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May 24, 2010

Market News - May 25, 2010

From the Market Manager

 

   Last week a few people told me that they had to drive around some to find a parking place. Wow! No one was complaining though as parking is very available here. Park in the driveway if you need to; there’s plenty of room.

 

   One of the ways that we’ve tried to make our market as convenient as possible is to have prepared food for you to eat at the market, so you can have lunch here and shop almost at the same time. We have a table and chairs set up next to the market table and the hot dog vendor. The hot dog vendor (Patti) also has meatball and eggplant grinders made by her mom Vivian Bobrowski aka Noni hence the name Noni’s Grinders.

 

   Check out the green crate at the market table regularly as new recipes appear often. Once something is out of season, the recipe that includes that item is removed. I hope that you try new things from the market, and if it’s something that needs to be cooked, that you try cooking it a different way than you usually do. We all have to eat, so it might as well be interesting.

 

   While going around to do the Census enumeration, I’ve noticed several houses that have no numbers, or numbers in such obscure places that they might just as well be missing. Having numbers visible from the street is a safety issue.

 

   The positive side of doing the Census enumeration is that I’ve met several of my neighbors from adjacent streets. (I’ve also earned a few bucks.)

 

   Today we welcome Rick Rubin whose business is Rick’s Sugar Coated Pecans, but he also has other nuts and home made granola.     

 

A Favorite Poem

 

   This is from a book called When I Am An OLD WOMAN I Shall Wear Purple

 


(For those of you who don’t know humus is another word for compost, and it’s a play on the word posthumous)

 


Post Humus by Patti Tana

 

Scatter my ashes in my garden

 


So I can be near my loves.

 


Say a few honest words, sing a gentle song, join hands in a circle of flesh.

 


Please tell some stories about me making you laugh.

 


When I’ve had time to settle, and green gathers into buds, remember I love blossoms bursting in spring. As the season ripens remember my persistent passion.

 


And, if you come in my garden on an August afternoon pluck a bright red globe,

 


Let juice run down your chin and the seeds stick to your cheek. When I’m dead I want folks to smile and say—That Patti, she sure is some tomato!

 


New Century Theatre

 

   NCT begins its 20th season in June. They are located in the Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts at Smith College. The theatre is air-conditioned and the seats are very comfortable. Go online to newcenturytheatre.org, or call them for a brochure—413-585-3220. They also have Paintbox, a children’s play series. I always loved taking my children and grandchildren to plays. They liked it too.

 

Consider a Farm Vacation

 

   One of the ways to have a lovely, low-key vacation is to go to a farm.  Go to the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources and go to Agri-tourism for Massachusetts’s listings. If you do the same thing for other states, you’ll find listings there also I’m sure. My family went to a farm in New Hampshire (we were living in NH at the time) twice, and it was a great way to spend a week. My children are all in their 40s and they still remember it fondly except for my daughter’s memory of her fall off a horse.

 

Update on Sam Smyth

 

   Many of you know that Sam, son of Dale and Mike Smyth from Trinity Farm, was seriously injured on the farm in October ’08, and is paraplegic. Sam is doing well. He went back to UCONN this past semester, and will be living on campus in his own apartment in the fall. He has a landscaping business, so if you need work done, he and his helper can do it. One of the things he bought as a result of the overwhelming generosity of you and many others is a riding lawnmower. If you’d like to hire Sam, speak to Dale or Mike at the market.

 

Food Environment Atlas

 

   The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a food environment atlas. It is a resource for lots of information by state and county about the local food environment such as grocery stores, summer lunch programs, percentage of students receiving free or reduced price lunches, and much more. Just put in U.S. Food Environment Atlas into your browser, and you will get it. It’s evident that lots of work went into this.

 

   Have you heard the phrase “food desert?” That means that there aren’t sufficient full service grocery stores in an area to serve the population properly. If you don’t have a grocery store close enough by, and you don’t have a car, how do you get groceries? Cab, bus? Sure a cab will drop you off at your house, but a bus won’t. How far would you have to walk to get from the nearest bus stop to your home?

 

Recipe

 

   I know that lots of people buy salad dressings, but if you make your own you will save money and it will be tastier. It couldn’t be easier. Keep different olive oils and a neutral oil (canola for example) on hand. Also have different kinds of vinegar. Keep fresh lemons in the house. Then, have a variety of herbs and spices in your cupboards.

 

   A vinaigrette is so simple. Mix olive oil, a vinegar that you like, or lemon juice, add salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and then some dried herbs like dill weed, or Italian seasoning. Taste it, let it sit a little bit for the dried herbs to absorb some liquid and toss on a salad. You can certainly use fresh herbs when they are available. Just put them right into the salad.

 

   I use the neutral oil when I am making an Asian style dressing with a light vinegar, sesame oil, and other ingredients. I don’t want the olive oil taste for that dressing.

 

   Add some fruit to a tossed salad; it adds a touch of sweetness, but isn’t too sweet.

 

 

 

MARKET BAGS ARE $5, OR A RAFFLE TICKET FOR $1 FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE.

 


 

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May 17, 2010

Market News - May 18, 2010

From the Market Manager

 


    The compliments about our new location keep coming in. Thanks. We agree. One of our vendors told me that their sales last week were the third highest that they’d ever been at our market, and they’ve been part of our market for several years. Keep spreading the word that we’re here, and don’t forget to mention that entry to the park is free either from Sumner Avenue or Trafton Road.

 

   I am a 2010 Census enumerator. That means that I go to homes where no record of a census form has been received. Most of the folks I’ve met have been really nice and since they try to keep us as close to where we live as possible, I’ve met several neighbors. I’ve met people from Jordan, Nigeria, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines, (and the U.S. of course). Our neighborhood is truly a mini-United Nations. Something I’ve noticed is that the children who were born here have “American” names—Jim, Lisa, Nora…the parents want their kids to fit in.

 

   Speaking of kids, the goat kind, I was in Stafford Springs, CT at Susan Park’s Rich Valley Farm where they have several baby goats at this time of year. They are having open houses for two more Sundays, so if you get a chance go. It’s only a half hour from here and is really easy to get to. You can go out Rte. 83 (Sumner Ave, etc.) to Rte. 190, to Hampden Road in Stafford Springs, and the farm is the first property on your left. Ask Susan what the building is where you take the left, I think it’s a bank, but I’m not sure. Her products are available at the farm also.

 

 Interested in a CSA?

 

   What is a CSA? It is Community Supported Agriculture. You purchase a share in a farm and you receive a share of the harvest for a period of time. The Kitchen Garden has a few more shares to sell. Go to info@kitchengardenfarm.com to get the rest of the information, or if they are at the market this week, ask Caroline or Tim for details.

 

Stanley Park Gardening Series

 


   May 22nd, “Landscaping for Wildlife” with Nannette Masi. Would you like to mow less and enjoy your yard more? Would you like to trade your boring lawn for a beautiful retreat that is also an oasis for native birds, frogs, mammals, butterflies, and other insects? Discover why native plants are so crucial to creating a successful habitat garden. Learn how to provide year-round food and habitat resources to attract and benefit wildlife through native plant groupings and organic gardening techniques and tips. Follow the simple steps to creating a wildlife garden.

 

   The workshops are held in the Beveridge Pavilion from 10 AM to noon. They are free. Stanley Park is in Westfield.

 

 

 

This ‘n’ That

 


   Check out the numbers on your house. Do you think that they can be read from the street easily? Do you even have them? Think about an emergency vehicle coming to your home? Will they find you? Many homes have numbers that are either hidden, painted over, or so small that they can’t be read from the street. And, trying to find the numbers at night---forget it.   

 

   Take down tag sale signs when your sale is over. It is a courtesy to the neighborhood.

 

   Use your car ashtray for your cigarettes; that is what it is for. The street isn’t an ashtray. The filters are not biodegradable.

 

 

 

Gift Certificates

 

   You can purchase a gift certificate good for tokens at the market. Everyone eats, and we have so many interesting items here that no matter who the gift goes to, they will find something to enjoy here. Some people say they don’t cook. Well, they can get a jar of honey, or a plant, or some cheese. They don’t have to cook any of those.

 


 

Growing Methods: Terms & Definitions

 


   Conventional Agriculture: Conventional agriculture is difficult to define because its scope is broad and practices vary from farm to farm. Conventional farmers commonly use some practices associated with organic agriculture, such as crop rotation, or use of manure as a fertilizer. Conventional agriculture relies on the use of synthetically derived fertilizers to supply nutrients to plants and pesticides to control insects, weeds, and disease. As research and field experiments provide alternatives to synthetic chemical pest controls, the number of conventional farmers adopting organic or reduced synthetically derived chemical growing methods is likely to increase.

 

   Organic Farming: Organic farming is based on the premise that the soil is a living organism which must be nurtured solely with the use of naturally occurring substances and practices. According to organic theory, soil cared for in this manner will support healthier plants that are more resistant to insect pests and disease, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for artificial pest controls. While synthetically derived chemical pesticides and fertilizers are never used, organic farmers may use plant derived pesticides (rotenone, pyrethrum) or naturally occurring minerals (sulfur) to control insects and disease. As in conventional agriculture, organic farmers are continually reevaluating the safety of substances and practices allowed.

 

Certified Organic: Farmers concerned about consumer confidence in the organic agricultural industry have formed associations to promote and verify organic farming methods. These certifying associations inspect members’ fields annually and verify that they are farming in accordance with accepted organic practices. They also require farmers to keep detailed records of their farming practices and make these records available to the certifying organization.

 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): IPM is a long-term strategy for pest control that involves careful monitoring of insect populations and the use of all available conventional and organic techniques, including use of pest resistant plants, release of beneficial insects and the judicious use of synthetically derived chemical pesticides. The goal of IPM is to reduce the impact of farming practices on the environment and provide more effective pest control to growers at reduced costs. By using IPM, farmers are often able to reduce the dependence on synthetic pesticides.

 


 

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Market News - May 11, 2010

From the Market Manager

We had a great start to our season  last week until the wind and rain hit. We were marveling at the weather since we are usually shivering on the first day. I think Mother Nature saved the shivering for today. The park staff is absolutely marvelous, and many of you told me how happy you are with our new location. For those of you who might have tried to get into the park for the market around 5:30+, we are indeed open until 6, and if you get here a little after you’ll be able to purchase something as most of our vendors aren’t completely packed up by then. The person who was at the Sumner Avenue entrance evidently didn’t know that we were open that late. They do now.

 

 One of our new vendors this year, Sasha’s Catering, has prepared food for you to either eat at the market, or bring home. They have containers in several sizes to suit your needs. I tried all three chilis that he had last week and they were all delicious.

 

Community Gardeners Needed

 

There are spaces available on Beaumont Street in the community garden sponsored by Concerned Citzens for Springfield. The cost is $15 for the year and you must commit to keeping the garden neat, and doing your part to keeping the area clean also. Contact Sheila McElwaine at 788-8898, the garden coordinator, and she will give you more details.

 

Springfield Preservation Trust Spring House Tour Coming up

 

The Trust will sponsor a “Homes of Forest Park” tour on Sunday, May 16th from 1-4PM. The tour will feature six homes in the area south of Sumner Avenue between Dickinson Street and Forest Park.

 
 Much of the area was developed as Entry Dingle Heights, located in a section of Longmeadow annexed to Springfield in the early 20th century. Construction of most homes in the neighborhood took place between 1920 and 1940 and reflect the popular colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles. French-Canadian builders such as Joseph Chapdelaine, Joseph St. Laurent, Maurice Angers, and Zephrine Lassonde were prominent in developing the area.

 

 Tickets are $15 in advance at Flowers Flowers, 758 Sumner Avenue and at The Flower Box, 596 Carew St. tickets can be purchased the day of the tour from 12:45 PM until 3PM on Dickinson St. at Olmsted Drive; cost of ticket is $20 with Trust members getting a $3 discount.

Springfield Household Hazardous Waste Collection Depot, Sat. 5/15 & 6/19

 

Bring your unwanted household hazardous wastes to Grochmal Avenue in Indian Orchard on the above days. Limit 10 gallons per household. Call 787-7840 for more information and an appointment. For Springfield residents only.

 

Forest Park Branch Library

 

There are all sorts of programs at our branch library. Movies, a knitting/crocheting group, a book signing coming up, art projects and more. Check it out. It’s open Tuesday 10AM to 5PM, Thursday 1PM to 8PM, Saturday 11AM to  3PM. Phone # is 263-6843. Our head librarian, Reggie Wilson, does a fabulous job here and at the East Forest Park branch.

 

Use Your Credit/Debit/EBT Cards at the Market

 

If you don’t have time to get to the bank, or if you want to buy more than you have money for, come to the market table and purchase wooden tokens that you use just like cash. You can also use a check to buy tokens. This year we are charging a $1 service fee for each transaction other than EBT or checks to help us defray the costs of using the wireless machine that we have. Last year we paid several hundred dollars in fees, so we’d like not to have to do that again.

 Native Asparagus

 

Many of you know that Hadley asparagus has a worldwide reputation as being the finest there is. Years ago there used to be many more acres of it growing in the Pioneer Valley. Even though there is less growing than before, we still have some, and it is superb. The season isn’t long, so try it different ways.

 

Food Policy Council Forming

 

Many communities have food policy councils which bring community  members together to work on issues of providing access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food to their citizens. One is forming in Springfield. A steering committee will be composed of representatives from diverse sectors of the community including the relevant municipal departments, non-profit organizations that are devoted to food access and public health, faith-based organizations, neighborhood councils, farmers, grocers, food producers, youth, elders, and generally concerned residents. Please contact Zaida Govan at zgovan.mlkcc@verizon.net if you are interested or if you’d like further details.

Farm Open House

 

On 3 Sundays in May, the 16, 23rd, and 30th, Rich Valley Farm in Stafford Springs is inviting you to come to their farm and visit the goats (many babies this time of year). Their address is 10 Hampden Road. Susan Parks will also have her soaps, lotions, and lip balms for sale.

 

Impoco Poultry Reopens

 

468 Walnut St. in Springfield. Open Tuesday through Friday 9-6 and weekends 9-3. Closed Monday. 734-6359. Fresh poultry. Used to be in Feeding Hills.

 

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Market News - May 4, 2010

From the Market Manager

   Welcome back to our fabulous farmers’ market, our 13th year. Just in case you were wondering why this is volume 12, not 13 of the newsletter, it’s because I started writing it in the second year.
   We are so grateful that when we asked the Springfield Parks Department if we could have our market here in Forest Park that they enthusiastically said yes. So here we are with more room for parking and more room for our vendors. We have more room for a few more vendors also. Some are here today, and others will join us as the season progresses. We didn’t add any new produce or plant vendors (except for New England Wild Edibles who will be bringing cultivated wild mushrooms) because we’re well served with what we have. But--you will notice that we have some interesting additions.
   When we started our market we had 5 vendors. Outlook Farm is our only vendor who has been with us from day one. Today, with the popularity of farmers’ markets having grown to over 200 in Massachusetts, and over 5,000 throughout the United States, I am contacted by more vendors than we can accommodate.
   We are well served by the farmers that we have, and they all have the capability of bringing more of what they grow to our market if we need it, so it isn’t necessary to add more.
   Just yesterday someone asked me about the prices at our market. I said that they are sometimes less than the grocery store, and sometimes more.
   It is important to take into consideration that small production farming is always more expensive than large production farming. That said, it is also good to think about the value that you receive when you purchase something from a farmers’ market.
    If you purchase produce, what you buy will stay fresh longer as it is fresher when you purchase it. If you purchase plants, the plants are local, grown for this climate. Baked goods are baked the day you purchase them or perhaps the day before, and they aren’t filled with preservatives. Our two dairy farms are both family operations, having been in their families for generations.
   There IS a difference in what you purchase at a farmers’ market. I have often had someone tell me that the best meal of his or her week is on Tuesday night.
   Becoming a regular at a farmers’ market allows you to enjoy the food of each season. We are so used to having anything we may want in the supermarket at any time of year, that we sometimes forget what the real season for any item may be.

   Having peach juice slide down your chin isn’t the neatest eating experience, but it certainly is one of the tastiest. You don’t get peach juice sliding down your chin unless you are eating a native peach. And, you have to wait until sometime in the summer to get them. They are worth the wait. Ditto for many other items also. The memories of sweet corn, local blueberries, and more are sufficient reason to wait for the local produce, and to eat “in season.”

Census

   The U.S. Census Bureau is now sending folks around to the homes of those who didn’t send back the forms that were sent to each home in March.
   The Census has been done since 1790 and it is in our Constitution that everyone is to be counted every 10 years. ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU GIVE IS CONFIDENTIAL. None of the specifics are released for 72 years. If you’ve ever tried to do some genealogy you know that there is some information that you can’t get from the Census that is less than 72 years old.
   A very important reason to cooperate with the census worker is that grant money for all sorts of things such as roads, education, hospitals, and Congressional representation are determined by the population count. Each person is “worth” about $2000 to his or her community. So, if a census worker comes to your home, please take the 10-15 minutes necessary and let them fill out the form.

EBT/Debit/Credit Cards

   We have a system at this market that allows you to use your card/s here to receive wooden tokens that you use just like cash. Just come to the market table, get your card swiped, and receive your tokens. You can write a check also. If you don’t use them all one week, hold onto them because they are good all season. EBT tokens can only be used for food while the others can be used for anything. They make great gifts also.

Community Garden Plots Available

   Applications are now being taken for family-sized garden plots in Concerned Citizens for Springfield’s Beaumont St. community garden. The fee is $15.00 per season. Plots measure 15 x 20 feet and will be rototilled. The community garden

program is one of CCS’s blight remediation efforts in the Forest Park neighborhood.  In selecting gardeners, first preference will be given to Forest Park households who lack access to a yard. To ensure that the garden remains an asset to the neighborhood, gardeners must commit to keeping plots clear of weeds and to picking up trash and debris from the tree belt and gutter in front of the garden.

   For further information, call CCS garden coordinator Sheila McElwaine at 788-8898.

Missing Vendors

   Actually not missing, just not here. Some vendors won’t be here until they have enough to sell. Susan Parks from Rich Valley Farm may not be here this week as she has goats who may be giving birth as you are reading this. If she isn’t here this week, she’ll be here next week so you’ll be able to purchase her wonderful hand made soap and all-natural lotions.

Keep Springfield Beautiful

   Thanks to everyone who participated on May 1st to clean up our city. I was driving on Sumner Avenue on Saturday evening and noticed how nice everything was looking. Then I remembered that that day had been a citywide clean up day. It isn’t possible to keep our city clean with just a one-day event, so if all of us make it our business to pick up some litter each day it will help a lot.

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