The Fayette County Farmers Market produce options are expanding; this past Saturday I purchased (yes, purchased….mine are not QUITE ready) red potatoes and green beans. Cooked together with black pepper, literally a pinch of sugar, and just a touch of bacon grease (from the beautifully smoked bacon of the lovingly raised and fed pigs of friends) and served with fresh minced garlic sauteed in butter, this was the centerpiece of our Sunday meal. With a small side of fried okra, and homemade goat milk cottage cheese, nothing could have been more satisfying. Not much labor or time in the kitchen, and several firsts of the season.
The first rhubarb has come and gone, as have the strawberries. We’ve been eating fresh lettuce and green onions for over a month, so the “newness” may have worn off. But with July, and the long days and heat, comes the deluge of summer produce and many firsts to whet our appetites and excite the taste buds…sweet corn of course, and cucumbers, green beans and all the nightshade family (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos). One vendor mentioned the extravagance of wild blackberries in her woods. Some of these are so rare that we never have enough to tire of them. Others have longer seasons and grow “common place” and we may be inclined to take them for granted. But in just a few more months, we will be lamenting how long it will be again before we taste broccoli fresh from the garden or a vine ripened tomato. So these are the days for savoring and appreciating.
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 EBT 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.
Special for this week’s market, our “community tent” participants will be AAUW (Beth Gerber) annual book sale, formerly held at the Carnegie Library and Kid’s Hope USA (Joyce Lott), a national mentoring program which connects an adult volunteer with an at-risk elementary student to establish a relationship which helps the child form values, develop self-esteem, and improve basic academic and problem-solving skills.
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.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Annual and perennial flowers for butterflies and beauty. Lemon grass. Homemade sourdough crackers (garlic/turmeric, rosemary, jalapeno/cumin, poppyseed) and mini-pecan pies. Farm honey. Natural body products: glycerin and honey soaps, beeswax hand and cuticle creams, lip balms, and natural insect repellent. Catnip and seasonal produce, including new garlic.
King Farms (Jeff and Sandi King): Green onions, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, red and Yukon Gold potatoes, and hot and sweet peppers. Baked goods.
Little Farmstead Flowers (Adrian & Tina Eicher): Cut flowers – sunflowers, gladiolus, cosmos, amaranths, snapdragons, salvia, dahlia, ornamental basil, hydrangeas, zinnias.
Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer—740-572-0134 – make advance orders before 5 p.m. Thursday): Artisan bread, muffins.
B.Y.E Gardens (Brian and Elaine Yoder): Sweet Corn (HOPEFULLY), tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, lettuce, green beans, cinnamon rolls, strawberry rolls, lemon rolls, peanut butter cookies, sweet breads(strawberry, banana, banana-nut, zucchini, pumpkin), adult & children’s face masks (fun new prints coming). Call Elaine @740-606-6333 to place orders.
Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Face masks for adults and children, crocheted baby blankets, hats and wash cloths, flannel burp cloths and teething toys, crochet pot scrubbers and dish cloths, coasters and wax melts (over 60 scents available).
Engedi (Alana Walters, Janet Bick, Beth Day): Assorted home baked goods including cinnamon rolls, yeast bread and rolls, cookies, fruit pies and noodles.
