The Audit of My 2013 Ontario Garlic

 

How is everyone doing with their Ontario garlic stored away for the winter?  This past season I purchased 58 heads and I am down to my last 19. Should I panic or stop cooking Italian and Greek?

This past evening I did an audit of my remaining stinky roses and they are all still in good shape.  I have kept them in the cool, dry basement since I first purchased them.  They have been in open short paper bags, a maximum of 6 heads to a bag.

Most of the garlic heads are forming a bit of their garlic germ.  This is quite typical for this time of year. Very few have actually sprouted.  I just cut out the garlic germ when I am peeling my garlic.  A recent post by David Lebovitz endorses this practice.

It is pleasing to know that heading into March, I still have firm, moist flesh in each clove.  Of course, the garlic is at its most flavourful and juiciest when it is first harvested and allowed to dry for a few weeks.  But I feel fortunate that I am having such great success.

One of the evils of storing garlic is mold.  Too much humidity in the air or poor circulation will quickly ruin a garlic. This is why I only store a few in each bag and leave the bag open for air to move freely. I am fortunate as well to have a cool, dry basement.  I have heard of others storing their garlic in the garage. I have too much moisture coming from wet cars to dare consider that. Plus my garage tends to hover around 4C.  Fridge temperature is too cold to store garlic.

Some will also experience cloves that just dry up and disintegrate. I felt that accelerated drying was happening with a set of 6 bulbs back in November so I used them up right away.  This was disappointing as I have had reasonable success with that variety and farm in the past.  It was a colder wetter growing season in 2013. Both factors affecting the quality of garlic crops.

Each bag has been labeled with the Date of Purchase, Number of Bulbs, Price, Grower, Variety and Place of Purchase. This has come in handy when selecting garlic for cooking.  Some varieties are stronger than others.  It also helps me to see which garlic I may consider repurchasing in the next season. My eye is still not trained well enough to just recognize a bulb's pedigree by its looks.

I have been particularly pleased with garlic from my CSA farmer Roots and Shoots Farm. That is now all gone.  Also Glengyle Garlic from the Ottawa Farmers' Market has held up well.  A farm that has been a star for me but I did not purchase in 2013 is Waratah Downs Organic Farm. Other farms I have tried and have had good success are:
Rainbow Heritage Garden
Bashert Farm
Upper Canada Garlic
Vicki's Veggies

My garlic was mainly purchased at farmers' markets and garlic festivals. On average, I paid $1.30 for each head of garlic.

 Most of my garlic was purchased throughout the months of August and September.  My first local garlic came in my CSA basket on July 25, 2013. That means I have to wait another 21 weeks for a fresh crop.

Will my 19 garlic take me to late July? I suspect not. Luckily Rainbow Heritage Garden from Cobden will be participating at Seedy Saturday this weekend at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, Britannia Beach, 102 Greenview Avenue.  It runs from 10 am to 3 pm. They have promised to bring along their certified organic garlic, potatoes, beets and carrots.

Did you store local Ontario garlic for the winter?  How has it weathered the winter?

Silver Spring Farm Garlic Fundraiser

** UPDATE: The garlic sold out on Sunday, August 5th. **

Silver Spring Farm opened their gates today for the start of their 16th annual 'Choose Your Own Garlic' fundraiser. This fundraiser is in support of the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD).

Their sale hours are from 10:00 am to 6 pm every day, until they sell out.

Silver Spring Farm is located near Bells Corners at 3501 Richmond Road, where it meets up with Baseline Road.



For this garlic season they planted 40,000 cloves of garlic. The dry weather worked in their favour. Not only was it a faster growing season by 3 weeks, the harvesting was not as onerous for pulling and cleaning because of the drier soil. Of the 40,000 heads harvested, about 8 to 10,000 are kept as seed for next year.

They grew both Music and Majestic garlic. They are both Hardneck garlic and belong to the sub-group Porcelain. My eye is not keen enough to tell them apart. Music is likely the most popular garlic grown in Ontario.

Liz Primeau, author of In Pursuit of Garlic, has this to say when describing these two cultivars.

"Music: A strong, dependable grower brought from Italy and now seen frequently at fairs in parts of Canada. Its big cloves are hot and pungent when raw, mellow when baked, although texture isn't as creamy as that of some other cultivars."

"Majestic: Developed in eastern Ontario. A lovely big bulb with good-sized cloves and a full garlicky taste."

Once the garlic is cleaned, they go through an orderly process for sorting the garlic by size. This simple block has the stalk fed down through the channel of finishing nails from the widest to the narrowest part of the device. The garlic head stops at its measured width of 2 up to 6. If the garlic head pulls all the way through, it is considered a '1'.



The larger heads are priced at $3 and $4 each.





The smaller heads are sold in groups, 3 for $2 or 2 for $3.





They also grouped the very smallest together in bunches for $4. I counted one of the bunches and it had 10 small bulbs.



They also sell pretty arrangements and braids.





Their raffle this year is for a very large braid. Tickets are $2 each for 3 for $5.



I stuck to the 2 for $3 table and picked up a number of heads, some destined to be mailed to our darling son.



Readers can call the Garlic Hotline at 613-569-8993 ext. 409 for updates on the sale and also to confirm their hours of operation.

Ontario Garlic - Let the Festivals Begin

By my estimation, in the summer of 2011 I purchased 88 heads of garlic to get me through to the 2012 harvest. A harvest that is almost 3 weeks early this year, considering the unseasonably warm weather we have been experiencing here in Ontario.

I purchased my collection of garlic from 9 different farms across the province, mostly at farmers' markets and roadside stands. And there were 7 heads from my Roots and Shoots Farm CSA share baskets. It was dutifully stored in my cool dry basement, well spaced and with reasonable air circulation. It did very, very well up to the beginning of June. That is impressive, considering most of the bulbs were the hardneck porcelain Music variety, the most popular garlic grown in Ontario, but not the longest lasting.

Loving all things garlic, at the beginning of May I picked up Liz Primeau's latest book called In Pursuit of Garlic: An Intimate Look at the Divinely Odorous Bulb, released in the spring. Happily, Liz will be at most of the large Ontario festivals this year.



We are nearing that time when the Garlic Festivals are about to start. Here is a comprehensive list, and perhaps the most complete, of well-known Ontario garlic festivals and large sales.



JULY 24 AND ONWARDS (Nepean):
The garlic at Silver Spring Farm will be going on sale Tuesday, July 24 at their location at 3501 Richmond Road (where Richmond meets Baseline Road on the edge of Bells Corners). Readers can call the Garlic Hotline at 613-569-8993 ext. 409 for updates. This is the 16th year for the annual 'Choose Your Own Garlic' fundraiser. Last year their 30 - 40,000 heads sold out in less than a week. ** UPDATE: The last of the garlic sold out on Sunday, August 5. **

AUGUST 11 AND 12 WEEKEND (Perth):
The 15th annual Perth Garlic Festival will be held August 11 and 12 at the Perth Fairgrounds, starting at 9:00 am. Admission to the festival is $5.

HEADLINERS:

• Liz Primeau, author of 'In Pursuit of Garlic' will give a talk called Garlic Reborn at 9:30 am on Saturday and again at 10:00 am on Sunday. (I am re-reading her book right now!)
• Lynn Ogryzlo, food and wine writer, and author of 'Niagara Cooks' and 'The Ontario Table' will also be there.

AUGUST 11 AND 12 WEEKEND (Carp):
Also this weekend is the 13th annual Carp Farmers' Market Garlic Festival. It starts at 8 am on Saturday and 10 am on Sunday at the Carp Fairgrounds. It ends both days at 3 pm. Of the 100 vendors at their Farmers' Market, 30 will be selling garlic and garlic related products. Free admission and free parking.
HEADLINER: There will be Celebrity Chefs from Alice's Village Cafe, Bistro 54 and Juniper Kitchen and Wine Bar.

AUGUST 18 (Old Chelsea):
Marché Old Chelsea Market will celebrate its 2nd annual Garlic Festival, Saturday August 18. Although on the Quebec side, I included this festival since it is so close to me and many of my readers.

AUGUST 18 (Newmarket):
If you are interested in traveling further afield this summer, Newmarket's 'Garlic Is Great Festival' is on Saturday, August 18 from 8 am to 1 pm downtown on Doug Duncan Drive. Free admission. Rain or shine.

AUGUST 25 (Haliburton County):
The Haliburton County Garlic Growers are hold their 5th annual Garlic Fest on Saturday, August 25 located at Carnarvon Bowl at at Hwy 35 & Hwy 118 in Carnarvon. 9 am to 3 pm.

AUGUST 26 (Sudbury):
Sudbury has laid claim to the ORIGINAL Canadian Garlic Festival. This year is the 21st annual and their event will take place on Sunday, August 26th from Noon until 4 pm at 30 Notre Dame Ave, Hnatyshyn Park. It began in 1991 and it's a major source of fundraising for the Ukrainian Seniors Centre. No surprise that you will be able to get a taste of cabbage rolls and perogies. Admission is $2.

SEPTEMBER 1 (Verona):
6th Annual Verona Lions Garlic Festival will take place Saturday, September 1st from 9 am to 2 pm. Entry and parking are free. The event is being held at the Verona Lions Centre, 4504 Verona Sand Road, 20 minutes north of Kingston on Road 38. Since you are so close, consider heading to Seed to Sausage at 12821 Highway 38. Seed to Sausage is open from from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.

SEPTEMBER 8 (North Bay):
New to the North Bay Farmers' Market this year will be a Garlic Festival on Saturday, September 8th. The market is on 200 McIntyre Street and runs from 8:30 am to 1 pm.

SEPTEMBER 8 AND 9 WEEKEND (Stratford):
There are some who will say that the Stratford Garlic Festival is the best one in the province. I would love to attend and see if this rumour holds true! This year the 6th annual is being held Saturday, September 8th from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday, September 9th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Old Stratford Fairgrounds, 20 Glastonbury Drive. Admission is $5 each day.

HEADLINERS:

• Garlic Chef Competition at noon on Sunday between Aaron Linley of Bijou (returning champion) and Yva Santini of Pazzo. I have dined at Bijou, so I totally get why Chef Linley is a force!
• Liz Primeau, author of In Pursuit of Garlic will also be speaking at this Festival on both days.
  
• Renowned chefs and cooking experts, Rose Murray, Elizabeth Baird and Emily Richards will be doing a cooking demonstration on the Saturday morning.

SEPTEMBER 15 (Niagara):
New this year, Niagara is holding their 1st annual garlic festival on Saturday, September 15 from 10 am to 7 pm at Busy Bee Gardens Lavender Farm, 758 Niagara Stone Road, Niagara-On-The-Lake.

OCTOBER 13 and 14 (Toronto):
Toronto had such success in their first year that their 2nd annual Toronto Garlic Festival will span two days. It is being held Saturday, October 13th starting at 1 pm and Sunday, October 14th starting at 9 am at the Evergreen Brick Works just north of Broadview Subway station at 550 Bayview Avenue. Admission is $10 each day (plus service charges).

HEADLINERS:

• Liz Primeau, author of In Pursuit of Garlic will also be speaking at this Festival at Noon on Sunday "Growing Great Garlic in the City".
• The Toronto Garlic Festival has developed a Garlic Map using Google Maps, to identify locations for purchasing garlic right across the province. See here. Direct updates to info@TorontoGarlicFestival.ca.

GARLIC FESTIVAL MECCA:
The 34th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival will be taking place next weekend, July 27, 28 and 29 in Gilroy, California. They say they host the largest garlic festival around.

GARLIC CARE:
Garlic can keep for up to 10 months if stored in a cool, dry, dark location. Do not refrigerate garlic.

INTERESTING GARLIC FACT:
Only hardneck garlic produces a scape, which needs to be removed approximately after the first curl is formed. This will allow energy to be directed to the bulb's development.

INTERESTING GARLIC TRIVIA:
National Garlic Day is April 19.

'Choose Your Own Garlic' fundraiser at Silver Spring Farm

The 15th annual 'Choose Your Own Garlic' fundraiser at Silver Spring Farm started today at 9:30 am out at 3501 Richmond Road. (Where it meets up with Baseline Road.)



They said they have between 30,000 and 40,000 bulbs to sell. They expect they will be all sold out in a weeks time. Last year the crop was smaller and they sold out in 3.5 days.

They sell only the Music garlic. It is a hardnecked, porcelain garlic and grows well in our climate.

The bulbs are sorted and priced by size. They range from $1.50/bulb, 3 bulbs for 2$, $3/bulb and $4/bulb.









Also, the braids ranged in size so also in pricing. I saw braids from $12 up to $32. They have done up gift braids too for $7.





New this year is a $5 cup of garlic cloves. Sometimes the larger bulbs come out of the ground with the cloves spreading and starting to come off the bulb. They can't sell the incomplete bulbs along with the others so they have cupped up the cloves for a special deal.



I didn't do much thinking about the pricing as this is a fundraiser. I bought 3 cups of the loose cloves. It weighed in at 390 grams. There were 45 cloves in total and some were so large they were essentially the size of half a bulb.

Our plan is to mince the garlic, cover it in extra virgin olive oil to be jarred and refrigerated for 30 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. Read more about how to safely preserve garlic in olive oil.

Any cloves that we don't peel and mince will be stored in a paper bag in a dry, dark, cool location. No putting them in the fridge.

Scape lovers might be interested to know that the farm's scapes are sold locally at the Metro in Bells Corners and Kanata at the beginning of July. Something to watch out for next year.

If you are interested in supporting this worthwhile cause, make time in the next few days to go out to Silver Spring Farm. I have started the peeling and the cloves are a beautiful white. So fresh. You will be pleased.



Readers can call the Garlic Hotline at 613-569-8993 ext. 409 for updates on the sale and also for hours of operation.

Are You Ready to Start Your Garlic Stockpile?

Bring on the stinking rose! Garlic season is in full bloom.

I have received three garlic bulbs so far in my CSA basket from Roots and Shoots Farm.

This past weekend I picked up 3 heads of Music garlic from Big Ass Garlic at the Arts and Crafts Show in Baysville, Ontario.

With the harvest well underway, garlic festivals are about to begin. Here is your 2011 garlic stockpiling calendar:

AUGUST 10 AND ONWARDS (Nepean):
The garlic at Silver Spring Farm will be going on sale Wednesday, August 10 at their location at 3501 Richmond Road (where Richmond meets Baseline Road on the edge of Bells Corners). Readers can call the Garlic Hotline at 613-569-8993 ext. 409 for updates to confirm the start date and also hours of operation. This is the 15th year for the annual 'Choose Your Own Garlic' fundraiser.

AUGUST 13 AND 14 WEEKEND (Perth and Carp):
The 14th annual Perth Lions Garlic Festival will be held August 13 and 14 at the Perth Fairgrounds, starting at 9:00 am. Pam Callacutt will be doing a cooking demonstration at Noon on the Sunday. Admission to the festival is $5.

Also this weekend is the 12th annual Carp Farmers' Market Garlic Festival. It starts at 8 am on Saturday and 10 am on Sunday at the Carp Fairgrounds. Of the 100 vendors at their Farmers' Market, 30 will be selling garlic and garlic related products. Free admission and free parking.

AUGUST 20 (Old Chelsea and Newmarket):
"Marché Old Chelsea Market celebrates its first annual Garlic Festival, Saturday August 20, 2011 from 9am – 2pm. Names like Zimo, Mennonite, Spanish Roja, Music, Korean Violet and Quebec give a taste of the variety of colours and flavours of the garlic offered at the festival."

If you are interested in traveling further afield this summer, Newmarket's Garlic Is Great Festival is on Saturday, August 20 from 8 am to 1 pm at the Newmarket Farmers' Market. Free admission.

SEPTEMBER 10 AND 11 WEEKEND (Stratford):
I have heard really great things about the Stratford Garlic Festival. This year the 5th annual is being held September 10th and 11th at the Old Stratford Fairgrounds, 20 Glastonbury Drive.

SEPTEMBER 25 (Toronto):
Toronto has decided to get in on the action too. The 1st annual Toronto Garlic Festival will be held Sunday, September 25 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Evergreen Brick Works just north of Broadview Subway station at 550 Bayview Avenue. There will be over 50 varieties of garlic available for cooking and planting. Admission is $5.

GARLIC CARE:
Garlic can keep for up to 10 months if stored in a cool, dry, dark location. Do not refrigerate garlic.

INTERESTING GARLIC FACT:
Garlic is planted in the fall and then harvested in August (sometimes as early as mid-July) of the following year.

WHAT I DO IN THE OFF SEASON:
When I have run out of garlic from Ontario, I try for garlic from the USA. I personally try to avoid buying garlic from as far away as China. I have had luck finding USA garlic in the winter at my local Produce Depot.

CANCEL YOUR TRIP TO GILROY:
So, go ahead and cancel that trip to Gilroy, California, the Garlic Capital of the World. They say they host the largest garlic festival around. Unfortunately, you've already missed it. (Their festival was July 27 - 29th.) Thankfully, it appears you can do all your garlic shopping right here at home in Ontario.