How did the market come about?  It's a question that many ask.  Here's the basic story.....In 2005 community members were talking about their desire to have a farmers' market in our park. Dufferin Park FM was wonderful, but was just a tad far for us locals. The idea was presented at a Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park meeting, had a call out for people to join a committee to help get it off the ground.  No one stepped up so it went on the back burner.  Then in 2006, I met Scott Cinello, who was totally into it.  We started work on it a year before launch. We put together a proposal with all the logictical and organizational details. Our Councillor at the time, Joe Pantalone, was on board and arranged a meeting with city department stake holders.  We also got over 600 support signatures!  That was important as it showed the city that the community wanted it and would come out to support it.  

2007 was the inaugural year.  Each year since it becomes more solidified in the community and into their shopping routine.  We have supported our farmers/vendors and watched them flourish with the success of the market.  And educated the community about local farm practices and when the Ontario growing season is.  It is important to understand that the market is operated on large by community volunteers - the market depends on these dedicated people to maintain operations.  TBFM is one of the remaining truly independent, community based/operated farmers' market in the GTA.  No organization behind it, other than the forever support of the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park, which is a volunteer community group i.e. see this site for more ;-).  The market is self-sustaining and when possible, gives back to the Friends.

TBFM is a food focused farmers' market.  We do not consider non-food vendors.  Participation is by invitation season to season.  Prior to each season management extends invitations to renewing Vendors and potential new Vendors - if space availability permits.  There is scant turnover.  TBFM is a modest sized market and it is thoughtfully curated to keep it viable for participating farmers/vendors.  All farmers markets must adhere to 50%+1 farmer to non-farmer ratio as per Board of Health rules and to have an official 'farmers market status'.

Thank you to the all the patrons for their continual support of our neighbourhood market.  

Visit our dedicated site; www.tbfm.ca that has links to our social media platforms for more current news.

Carolyn

Market Manager

Park People have issued some excellent tool kits that explains the how-to put on events in your park and/or how to initiate community building fun! They are excellent resources.  The link to their website is below failing that, pdf's of handbooks below.

www.parkpeople.ca/parktoolkit

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Guidebook_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Firepit_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Movie_2014.pdf

ParkPeople_ParkToolkit_Nature_2014.pdf

Visit our dedicated website for more information.

The Trinity Bellwoods Farmers' Market was founded in 2007 by community volunteers. And continues to be run by volunteers who generously give their time to sustain operations.

'The market's mandate is to support and increase access to fresh, local, sustainable and organically grown agriculture, with prepared foods, the same for ingredients.To educate the community in the food they eat, the source from which it comes and how it is grown and/or prepared.  We like slow food, not fast food and eating at hearth and home with your loved ones'.  

All participating vendors have gone through an application and approval process adherent to our mandate.  Vendors are not permitted to participate without prior arrangement.

The market does not consider vendors that; use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, products containing GMO's, that are re-sellers/peddlers, purchase at the Food Terminal, import goods, are of craft, skincare products, nutritional supplements, service providers, product representatives and pet food

TIME: Tuesdays 3pm to 7pm - Rain or Shine
LOCATION: Dundas W. & Shaw/Crawford. Search address 1053 Dundas W
ACCESS: foot, bike, wheelchair, TTC.

If you have to arrive by vehicle, do not park where the pylons are - east curb of Shaw from Church to Dundas St. & south curb of Dundas from Shaw to beyond east of Crawford - this area is reserved for vendor vehicles and we have a city permit.  Thank you for your cooperation!   

• Please bring your reusable shopping bags.
• Please make efforts to arrive by foot, bike or TTC.
• No smoking/vaping in designated market area.
• Pets must be on leash.
• Cyclists, please walk your bike in market area. 
• Alcohol consumption is not permitted in the park.

To futher our commitment to the environment we have a Free 'leave a bag/take a bag' program.  Donate your clean re-useable shopping bags for others to use, take a bag if you forget yours - you can boomerang it the next week.  We only accept bags clean of food and pet residue for our allergen friends. We do not accept single use plastic bags. We encourage use of reuseable bags for our vendors and patrons where ever possible. 

Who are we?
Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park is a volunteer group that works together to improve the green space, cultural and recreational activities of Trinity Bellwoods Park.   Its volunteer members have founded and operate a weekly summer farmers market, coordinate an Adopt-A-Tree program to water and nurture the new planted saplings in the park, created and operate a greenhouse as an educational and community resource, present bulb and shrub planting events in collaboration with Parks & Recreation and respond to community issues that affect the park.  Since 2001, Friends of Trinity Bellwoods has been recognized by Parks & Rec and by our Councillor as the vehicle of community consultation for the park.  We are a diverse group who are willing to share new ideas, respect other points of view, and participate in a collaborative process to create a vibrant community park. 

Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park have no financial backing from outside sources. We have been able to realize our initiatives (i.e. costs associated with the Adopt-a-Tree initiative, green house, Park Days, Clean up Days and the commissioning of the 2009 Tree Inventory) by soliciting donations from film shoots and Special Events that occur in the park – which is truly hit & miss – and the occasional private citizen.  Our Farmers Market, so far, has been able to contribute the past several years and plan to on an annual basis.  We are not flush, so if you would like to make a donation to the Friends, we will gladly accept.  Just drop us an email for more info. 

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