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October 10, 2010

Brantford Travel: The Brantford Farmers’ Market, a Bike Ride and a Historic Train Station with a Gallery

After our action-packed morning which included a tour of The Bodega Inn, a visit to the Bell Homestead and the historic Mohawk Chapel, the Brantford Farmers’ Market was our next destination. This historic farmers’ market has a long tradition: it was held for the first time in 1848 and is open Fridays all day and Saturdays from 7 am to 2 pm. The market was filled with locally grown fruits and vegetables, and I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with some of the farmers and merchants. A wide variety of meat products can also be found here: frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving, Polish sausage, London Broil, stuffed pork tenderloin and a wide assortment of freshly cut meats. One merchant was explaining the concept of whey butter to me, which is made from the liquid that is separated from the curd during cheese making. She called it “whey better butter”.


"Whey better butter"

A young merchant was selling gourmet cupcakes, which she bakes herself and sells on the weekend through the Farmers’ Market. Seductive flavours like vanilla chocolate or chocolate cherry cheesecake were enticing me and I was surprised to find out that she sold 400 to 500 cupcakes every weekend. Another lady was selling home-made fruit and vegetable pouches and other Mediterranean goods such a baklava, hummus, tzatziki and taboulah.


Delicious-looking cup cakes

One merchant was selling organic vegetables that are grown according to the philosophy of “community shared agriculture.” This means that for a subscription of $25 a week two adults can receive 16 weeks of freshly grown local vegetables. The participants in the program agree to receive whatever is currently harvested, and the whole program has benefits for everybody: farmers receive payment early in the season which helps them with cash flow, consumers get completely fresh vitamin-rich organic food, and the collective carbon footprint is reduced due to minimal transportation requirements and the absence of fertilizers and pesticides.


Community shared agriculture explained

Some merchants gave us apples or grape tomatoes to taste and everyone was in a good mood and we had a great laugh. Outside the market building a small band was playing folk music. Before we left the market I got to talk to a local maple syrup producer who explained the different grades of maple syrup to me: extra light, light, medium, amber and dark. I learned that the first maple syrup made in the season is lighter coloured and the sweetest. The sugar content drops as the weather gets warmer. Maple syrup making in this area only lasts from about February to early April, and it takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of syrup. The Brantford Farmers’ Market turned out to be a great place to visit and provided a nice opportunity to connect with the locals and learn about their products.


Maple syrup for sale

Our whirl-wind tour of Brantford continued with a brief stop back on Harmony Square where there was a child-friendly Fall Festival going on. Children were being entertained with a fashion show, a hip hop dance class, make-up applications and other dance performances. The organizers indicated that this event was being held for the first time with four local merchants participating. Next year they are planning to include many more merchants and intend to provide even more free entertainment during the next Harvest Fest.


A fashion show on Harmony Square

Inspired by all this physical activity, it was now time for a bit of a workout for ourselves: Melissa took us on a much-needed bike-ride beside the Grand River. We parked the van beside the Brantford Civic Centre, behind the OLG Casino and started our bike ride to explore the extensive recreational trail network that Brantford has to offer.


Melissa Stevens, our local expert in Brantford

Melissa first took us on the Trans Canada Trail and our first stop was at a plaque that commemorated Brant’s Crossing, the place where Brantford was founded in the late 1700s by Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. From here we cycled across a bridge to the Gilkinson Trail on the western bank of the Brant River. Brantford’s trail system along the Grand River is part of the 80 kilometre long Hamilton to Cambridge trail. Melissa pointed out that Brantford offers great opportunities for active vacationers. In addition to the outdoor trails and nature areas, Brantford is also a popular destination for hockey, baseball and other sports tournaments and attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year to different sporting events.


Bridge over the Grand River, as viewed on our bike ride

We quietly cycled down the Gilkinson Trail, following the winding path of the Grand River, and enjoyed the warm fall air. A canopy of Carolinian forest trees was overhanging the pathway and gave the area a serene and southerly ambience. Various educational displays beside the path invited us to stop and learn about the local fauna and flora.


Pedestrian / cyclists' bridge over the Grand River

Now thoroughly famished from our workout we returned to the van and resumed our drive to have lunch. We stopped briefly at the historic railroad station of Brantford which today is still one of Canada’s most active train stations and an important stop on the Windsor - Quebec City rail corridor. Next to the train station is the Station Coffee House and Gallery, the destination for our late lunch. This café is located inside a building that is part of the historic Brantford Railway Station and also features a gallery that showcases local and regional artists.


The historic train station in Brantford

The Station Coffee House & Gallery offers diverse menu choices such as bagels, breakfast sandwiches, toasted westerns, BLTs, omelettes and sandwiches, rounded out by a variety of sweet goods such as cheesecakes, pies, cookies, various pastries and specialty coffees. I decided to have the mushroom soup, followed by a chicken wrap, a perfect choice. Apparently the mushroom soup at the Station Coffee House & Gallery has been designated as one of Canada’s best mushroom soups according to one of the Globe and Mail’s food critics.


A well-deserved lunch after our bike-ride

The owner, Mike Tutt, joined us and gave me a tour of the Via Rail Station. He explained that this is the 11th most active station in Canada and handles nine trains a day. Actually about 150 people commute from here to Toronto every weekday morning, illustrating that this train connection makes it feasible for people to enjoy life in a small town while working in the big city.


Mike Tutt, owner of the Station Coffee House & Gallery inside the train station

The train station was built in 1905 and is protected through Parks Canada. Mike’s café even sports an authentic station sign for Brantford and a collection of other historic pictures. His connection with the Brantford train station is close: he used to work at the caboose station himself as a teenager. Today the Brantford railway station attracts hundreds of train buffs from all over the world.


The Coffee Station Station House and Gallery

Mike opened the Station Coffee House & Gallery in early 2009, always with the intention to promote local artists. His gallery features different artists on a regular basis, and he even has a painting made by Kevin Hearn, drummer for the Barenaked Ladies, on the walls. Live music, special events and gallery openings highlight the social calendar at the Station House Café and Gallery.


The Station Coffee House and Gallery

After our fulfilling and interesting late lunch stop we got back in the van and headed to Paris, a quaint riverside town from mid 1800s, about 15 minutes from Brantford.


Useful Links:

Tourism Brantford - for all the area information you need
Our Flickr Album with the Brantford photo collection
The Brantford Farmers' Market
The Station Coffee House and Gallery


Related Articles:

"Travel Brantford: A perfect staycation begins - the Glenhyrst Art Gallery, dinner at Café Andreou and an evening at the Sanderson Centre for Performing Arts"
"Travel Brantford: A tour of the Bodega Inn, the Bell Homestead and the Mohawk Chapel"
"Travel Brantford: The Brantford Farmer's Market, Harmony Square, a bike ride by the Grand River & a visit to the Station Coffee House and Gallery"
"Travel Brantford: Exploring Paris, pewter art and great hospitality in St. George"
"Travel Brantford: A Grand River experience, a Blue Dog, a sculpture garden and a great last view over the Grand River"

Related Travel Videos:

Brantford Farmers' Market: Starting my stroll through the market

Chatting with a fruit farmer inside the Brantford Farmers' Market

  Brantford Farmers' Market: "Whey better butter"

Brantford Farmers' Market: Chatting with the creator of the lovely cupcakes


  Brantford Farmers' Market: An explanation of community shared agriculture

Chatting with farmers outside the Farmers' Market Building

Brantford Farmers' Market: Explanation of maple syrup production

A dance practice at Harvest Fest on Harmony Square


Starting our bike tour at the Brantford Civic Centre

  Memorial to the founding of Brantford

Crossing the Grand River, going west to the Gilkinson Trail

Riding on the Gilkinson Trail

Cycling beside the Grand River on the Gilkinson Trail

Heading back over the Grand River at the end of bike ride

Driving through Brantford after our bike ride to the train station

The historic train station of Brantford

A chat with Mike Tutt, owner of the Station Coffee House and Gallery


 

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