The Wednesday Market:  Time to Order; Thoughts on Canning

Good afternoon to The Wednesday Market community.

The Market is open for orders. Remember to place your orders by 10 p.m. Monday. Orders are ready for pick up between 3 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Please see the website for this week’s product offerings. Here is the link: http://wednesdaymarket.locallygrown.net/market

If you stopped by Concord Street Sweets’ table this week, you may have seen the huge box of green beans that my Mom grew and that she was selling last week. My folks can flat out grow some green beans! We like the White Half-Runner variety, which is the kind planted by North Georgia people. This year’s crop is particularly bounteous, and Mama has already canned 36 quarts. If you have ambition for putting up your own canned goods, don’t wait too long, as summer is fleeting. With that thought in mind, here is a poem for all of you home canners out there:

“Pickle-Making Day”
p=. By: Nan Sexton

The shelves all filled up look so nice
p=. the kitchen smells of tang and spice
p=. things are cleaned up, put away
p=. today was pickle-making day
p=. The cukes that made a garden hill
p=. now are steeped in spice or dill
p=. on the shelf is where they’ll stay
p=. to dress up our Thanksgiving day
p=. or make a tangy Christmas treat
p=. or just be something good to eat
p=. when winter winds soon whine and moan…
p=. …they’ll be something we’ve homegrown

Enjoy your Sunday, and we’ll see you Wednesday!

Thanks,

Beverly

Russellville Community Market:  RCM Opening Bell

Welcome to another RCM Market Week!

Be sure to check out the newly listed items this week! Lots of great, local products to be had!

Happy shopping! Eat Local!

Check out the “Featured Items” section as well as the “What’s New” section at the top of the market page for all the latest products available.

Be sure to “Like” our Facebook page for updates and food-related events in your community!

To ensure your order is placed, make sure you click the “Place My Order” button once you have completed your shopping. Remember, you have until 10:00pm Tuesday evening to place your orders.

Happy Shopping! See you on Thursday!

Russellville Community Market

FRESH.LOCAL.ONLINE.

ALFN Local Food Club:  The Market is Open and Whole Foods Awaits!

Good Morning Food Club,

The market is open and ready for your orders of delicious local food! Even as the kids head back to school (sorry, kids!) and vacations come to an end, the bounty of summer continues in the market. Apples and watermelons, okra and tomatoes, eggplant and elderberries; sometimes, the selection of local produce feels endless! But even the most hardcore locavores gotta make the occasional trip to the grocery store. Thanks to Whole Foods Market Little Rock, you can purchase non-local items while still supporting local: For their Community Giving Day, ALFN will receive 5% of their total sales this Tuesday, August 19th. We’d love if you’d come on by and help spread the word to show how serious Little Rock is about local!

For your convenience (and last-minute orders), we’ve changed the hours of our market from noon on Sunday to noon on Wednesday. Some of the amazing items you can get this week include:

• Those of us at the market yesterday were lucky enough to sample Ratchford Farms’ elk summer sausage. This is a sausage packed full of flavor that even non-elk lovers enjoyed, and the Ratchfords are a nationally-recognized gem of the Ozarks.

• I’ve enjoyed my fair share of time outdoors during this beautiful, cool summer, and I’ve never gotten poison ivy nearly as frequently or severely. I’m ordering Food for Thought Farm’s poison ivy salve to save me from the next time I enjoy a walk in the woods.

• Add in some bug banisher from Tammy Sue’s Critters and I should be well protected for any outdoor excursion. She’s only got 5 days left to fund her kiva.zip loan, and loan amounts are currently being doubled! So please help out and spread the word and make sure Tammy Sue gets funded.

• If you’re a believer that a good meal reflects the colors of the rainbow, look no further than organic sweet colored peppers from Rattle’s Garden. These are absolutely gorgeous peppers that just so happen to taste incredible, too.

• I’ve been informed by a loyal Food Club customer that local peaches make the absolute best cobbler…which makes me sad to say that we’re just about at the end of this year’s season. Snag some today from Barnhill Orchards for the last taste of fresh ones ’til next summer.

Interested in helping start the first solar energy cooperative in the Little Rock area? Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light will host the first organizational meeting this Wednesday, August 20th, from 5:30-7 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 12415 Cantrell Rd. in Little Rock. At the meeting Frank Kelly, Chairman of Arkansas Renewable Energy Association, will facilitate a discussion of a new initiative in which a group of homeowners, schools, houses of worship, and small businesses might purchase clean energy systems together. Systems are individually owned, but participants benefit from group negotiating power and bulk prices. A solar energy co-op could help us all afford to declare energy independence, so interested folks are encouraged to come out with a brown bag supper regardless of church or religious affiliation.

Hope to see you at Whole Foods on Tuesday!

- Alex Handfinger
Director of Operations

Do you have questions or comments about this, or any, weblog? Thoughts on local food, goods, or events? Reply to this email and let us know what’s on your mind. Your feedback is always greatly appreciated!

Farm Where Life is Good:  Online Market is OPEN for Business (Week 34)

The combine ready to go to work

Life on the Farm (Week 34)

Well, the wheat harvest is in. Whew! Pretty excited about it; we grew some good grain! Once we get things figured out with this new addition, we will have some wheat options available in the market. Hoping for wheat berries (hot cereal), flour, wheat bran.

Lots and lots of local wheat!

We have a big day ahead of harvesting cukes, zukes, and broccs, seeding the last of the field items (before switching to high tunnel plantings), feeding the brassicas one last time, coaxing the celery to be more crisp (haven’t perfected this item yet!), and dreaming about the original Sunday designation as “The Day of Rest”. :) Who thought of that anyway? Whimps!

Get your order in for the last of the peach special orders…we are picking up next week.

The Market is now open for a wide selection of warm weather produce.

Ordering will be open from Sunday morning until Monday 8pm. Get your orders in now so harvesting can begin specific to your requests.

Deliveries will be made Wednesday per usual to your chosen Dropsite Location .

Recipes for your consideration

A wonderful and simple recipe to take advantage of the moment when all of the summer produce is coming into season. It is flexible enough to be used as a stand-alone or a side. If you haven’t tried polenta, you should!

Calabacitas

2 Tbsp olive oil
½ cup onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups zucchini/yellow squash, ¼" slice or large dice
1 cup corn kernels
1-2 jalapeno, small dice (or small can green chiles)
1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup extrafirm tofu, crumbled and marinated in ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp chili powder, salt/pepper
½ cup cilantro, chopped

Sauté onion in oil over medium heat until soft. Add peppers, garlic, zucchini, corn, jalapeno and tomatoes. Mix well and cover to simmer 10min until squash is tender.

Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Add marinated tofu and cilantro, mix and warm thru.

Serve as a side dish, burrito/taco filling, over prepared polenta.

To make polenta (it’s just “grits, dummy”), you can make a basic recipe (below) and modify how you like. Then either eat it “soft” with foods piled on top like a mound of mashed potatoes, or you can “mold” it and serve it decoratively. The simplest way to prepared the firm polenta is to spread it on a lightly oiled (or parchment papered) baking sheet to a thickness of approximately ½"-1". Let it sit (or refrigerate to hurry it up); then cut into a shape you like. Serve as-is or grill for some decorative grill stripes.

You can make variations sweet and cinnamon-y… or garlic-y… or spicy-y. Sky’s the limit; it’s a great staple if you like corn.

3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cups corn grits
1 tablespoons margarine

Bring the water and salt to a boil in a large pot. Add the corn grits in a thin stream stirring until well mixed (don’t just dump in; you’ll get lumps!) Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is very thick.

Remove from heat. Stir the margarine (and any variations) into the corn grits until combined. Serve “soft” or spread on prepared baking sheet for the “firm” variant.

Variations: minced fresh garlic, parmesan-flavored vegan sprinkles, nutritional yeast, fresh herbs, cumin/chili powder/paprika, cinnamon/nutmeg/maple syrup

---

With all of the cucumbers, I couldn’t pass on falafels. We had a great dinner of them last night. I cheated and used a box-mix that I found hidden on a back shelf (it was late!), but here is a recipe I have used before. Spice variations abound, so I have included some suggestions.)

Kale falafel

4 cups stemmed and torn kale or Swiss chard
1- 15.5 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
(or 2 cups dried chick peas soaked in water 24hrs)
3 medium to large cloves garlic, chopped
1.5 Tbsp tahini
1.5 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp cumin
sea salt and black pepper
3-4 Tbsp oat flour
~ 4 Tbsp high-heat oil for cooking
Other seasonings: fresh parsley, coriander, fresh cilantro, onion/scallions. Add to food processor with other ingredients.

Add kale, chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, and a healthy pinch each salt and pepper to a food processor and mix to combine

Once well incorporated, transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in oat flour 1 Tbsp at a time until the mixture is thick enough to handle – about 3-4 Tbsp.

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. More salt, pepper and lemon juice, and a touch more tahini?

Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil at a time. Swirl to coat pan.

Add falafel (however many will fit very comfortably) to the pan.

Check at the 1-2 minute mark to ensure they’re not browning too quickly. If they are, slightly reduce heat. Flip once deep golden brown – about 3-4 minutes.

Cook until the underside is golden brown as well.

Serve immediately with hummus and paprika, or inside a pita or wrap with creamy cucumbers & dill

Will store in the fridge, layered with parchment paper in an airtight container, for several days. Freeze to keep longer.

Adapted from: minimalistbaker.com

Creamy cucumbers and dill
1 tub Sour Supreme by Tofutti
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 scallion, minced
2-3 Tbsp fresh dill, fine chopped
2 sprigs fresh parsley, fine chopped
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
4 cucumbers, diced

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for 10-15min for flavors to merge.

Fill tortilla/wrap or pita pocket with cucumbers, top/stuff with 2-4 falafel patties. Enjoy!!!

---

Another polenta option; savory with sun-dried tomatoes (hey, they are easy to make on your own too!)

Kale, Sun-dried Tomatoes & Garbanzo Beans with Polenta

1 Tbsp olive oil
1-2 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 bunch of kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
1 can chick peas (or garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained (or cook your own)
a pinch of red pepper flakes
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add chick peas and sauté for a minute or two.

Add the kale, the garlic and sun dried tomatoes to the skillet. Stir over medium heat until the kale is bright and tender, approximately 5-10 minutes.

Add the white wine vinegar, salt and pepper and stir for another minute.

Remove from heat and serve over slices (or “soft” bowl) of nutritional yeast & garlic-spiced polenta.

---

If anyone has some good recipes for this weeks ingredients, pop on over to the website and enter them there for everyone’s benefit!.

Subscription Box Highlights

Anticipated this week for the CSA/Subscription Boxes:

Tomatoes
Summer squash/Zucchini
Cucumbers
Sweet peppers
Cabbage
Wax beans
Potatoes
Lettuce mix
Onions
Garlic
Oregano
Thyme

Start your meal planning now!

We hope to feed you soon!

Roger and Lara

**If you’d like to stop receiving emails, just jump into your account on the website (farmwlig.locallygrown.net, My Account) and scroll to bottom; check appropriate box.

Champaign, OH:  Caravan

And the caravan is on it’s way…
I can hear the merry gypsies play…
(Van Morrison – Caravan)

Happy Sunday, lovely local customers!!

This was simply an amazing weekend full of all things local which means all kinds of love for your little local market manager!

My weekend consisted of baking, baking, baking, my usual Saturday farmer’s market in downtown Springfield and then off to a local music fest of love out in Mutual.

My love and support of local, the local food movement, my local vendors, local shops all fill me with pride, love, and hope! Yesterday, it was my honor to be asked to be a food vendor, along with one of your other familiar market faces, Mark, from Oakview! The music fest was hosted by a local family who IS local. They support all things markets, shops, businesses, people, bands…this family just exudes love. It was energizing, on the local front, to just be a part of it all.

One of the signs that greeted everyone, on the property, boasted Local Food. Your market was represented as well as you local coffee roasters, Hemisphere’s in Mechanicsburg, and local food from the festival host family. Thank you so much to the Dye Family of the Madden Road Music Festival.

Once my day had ended, late into the evening, and as all of the cars and bands were making their way out the winding lane, like a caravan, all I could do was smile and be so filled with local hope, local love, and local inspiration!

I got to talk about what I try to do on the local front, about my Cosmic business, and about this little market. I noticed that I just become so animated and excited when I start explaining this market, and what we are about. I am filled with pride about the vendors and customers and the Y! I become ecstatic when I see the people in front of me catching my excitement and then also start exchanging local ideas.

All in all, this weekend just represented yet another layer of the love…the same love that fuels this market.

I am so proud of this community and how it has embraced us and this market.

Now…it is Sunday. Layer your own love of local on this market. Make it a week of ordering love! Start with one item, start with 10 items, be a first timer, be a loyalist, be a returning customer. We don’t care how you come to us…we only care that you become part of the caravan and part of the fabric that is this little local family.

Peace and Love,
Cosmic Pam

United States Virgin Islands:  V.I. Locally Grown Market: Week of August 17, 2014

Good morning!
Your VI Locally Grown market is open for orders. If you haven’t tried Chef Tahirah AbuBakr’s excellent Island Delight vegan veggie burgers, consider giving them a whirl – these healthy, delicious, perfectly seasoned, award-winning veggie burgers make an easy and nutritious weeknight meal.
Nidulari is baking wonderful coconut tarts along with her excellent sourdough breads in a wood-fired outdoor oven – the tarts are tender, just sweet enough, and melt in your mouth.
As always, we look forward to seeing you in the courtyard on Wednesday!

with warm wishes,
Emma Haynes & your Locally Grown Producers

Heirloom Living Market Lilburn:  "Bits and Bites" August 16, 2014

Greetings Lilburn, Crossfit and Hamilton Mill Market Folks:

The weather has just been fabulous the past few days! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the weekend with family and/or friends! I have lots of information to share, but first read the….

Important Reminders, Other Matters and Pertinent Information

Azure Standard

Order Delivery for August is Tuesday, August 19th at 2:30pm

Order Deadline for next month (September) is Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00pm

Please share this information with friends and family to ensure that we will all have this great resource available to us!

Here’s the scoop:

If you are interested in helping out at the Markets, please contact Market Volunteer Coordinator, Chance Claar-Pressley. Thank you Chance! You can email Chance at chancita@gmail.com .

Heartfelt Gratitude

“Thank You” to Marie Wheeler and Kathy Barnes, who ran the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Although I was there, they have the procedures down pat! I hung out and got to visit which I really enjoy! Also thank you to Keb Barnes who made sure everything got packed up and loaded into my car and who returned Doug’s empty bins!

Both Marie and Kathy also helped with the packaging of Members’ meat orders and the setup of the Crossfit Market on Tuesday! Much appreciated, ladies!

I was lucky enough to be graced with the help of Sara Heath and Sarah Rockey this past week at Hamilton Mill Market! The ladies worked hard to get things carried in and Market set-up in record time! Sara Heath arrived early, just in time to accept delivery from My Daily Bread! Thanks for your help ladies!

Susan Martinson, a Market Member and All Saints Lutheran Church Member is also helping us a Market, setting up the Market display table as well as selling Organic, Free Trade Coffees and Teas. Do try the French Roast if you like a full-bodied yummy morning coffee! All Saints is using this endeavor as a Fund Raiser, so please take a minute and check out the products. The Congregation and Pastor Stover have been wonderful friends to the Market and are very supportive of our efforts! Let’s return the favor!

If you have a couple of hours to spare between 10:00am and Noon on Tuesday, please consider volunteering at the Crossfit O-Zone Lawrenceville Market. This is prep and setup for the Tuesday Market as well as packaging meat orders for all Markets. Please contact Maryanne at 404-432-4337.

Market Growth

Last week, I sent out a challenge to all Members to share information about the Market with 5 friends, neighbors, countrymen, family – whomever! Thank you to those who participated! Lilburn Market saw an 15% increase in sales last week and we added several new Members. I have to congratulate Susan Coker and thank her for her wonderful support. She invited someone who has become a Member and brought a friend to Market when she picked up her order! Layne Maganda also brought a friend to the Hamilton Mill Market and Liz Ingram copied me on an email about the Market she wrote to someone she had just met. Karen Ditmars is sharing with her folks at another Crossfit Location! (If I missed someone, please forgive and remind me this week!) Please know that your support of the Market is appreciated. You can copy the links below to add to your emails to friends this week! (subtle hint!)

and now for the news…

Ok, go take a break, get your favorite beverage and let’s get to “the rest of the story”. (No one asked me about Paul Harvey last week, so either you didn’t read the email OR you are older, OR you are ‘in the know’!

Farmer Updates

Lloyd Rojewski of Greenman’s Garden joined us at the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Lloyd is a veteran Herbalist of 20 years and adheres the the Weston A. Price nutritional guidelines. One of the staples of this healthful way of eating is fermented foods. Lloyd shared Fermented Kimchi, Cabbage, and Okra! Unless you are very new to the Market, you are aware of my rather extreme aversion to Okra. She Who Cooks has made some very enticing recipes with my ‘Veggie Nemesis’, to no avail. I have to admit, I was skeptical when Lloyd told me about the Fermented Okra; but since he was good enough to include it in the tasting, I actually tried it! As much as I hate to admit it, I liked it! Lloyd will be offering his Fermented Goodies very soon, so keep an eye out for further news. He will also be adding some Herbal products to the Market.

Farmer Ricky Brown of Back River Farm is offering Red Cherry Tomatoes and Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes (these are sweet and really good), Okra (admittedly not a fav of mine, but many have said it is tender and delicious), Spaghetti Squash, ‘Flavorburst’ Bell Peppers, Chocolate Bell ‘Flavorburst Peppers,(these are an interesting veggie – (somehow it has a teeny-tiny hit of chocolate in the flavor), Butternut Squash and Oriental Eggplant.

Cedar Seeder I have sung the praises of the Micro (Veggie) Wraps! Have you tried the Bakery Bars. Some folks are becoming seriously addicted! If you haven’t tried them, order one today – great Breakfast or Snack! In addition to their Cedar, handmade planters, you can find their Microgreens for Pets combos for Cats and Dogs and for us humans: Arugula, Basil, Broccoli, Kale, Radish, Sunflower and Wheatgrass! Ready to be snipped and added to smoothies, salads or your favorite juice!

Doug of Doug’s Garden is offering: Whole Garlic, Malabar Spinach, Okra and a combo of Tomatoes and Herbs (with recipe) for making delicious spaghetti sauce. In addition, he has 3 different Produce Boxes to choose from: Basic Seasonal Box, Herb Lovers Box, Root Lovers Box and the new Tomato Lovers Box!

Miss Vicky of Fry Farm is offering: Eggplant both the “Little Finger” and “Violette de Florence”, ‘Italian Torpedo’ Onions, Shallots, Cherry Tomatoes and some really adorable ‘Gold Nugget’ Squash. Check out Miss Vicky’s suggests for cooking these adorable little squash! Sounds yummy! She also told me that these were created as a hybrid in the 60’s as a substitution for Sweet Potatoes! The texture is very similar; so go ahead and order if you are adventurous; recipes will be available at Market! (I got 2 last week and they are on the menu for tomorrow!)

Roger and Reggie Ramos of Grow With The Flow are offering: Arugula, ‘Provider’ Beans, ‘Ripbor’ Kale, Red Potatoes, ‘New Zealand’ Spinach and Tomatoes at the Lilburn Market only.

The Veggie Patch is providing a good selection of wonderful, fresh Summer veggie offerings and have fresh Herbs listed as well! 3 types of Basil, Chives, Mint, Oregano,2 kinds of Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Medicinal Herbs Chamomile and Lavender. Veggies include: Arugula, French Green Beans, Bunching Onions, Heirloom Pole Beans, Purple Beans, Yellow Beans, several types of Kale, Mizuna, a plethora of sweet, hot, and ‘my-mouth-is-on-fire’ peppers, Squash, Tatsoi, Tomatoes plus a BULK BUY of Canning Tomatoes, Zucchini and a Veggie Box.

Be sure and check out the wonderful meat selections available from B&G Farms. From Pork Tenderloin, (which is delicious marinated and grilled) to the many varieties of Sausage, Pork Chops and Longaniza (hot dogs), to any cut of Beef you want, Lynda has us covered! And Chicken too! Try Chicken Wings on the grill! (Note to Bone Broth Makers: Chicken Feet will be available in 2 weeks! Get your Necks and Backs this week while they are on sale; keep them in the freezer until you get your Chicken Feet – what a combo for great Chicken Bone Broth!)

David and Shalley Carrell of Carrell Farms are at our Markets as well as most of the popular Traditional Farmers’ Markets around the area! Check out their offerings from their Bulk Ground Buff to Steaks and Roasts! Try a Brisket smoked! Delicious! Shalley makes a wonderful line of Natural Skin Care Products using the tallow from the Water Buffalo. Her Face Creams are luscious! This week I am going to try the Tallow Foot Butter which has Peppermint Essential Oil in it. Summer and sandals have roughened up these old feet, so I am looking forward to spoiling myself with this!

Both Golden Farms and Rocky Acres offer fresh eggs from pastured chickens fed organic, soy and GMO free feed.

My Daily Bread Bruce and Dabrielle are offering lots of goodies! From Challah to Sourdough Bread, Chocolate Zucchini Bread to Cookies, Dabrielle’s Organic, Fresh Baked Goods are sure to please. Last week, I told you that we had come to the end of the Blackberry and Blueberry Harvest; and then they showed up on the Farmers’ Sale Table. I hope that you were able to stock some in your freezer for the months ahead! There is a remote chance that there will be Blueberries on the Table this week! I do have some good news – Raspberries! The second harvest started coming in last week. If the forecast-ed rain doesn’t do them in on Monday – we will have some on the Farmers’ Sale Table at Market on Tuesday! Wednesday and Thursday Markets are too far to predict at this point; however, I will put a note in your Market Day Reminder email if they will be available!

Please remember that in order for My Daily Bread to deliver from their wonderful Bakery and Farm located in Cleveland, GA, we must meet a minimum, so be sure and get your items ordered today!

Marie Wheeler of Bakery on Brooks is experimenting again, much to the delight of her husband and of course her other ‘favorite tester’ (that would be me!). Oh, my gosh, the mad baker aka The Gluten Free Guru has been at it again! Gluten Free Sandwich Bread is now on the Market! Soft, like the bread we all love to make sandwiches with and full of flavor! Mini’s and Full Size Loaves are now available! Gluten Free folks – rejoice!

Jay and Patti of Dances With Bees have Honey offerings as well as some other great products! The Candles are made of pure beeswax and the Lady Bug is as cute as it can be! I love the rolled beeswax candles also. Patti makes some awesome Personal Care products as well!

Jay has managed to slip a couple of new products in his offerings that I have not tried yet; however, because I am SO intrigued and because I really, really like the flavor of Chipotle, I ordered the BBQ Honey last week and tomorrow’s menu includes wings smothered with this absolutely delicious Honey! Sounds just about perfect to me!

The Happy Cows belonging to Sam Jones of Cedar Rock Dairy continue to produce wonderful milk (for our pets)! The cream line on the jars these last couple of weeks has been impressive! Keep up the good work, ladies! Located in Butler, Georgia, Sam’s cows enjoy grazing on 1200 acres of this Certified Organic Farm and we are fortunate that he is willing to transport this fresh, creamy milk to us. Working together, we need to ensure that we meet a minimum order for each Market so it remains economically viable for deliveries to continue! Share the goodness of Cedar Rock Dairy milk with friends and family!

Remember, you need 3 sets of jars to keep things flowing smoothly. If you order an extra one week, you likely will be missing one the following week. The Market can no longer absorb the cost if you receive your milk in plastic and you will be charged the difference. Your jars need to be ‘sparkling clean’ and completely dry (jar and BOTH lids)!

Rusty Repp of Little Tots Estate offers the sweetest goat milk I have had since I was a child, growing up in Ohio! (Did you know that Rusty is from Ohio? True!) The milk comes from Nigerian Dwarf Goats who are known to have the highest Butterfat of any milking goats! The milk from Little Tots also makes wonderful cheese! It is great for pets with stomach issues, also! To keep The Black Lab, healthy, he enjoys some everyday!

Lizzie’s Pantry provides some wonderful products from Montana Wheat! She also offers a Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Georgia Farmer.

Since I have not heard from Blue Moon Creamery, the Goat Cheese Artisan, I am unsure of his status at this point. As soon as I get information, I will pass it along. I am searching for another source for Goat Cheese. Any suggestions?

Kathy Barnes of So-Koi not only helps out at the Markets, she is also the wonderful lady that makes the great lanyards, aprons, pillowcases and tiny purse bags (for carrying your own sweeteners, salts, etc.) Check out her offerings that are all hand made with love!

Monique from Mo’s Tats and Stitches has some tatted earrings at every Market. These are lovely and so delicate looking, it is hard to believe that she can make these with her own two hands. Intricate designs and beautiful colors! Check out her offerings on the Market!

… this and that …

I continually thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me in my life (which definitely includes the Market and all of the wonderful folks I have come to know). The next few months will bring significant changes to my life and I know that I am in His hands and He will guide my steps and continue to bless me. I humbly ask for your prayers as I negotiate through it all. I am here to serve you, the Members and the Farmers. If I seem a little ‘out of it’, (ok, more than usual), please be patient and know that I am doing the best I can.

The Black Lab, my ever faithful canine is busy being his lovable self and doing his best to stay out of trouble. For the most part, he has been successful; although there was another tomato that disappeared from the counter! Tomorrow is bath day! He is a Lab! He is a Lab that HATES water – except rain! He LOVES to be out in the rain. Perhaps I should re-think the bath tomorrow and plan on Monday out in the rain; that could work….couldn’t it? I’ll let you know~

I wish you all a happy day and a wonderful week!

Thank you for taking the time to read this long missive…

Heirloom Living Market Hamilton Mill:  "Bits and Bites" August 16, 2014

Greetings Lilburn, Crossfit and Hamilton Mill Market Folks:

The weather has just been fabulous the past few days! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the weekend with family and/or friends! I have lots of information to share, but first read the….

Important Reminders, Other Matters and Pertinent Information

Azure Standard

Order Delivery for August is Tuesday, August 19th at 2:30pm

Order Deadline for next month (September) is Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00pm

Please share this information with friends and family to ensure that we will all have this great resource available to us!

Here’s the scoop:

If you are interested in helping out at the Markets, please contact Market Volunteer Coordinator, Chance Claar-Pressley. Thank you Chance! You can email Chance at chancita@gmail.com .

Heartfelt Gratitude

“Thank You” to Marie Wheeler and Kathy Barnes, who ran the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Although I was there, they have the procedures down pat! I hung out and got to visit which I really enjoy! Also thank you to Keb Barnes who made sure everything got packed up and loaded into my car and who returned Doug’s empty bins!

Both Marie and Kathy also helped with the packaging of Members’ meat orders and the setup of the Crossfit Market on Tuesday! Much appreciated, ladies!

I was lucky enough to be graced with the help of Sara Heath and Sarah Rockey this past week at Hamilton Mill Market! The ladies worked hard to get things carried in and Market set-up in record time! Sara Heath arrived early, just in time to accept delivery from My Daily Bread! Thanks for your help ladies!

Susan Martinson, a Market Member and All Saints Lutheran Church Member is also helping us a Market, setting up the Market display table as well as selling Organic, Free Trade Coffees and Teas. Do try the French Roast if you like a full-bodied yummy morning coffee! All Saints is using this endeavor as a Fund Raiser, so please take a minute and check out the products. The Congregation and Pastor Stover have been wonderful friends to the Market and are very supportive of our efforts! Let’s return the favor!

If you have a couple of hours to spare between 10:00am and Noon on Tuesday, please consider volunteering at the Crossfit O-Zone Lawrenceville Market. This is prep and setup for the Tuesday Market as well as packaging meat orders for all Markets. Please contact Maryanne at 404-432-4337.

Market Growth

Last week, I sent out a challenge to all Members to share information about the Market with 5 friends, neighbors, countrymen, family – whomever! Thank you to those who participated! Lilburn Market saw an 15% increase in sales last week and we added several new Members. I have to congratulate Susan Coker and thank her for her wonderful support. She invited someone who has become a Member and brought a friend to Market when she picked up her order! Layne Maganda also brought a friend to the Hamilton Mill Market and Liz Ingram copied me on an email about the Market she wrote to someone she had just met. Karen Ditmars is sharing with her folks at another Crossfit Location! (If I missed someone, please forgive and remind me this week!) Please know that your support of the Market is appreciated. You can copy the links below to add to your emails to friends this week! (subtle hint!)

and now for the news…

Ok, go take a break, get your favorite beverage and let’s get to “the rest of the story”. (No one asked me about Paul Harvey last week, so either you didn’t read the email OR you are older, OR you are ‘in the know’!

Farmer Updates

Lloyd Rojewski of Greenman’s Garden joined us at the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Lloyd is a veteran Herbalist of 20 years and adheres the the Weston A. Price nutritional guidelines. One of the staples of this healthful way of eating is fermented foods. Lloyd shared Fermented Kimchi, Cabbage, and Okra! Unless you are very new to the Market, you are aware of my rather extreme aversion to Okra. She Who Cooks has made some very enticing recipes with my ‘Veggie Nemesis’, to no avail. I have to admit, I was skeptical when Lloyd told me about the Fermented Okra; but since he was good enough to include it in the tasting, I actually tried it! As much as I hate to admit it, I liked it! Lloyd will be offering his Fermented Goodies very soon, so keep an eye out for further news. He will also be adding some Herbal products to the Market.

Farmer Ricky Brown of Back River Farm is offering Red Cherry Tomatoes and Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes (these are sweet and really good), Okra (admittedly not a fav of mine, but many have said it is tender and delicious), Spaghetti Squash, ‘Flavorburst’ Bell Peppers, Chocolate Bell ‘Flavorburst Peppers,(these are an interesting veggie – (somehow it has a teeny-tiny hit of chocolate in the flavor), Butternut Squash and Oriental Eggplant.

Cedar Seeder I have sung the praises of the Micro (Veggie) Wraps! Have you tried the Bakery Bars. Some folks are becoming seriously addicted! If you haven’t tried them, order one today – great Breakfast or Snack! In addition to their Cedar, handmade planters, you can find their Microgreens for Pets combos for Cats and Dogs and for us humans: Arugula, Basil, Broccoli, Kale, Radish, Sunflower and Wheatgrass! Ready to be snipped and added to smoothies, salads or your favorite juice!

Doug of Doug’s Garden is offering: Whole Garlic, Malabar Spinach, Okra and a combo of Tomatoes and Herbs (with recipe) for making delicious spaghetti sauce. In addition, he has 3 different Produce Boxes to choose from: Basic Seasonal Box, Herb Lovers Box, Root Lovers Box and the new Tomato Lovers Box!

Miss Vicky of Fry Farm is offering: Eggplant both the “Little Finger” and “Violette de Florence”, ‘Italian Torpedo’ Onions, Shallots, Cherry Tomatoes and some really adorable ‘Gold Nugget’ Squash. Check out Miss Vicky’s suggests for cooking these adorable little squash! Sounds yummy! She also told me that these were created as a hybrid in the 60’s as a substitution for Sweet Potatoes! The texture is very similar; so go ahead and order if you are adventurous; recipes will be available at Market! (I got 2 last week and they are on the menu for tomorrow!)

Roger and Reggie Ramos of Grow With The Flow are offering: Arugula, ‘Provider’ Beans, ‘Ripbor’ Kale, Red Potatoes, ‘New Zealand’ Spinach and Tomatoes at the Lilburn Market only.

The Veggie Patch is providing a good selection of wonderful, fresh Summer veggie offerings and have fresh Herbs listed as well! 3 types of Basil, Chives, Mint, Oregano,2 kinds of Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Medicinal Herbs Chamomile and Lavender. Veggies include: Arugula, French Green Beans, Bunching Onions, Heirloom Pole Beans, Purple Beans, Yellow Beans, several types of Kale, Mizuna, a plethora of sweet, hot, and ‘my-mouth-is-on-fire’ peppers, Squash, Tatsoi, Tomatoes plus a BULK BUY of Canning Tomatoes, Zucchini and a Veggie Box.

Be sure and check out the wonderful meat selections available from B&G Farms. From Pork Tenderloin, (which is delicious marinated and grilled) to the many varieties of Sausage, Pork Chops and Longaniza (hot dogs), to any cut of Beef you want, Lynda has us covered! And Chicken too! Try Chicken Wings on the grill! (Note to Bone Broth Makers: Chicken Feet will be available in 2 weeks! Get your Necks and Backs this week while they are on sale; keep them in the freezer until you get your Chicken Feet – what a combo for great Chicken Bone Broth!)

David and Shalley Carrell of Carrell Farms are at our Markets as well as most of the popular Traditional Farmers’ Markets around the area! Check out their offerings from their Bulk Ground Buff to Steaks and Roasts! Try a Brisket smoked! Delicious! Shalley makes a wonderful line of Natural Skin Care Products using the tallow from the Water Buffalo. Her Face Creams are luscious! This week I am going to try the Tallow Foot Butter which has Peppermint Essential Oil in it. Summer and sandals have roughened up these old feet, so I am looking forward to spoiling myself with this!

Both Golden Farms and Rocky Acres offer fresh eggs from pastured chickens fed organic, soy and GMO free feed.

My Daily Bread Bruce and Dabrielle are offering lots of goodies! From Challah to Sourdough Bread, Chocolate Zucchini Bread to Cookies, Dabrielle’s Organic, Fresh Baked Goods are sure to please. Last week, I told you that we had come to the end of the Blackberry and Blueberry Harvest; and then they showed up on the Farmers’ Sale Table. I hope that you were able to stock some in your freezer for the months ahead! There is a remote chance that there will be Blueberries on the Table this week! I do have some good news – Raspberries! The second harvest started coming in last week. If the forecast-ed rain doesn’t do them in on Monday – we will have some on the Farmers’ Sale Table at Market on Tuesday! Wednesday and Thursday Markets are too far to predict at this point; however, I will put a note in your Market Day Reminder email if they will be available!

Please remember that in order for My Daily Bread to deliver from their wonderful Bakery and Farm located in Cleveland, GA, we must meet a minimum, so be sure and get your items ordered today!

Marie Wheeler of Bakery on Brooks is experimenting again, much to the delight of her husband and of course her other ‘favorite tester’ (that would be me!). Oh, my gosh, the mad baker aka The Gluten Free Guru has been at it again! Gluten Free Sandwich Bread is now on the Market! Soft, like the bread we all love to make sandwiches with and full of flavor! Mini’s and Full Size Loaves are now available! Gluten Free folks – rejoice!

Jay and Patti of Dances With Bees have Honey offerings as well as some other great products! The Candles are made of pure beeswax and the Lady Bug is as cute as it can be! I love the rolled beeswax candles also. Patti makes some awesome Personal Care products as well!

Jay has managed to slip a couple of new products in his offerings that I have not tried yet; however, because I am SO intrigued and because I really, really like the flavor of Chipotle, I ordered the BBQ Honey last week and tomorrow’s menu includes wings smothered with this absolutely delicious Honey! Sounds just about perfect to me!

The Happy Cows belonging to Sam Jones of Cedar Rock Dairy continue to produce wonderful milk (for our pets)! The cream line on the jars these last couple of weeks has been impressive! Keep up the good work, ladies! Located in Butler, Georgia, Sam’s cows enjoy grazing on 1200 acres of this Certified Organic Farm and we are fortunate that he is willing to transport this fresh, creamy milk to us. Working together, we need to ensure that we meet a minimum order for each Market so it remains economically viable for deliveries to continue! Share the goodness of Cedar Rock Dairy milk with friends and family!

Remember, you need 3 sets of jars to keep things flowing smoothly. If you order an extra one week, you likely will be missing one the following week. The Market can no longer absorb the cost if you receive your milk in plastic and you will be charged the difference. Your jars need to be ‘sparkling clean’ and completely dry (jar and BOTH lids)!

Rusty Repp of Little Tots Estate offers the sweetest goat milk I have had since I was a child, growing up in Ohio! (Did you know that Rusty is from Ohio? True!) The milk comes from Nigerian Dwarf Goats who are known to have the highest Butterfat of any milking goats! The milk from Little Tots also makes wonderful cheese! It is great for pets with stomach issues, also! To keep The Black Lab, healthy, he enjoys some everyday!

Lizzie’s Pantry provides some wonderful products from Montana Wheat! She also offers a Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Georgia Farmer.

Since I have not heard from Blue Moon Creamery, the Goat Cheese Artisan, I am unsure of his status at this point. As soon as I get information, I will pass it along. I am searching for another source for Goat Cheese. Any suggestions?

Kathy Barnes of So-Koi not only helps out at the Markets, she is also the wonderful lady that makes the great lanyards, aprons, pillowcases and tiny purse bags (for carrying your own sweeteners, salts, etc.) Check out her offerings that are all hand made with love!

Monique from Mo’s Tats and Stitches has some tatted earrings at every Market. These are lovely and so delicate looking, it is hard to believe that she can make these with her own two hands. Intricate designs and beautiful colors! Check out her offerings on the Market!

… this and that …

I continually thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me in my life (which definitely includes the Market and all of the wonderful folks I have come to know). The next few months will bring significant changes to my life and I know that I am in His hands and He will guide my steps and continue to bless me. I humbly ask for your prayers as I negotiate through it all. I am here to serve you, the Members and the Farmers. If I seem a little ‘out of it’, (ok, more than usual), please be patient and know that I am doing the best I can.

The Black Lab, my ever faithful canine is busy being his lovable self and doing his best to stay out of trouble. For the most part, he has been successful; although there was another tomato that disappeared from the counter! Tomorrow is bath day! He is a Lab! He is a Lab that HATES water – except rain! He LOVES to be out in the rain. Perhaps I should re-think the bath tomorrow and plan on Monday out in the rain; that could work….couldn’t it? I’ll let you know~

I wish you all a happy day and a wonderful week!

Thank you for taking the time to read this long missive…

Gwinnett Locally Grown:  SUNDAY MARKET REMINDER

This email is a gentle reminder that ordering through Gwinnett Locally Grown will close today at noon.

The Market is open Thursday Noon – Monday 9:00 a.m. After that, ordering is disabled until Thursday noon-ish. Pick up your order Tuesday 4:30-6:30 p.m. only at Rancho Alegre Farm at 2225 Givens Road, Dacula, GA 30019. New to The Market? Learn about how it works here.

MARKET NEWS

Sorry I forgot to send out a reminder yesterday. Enjoy a couple extra hours of ordering time. I’ll close the market at noon today.
See you Tuesday!
-iris

My best to all -

Shop often and eat well!
Debbie Moore
Market Manager
grow@ranchoalegrefarm.com

Fresh Wishes,
Pilar Quintero
Market Host
Rancho Alegre Farm

Please contact grow@ranchoalegrefarm.com for questions pertaining to Market or Raw Milk. It is very difficult to return phone calls. If you are interested in Goat’s Milk, contact Nik The Goat Guy at 404-542-0981. We generally have some goat’s milk available during market hours, whether you have placed a market order or not. Please contact him first though to confirm. Remember to interact with us on Facebook and follow us on Meetup to get notification on all our events and news.

Stones River Market:  The Market is Open - Newsletter to Follow

My internet is down this morning so I am sending this from my cell phone. The Market is now open for ordering and I will send a newsletter later today.

Thanks for your support.

John