1. Eating The Seasons Locally
We are so happy that it’s Farmers’ Market season here in the valley. And, we are so lucky to be here in California to take advantage of all the fabulous produce at our fingertips. In St. Helena, the market season starts on the first Friday in May and runs every Friday through the last week of October. We take advantage of the long season by eating seasonally and locally. All the better for us and the farmers!
2. Capturing the Vibrancy of the Event
I love to take my camera to the farmer’s market to capture the glorious, vibrant colors and textures seen everywhere you look. Piles of peppers, bo
xes of berries, canisters of cut flowers… it’s almost too much to take in all at once. Our market also has stalls for handmade oil cloth tablecloths and carry bags; gorgeous earrings, necklaces, and bracelets; beautiful stationery and the like.
3. Enjoying the Community of the Marketplace
One cannot go to the market and not run into many friends, neighbors and acquaintances meandering down the long aisle of the marketplace. It is held in a lovely park where there is a fun children’s playground; big round tables with chairs to sit under the trees and enjoy the morning and maybe a pastry and a mocha; bocce ball courts with the attendant teams vying for a win; a performing artist to entertain; and, last but not least, cooking demos by some of the best chefs in the valley.
4. Meeting the Farmers and Learning About Their Products
Okay, so we had never had a fava bean in our lives, but they looked so good in the basket, we finally asked Nancy of Westside Farms what to do with them. She advised that the “latest” is to just throw them on the barbie, cook until they are slightly blistered and then peel away until you get the bean. What a revelation! And so yummy! Every year we look forward to seeing the same folks at our favorite stalls and if, heaven forbid they aren’t there, can’t help wondering why they’re missing. We love to try new products and be able to get the lowdown on how best to use them from those who know best.
5. Taking Advantage of the Incredible Variety of Goods
Naturally, there are abundant varieties of fresh produce at the market. I could try to write a coherent sentence about all the rest, but instead I’m going to just make a long list of what you can find there: fresh seafood; organic local beef; teas specially blended by the proprietor; cheese explained by an expert; honey in every flavor imaginable; homemade jams and jellies in exotic flavors; farm fresh eggs; wonderful homemade Mexican food specialties; expert knife sharpening; orchid p
urveyor; nursery folk with herbs, tomato plants, flowering plants; locally made olive oils; handmade soaps and cosmetic products; organically and sustainably grown coffee; crafters with clothing, jewelry, knitted goods, artwork.
OMG, it’s a magical wonderland every Friday morning from 7:00 a.m. to noon! And we’ll be there today to enjoy! We are truly blessed.
We are so happy that it’s Farmers’ Market season here in the valley. And, we are so lucky to be here in California to take advantage of all the fabulous produce at our fingertips. In St. Helena, the market season starts on the first Friday in May and runs every Friday through the last week of October. We take advantage of the long season by eating seasonally and locally. All the better for us and the farmers!
2. Capturing the Vibrancy of the Event
I love to take my camera to the farmer’s market to capture the glorious, vibrant colors and textures seen everywhere you look. Piles of peppers, bo
xes of berries, canisters of cut flowers… it’s almost too much to take in all at once. Our market also has stalls for handmade oil cloth tablecloths and carry bags; gorgeous earrings, necklaces, and bracelets; beautiful stationery and the like.3. Enjoying the Community of the Marketplace
One cannot go to the market and not run into many friends, neighbors and acquaintances meandering down the long aisle of the marketplace. It is held in a lovely park where there is a fun children’s playground; big round tables with chairs to sit under the trees and enjoy the morning and maybe a pastry and a mocha; bocce ball courts with the attendant teams vying for a win; a performing artist to entertain; and, last but not least, cooking demos by some of the best chefs in the valley.
4. Meeting the Farmers and Learning About Their Products
Okay, so we had never had a fava bean in our lives, but they looked so good in the basket, we finally asked Nancy of Westside Farms what to do with them. She advised that the “latest” is to just throw them on the barbie, cook until they are slightly blistered and then peel away until you get the bean. What a revelation! And so yummy! Every year we look forward to seeing the same folks at our favorite stalls and if, heaven forbid they aren’t there, can’t help wondering why they’re missing. We love to try new products and be able to get the lowdown on how best to use them from those who know best.
5. Taking Advantage of the Incredible Variety of Goods
Naturally, there are abundant varieties of fresh produce at the market. I could try to write a coherent sentence about all the rest, but instead I’m going to just make a long list of what you can find there: fresh seafood; organic local beef; teas specially blended by the proprietor; cheese explained by an expert; honey in every flavor imaginable; homemade jams and jellies in exotic flavors; farm fresh eggs; wonderful homemade Mexican food specialties; expert knife sharpening; orchid p
urveyor; nursery folk with herbs, tomato plants, flowering plants; locally made olive oils; handmade soaps and cosmetic products; organically and sustainably grown coffee; crafters with clothing, jewelry, knitted goods, artwork.OMG, it’s a magical wonderland every Friday morning from 7:00 a.m. to noon! And we’ll be there today to enjoy! We are truly blessed.
Credits:
DEB-Altered Art Papers, Blue Christmas; DMI-Black and Tan, Torn; CBA-Antique Charm; MRE-Treasures; TYO-Wine Cellar; KSC-After Glow; available at http://Scrapgirls.com
Lauren Reid-Gridlock Taffies; available at http://scrapartist.com/
F. Seiford-Purple Heart Embellishment; available at http://scrappersguide.com/
L. Hughes-Brown Squares Background Paper
Fonts: Palatino Linotype, Scrap Casual, Stencil Standard, Vivaldi
Oh how I wish we had such a cool farmer's market to go to -- I daresay that maybe Wichita has something similar, but maybe not as lovely as yours sounds! I'll have to look into it and see --
ReplyDeleteAnd once again, your scrapbook layouts and your farmer's market collage are just GORGEOUS! Kudos to you for creating such beauty. :) I love them!