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2/June 2023 The South Marysburgh Mirror A Tomato Ambassador Like No Other (Continued from page 1} kept her exploring the world every winter, returning to South Marysburgh, and her garden, each summer to earn enough money to keep her going. Finally, though, her wan- dering feet wandered no more and in 1999, she pur- r chased a farm on Morrison Point Road and started the now iconic Vicki’s Veggies. The idea of growing heir- loom tomatoes grew out of a trip to a conference focused on organic farming. She was drawn to the wide variety of tomatoes that were grown from heirloom seeds. “The different colours, shapes and sizes were ours, “trying to make a rainbow of them”. But she lacked a “black one”. That changed when a worker discovered a black coloured tomato in the fields...a rogue. That tomato plant spawned her signature variety which she called, in honour of her life- long home, “Black Crick”. “There’s a story behind every tomato,” Vicki says, talking about the immigrant practice of sowing seeds into the hems of skirts to carry them safely to new conti- nents. Having those seeds would often mean the differ- ence between thriving or go- ing hungry in their new home- land. Reviving the practice of using heirloom seeds keeps alive that long tradition. She grows 170 varieties of toma- toes at Vicki’s Veggies. “They’re all breathtakingly beautiful. | want to eat them all,” she chuckles. Fortunately, so do her customers. What’s the most popular variety she sells? Green zebra takes centre stage, she says. Though tomatoes are her bread and butter crop, Vicki’s has more to offer. Local pro- duce, condiments, sauces, herbs, flowers...all find room on the shelves of her stand at 81 Morrison Point Road at Black Creek, South Bay. Art Extravaganza for PEC’s South Shore Joint Initiative Kicks Off June 10 The South Shore Joint Ini- tiative is launching an art extravaganza on June 10 to support their work to pre- serve and protect the Coun- ty’s South Share, much of which is part of South Marysburgh. The event which is open to the public takes place at Burley Hall, Cressy Glenora United Church, 3442 - 3444 County Road 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. The South Shore Joint Initi- ative (SSJI) Art Extravaganza provides an opportunity for artists to support SSJI and to display and sell a piece of their work. Approximately 30 local artists have provided pieces of their work representing the shoreline, nature or biodiver- sity of Prince Edward County. Pieces are in a range of medi- ums and are available from $300 to $500. SSJI plans to return 30% of the sold price to the artist and issue a tax receipt for the remaining 70% of the sale price. Art will be offered for sale in local businesses, at the Wellington Farmers’ Market at the Eddie starting on June 24 and online on the SSJI website. For information: Cheryl Anderson Cheryl.anderson@ssji.ca 613-849-7743 4 ‘SOUTH SHORE JOINT INITIATIVE ART EXTRAVAGANZA a 4 ‘SUMMER 2023 ‘OUNTY ANTISTS CELEBRATING THE BEAUTY AND BIOOIVERSITY OF ADWARD COUNTY'S NATURE June 2023 Volume 38 Number 05 Published monthly by Barbara McConnell, 41 St. Philip Street, PO Box 131, Milford, ON KOK 2P0 E: themirror@kos.net ISSN Number 1181-6333 (Print Edition) ISSN Number 2292-5708 (Online Edition) The South Marysburgh Mirror gratefully acknowledges the support of the South Marysburgh Recreation Committee and St. Philip’s Church The South Marysburgh Mirror T: 613.471.1816