Farmers’ market musings

We all know that the purpose of the Farmers’ Market is to
provide a place for farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables
directly to consumers, but the market is also at the crossroads of
ideas. Sustainable agriculture connects us to agricultural policy,
water policy, and health policy, on a local, national, and global
level. It is also a place where those who enjoy cooking and
gardening come to appreciate those whose lives are devoted to
both.
In my life, the pivotal book that helped me grasp the impact of
agricultural policy on my own family’s farm was “The Unsettling of
America: Culture and Agriculture” by Wendell Berry. I asked a few
of our regular farmers, ranchers, and customers about the books
that inspire them, that they keep pulling off the shelf, and that
they lend to others.
The first book that comes to mind is Michael Pollan’s
“Omnivore’s Dilemma”. Almost everyone has read it by now.
— Charlene and John Ford, John Ford Ranch
I don’t have a book, but a columnist for the NY Times, Mark
Bittman. He used to be the food editor and is now an OpEd writer.
He writes about food, health, sustainability etc. Each article is
brilliant.
— Robin Ridder
My favorite book about food is Dominca Catelli’s wonderful
cookbook “Mom-a-licious”. Everyone should own it.
— Chris Love
“Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers”, Third Edition, Oscar A
Lorenz & Donald N Maynard contains all the nutritional info for
all the veggies and teaches which vegetable belongs in which
family… temperature for vegetable germination… lots more. Lorenz is
from UC Davis and Maynard is from U. of Florida. I think I picked
it up at Harmony Farm years ago. Harmony Farm has a great shelf of
books!
— Renee Kiff, Ridgeview Farm
“Cadillac Desert” a great book about the history of water in
California.
— Stu Harrison
“Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’
Markets” by Deborah Madison. It helps me figure out how to cook
with all the locally grown produce. I am also enjoying Animal,
Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
— Susan Rose
“Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon”. We are members and
supporters of the Weston Price Foundation. They have local Sonoma
County Chapters, which involve local foods and grass fed meats. It
is about all raw dairy and fermented veggies. We became members due
to my uncle having a severe heart attack and after following Sally
Fallon’s book, it not only cured his heart health he no longer
needs to take heart medicine!! So we highly recommend joining the
Weston Price Foundation and reading all of Sally Fallon literature.
It’s pure health to the core.
— Deborah Owen, Owen Family Farm
I love “75 Exciting Vegetables for your Garden” by Jack Staub.
It has great illustrations and gets me geared up to try a few new
varieties each year. I believe he has an herb book out as well.
— Katie Wetzel Murphy
Novella Carpenter’s, “FARM CITY”. She lives in a rundown part of
Oakland, but her desire to grow vegetables and animals (yes, even a
pig!) was so strong, she made it work on her tiny lot and that of a
neighbor. She even found, while foraging behind a restaurant for
food scraps for her expanding brood of bees, chickens, rabbits, a
sympathetic restaurateur who agreed to show her how to butcher. I
have just finished local author Lynda Hopkin’s first literary
effort: Wisdom of the Radish. Two books by a new generation of
farmers. Bless them for loving what they do enough to continue in
spite of bugs, crop failure, marauding predators and very little
money.
— Cynthia DeMartini
We love Mas Matsumoto’s Epitaph for a Peach. It is beautifully
written and so inspirational, and we grow Suncrest peaches!
— Gayle and Brian Sullivan, Dry Creek Peach and Produce
The Markets Open for their Thirty-third year on Saturday, May 7,
and Tuesday, June 7. For more information write to Ma**@He*********************.org.
Mary Kelley is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers’
Market.