Welcome!
Matchbox Garden & Seed Co. is a small farm company serving the GTA area since 2006. Starting as an urban backyard garden, Matchbox has grown into a 3 acre market garden producing over 90 varieties of rare, heirloom and open pollinated vegetables, seed and seedlings.
We produce our seedlings at the Downsview Greenhouses, in Downsview Park, and grow our vegetables on McVean Farm in Brampton, Ontario. McVean farm is a 90 acre incubator farm, run by Farmstart, and owned by the TRCA as part of the Clairville Conservation area.
Matchbox takes pride in employing biodynamic and organic practices to grow spectacular produce for our CSA, Farmer's Markets and Restaurant customers. Thoughtful stewardship of the land is the best way to ensure good growing, year after year.
Here's to good food!
Where to Find Us?
Sorauren Park Farmers Market
Mondays from 3pm - 7pm
Trinity Bellwoods Park Farmer's Market
Tuesdays from 3pm - 7 pm
You will also find Matchbox products in finer restaurants across Toronto
For Produce and Seedling wholesale locations, please visit our bolg, or contact us about our CSA Program.
What's in Season
Spring
Summer
As June roles around you will find that less of our market table is filled with plants and vegetables are taking over for the duration of the season. June brings Peas, Beets, Arugula, Spinach, Kale, Chard, Green Onions, Head Lettuce and of course more Salad mix and herbs. During July, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Beans, Carrots and Turnips are added to the list, as well as Cabbage and Cauliflower. August brings Eggplant, Peppers, Cucumbers, Corn and Potatoes as the summer months wind down
During the spring months we're busy with the seedlings as we get them ready for our May markets. Towards the end of May you can also expect to see our Matchbox Salad mix appear on the table as well as Radishes and fresh cut herbs such as Sage, Mints, Oregano and Thyme.
Fall
The bounty of August carries on through September and by the end of the month we have seen the harvest of Watermelon come and go.Winter Squash and Pumpkin are harvested along with Parsnips, Leeks and Turnips through out October.
Winter
As winter comes on we begin to have a rest. You can find us at the Sorauren Winter market once a month carrying items such as, potatoes, winter squash and root vegetables. We also have preserves made from the farm as well as dried herbs.
Bio's
Hanna Jacobs
Eric Rosenkrantz
Hanna Jacobs grew up on a horse farm just north of Toronto and spent much of her 20's travelling throughout Europe and North America. During that time she visited various sustainable farms and alternative communities whose focus included renewable energy resources, co-operative living and local food delivery systems.
In 2000 she attended Le Cordon Blue Culinary Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, where she received certificates in both culinary and patisserie arts. With that education she began working in restaurants and catering companies while continuing to travel. In 2002 she moved back to Toronto, working in the hospitality industry until the birth of her daughter in 2005.
In 2006 she began Matchbox Garden & Seed Co. as a way to provide reliable and safe food for her family and others in the community. A passion for feeding people quickly transformed from cooking meals to farming vegetables and herbs. Inspired by her first chef, Hanna's mantra in the kitchen and on the farm is always, "your meal is only as good as your raw ingredients."
Eric was raised in London, Ontario, where he quickly developed a love of gardening. With a tradition of growing food in his background, Eric has worked in garden centres, landscaping companies, and kitchens.
After being a patron of Matchbox Garden & Seed Co. for two years, Eric was presented with the opportunity to create a partnership, and help grow Matchbox. "Food is the best way to effect positive change in multiple arenas," Eric will tell you.
"Good growing helps the soil and ecosystem, local production helps with emissions and poor working conditions in other places, and low input growing can free farmers from economic turmoil. What's better than that?"
Contact Us
hanna_matchboxgarden.ca416 553 7126
hanna_matchboxgarden.ca
416 553 7126
eric_matchboxgarden.ca416 824 1874
eric_matchboxgarden.ca
416 824 1874
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