All About Outdoor Decor

Summer is here and it’s the season of outdoor living! Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening on your patio, throwing a BBQ or having your neighbours over, these outdoor décor essentials will get you through any occasion.

Topping our list are eye-catching serving pieces. We have a new line of glassware that captures the essence of a Mardi Gras party! The Murano-like glasses are available in a variety of cocktail styles. Complete your colourful set with a versatile serving tray.

When the sun goes down, enhance your guests’ visibility by illuminating your backyard with a garden lantern on a stake. The globe of the lantern holds a votive candle, which we now offer in 14 fresh scents by Bridgewater.

An option for lighting a gazebo is a cast or wrought iron chandelier. A chandelier can be the focal point of your outdoor living space and also provide you with soft candlelight for summer meals!

Change the ambiance with an interesting tablecloth. You don’t always have to go for the plastic red checker print when you’re setting an outdoor table. We have tablecloths in various sizes and bright patterns that will charm your visitors.

Wondering just how sizzlin’ your summer is getting? Keep track of the temperature with a stylish outdoor thermometer. This must-have item will add interest to cottage decks, backyard fences or apartment balconies.

In other news:

Springridge is hosting a summer event on July 14, 5:30pm-8pm. We're inviting you to Girls Night Out on the Farm with Kathy Buckworth – television personality and author of the hilarious Shut Up and Eat: Tales of Chicken, Children and Chardonnay. RSVP: info@springridgefarm.com

The Berry Blog

You’ve stocked up on pectin, called every day for our crop report and now you’re anticipating getting the first seat on our tractor-drawn wagon ride. Even our farm dog Hudson is salivating for his daily Vitamin C intake. This could only mean one thing: it’s berry season!

Here are a few suggestions for including strawberries in your plans this month…

Strawberry Social
Create a special afternoon for your guests with these strawberry party essentials.
1. You may need several flats of ready-picked strawberries depending on the number of people attending your event. Fresh berries will be available daily in the barn market beginning early June.
2. Our Belgian Chocolate Sauce. Say no more...dip...dip...yum.
3. Springridge blends strawberries and custard to make the perfect summer treat. Impress your guests with our infamous strawberry-custard tarts.
4. Send home a classic strawberry recipe with each partygoer. Find some of our favourites on our website.

We also have an extensive selection of outdoor décor that will enhance your garden parties this summer. Come into the barn market to see our collection of lanterns, terracotta pots, serving trays and garden statuary.

Strawberry “Staycations”
The Springridge pick-your-own strawberry field is the ideal destination for families staying in town and taking day trips. Embark on a scenic wagon ride along the Niagara Escarpment, experience the Fun Farm Yard then go home and make strawberry jam with your harvest!

In fact, you can enjoy delicious jam all year ‘round with this recipe.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

2 cups crushed berries
4 cups sugar
¾ cups water
1 box powdered fruit pectin

Add sugar to fruit and stir well. In a saucepan, boil ¾ cup water and the fruit pectin for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the hot pectin and water to the fruit and continue stirring for 3 minutes. Put in containers, let stand for 24 hours and store in freezer.

Remember your sunscreen, hat and water. We'll see you in the fields!

May Gift Guide

At Springridge, we recognize it can be difficult choosing the perfect gift. Our staff is eager to help you make the best decision. As a starting point, here’s a gift guide with some ideas for upcoming occasions!

Mother’s Day (May 9, 2010)

Impress your mom with a stunning new piece from the Marie Osmond jewelry collection. Inspired by her own personal possessions, this talented mom incorporates stylish designs with a little glitz and glamour! Visit Judy (modeling a Marie necklace in turquoise) in the Gift Loft.

Also in the Gift Loft, we’re featuring an exciting selection of spring scarves! Don’t keep your mom out of the loop – a scarf is a great way to add style to a basic outfit. She’ll love our new patterns and colours. Pick any two scarves for only $20!

April showers bring May flowers. Our first hanging baskets of the season are in! These spectacular flowers are a gift that will not only wow Mom but last all summer long too. Baskets are $60.

Wedding Gifts

Congratulate the new couple with a unique serving piece from Wine Planks. Each piece is handcrafted using recycled wine barrels from the Niagara region. Include a VQA wine with this gift!

The Maple Bowl by Bayshore is a truly Canadian gift. Each bowl is finished with a natural beeswax coating. Toss in a pair of salad servers too!

Let the bride and groom find their own treasure at Springridge. We have gift certificates available in the denomination of your choice!

Time to start thinking about Father’s Day and end-of-year Teacher gifts...

There’s no doubt dads are raring to fire up the BBQ. Our gourmet department is offering an extensive selection of grilling sauces as well as the award-winning BBQ Brie Baker. Dads will also like our cottage guest books featuring a bear or buck on the front cover.

Looking for a token of appreciation for a teacher? We have an inspiring selection of cookbooks, delicious flavours of locally made fudge (3 for $11.95) and a collection of jams made on-site. Pair with fun summer napkins to complete the gift. Surely an A+!

Opening Day Q & A

Co-owners of Springridge Farm, John and Laura Hughes, are celebrating 50 years on the farm this season. Springridge features a fun farm yard, birthday parties, school tours, seasonal festivals, pick-your-own strawberries and a barn market with fresh produce, gourmet items and homemade baking. I sat down with Laura to chat about her savvy retail shop.



NIKI: Springridge is celebrating 50 years on the farm, how did your retail section begin?

LAURA: “Like so many other things on the farm, it started as a result of what customers were looking for. In the early 80’s we started to bring in a few bus tours from Toronto and many of the ladies were looking for something to buy. I listened to them and I got into small souvenirs around the $10 mark. When those sold, I tried some items worth $20 and $25 and it snowballed from there.”

NIKI: Are you personally excited about any new product lines, if so, which ones?

LAURA: “I’m very excited about the wall art and the paintings that we have. Art is something I’ve enjoyed all my life and that department has grown rapidly for us over the last few years. This year, we’ve introduced quite a few Canadian artists. They are wonderful prints, particularly those by the Group of Seven.”

NIKI: Do you think it’s important for Springridge to feature Canadian made products?

LAURA: “Yes, it has always been important for us to sell Canadian made products. This year we’ve searched at the Gift Show, the One of a Kind Show and the By Hand show. I’m particularly proud to say we’ve got several items that are made in Ontario like Hilborn Pottery, which has a very classic look to it.”

NIKI: What are the must-have items for garden-patio season?

LAURA: “If you’re setting up your garden and you come to Springridge, a must-have item is one of our garden statues. Many of our designs are classics like you would find in an English garden. We also have fun statues you might relate to like a dog or cat. They are beautifully made in Ontario and they will last outside all year round.”

NIKI: The Springridge Gift Loft features affordable jewelry, scarves and handbags. What trends are you seeing in this merchandise for spring?

LAURA: “A lot of designs are not too over the top. Crystal jewelry has always been popular for us. We offer some beautiful Swarovski Crystal pieces that are made right here in Toronto. The biggest trend in purses is the messenger style bag. Today, the busy lady can have a messenger style purse on at the mall, getting groceries, unloading children out of the car – it can just stay on comfortably. We’ve brought in messenger bags from great companies such as Lug, Espe and Quetzal. We also had fun with colour this spring!”

NIKI: In 2009 your family house was featured in the magazine Style at Home. What tips would you offer customers who are re-decorating their homes this year?

LAURA: “Keep the basics, like trim, fabric and furniture, in neutrals and have great fun accessorizing with colour. Use beautiful pots, bowls, trays, throws, and cushions to accessorize. If your basics are neutral you can change your decorating with the seasons.”

There’s one additional item that Laura’s looking forward to bringing home on opening day and that’s a strawberry rhubarb pie!

Springridge is now open daily, 9-5.

Merchandise in March

Springridge is one month away from re-opening. We are excited about offering our customers new product lines as well as welcoming back some of our favourites. Here's an exclusive product preview for this spring.

Dean & DeLuca
We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the famous gourmet food emporium Dean & DeLuca. This NYC-based specialty food shop first opened its doors to the neighbourhood of SoHo in 1977. They have since expanded their cafes around the globe. Springridge Farm is proud to be the only retailer of Dean & DeLuca products in Ontario. We are featuring gourmet coffees, specialty teas, sauces, marinades and rubs. The Black Truffle Barbecue Sauce is a must for connoisseurs of the grill. We are also retailing the Dean & DeLuca vintage diner mugs - a great gift for under $10!

Kevin Robert Gray Glassblowing
Kevin's Witch Balls are a new, Canadian-made product for us. Kevin operates a glassblowing studio in Merrickville, Ontario. He uses precious metals and recycled crystal glass to create his art. Historically, witch balls were hung in the home to promote peace and harmony. Each glass ball is unique in colour and design. Look for this item, sparkling in the springtime sun, on the Deck at Springridge.

Bridgewater Candle Company
We are introducing a full line of natural soy blend candles by Bridgewater. These candles are clean burning and come in sophisticated scents. We are featuring four items in each scent including jar candles, votives, tea lites and sachets. Last season, our customers enjoyed the candles because they are in an attractive modern jar that can be reused. Springridge is eager for customers to peruse the new candles in fresh fragrances.

Janet Baskets
These eco-friendly baskets are a favourite at Springridge! We've ordered 2 new patterns for the spring. The baskets are fully collapsible and come in small and large sizes. If you're riding the reusable bag wave then this basket will come in handy at grocery stores, farm markets and picnics. The baskets are a great gift for any age.

See you in our store on April 1! No fooling.

February at the Farm

Welcome to Springridge Farm's new retail blog! Even though we are closed to the public over the winter, our staff is busy preparing for the 2010 season.

Springridge staff recently scouted out new merchandise at the By Hand Show in Toronto. The show featured artisans from all over Canada, who specialized in handmade glass, jewelry, woodwork, pottery and home decor items. We have an increased interest in finding merchandise produced locally and the show provided us with lots of fresh ideas for our customers.

Last week, our buyers also attended the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association Gift Show. The show was host to over 1,000 exhibitors and we are excited to bring some innovative products into our store this year.

Springing ahead to what you can look forward to when we re-open on April 1:

We are celebrating 50 years on the farm and we would like you to join us in embracing classic items that will have longevity in your household.

We are expanding our popular Canadian-made collection. In addition to carved maple bowls, rock inukshuks and pottery, look for our new wine barrel platters and fused glass serving pieces.

Enjoy new items in our nautical section. If you can't make the trip to Cape Cod this summer, you can still get inspired by our seafaring merchandise.

You will find a pop of colour in our home decor displays. This season is all about incorporating bold colours and we are featuring accent pieces in turquoise and green.

Looking forward to sharing retail tidbits, tips and trends. Check back soon!