The Accidental RVers visit the Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Farmers' Market

Ten years ago, when we moved from London, Ontario to Nova Scotia to "retire", we needed to find a way to meet new people and become a part of the community where we were living.

One visit to the Hubbards Farmer's Market provided a solution. I booked a stall, baked my "famous shotbread cookies" and sold them at the market. And Arch made outdoor furniture from local maple and poplar to sell at an outdoor stall. We had a lot of fun and met a lot of people.

Eventually I expanded my line to sell breakfast wraps and focaccia and my sister-in-law, Lesley, joined me with beer breads. We then developed a catering business that morphed into Lesley's Pantry - a small food emphorium in Chester, Nova Scotia. Now closed when Lesley decided to retire this year. And Arch moved on to The Bay Hammock Company, now sold :).

The Hubbards Farmer's Market has been the centre of our spring, summer and fall Saturday mornings ever since as our family gathers to do our weekly shopping and catch up with family, friends and neighbours.

This past Saturday was the start of Canada's Thanksgiving Weekend and our first Saturday off together since Arch started Bay Hammocks 7 years ago. Or, as Arch says "the first day of the rest of our life". So we started the day with a visit to the market. It was great to catch up with neighbours and old friends.

It was a beautiful day and the fall colours were spectacular on our drive over:

As was the selection of fall veggies for sale at the market:

This Swiss chard makes a yummy tart or a beautiful centerpeice for a fall table (or both)

I've noticed a lot of recipes for delicata squash lately but have never prepared it. So I purchased one to try.Think I will simply cut it in wedges, sprinkle with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, flour and walnuts and bake.

Delicata Squash

Did you know that the McIntoch apple originated in Dundas County, Ontario, Canada? 

The first McIntosh orchard was started in 1811 when United Empire Loyalist John McIntosh bought the Dundela farm and discovered 20 apple trees in the woods. He transplanted them into a garden next to his log shanty, but all the trees, save one, had died by 1830. Forty years later, his son Allan used the seedlings to plant a red apple nursery where the original tree survived, bearing fruit until 1906. Today, every tree growing McIntosh apples is descended directly from John McIntosh's orchard. These will make a great apple crisp To make the simpilest apple crisp possible, butter your baking pan, add peeled and sliced apples, sprinkle with a mixture of brown sugar and butter, drizzle with maple syrup and bake at 350F until apples are soft. The gourds were beautiful. These would make a great Thanksgiving table centrepiece Or you could just buy one from Svenja: You have to get to the market early to get one of Svenja's creations. They sell out quickly. Svenja is a horticulturist who grows the florals and other materials that she then converts to beautiful bouquets and centrepieces. Such a talented woman! Danette(seen on the right) calls her business The Sea Dog Bag Company and she makes handbags, shopping bags, etc. from old boat sails: I love the idea of this traveling gift bag for wine: The idea is that you sign and date the bag when you give a gift of wine, then the next person passes it on doing the same thing. This is a prototype, she hopes to have them for sale next week. If so I will get one to give to a RV friend we meet along out route. I think I will add  a location and this blog address as well as name and date and see if we can track its travels. This is Sheila. She is the wife of a local fisherman and runs her own fish business operating fish and chip trucks and selling fresh fish to local buyers. She was our fish supplier wher we operated our catering business. Cod bits are a local delicacy. I do not know how they are used. Must learn. Julian's Pastry Shop is a favourite hangout in Chester, Nova Scotia. These folks sell Julian's breads and treats: How could we resist goodies like these: I bought the pumpkin bread in the centre for a family Thanksgiving Day hike and picnic on Monday. And of course some coffee from the Laughing Whale Coffee Roastery: We like the "Rock Your Boat" There is a fabulous picnic and gathering area at the back of the market (which is in an restored barn) but it was still early and a little chilly when we were there.

The little girl huddling in the blue jacket is our grand-niece. She lives near-by and threw her jacket on over her pyjamas to come shopping. Sure hope it warmed up as the day went on.

We left early to check out the fall colours in other parts of Nova Scotia. But that is a subject for another blog post......

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