DeForest, WI:  Availability for Week of May 17

Forest Run Farm will again have offerings from the fields and hoop house: small head lettuce, spinach, baby bok choy, asparagus, rhubarb and herbs. In the next few weeks the selection will increase.

Forest Run Farm also offers certified organic vegetable plants for your garden—all started at the farm. They are not listed this week but can be picked up at the Farm on Fridays or at Hilldale Market. The selection of plants includes tomato, peppers, herbs, kale, lettuce, kohlrabi, broccoli, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, tomatillos. Note: Plants can not be purchased using the CSA punchcard.

Bauman’s Natural Meats has its first offerings of the season just in time for the Holiday. Rusty Dog Coffee is also available!

Orders made this week (Starting Sunday evening till Tues at midnight) can be picked up on Friday at the farm from 4-6pm until Memorial Day. Then, after Memorial Day, it is extended to 3-6pm.

Athens Locally Grown:  ALG Market Open for May 21

Atlanta Locally Grown:  Available for Saturday May 23

I hope this finds you all doing well. The market is open and ready for orders. We have lots of great produce this week. Order up, the weather is going to take them away till fall soon. We may have two weeks left. While that’s bad news for spring veggies, it’s great news for summer stuff.

We also have a tremendouse pork selection. The hogs shares are ready for delivery and look incredible. We would love to fill your freezer this week. You will enjoy the meat and we will get te next feed bills paid. It’s a win win.

You will have 21 meals this week, 28 with snacks. How can we be a part of them?

Thank you for all your support. We will see you Saturday at pick up.

Brady

Conyers Locally Grown:  Available for Friday May 23

I hope this finds you all doing well. The market is open and ready for orders. We have lots of great produce this week. Order up, the weather is going to take them away till fall soon. We may have two weeks left. While that’s bad news for spring veggies, it’s great news for summer stuff.

We also have a tremendouse pork selection. The hogs shares are ready for delivery and look incredible. We would love to fill your freezer this week. You will enjoy the meat and we will get te next feed bills paid. It’s a win win.

You will have 21 meals this week, 28 with snacks. How can we be a part of them?

Thank you for all your support. We will see you Friday at pick up.

Brady

Berea Gardens:  May 20 Availability

Hi folks,

We have some new customers to welcome this week and I want to remind you to read the Q’s and A’s page if you have any questions. For those of you that would rather pick up during market hours Wednesday at the Calhoun County Farmer’s Market (9 AM to 1 PM), please remember to tell us in the comment line so we can have it ready for you there.

Blessings,
Bob

Northeast Georgia Locally Grown:  Locally Grown - Availability for May 20th , 2015

Hey Local Food Lovers,

Greetings from half way around the world. This message is being sent from Tapei, Taiwan which is about 8,000 miles away from North Georgia. I think this is what you call truly “getting away from it all!”

It’s been two years since my last trip here, so let’s refresh on some of my favorite things….and some of the more unusual aspects….of traveling in Taiwan and Asia more generally.

I’ll start with the basics. The U.S. and western countries in general tend to think horizontally. Buildings, vehicles, even our own bodies tend to spread outward on the sides (You know what I’m talking about). Since Taiwan is a very small country (at least 3 Taiwan’s would fit inside of the state of Georgia), yet the population is 4 times larger at 24 million, and it’s also an island, space is a precious commodity. So everything is about maximizing space, especially vertical space.

For example, my in-laws house is modest, yet has 4 stories plus a rooftop with a great view of the sunrise…pretty much like every house in the area. The width of the front entrance is probably only 16 feet across, which includes a garage door for parking their van. The van itself is tall and skinny, just like all the trucks here. Two cars can easily pass each other on a narrow alleyway.

Businesses on the main streets are very dense, one right after the other so all the signs are oriented upright vertically, long and skinny, and span several floors of the buildings they are affixed to. People here are skinnier too, but not due to lack of food. Food is everywhere! And the Taiwanese love to eat. There are markets with fresh fruit. In season right now is mango (my favorite, more on that later), water melon (shee qwa) and pineapple. Fresh cut meat is displayed each morning on the carts of butchers lining the roadway with little spinning fans with long strings hanging down to keep insects away.

The primary modes of transport are scooters and trains. Many, many people jetting around on scooters is a sight to behold. It’s even more fun to be on the scooter jetting yourself. You kind of know what it feels like to be a single blood cell being pumped through a circulatory system. Having a baby in a stroller this time around, we’ve found you literally can’t walk down the sidewalk for all the scooters parked there. I’d guess there are more than 50 but less than a 100 scooters for every single block you walk.

So what about the food? This isn’t a travel blog after all…. tell us about the food. Well I should start by saying that most meals so far have been at home, since my father in law is an incredible cook. I’d choose his cooking over most other Taiwanese food any day. Just as in most of the world, preparing meat for guests is a sign of generosity. However, the method of preparation is very different compared to the states.

Chicken and duck for instance is salted and streamed then chopped with a large butcher’s knife into diagonal cut pieces. These cuts go straight through the bone, so you are constantly picking little pieces of bone out, or chewing around them. But, since you aren’t just eating the thigh or breast meat, you often get more dark and white meat mixed together, for a greater diversity of flavor. An accompanying orange dipping sauce is very tasty too.

Our first night here, right off the plane we had stir fry noodles with seafood which included squid, octopus, and shrimp. Taiwanese love all chewy foods, and after several trips here I’ve acquired a taste for some of them too. Cuttle fish is another squid substitute that is quite good.

Pork is a backbone to much cooking here, though never in big pieces like a pork chop, usually it is cooked for a long time in different types of sauce then pulled apart and used as a flavoring in different dishes. Though we did have some whole ribs cooked in a soy based sauce that was so good! Tender salty meat falling off the bone. All meals are eaten with a small rice bowl in hand and chop sticks then you pick and choose from all the dishes in front of you. You can have a few bites of pork, then a few of chicken, then some stewed squash or napa cabbage (this one with mushrooms, pork and little tiny dried shrimp).

For breakfast we’ve had two options most mornings. Little cafes around town specialize in what’s called egg pie, which is just a rice flour tortilla type thing on a griddle with a scrambled egg poured on top to cook. Before flipping it closed and sliced into pieces you can add many different fillings. One of my favorites is dried pork (which is kind of fluffy and hair like) with corn, and a sweet mayo sauce. Our other breakfast has been these amazing traditional Tawianese pastries. I’ll describe those for you later.

Since I’m almost out of time for today, let me wrap up with my favorite sweet treat that I had yesterday (oh there are so many I hope to describe). It’s a mango shaved ice. Shaved Ice is a taiwanese speciality I’ll try and describe later, but for this version the ice is actually flavored like Mango, then fresh mango pieces are frozen and put on top, then two scoops of mango ice cream, and some condensed milk over it all, with little chocolate sprinkles. It’s very refreshing, and very Mango!!

There are many more tales to come. On Tuesday, we’re on our way to Japan, so that should be all new experiences to describe.

Not missing Georgia yet, but I’m sure that’ll happen before the end of the trip.

I hope everyone orders big this week! Keep your bellies full of good food while we’re away!

and EAT WELL,

Justin in Taiwan
Chuck in Rabun
Teri in Clarkesville
Andrew in Gainesville

Dawson Local Harvest:  Oh, Boy, Bok Choi!

DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST for May 22nd

Oh, Boy, Bok Choi!

HI EVERYBODY!

Several vendors are back on The Market this week.

LEILANI’S is adding Bok Choi this week and Romaine Lettuce, Buttercrunch head Lettuce and Kale are available again along with Salad Mix, Turnips, Swiss Chard and one or two others. Check the Vegetable listings.

MY DAILY BREAD has a full product slate; I just got one of their Rye-Pumpernickel Loaves and thought it was great (plus high in fiber and low glycemic for blood sugar watchers).

Don’t forget FIVE HENS FARMS have great-tasting free-range chicken Eggs in 3 sizes. These are serious difference makers if you like quiche, omelets, or egg pie. You need to try them.

To see everything available in The Market just click that tab and look at the Product Listing down the left side. Any heading with numbers beside them have products to be explored. There’s some interesting items here.

THE MARKET IS NOW OPEN!

REMEMBER! You can order until Tuesday night at 8pm. Pick up your order at Leilani’s Gardens Friday afternoons from 4 to 7pm.

You’ll find the DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST at http://dawsonville.locallygrown.net

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible! We guarantee your satisfaction with all products in the DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST.

Have a happy and healthy week!

Alan Vining
Market Manager

Madison GA:  The Market is Open!!!!!

See everyone Wed!!

Fresh Harvest, LLC:  Fresh Harvest for May 17th

Market News

Hello!

It is high strawberry time in these parts. The berries are at their peak – sweet and juicy and abundant! Now is the time to take full advantage of their goodness, as their season is short and they won’t be around much longer. These strawberries are grown right here outside of Nashville by Drury Family Farm and Rocky Glade Farm, and are grown organically. which means they are a perfectly healthy choice for your family! They are picked ripe and ready to eat! Stock up for winter by freezing or making jam. Yum!! There is nothing like strawberry time!

Once again this year we will have The Peach Truck set up next to us for Wednesday deliveries. They will be there at 4:00 – 6:00 every week through their season. We invite The Peach Truck to set up next to us as a service for you, our dear customers! However, please know that we are not responsible for their product – they are a separate entity than Fresh Harvest and we are not affiliated with the farms that grow the peaches that they sell. While ALL of Fresh Harvest’s produce is grown organically, the peaches from The Peach Truck are NOT organic. They are considered “low spray”. If you have further questions about what that means, please contact the Peach Truck directly.

It’s the last week of school for many. How about bringing your child’s teacher a sweet bouquet of bachelor buttons to show your appreciation for all their hard work this year? Or a trio of Little Seed Farm soaps, wrapped in a pretty bow?

Please remember if you have signed up for the Pre-Paid bouquets, please place your order in the “Pre-Paid Bouquet” box on the Market page.

We still have a nice selection of tomato and basil plants available for your garden. More of the classic pesto variety ‘Genovese’ as ready this week. but if your haven’t yet, please do try a lemon or lime basil ! The flavor and smell are amazing!

There of course is a fabulous selection of cheeses up, and Dozen bakery’s delicious, fresh baked artisan bread – the baguette and the country loaf, as well as the brown sugar shortcakes, for instant strawberry shortcake dessert!

As always, thanks so much for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday

John and Tallahassee

Coming Events

Champaign, OH:  The Look Of Love

That’s the look, that’s the look…
The look of love…
(ABC – The Look Of Love)

So, this past weekend was the graduation of the Cosmic Co-Ed, who is now the Cosmic Graduate? Anyway, sitting at the ceremony, crying, and feeling so proud of my daughter, I listened to the speeches as they spoke about many things that come with being an alumni of EKU. It made me think of my own EKU pride, my own reflections back to the some of the most amazing times, amazing bonds, and amazing memories and accomplishments.

I graduated in the mid 1980s. I remember it like it was just yesterday. The college years, the music, the sorority, the clubs, the friends, the classes..as we left the ceremony, on Friday, with the excitement of the day, the many hugs with the graduates that I have grown close with, over the past four years, big hugs to my own graduate, and many memories, I took a quick buzz through the campus, one last time. I took a buzz through the pretty little college town. I remembered each downtown place, each club, each hangout. 80’s music was blasting in my brain. And, this song totally summed up my thoughts, my goodbye, my closure. Will I go back? Yes, I will be back for homecoming festivities, sorority alumni functions, but to actually make trips down to be with my daughter, no, not so much.

Anyway, this song also has popped into my brain to describe my day, yesterday, after scouting out multiple surrounding county farmers’ markets. I am not going to name the counties or the markets. It was for an education, of sorts. Research. But, in the midst of this, I stumbled on some very amazing findings.

The Look Of Love…our little local market of love. This sentiment never rang more true…

After the research, I would like to give the vendors of this little local market a HUGE dose of love!!! And, of thanks!!!

Hands down, the products offered on this market are superb to some that I ran into on my research frenzy. The vendors of this market? OMG…you are the best!!!!! You sell your booties off, you are SO customer friendly, your products sell on their own but our customer base LOVE seeing your smiling faces, when they can, with your products. Price points? TOTAL love fest, here!!! Your prices and your dedication to making sure you keep your prices at an affordable price point for our customers are what makes this market soar!!! The product offerings on this little local market of love? Totally blows other markets out of the water!!

So, as market manager, fellow vendor, market cheerleader, I thank vendors and customers from the bottom of my heart!!! Pride, love, pricing, product quality…you do it all, you do it with the look of love, and you make this market what it has become!

The look of local was never filled with so much LOVE…

The market is open, the products are outstanding, the seasonal products will be short lived, and we would love to show you what local love looks like!

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam