Third annual Honey and Garlic Festival set for September

Written By KIRA WRONSKA DORWARD

The end of September this year will see Albion Hills Community Farms host its third annual Honey and Garlic Festival. 

“It's about celebrating the harvest,” says organizer Barb Imrie. “Garlic takes time to cure. This year, the season started late, so it's now in the process of drying. We harvested the garlic in July, and we're drying it in August to be ready for the end of September.”

On Saturday Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the free event will be held at the Albion Hills Conservation Area, at 16555 Humber Station Road. Parking and admission are free, although organizers ask attendees bring a food item donation for CCS' The Exchange.

Local honey and garlic vendors will be selling their stock, as well at the Community Farm. There will also be local produce and flowers for sale. In addition, the Palgrave Rotary truck will be serving up local honey and garlic munchies. Organizers ask that attendees please bring cash, as there are no bank machines on site.

In addition to what's for sale, there are also numerous entertaining and educational events organized. “Farm Talks and Walks” will be giving presentations on raising your own backyard chickens (with the farm chickens in attendance), and there will be a tour of the allotment gardens, which is comprised of 50 community members' individual gardens at the farm. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Humber River's designation as a Canadian Heritage River, Kim Wheatley, an indigenous elder, will be present with songs and stories from the native community. There will also be a project of constructing a mosaic from various peoples' connection to the River. 

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Caledon Parent-Child Centre will be hosting the Pollinator Party, with activities for children up to six years of age. The Peel 4H Club will also be demonstrating and helping people to plant garlic. Those attending the event can help plant the next season's 24, 000 cloves.

“This year,” says Imrie, “we're having a little bit of fun. We're having an E-‘Scape' Room with problem-solving and teamwork challenges.” It's $5 per person for entrance, and all participants are then entered into the Grand Prize draw of a $200 value basket of local produce. There will also be other draws and silent auctions to help raise money for Albion Hills Community Farm. 

All volunteers are welcome. For more information, please email garlic@albionhillscommunityfarm.org.