seeds, organized Niagara Seedy Saturday, offered on and off farm workshops. As noted above, this year will see the biggest change. I will be managing a non profit garden elsewhere, so what I do here will be quite different.
But my focus is and remains tomatoes!
Over the past 27 years I have grown and trialled thousands of kinds of tomatoes. My main interest remains heirloom varieties, with a good smattering of newer open pollinated varieties. I have also been happy to grow nearly anything else I can find...cotton, sesame seeds, interesting physalis, hot peppers and anything else a little bit unusual of interesting. It doesn't get old.
I am a business, but doing what I do is about so much more than making money. I am an avid seed saver and am stewarding many varieties of seed that aren't available elsewhere. This is a responsibility I take seriously. I'm intersted in the history of these varieties and the importance of continuing them on. I work hard, mostly alone and am very fortunate to do what I love. I am also fortunate to have a great group of regulars who come back year after year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The last several years I have been involved in saving seed for Iowa based Seed Saver's Exchange as well as trialling varieties for same.
Over the past few years, selling seedlings has become the main focus of my business. I have a very large and varied selection of tomatoes in particular that I begin selling in May. If you are interested in growing delicious and beautiful veggies that have stood the test of time, please visit!
Unlike big box stores or large garden centre chains, I know what I sell. If I grow and sell it as seedlings, I have grown and trialled it in my garden first. Over the years I have grown thousands of varieties of tomatoes and hundreds of other veggies, herbs and flowers. You visit here will be personal...it will be me helping you make your selections.
Stay tuned for opening dates and times !
As for veggie sales, I have downsized my CSA, but do offer vegetable boxes on a one off basis once high season hits, usually July. You are also welcome at any time to touch base and see what I have available. Please do!
At Tree and Twig, my specialty and passion is heirloom vegetables. Heirloom tomatoes are what I do in a very big way. I look forward to meeting you and talking tomatoes!
Growing heirlooms is an exciting way to try new and unusual tastes, shapes and colours. But more than that it is an effort to maintain the genetic diversity of our food crops.
In the last century, we have lost 90 per cent of our vegetable varieties — a tragic loss of diversity and a threat to our food security. It is important to stop this trend and, as growers and consumers, look for alternatives.
Heirlooms are the link to the past and are the key to our future. Unlike some hybrids, heirlooms are not grown for their ability to withstand shipping or chemicals, or for their uniform look at market.
They are grown for taste.
Eat in the past!
Note my new email as of October 21, 2023-treeandtwig@gmail.com
New is my "Job's Tears" jewellery, which you can purchase directly from me (see pics on the Brindille Jewellery facebook page) or through my Etsy store, Brindille_Jewellery
