“Some women dream about fur coats and diamond rings,” says Patsy, “but my long-term dream has been about my cold storage room.” Patsy Thibault is a true gardening and health food enthusiast to which her dreams of a cold storage is only one testament. In the Spring Patsy runs a greenhouse operation where she sells potted plants and flowers. This operation marks the beginning of her intensive green-thumb season and by July she is in full swing growing her famous greens in her organic market garden. She sells mainly at the Dieppe Market from July until November.
In witnessing her garden’s success, it is not surprising to learn that she has been farming since the early 1980’s. For years before the Dieppe Market became her main outlet she had a farm stall on her property. Although she is not a full-time farmer, she still manages to put a considerable amount of time and love into her produce. She has impeccable gardens, beautiful greenhouses perfectly arranged, and of course a charming cold storage room. Her reputation for fabulous leafy greens extends across the Northumberland Coast and she has developed an enthusiastically loyal customer base at the Dieppe Market.
Patsy loves her gardening career because of both the great clientele and the fact that the lifestyle suits her. She is able to stay home during the summer months and though busy, can spend time with her youngest daughter, the last of her four children at home.
Patsy has always grown her vegetables organically, seeing it as the healthiest way both nutritionally and environmentally. In fact, when the Dieppe Farmers’ Market began in 2005, Marché Canisto was the first certified organic farmers’ stall at the market! “Certified or not, it’s certainly how I would garden regardless,” says Patsy, “I have no problems with my crops, nature works; it balances itself out.”
Patsy plans on continuing to garden for the next few years until her daughter finishes school. “I adore the market,” Patsy says, “and the clientele are so faithful they make me want to never stop producing.” They even start choking up when November rolls around and they realize that any Saturday now might be the last they see her until next year!
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Product
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Description
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Availability
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| Snap Beans |
Green, yellow & purple varieties available |
July - until the end of the season
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| Beets |
Round and cylindrical shaped varieties. Beet greens available in early May. |
July - until the end of the season
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| Carrots |
"Napoli" variety - a good straight and flavourful carrot. Can be harvested as baby carrots |
late July - September
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| Zucchini |
Straight green |
Mid-July
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| Basil |
Sweet basil, large fleshy leaves |
July
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| Cucumbers |
Burpless - an Asian heirloom variety |
July - September
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| Peppers, Hot |
Hot and Sweet peppers available |
July
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| Salad Mix |
Canisto's famous blend - a house secret |
All Season
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| Brassicae Salad Mixes |
Marché Canisto Market is always experimenting with new types - ask about what varieties she has for you to try! |
All Season
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| Swiss Chard |
Rainbow and green swiss chard available. Also has red swiss chard available in limited quantities |
August until the end of September
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| Kale |
Purple and Green Kale varieties |
July - November
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| Spinach |
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May - June, September - November
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| Cherry Tomatoes |
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Late June - September
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| Large Tomatoes |
An ultra sweet variety (Patsy's favourite) |
Last week of July - end of September
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| Purple-topped Summer Turnips |
Your sweet winter turnip in the middle of summer! |
Late July
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| Yellow Dutch and Red Onion |
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September - December depending on supply and storage
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| Leeks |
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Available end of June until frost
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| Parsley |
Italian & curly parsley, forest green |
Available in Spring from the greenhouse; then from July until snow.
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| Peppers, Bell |
Green pepper heirloom variety |
July till end of September
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| Radishes |
Several different varieties available |
May-June; Fall
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| Rhubarb |
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End of May - end of June
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