To the community Around the Sound

Past
Thank you again for all your kind words about Around the Sound and to those who washed dishes and linens, helped with estimates of losses, lugged equipment and took - gulp - $24,000 worth of stock for disposal. So many people worked so hard to make our little store a part of our community and it is still hard to go past that corner every day and realize it is gone. As far as we know, the building is going to be torn down, so we have the sign in safe keeping (just in case we need it).

Present
Many of you have offered help and it is truly appreciated. This is our current situation. The insurance claim has not yet been finalized, but will be in the next month or so. This will be step one. Insurance is intended to return you to your "pre-disaster" state. Unfortunately, our insurance agent has indicated that he does not believe he sold us adequate insurance to cover the assets of the store. Even if he had, insurance would not cover the costs of first opening the business, then moving it, then building the Community Kitchen - the signage, advertising, painting, building and growing expenses. That money was loaned to me by people who believed in the vision and in my ability to bring it to life in our community. They were personal loans to me, some quite generous, and it is my responsibility to pay those off before any more money is borrowed for a future store.

Local naturopathic doctor Kathleen Finlay (no relation, just one of those delightful serendipities of life) recognized that the past had to be tied up before we could seriously discuss any future for Around the Sound, and she launched a fundraising campaign to help me pay off the Around the Sound debt. You can offer any amount, and each contribution will enter you in a draw for a number of generous gifts donated by local businesses. Donations can be made in person at Trophies Two - two doors north of City Hall, or on-line at this site http://www.indiegogo.com/Around-the-Sound-Disaster-Relief.

Future
We continue to look for a new store site that will offer adequate parking, access on foot, bike and bus, visibility, and enough square feet for Kelda's New Kitchen. We are still talking about financing possibilities, ownership structure,and new suppliers, all within the original vision of providing local food to local people. If you want to be part of the future of Around the Sound, please email me and I will be sure you receive information about our progress and invitations to future gatherings. Always feel free to send me ideas or call me at 371-3933.

Again, my thanks to Kathleen for seeing that you have to climb out of the hole before you can let yourself dream about a new start.

See you all soon.
Anne

Fire at Around the Sound
We are so very sad to report that there was a devastating fire early yesterday morning in the building that houses Around the Sound Local Food Market. The fire department says it was caused by careless smoking in an apartment above the store. We are thankful that noone was seriously injured, but four families lost their homes and posessions as the apartments were gutted and the roof destroyed.

The inventory of the store and much of the equipment was ruined by smoke and water, and of course our beautiful new kitchen is no more. The building is uninhabitable.

Thank you to our suppliers, customers and supporters for all your kind words and offers of support. We will retrieve what we can over the next few days, and then it will be time to talk about next steps.

First and foremost, the 130-plus local farmers, bakers, cooks, gardeners, processors and craftspeople who made Around the Sound what it is will still need your support. Look for their products and please continue to buy local.

Now is the time for us to consider a collaborative community effort for any future iteration of a local food market. In my vision, it could find a wonderful home at the heritage CPR rail station on the east harbour. The city owns the building and recently received a grant for its restoration. What if we all worked on it together to create a really unique gem on our waterfront, highlighting local food, urban agriculture, and sustainability? Solar hot water heating, a community kitchen, a seasonal garden and outdoor cafe? Connecting our heritage with our future - a place of hope, community and innovation as a model of the possibilities. Well a girl can dream can't she?

Again, thank you for your interest in Around the Sound. The last two and a half years have been a real adventure and the best part by far was getting to know all of you.

See you soon.
Anne

Around the Sound Local Food Market is no longer open, but you can email us at aroundsoundfood@gmail.com or call me at 519-371-3933.
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What's in the store?

Last week when Leslie did the inaugural cooking class in the Cozy Knook (the official name of the kitchen according to the brass placque it came with), she used the first greens of the season - fresh sorrel! Thanks Leslie and all the enthusiastic participants that made it such a success. We will pass along recipes in time.

The first garlic of the season will be in this week - green garlic
from Arran Hill Garlic Farm. Mild in flavour, you can use it whereever you would use fresh garlic.
If spring foods are your favourite, pick up your bare-root asparagus and strawberry plants this week and grow for future harvests.

Remember to pick up your milk if you have ordered it - there are a few extra bottles for the truly lucky. If you haven't tried it, the chocolate milk from Harmony is like dessert in a glass.

The chicken is back this week! Thank you for your patience while the birds grew. Highlands of Paisley is certified organic chicken from the farm of Grant Robertson and Sarah Slater.
And in the discussion of what came first, it was eggs in our store, and we have added two new local farms to bring us fresh, graded eggs as well as our duck eggs from Cirrus Hill Farm.

Ontario Natural brand is growing. We have carried their organic tomatoes (canned without BPA) , herbs and tofu, and now they are expanding into soups. Look for the organic mushroom in mason jars in the cooler. We got a sample of beet borscht too and I gave it to a customer to try - watch for her review! If you would like to be an Around the Sound reviewer for Ontario Natural sauerkraut, just ask.

Nick Rallis is back from Greece with the first olive oil of the season, and we will sample it and keep it on special to celebrate.

So, What Else is New?

Text FOOD on your cell phone to 54500 and you will immediately save 10% on your next purchase at Around the Sound. Look for more coupons and specials, right on your phone.

Look for the whole list of culinary classes and workshops coming up in Grey-Bruce, courtesy of the Agricultural and Culinary Association. We already have a few more in the works in the Cozy Knook - how to cook lamb, making stock, and stalking the wild leek!
If you have something you would like to teach, just let us know.

And just as a treat for reading right to the end, come in Wednesday from 12 to 2 for a complimentary ten minute chair massage from Body Therapies. It is our gift to you. One customer last week described it as "the most relaxing shopping experience I've ever had".

What's in the store?

For those looking to save on their specialty foods, we are offering Rallis' ice pressed premium olive oil by the case for less than $20 a bottle. Split it with a neighbour, give it as gifts when you are invited for dinner.

You will need some olive oil to rub on that magnificent leg of Forsyth lamb for your for Easter dinner. Look for Ontario Natural organic rosemary and local thyme in the seasoning "department". If chicken is on the menu, here is a beautiful recipe .Remember to buy the best quality butter and rice (which we just happen to carry) and consider substituting organic dried cranberries or mixed berries for the cherries. Accompany your holday meal with freshly dug organic carrots from south of Chatsworth and fresh peashoots and sunflower sprouts from the "Organic Boyz" north of Durham. Ontario beets, rutabaga and parsnios are wonderful roasted, and the first Ontario Boston lettuce, cucumbers, cluster tomatoes and peppers are beautiful fresh.

Call right away if you need to order any special pie for the weekend, and look for Williamsford carrot cake, Big Dipper nanaimo bars, Marketside bunny-shaped shortbreads and Mar-Jenny treats for your holiday table. Offshore Bakery in Southampton is providing our hot cross buns and hand made Belgian chocolate bunnies and truffles. On the beverage side, look for Meredith's Ginger Elixers and Syrups in a new economical (and beautiful bottle) for your special holiday drinks and healthy smoothies, or try new fair-trade limeade or exquisite pink pomegranate elderflower.

On a slightly more prosaic note, we have a selection of new Canadian organic grain and seed products - hemp seeds and butter and buckwheat flour, groats and porridge, all gluten-free. And on the gluten-free front, look for specials in the freezer. Organic Works breads are always a saving when frozen, and a selection of fresh breads come in every few weeks on Thursdays.

If you are going to make one change for Earth Week this year, protect our water with your choice of Canadian Eco-Max or Bio-Vert cleaning products. Give them a try - if you are not happy with these or any of the products in our store, we will be happy to offer you a replacement or a refund.

* Next Harmony Organic milk order will be submitted next Tuesday for delivery Friday, April 29 *

So what else is new?

Kelda has worked far beyond the call of duty to make our community kitchen a reality, with the help of all our staff, trades and generous volunteers. Remember when I used to point to the wall and say "there will be a kitchen back there"? The first local cooking class (and LUNCH!) will be offered next Saturday, and for the next few weeks you will see specials, samples, workshops and events throughout the store. Watch for everything from a kitchen sale of donated cookbooks and equipment to chair massages and live music.

Around the Sound Local Food Market will be open Wednesday and Thursday this week from 10 until 7 (closed Good Friday) and Saturday 9 to 5. Visit us at 685 6th Street East at the 7th Avenue lights, or www.aroundthesoundfood.com. Call us at 519-370-2333 or email aroundsoundfood@gmail.com for orders or free delivery.

See you there!
Anne

What's in the store?

Just some reminders so that you always get all your favourites. We get fresh bread in each day - Wednesday is whole grain organic bread from Vitold Kreutzer, including kamut pitas for wraps and melts. Thursday's bread is from the Big Dipper Bakery in Paisley - Glenn and Sharon have just re-opened for the season so drop in to see them when you are in town. Friday, Kelsey brings in her bread from Rising Sun Bakery in Oxenden. Her breads are made from organic spelt, an ancient relative of wheat grown and milled at GrassRoots Organics in Desboro. Every two weeks we order gluten-free bread from Organic Works in London. Any of these fine bakers would be happy to take orders, so just give us a call and we will make sure your favourites are waiting.
The same is true of pies from the Williamsford Pie Company and specialties - including gluten-free and diabetic treats - from MarJenny's. Just give us a little notice and your treats will be waiting.

If you prefer to bake your own, remember there are whole-grain mixes from Grainstorm for muffins and cookies and gluten-free mixes from Full of Beans. All the basic ingredients are on our shelves - organic butter, fair-trade sugar, spices and chocolate chips, a full range of flours, oats, local eggs, and sea salt. If we cannot find it close to home, we buy from Canadian companies and look for organic and fair-trade choices.

Living Boston lettuces, cluster tomatoes, cucumbers and red peppers are in from Ontario greenhouses. Carrots dug fresh in Williamsford are huge and sweet, as are the Desboro Spanish onions. We have Ontario button mushrooms for those who have been asking. And I heard the most wonderful recipe today for a soup with Ontario sweet potatoes, garlic, carrots and a little grated apple, along with red lentils and a good stock. Yummm.

Ribs, roasts and whole ducks and chickens are in the freezer, so plan ahead for your big dinner. If you are shopping on the way home for dinner I can recommend the thickly sliced peameal bacon, thinly sliced veal cutlets, or the boneless skinless duck breast all of which can be on the table within the hour. How about My Daddy's newest soup - a vegetarian Mulligatawny - with a side of the same great samosas they serve at Rocky Raccoon? Remember fresh fish comes in every Thursday - and you can always call to have us put away your favourite.

What else is new?

The kitchen is getting so close! We are waiting for a little carpentry and a little clean-up and we'll be ready for the grand opening. We have people lined up to use it for cooking classes and baking. Come in and take a look. Thanks to all those who have helped and continue to help.

Our first order of Harmony Organic milk in glass bottles sold like...like milk! We already have lots of orders for this week, and we add a few more if you're quick. It comes in skim, 1%, 2%, whole, and chocolate. We can also order unhomogenized (this is not raw milk, but the fat has not been blasted into tiny particles, and proponents feel it is a healthier option).
Sorbetto is back from Country Best Eis in Durham. This creamy, fruity no-fat frozen dessert is the perfect ending to any special meal or just because you deserve a treat. It comes in lemon, lime, strawberry, raspberry and sugar-free chocolate fudge.
And while we are still on treats, Laura from Williamsford Pie Company is now bringing butter tarts, biscuits and chocolate chip cookies as well as her famous pies and signature cranberry ginger oat squares.

Homemade pasta sauces, regular and hot and spicy arrabiatta from Tesoro Restaurant in Collingwood are back. Buy any of our pasta sauces - from The Pickle Guy, Marketside, Prairie Harvest or Tesoro and save on selected Maria's Home Made pastas.

Freshly dug local carrots, local turnips, shallots and potatoes - all roast up beautifully drizzled with Nick's olive oil and sprinkled with organic Ontario rosemary or local thyme. Beside Forsyth's rack of lamb or Over the Moon's prime rib? Sigh.

So, What else is new?

Please join us at the annual Health Fair at the Bayshore this Saturday from 10 until 3. There will be 80 exhibitors, free draws all day and free family skating from 11 to 12.
Kelda wants you to feel free to come to the store and play her piano any time you like. It makes her happy, and the other customers love it too! She is still looking for some things for her community kitchen - a kitchen table, some dishes, and a few folks with an hour or so to spare to do a final clean for the health inspector. Cooking classes are already being planned for the spring.
Say hi to Melissa on Saturday if you haven't met her yet. Another wonderful member of the Around the Sound family. If you are looking for an investment in over 200 of your neighbours, Around the Sound is once again looking for a few interested investors for our next phase. A 5% annual interest, in store credits, with full repayment of principal within five years. Speak to me at the store, or email me for details.

What's in the store?

Hawthorn Farm has brought us a whole new stock of organic seeds for the spring season. How about Purple Peacock broccoli, Tigerella striped tomatoes or Candystripe beets? Herbs and flowers are here too, so stock up while the selection is best. And while you are in the garden planning mood, plan to join like-minded spring-dreamers at the "So You Want to Grow Some Food" workshop at the Downtown Bookstore this Saturday, March 12 from 1 to 4. Learn about compost, soil preparation, companion planting and community gardens and more -all for a suggested donation of $5. Hosted by Transition Owen Sound.

Sometimes we go out to find you new products and sometimes they walk in our door. Last week Gordon and Bethany brought us cheese from their goat dairy - made from the milk of their own flock of dairy goats. Gordon's Goat Dairy produces havarti, gouda and a mild cheddar, as well as their signature cheese named after their rural address - C-Line Probiotic. All four cheeses come in plain, chive and chili and we now carry them all. Just ask for a sample.

Kelda and I found Country Flavour at a food event down in Guelph, and we were very excited to taste sweet Ontario peaches and cherries in the middle of winter. Ted went to pick up our bounty and called for directions to the farm in Arris. "How long would it take to drive from Guelph?" he asked. The young miss replied, "I don't really know, but I can tell you how long it takes by horse and buggy." Rural as the recipes and address may be, the processing facility is modern and spotless. Around the Sound now has cherries, peaches, pears, plums and raspberries, as well as homemade ketchup, sweet dill pickles, and apricot jam.

And speaking of pickles and jam, look for specials this week on all Pickle Guy products - Ken gave me a special deal and I am passing it on to you. Time to try his Blueberry Drizzle or stock up on your favourite Firekraut or Perkles.

On the sweet side, we now carry an organic fair trade sugar from Brazil, and a creamy rich Dulce de Leche made from the same sugar. Try it on your pancakes, or in a great recipe, or just by the spoonful straight from the jar when you need a treat. And in the great debate - "to ice or not to ice" a brownie, you can try the evidence on both sides with brownies from Vitold and the Big Dipper.

What else is new?

Thank you to everyone who took our little survey, and for your sage advice. The survey is still up, so if you haven't had a chance to answer our four quick questions (three of them are multiple choice!) just click Click here to take survey. And remember to tell us if you have taken it so we can reward you with an Around the Sound dollar.

We heard that you are interested in more specials, and we are working to make those available. The goal of Around the Sound is to offer producers a fair price for their work, so rest assured that we will not be taking anything away from farmers and producers to offer these specials.

Watch for upcoming tastings, specials, farmer visits and more to celebrate the grand opening of our Community Kitchen!

Around the Sound Local Food Market is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 until 7 and Saturday 9 to 5. Call us at 519-370-2333 or email us at aroundsoundfood@gmail.com to reserve your favourites or for delivery.

What's in the store?

It seems to be dairy week at Around the Sound. First let me give you a recipe for potato pecorino frittata- an homage to Axel's dairy ewes that are lambing over the next few weeks.

Cook some unpeeled potatoes just until tender, then drain. While they're cooling, saute some onion in a good oil in a well-seasoned cast iron pan, then layer on the potatoes in chunky slices. Whisk together six of our farm-fresh eggs with some fresh ground pepper and finely grated pecorino cheese. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and cook over medium heat until eggs begin to set. Finish it off in the oven until eggs are set and beautifully brown.

Millbank cheese is back in the store - cheddars, including the organic old and organic with sundried tomato and garlic, colby, mozzarella, havarti, gouda, monterey jack, marble, organic swiss. Try the brick with garlic to make quick pizza melts with Vitold's pitas, or the brick with hot pepper on a Big Dipper bread for a spicy grilled cheese.

Mapleton's Organics ice creams and frozen yogurts are fully stocked again - a perfect way to make a Williamsford Pie a la mode.

And one more dairy thought for you - We have had requests for Harmony Organic milk in returnable glass bottles. We would bring these in on a pre-order, pre-paid basis every two weeks if people were interested. Please let us know what kind of milk you would like to buy, and we will do our best to make this a delicious reality.

What is new in the store? Try a sample of summer sausage and pepperettes made from locally raised llama meat. Llamas are another addition to the leaner, grass-fed herds that are well-suited to the pasture land of Grey-Bruce. Bred also as guard animals for sheep and goat flocks and for their wool, llamas are becoming an increasingly common site in our region.

We have added Canadian-made EcoMax dish and laundry detergents to our cleaning "department". Available in hypo-allergenic as well as a variety of scents, the EcoMax qualities fit well with our interest in protecting our water and land.

We welcome your feedback on any of our products - We want to put only your favourites on our shelves. If you are not satisfied with anything you take home from Around the Sound, we will give you a full refund or replacement in exchange for anything you can tell us that will help us and our producers improve.

So, What Else is New?

Look for the poster about the "So you Want to Grow Some Food" introductory workshop at the Downtown Bookstore on Saturday, March 12 from 1 to 3. Watch Around the Sound for seeds and organic growing medium to get your garden started and available plots in local community gardens.

Ask for a peek into Kelda's Kitchen and see the progress - two building inspectors have already signed off! Please consider "rounding up" your order this week, or ask how else you can help. Thanks already for the stove, mixer and pasta makers!

Around the Sound Local Food Market is open Wednesday through Friday, 10 until 7 and Saturday 9 to 5 at 685 6th Street East at the 7th Avenue lights. Call us at 519-370-2333 or email at aroundsoundfood@gmail.com to reserve your favourites or have us deliver them!

See you soon.
Anne

What's in the store?

If you have cancelled your annual winter vacation in Tunisia due to the recent unrest and were wondering where you were going to get your harissa sauce this year, your worries are over! Okay, I didn't know what harissa sauce was either until Laura from Cottage Country North brought it in the other day. Now it's hard to imagine how any flavour-loving household could do without it. If you like a little heat with your flavour, Wolf River Farm still has some of their amazing dried hot peppers - chiles, cayennes and hot bombs. Lately I have been cooking a lot of David Weber's delicious veal - stews, cutlets and stir-frys - and my two favourite seasonings these days are Ontario medium-hot paprika and garlic.

Congratulations to Robin at Rocky Raccoon and Meredith of our own Meredith's Ginger Syrup for hitting the Globe and Mail Style section last Sunday. Robin designed the "Bottoms Up" cocktail featuring Meredith's syrup and local maple syrup. And speaking of Robin, we now have a good supply of the samosas featured at Rocky Raccoon for your at-home or lunch-packing pleasure.

Thanks to Paul at Marketside for making us the yummy granola that sustains so many of us. Try it sprinkled on Saugeen Country yogurt and drizzled with a little Uncle Richard's maple syrup and you'll never go back to bran flakes for breakfast. If you want something hot, big bags of oats, regular and quick, are still on special - save 60 cents a pound over the small bag. Sprinkle your oatmeal with maple sugar sprinkles orCamino fair-trade brown sugar. (Go to their website and enter the contest to win chocolate for a year!)

So, What's with the Round Up?

In honour of our Calgary-girl Kelda and her amazing kitchen that gets closer every day, we are inviting you to round your purchase up to the next dollar and put it in the Kitchen Donation jar. Of course, it's up to you. We are also rounding up Canadian Tire money, Air Miles (I converted mine into Rona gift cards for drywall) and credit card points (Allison converted hers into Home Hardware gift certificates for the paint). We would also take donations of drywall screws or tape!

Around the Sound Local Food Market is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 until 7 and Saturday 9 to 5 at 685 6th Street East at the 7th Avenue lights. Call us at 370-2333 or email aroundsoundfood@gmail.com and we'll set aside your favourite bread or pie or deliver it right to you!

See you soon.
Anne

From now to Christmas Around the Sound Local Food Market will be open Monday through Friday, 10 until 7 and Saturday 9 to 5 to help you get everything you need for the holidays. Remember that gift certificates fit everyone - your brother-in-law, the man who blows your snow, your hairdresser...

Gift baskets are great too - choose anything you like and we can add the basket and ribbon. Remember the stocking stuffers - spices, a Meredith's ginger traveller, lip balm, elk pepperettes, little jams or maple butter. Magaizines take up LOTS of room in a stocking! Or how about a gift certificate for a Williamsford pie or pizza or a Mapleton's ice cream?

Sparkling ciders from Finchhaven Orchards or Meredith's ginger elixer with soda water make great non-alcoholic offerings for your holiday guests. Remember to pick up your hot toddy recipes too.

The Akiwenzies are bringing us the smoked whitefish you enjoy at the Owen Sound Farmers' Market. Bonny has brought us her "Woolies" soaps made with things like home-grown herbs and local organic pumpkin and oats! She has brought beeswax candles rolled in cinnamon too. We are lucky to have lots of variety in local beeswax candles from hand-dipped tapers to votives and pillars. Healthy and beautiful.

Remember there are still turkeys available from GrassRoots - 16 to 22 pounds, $3.00 per pound, ready for pick up (frozen) on December 15.

Marjennys, Trudys Country Kitchen, Williamsford Pie Company, Kilsyth General Store and the Big Dipper Bakery will all be bringing Christmas baking. Be sure to order if you have special dates or requirements - diabetic, gluten-free, vegan can all be available. Huzelbrot, Stollen and Linzertort will all be in starting this week and on order. Cookie trays, plum and carrot puddings and Jamaican rum cake are also available.

Weather permitting, our bread will come from Vitold Kreutzer on Wednesday, Big Dipper on Thursday, Rising Sun on Friday and Brilliant Bread on Saturday.

Keep warm with a Man Knit hat - hand-knit in beautiful colours by Michael - or with soup from My Daddy's.

Thank you to Trevor for the spaghetti squashes and pie pumpkins - grown in Massie with no sprays - all proceeds to the community kitchen.

Looking forward to seeing you soon at Around the Sound Local Food Market, 685 6th Street East at the 7th Avenue lights. Call us at 519-370-2333 or email aroundsoundfood@gmail.com for delivery or special orders.

Cheers!
Anne