This week Trinity Bellwood's Sakura cherry trees are in bloom!  Both the group planted in the spring of 2010 in the south end and the new four-tree grove planted last fall in the north end of the park are in full blush of bloom.

According to the Japanese Consulate, who donated the trees to the park, the ones with the pinkish hue (left photo) are Prunus x yedoenis "Akebono" and the ones with the whitish hue are Prunus x yedoenis "Yoshino".  It looks like most of the pinkish ones -- with much thicker twigloads of blossoms -- are to the north of the path, and the whiter ones to the south of the path.  There are always a few very small cherry fruits in these trees although they are ornamentals.

Although just transplanted last fall, the four new Sakura cherry trees in the north end are also blossoming.  They are sited just north of where the park's lone, ailing Shagbark Hickory was located before being removed last summer -- you can see the circle of dirt behind them where the Shagbark and its circular stone wall was.

Park neighbor  Victoria Taylor has created an art piece about spring in our park which will be on exhibit in the window gallery of Dufflet's Pastry which is called *Queen Specific.

It's called EMERGENT STRUCTURES : 24/7 Video Installation
by Linda Dervishaj & Victoria Taylor

April 4 to May 16

Weaving together hundreds of images shot during six weeks of spring 2012 in Trinity Bellwoods Park Toronto, the work celebrates changes in form, colour and context during this transcendent phase in the life cycle of trees.

It's back!  Tuesday May 7th is the first day of the 2013 Trinity Bellwoods Farmers' Market season!  Every Tuesday following from 3pm to 7pm, fresh and local produce/product can be found up at  the NW end of park at Shaw and Dundas West.   There'll be salad greens, sprouts, bread, cheese, meat and much, much more.  Please visit www.tbfm.ca for more info on what you'll find at market.

There are still opportunities for volunteers to help us with operations - which is generally helping the farmers load in/out.  Go to the market tab on this site for more details.

See you at the market.

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. 

Read more...

See this film!  Wed. May 29^th, Royal Theatre 7pm.

The Toronto Farmers' Market Network (www.tfmn.ca) presents a screening of Symphony of the Soil, made by filmmaker, Debra Koons Garcia of 'The Future of Food'.  This recently released documentary has not been widely seen, so this is a unique opportunity. For details on the film visit www.symphonyofthesoil.com.

Where: Royal Theatre, 608 College St.

Time: 7pm

Tickets at the door: $10 ($5 for 12 and under)

Synopsis: 'Drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science, Symphony of the Soil is an artistic exploration of a miraculous substance, soil.  By understanding the elaborate relationships and mutuality between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, we come to appreciate the complex and dynamic nature of this precious resource. The film examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil's key role in ameliorating the most challenging environmental issues of our time.  Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights the possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.' 

Toronto Farmers' Market Network brings together community-based market organizers to share information, advocate for a strong and healthy local food system, and grow great markets in our city.  

Visit www.tfmn.ca to find your farmers' market.

We would super appreciate if you could spread the word - tweet, blog, post, e-blast - to all your peeps. Please use attached promo flyer.  It’s a very good film and important one for everyone to see.  

Thank you,

Carolyn Wong (Trinity-Bellwoods Farmers' Market) & Anne Freeman (Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers' Market) for the Toronto Farmers' Market Network