Farmers’ Market Musings

Back to the start
It was bedtime before a market day, and I had to leave the telly while the Olympic Opening Ceremony was going full throttle into the Industrial Revolution. I went to sleep with dreams that the ending would go back to the start and show more of what we saw in the beginning: the English Countryside as it existed for thousands of years before the Industrial Revolution. Wasn’t the Shire beautiful? The thatched roof cottages, the small gardens and orchards, the geese and sheep and horses, May Poles and so much green. And then, the turf was rolled up, and the country and cottage industry gave way to the fossil-fueled London of modern times.
The theme of the Opening reminded me of the short film “Back to the Start” done to Willie Nelson singing Cold Play’s “The Scientist.” Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by the restaurant Chipotle to remind us of the importance of developing a sustainable food system. (You can watch it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfSGt6rHos )
It does give me hope to know that Prince Charles is the heir apparent in England– for many years he has championed organic farming based on the wisdom of Sir Albert Howard.
Market Table
Meanwhile, back in our Shire (as I once heard Virginia Strom-Martin describe Sonoma County) we do our own staging transitions for the Farmers’ Market. You may have noticed our “Market Table” (and wagon built by Paul Perez, Martin Kiff, and Kate Barrett), which is our portable office. Since we don’t have a permanent office near the market, we truck everything to town, unpack, set up, then, at the end of the market, take everything down, and repack, in step with the farmers with their fruits and vegetables.
Our Market Assistant, Chris O’Connor, has many duties, and one of them is to assist EBT customers. Please help us spread the word that the market accepts Food Stamps and we match $20 worth of EBT with another $20, thanks to funds raised mostly by Community Foundation Sonoma County.
Next to us, Brendan Swift is selling bread and pastries from Costeaux Bakery as a fundraiser for the market. When Full Circle Bakery notified us that they would not be returning to the market, we asked Will Seppi if we might sell his bread. We enjoy supporting our local bakery, and we hope you will support the market by purchasing bread and pastries from Brendan.
Brendan’s Chipotle Vinaigrette was a hit at our Growers’ Picnic.
For ½ cup of dressing:
    1 T        Apple Cider Vinegar
    2 T        Lime Juice
    ½ tsp.        Dijon Mustard
    1 tsp.        Chipotle sauce or to taste
    ¼ tsp.        Salt
    5 T        Olive Oil
    1T         Honey
Recommended on a salad of black beans, sweet corn, peppers, maybe tomatoes, zucchini or other summer squash.
Zucchini Fest
Did a little zucchini hide out under the plant’s huge leaves and turn into a Giant Zucchini? Then you might like to enter the Giant Zucchini Contest on Saturday, August 18. Zucchini Fest Fun also includes Racing Zucchini Cars, and a contest for the Most Creatively Decorated Zucchini Cars.
Registration                8:00 – 9:30
Judging of the Most Creative Cars    9:30 – 9:45
Winners Announced            9:50
Races Begin                10:00
Remember that the prizes will be awarded to cars that not only look great, but can also race down the track with axels completely inserted through the squash. The squash can’t just ride on a skateboard, or tumble down the ramp. The judges will be checking the axels this year, so be prepared.
Wednesday Market
Please remember that the midweek market is now on Wednesdays, and we are on the Plaza every Wednesday through Halloween.
Mary Kelley is the manager of the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. The Saturday morning market continues through November. The Wednesday afternoon market continues through October.