Have you read the poetry of Maxine Kumin? She frequently writes of family, of personal history, of farm and garden and “what if?” and the imaginings of children and curious adults. In The Long Approach (1982), she writes of garden excess in “A New England Gardener Gets Personal:” “….Willynilly/after years of no-peppers/a glut of them/perfect as Peter Piper’s./Only piccalilly/will get shut of them./None grow riper/none redden in this clime/but such sublime/pectorals! Such green hips!/No Greek torso could be/more nobly equipped.”
Those who garden no doubt smile at the images of a season’s glut following years of lackluster performance of some crop or other. And eyes will roll in sympathy at the recognition of the need to find ways to preserve the glut, because one cannot afford to ignore or dispose of such plenty; whether you’re familiar with piccalilly or not, you certainly have or remember at least one recipe for using lots of some garden crop, usually in the form of relish or pickle. We are fortunate in Ohio to have a much longer growing season than that of New England. But we suffered a lack of reddening peppers this year as well….perhaps the humidity? Our peppers thrived while green, but as they started to turn to yellow and orange and red, rot came also. So, we admire the beauty of the green pepper, and appreciate the poet’s ability to describe that pepper in a vivid and appreciative way.
If you happen to pick up a copy of this particular book of poetry, look also for the poem, “Appetite,” which speaks to the memory of a parent, and the eating of red raspberries. At least one vendor plans to have red raspberries for sale this week!
Come out to help the Second Chance – Center of Hope this Saturday and the next. Modern Woodmen members will hold a personal care item drive-thru at the Fayette County Farmers Market Saturday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m until noon. Easy to drive-thru and drop-off with social distanced and masked volunteers.
Second Chance – Center of Hope is a volunteer-based nonprofit that gives victims of domestic violence a start of a Second Chance, and provides HOPE to the homeless in our community.
Items most needed are: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant (men’s or women’s), paper towels, shaving cream and dish soap. Modern Woodmen of America improves the quality of life for members and the communities where they live, work and play. For more information contact Dan Mayo at 937-725-0445.
The Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon and is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets in Washington C.H. SNAP BET food benefit cards and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for food purchases receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) good only for fruits, vegetables, and food producing plants. So,”buy one, get one” for up to $25 EVERY market day. Five-dollar coupons will be available again for FAYETTE COUNTY Farm Bureau members at each Saturday market; these can be spent at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.
The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well. Vendors who provide their phone number may be contacted for advance orders.
King Farms (Jeff and Sandi King) and Gerhardts (Kevin Gerhardt): Bi-color corn, honeydew, Crenshaw and other melons, vine ripe tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, zucchini. Baked goods.
Persinger Produce and Cottage Food (Julie Mosny & David Persinger): The Pie Lady –Local honey, honey comb, assorted fruit pies, Bun’s Bars, banana cake, pumpkin cookies, cinni mini’s, cinnamon rolls. The Jam Man – JAMS: peach, black raspberry, cherry, seedless blackberry, plum with cardamom, red raspberry, strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb, pineapple habanero, red raspberry jalapeno, blackberry, triple berry and peach zinger habanero, and no-added sugar triple berry. Also assorted Texas sheet cakes and zucchini bread. NEW this week: ELDERBERRY jelly.
Wood Designed by DW (Debbie Welch): Handmade, unusual wood crafts, including seasonal. Handmade crocheted dish towels, clothes, potholders, pocket books and baby booties.
Bridge View Garden (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer, 740-505-5125): Mums and potted sunflowers and decorative peppers. Seasonal produce including red raspberries, sweet potatoes.
Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Face masks, fall throws, coasters, dish towels, and hand poured Wax Melts in 70+ scents including fall pumpkin scents. $5 mystery grab bags available while supplies last. Baby essentials including crochet blankets, hats and washcloths, flannel receiving blankets, burp cloths and teething toys. (More new fabrics this week!)
Engedi (Alana Walters, Janet Bick, Beth Day): Assorted home baked goods including cinnamon rolls, yeast bread and rolls, cookies, fruit pies and noodles.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Plants for native habitat and naturalizing: Button bush, Coral Berry (Indian Current), Snow Berry, Red Ozier dogwood, Silky and Gray dogwoods, Ninebark. Perennial flowering plants. Broom corn wreaths. Seasonal produce (garlic, onions, red shallots, leeks, Matt’s Wild cherry tomatoes, pie pumpkins). Candy (chocolate fudge and buckeyes), baklava, sourdough crackers (garlic/turmeric, rosemary, jalapeno/cumin, “everything,” ginger/wasabi, sea salt).
KAZ Creations (Michele Zurakowski—614-563-0541 ): variety of jellies and school masks.
