Join Our Team!

Deadline extension: March 19

Are you an energetic, passionate student with an interest in supporting the local food movement? Do you want to gain experience in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and event coordination? This is an opportunity for you! 

The Market is hiring two Market Co-Cordinators and a Finance Coordinator, who will work collaboratively to manage the Market's activities. The application deadline for these positions is Sunday, March 19th at 5:00pm. These are year-long stipend positions, lasting from May 1st, 2017 to April 2018.

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in the position to info@mcgillfarmersmarket.com.

All of the details of these positions can be found in the attachments below. 

New Basket Supplier: Les Jardins du Chat Noir

The McGill Famers' Market is pleased to welcome Les Jardins du Chat Noir to our vegetable basket program this year. Les Jardins du Chat Noir will by supplying our largest basket, available for $31 per week. 

Les Jardins du Chat Noir is located in Bedford, Quebec, which is roughly one hour west of Montreal. The farm follows the organic farming standards outlined by Ecocert and has received pre-certification to become Certified Organic in the near future. 

Farmers Amélie and Aurélien are excited to offer a selection of more than thirty delicious vegetable varieties during the upcoming season. Their baskets will include carrots, potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, beets, peppers, zucchini, lettuce, kale, spinach, lettuces, fine herbs, radishes, cucumbers, watermelons, ground cherries and much more. 

To sign up for a basket with Les Jardins du Chat Noir or for more information on our basket program, please visit our Vegetable Basket page. 

Preserving the Harvest: Fresh Herbs

Since early July, our community-supported agriculture baskets have featured generous bunches of fresh herbs, such as parsley, coriander, and basil. Garden-fresh herbs can add wonderful flavour to your favourite dishes and with proper storage and preservation, can be used all-year long. In this first blog post of our summer series, Preserving the Harvest, we share a few tips for storing and preserving fresh herbs. 

Storing Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are a great addition to your meals but need to be used right away as they have a very short shelf life. With proper storage however, the shelf life of herbs can be extended a few days. To preserve soft herbs such as basil, parsley, and coriander, snip the bases of the stems and put the bunch in a glass of water. Cover herbs with a plastic bag and place the glass in the refrigeratorHerbs with harder stems, such as sage and tarragon, should first be wrapped in a damp paper towel and then plastic wrap, before storing in the refrigerator. 

Drying Herbs

An easy and effective way to preserve your summer herbs for the colder days ahead is by drying them. Homemade dried herbs will remain fragrant for six to twelve months. The two methods for drying herbs that we recommend are air drying and oven drying.

• Air Drying: Brush the leaves to remove any dirt or gently wash them, making sure to dry them thoroughly. Using a rubber band, tie the stems of the herbs herbs together and hang the herbs upside-down in a dark, warm, and well-ventilated place. The herbs should be hung away from sunlight or covered with a paper bag. Leave the herbs to dry for one to four weeks and then store in an airtight container for up to a year.

• Oven Drying: To dry herbs more quickly, spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dry the herbs until crumbly in the oven at 150 degrees Fahrenheit for one to four hours, checking them frequently. Store in an airtight container for up to a year.

In addition to air and oven drying, fresh herbs can easily be frozen by stripping the leaves off the stems and spreading out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Once they are frozen, place the leaves in a freezer bag. 

How do you preserve fresh herbs? Share your methods with us below, in the comments section!

Basket Registration for 2017

The Market has opened registration for Summer and Fall 2017 CSA baskets. This year, we will be offering three different sized baskets from local farmers as outlined below. The Summer and Fall seasons are eight weeks each: summer baskets will be offered from July 6 to August 24, while Fall baskets will be offered from September 7 to 26.

• Small Basket: Les Jardins de la Résistance 
• Medium Basket: Macdonald Student-Run Ecological Gardens
• Large Basket: Les Jardins du Chat Noir