Spring is Blooming at the Windsor Market
The Windsor Certified Farmers Market is opening for the season this Sunday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 pm. With spring in full bloom the time has finally come to throw open the windows, dig up your garden beds and let the warm sunshine filter into your home and garden. It’s also time to get the canvas market bags out of the closet and put the Sunday Farmers Market on your weekly calendar.
This Sunday, the market opens with a splash in conjunction with the Town of Windsor Earth Day and Wellness Festival. There will be live music and performances on two stages, family lawn games, aisles of wellness and earth friendly vendors in the tree grove and the Windsor Parks and Recreation Department will be introducing all their summer camps and classes with fun activities for kids.
The Farmers’ Market Kidz Dig It Club will be having a free cooking class for kids from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the East Pavilion. Kidz Dig It cooking classes happen at the market throughout the year usually on the fourth Sunday of the month. Bring your child to the market information booth and sign up for the Kidz Dig It Club and get monthly reminder emails and free stuff throughout the season. Open to kids preschool age and up, must be able to use a small knife and gadgets like graters.
Market goers will find many of their favorite farmers and vendors who will be returning for 2017. Farmers like Joey from Let’s Go Farm with his yummy greens and crunchy root veggies and Soda Rock Farm will have tables of heirloom tomato starts ready for planting. Don’t forget, local food producers like Tracy from Cookie…take a bite, Deb and her Wine Country Preserves and the healthy sweet potato sauce from Natalia’s Kitchen. New at the market this year is Beet Generation Farm with their beautiful farm made dried pastas and sauce kits. Shop for gifts and natural products made locally by visiting one of the artists and crafters who attend the market, some weekly and some bi-weekly. You will find handmade quilts, table linens, fine jewelry and fun jewelry, fused glass, aromatherapy, crocheted ponchos, gorgeous wine barrel furniture, fun yard art, purses, custom clothing, cheer bows and floral wreaths.
The Windsor Market serves brunch and BBQ every Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is something special about eating outdoors especially in the Town Green Park on one of the giant redwood tables or on the grass with a picnic blanket. Returning and new choices for brunch this year at the market: Charlie’s BBQ will be back with barbeque chicken, tri-tip and jumbo hot dogs; pick up your weekly breads and baked goods at BurtoNZ Bakery and come meet new vendor, Linda and her family from Red Bird Bakery with delicious breads, cinnamon rolls and savory tarts. Also new this year, Pilon Kitchen with traditional Venezuelan arepas (a gluten free corn cake stuffed with eggs, bacon or meats), fried cheese sticks, empanada and Venezuelan coffee; Chacon family tamales, available cold to take home for dinner or hot to eat on site and joining us for Earth Day and future special events Falafel Fix (an Israeli style vegan stuffed pita you won’t want to miss.) and Elizabeth from Pink Elephant with her hand-squeezed lemonade, fresh juices and sno-cones.  Bring the whole family to Windsor on Sundays, bring the dog, but remember animals are allowed in the park but not in the market area.
Spring also brings with it the perfect time to start fresh and renew your home with a deep spring cleaning. If only you didn’t have to deal with the harsh smells and harmful chemicals found in common cleaning supplies today? This year, take an all-natural approach with these simple, homemade recipes that will clean and freshen your home, making it fun to clean again.
All Purpose Lemon Basil Surface Cleaning Spray
(Safe enough to drink, tough on dirt, use on stainless steel, glass, tile and counters for streak-free finish)
2 Cups filtered water
1 Cup organic(non-gmo) distilled white vinegar
20 drops of organic lemon essential oil
15 drops of organic basil essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a glass spray bottle (not plastic, essential oils destroy plastic)
Reusable Disinfecting Cleaning Wipes
(Alternative to store bought wipes soaked in chemicals, can also be used as homemade Swiffer pads)
2 Cups of distilled water (keeps long term)
1 Cup of organic white vinegar
15 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of lemon essential oil
5 drops of tea tree essential oil
6 washcloths
Roll the washcloths and pack them in a glass jar. Combine ingredients in a bowl and pour over the washcloths while pressing them down until completely wet. Close the lid on jar. Remove the clothes as needed, wash dirty clothes in washer and repeat.
(Essential Oils are available at natural grocery stores like Oliver’s in Windsor and Shelton’s in Healdsburg.)
