Home Keep It In The Kawarthas

kawarthaNOW.com's Keep It In The Kawarthas® is a choose local campaign that helps connect consumers with locally owned businesses in the greater Kawarthas area. kawarthaNOW.com is a locally owned independent media publisher. We choose and support locally owned businesses first.

In fall 2024 after a 25-year career in media, Darren Murphy purchased The Market, a gourmet food shop in Lakefield. Since stepping into the new role, the Young's Point resident has maintained the quality and variety of products that can be found at the store, while transitioning to work with more Canadian suppliers and producers, crafting more prepared meals, and growing a social media presence by becoming "Murph at The Market." (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

From decades in media to becoming ‘Murph at the Market’, Darren Murphy is relishing his new career as owner of The Market in Lakefield

The former Peterborough Examiner publisher looks back at a year and a half of owning the Queen Street gourmet food shop after leaving the media industry.
Peterborough entrepreneur, mentor, and coach Sheena Howard will be leading a three-hour interactive workshop on June 19, 2026 to help women business owners find and solve the bottlenecks preventing them from growing their business. Held at the Peterborough Public Library's Multipurpose Room, "Why Your Business Isn't Growing (And What to Do About It)" will guide participants through common growth problems and how best to focus their time, offer networking opportunities, and help entrepreneurs develop a 90-day plan for growing their business. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

Know Your Locals: Peterborough entrepreneur Sheena Howard to lead interactive workshop for women business owners

Acceptance Clinic and BizNurse Saavy founder will lead 'Why Your Business Isn't Growing (And What to Do About It)' at the Peterborough Public Library on June 19.
Now in its 29th season, Gardens Plus is a garden centre in the Township of Douro-Dummer that specializes in hostas, daylilies, and easy-care perennials grown on site or sourced from local growers. A big believer in the need to shop and support local, owner Dawn Golloher is a member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh economic development program supported by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of Gardens Plus)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Gardens Plus grows and locally sources easy-care perennials

Now in its 29th season, the Douro-Dummer garden centre is a longtime member of the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh program supported by Peterborough County.
During the Second Saturday Sidewalk Sales organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) on June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12, 2026, a portion of George Street will be closed to motor vehicles from Hunter Street in the north to Simcoe Street in the south to create expanded pedestrian space for shopping, dining, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and more. (Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA)

Pedestrian-friendly monthly sidewalk sales returning to downtown Peterborough on Saturdays this summer

One block of George Street will be closed to motor vehicles during the events on June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12.
Peterborough-based charitable organization Farms at Work was formed in 2010 to support new farmers, keep farmland in production, and promote on-farm environmental stewardship in east Central Ontario. (Photo: Peterborough County Economic Development)

Know Your Locals: Farms at Work aims to keep farmland in production with resources for non-farming landowners

The Peterborough-based organization offers an online platform for farmland owners to advertise available land, the Making Good Farmland Agreements Guide, farm tours, and more.
Red Mill Maple Syrup co-owner Sebastien Poulin (left) leads a tour about maple syrup production at the Millbrook producer's sugar shack. He and his wife Julie Vallieres, who were both raised in a region of Quebec well-known for maple syrup, have been producing maple syrup at their 10-acre property since 2011 and launched the Red Mill Maple Syrup brand in 2017. The business is a member of Kawartha Choice FarmFresh to promote their products to consumers and is interested in participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program to reach more wholesale buyers. (Photo courtesy of Red Mill Maple Syrup)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Red Mill Maple Syrup brings Quebec’s love for maple syrup to The Kawarthas

Owners Sebastien Poulin and Julie Vallieres promote their Millbrook business through the Kawartha Choice FarmFresh program.
Matt Anderson is the founder of Chemong City Greens in Peterborough, an indoor vertical farm that grows nutritious and organic microgreens year round. To help expand his retail and wholesale customer base, Anderson is a member of Kawartha Choice FarmFresh and participates in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale Program. Both economic development initiatives are supported by Peterborough County. (Photo courtesy of Chemong City Greens)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Chemong City Greens reaching more local buyers through agricultural programs

Microgreens producer Matt Anderson says Kawartha Local Food Wholesale Program helps bridge the gap between producing and sales.
Hunnabees Honey & Co. owners David and Keri Nicolaous's daughter examines a beehive frame at the Millbrook farm, which sells various honey flavours, maple syrup, and other related products with a focus on ethical and sustainable beekeeping. Agricultural programming from Peterborough County will help Hunnabees expand its educational tours and experiences to help visitors connect with the land, including by offering "bee therapy" with an apitherapy cabin. (Photo courtesy of Hunnabees Honey & Co.)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Hunnabees Honey Co. is buzzing with opportunities thanks to agricultural programming

Co-owner David Nicolaou says participating in the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program will provide more time for the Millbrook business to focus on agri-tourism.
Based in Peterborough, Mudslide Window and Eavestrough Cleaning offers high-quality service that goes above and beyond for residential, commercial, and cottage properties across the Kawarthas. From cleaning of interior and exterior windows to clearing eavestroughs and flushing downspouts, power-washing, and providing minor roof repairs, David Hillis and Georgia Fisher's small business provides flexible and full-service solutions to get homes ready for the summer months. (Photo courtesy of Mudslide Window and Eavestrough Cleaning)

Know Your Locals: Get your home summer ready with Mudslide Window and Eavestrough Cleaning

David Hillis and Georgia Fisher's Peterborough-based business is offering 15% off for all first-time clients.
For 39 years, Cabinetree has been manufacturing custom cabinetry in Peterborough for residential and commercial new builds and renovations across Canada. Meeting owner Dan Stanford's commitment to provide quality product to fit a range of budgets while supporting the local economy, everything from the cabinet interiors to drawer boxes and finishing and staining is done at the company's Peterborough facility using locally sourced materials. (Photo courtesy of Cabinetree)

Know Your Locals: Cabinetree manufactures custom cabinets in Peterborough using locally sourced materials

Since 1989, Dan Stanford's company has serviced residential and commercial properties across Canada with a commitment to high-quality craftsmanship.

Become a #kawarthaNOW fan

34,932FollowersLike
25,797FollowersFollow
17,418FollowersFollow
4,894FollowersFollow
4,187FollowersFollow
3,216FollowersFollow

Sign up for kawarthNOW's Enews

Sign up for our VIP Enews

kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.




Submit your event for FREE!

Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free. To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.