Market News - June 1, 2010
From the Market Manager
On Sunday, a friend and I drove up to Colrain to visit Paul Lagreze, proprietor of New England Wild Edibles. He grows shiitake mushrooms and forages for wild mushrooms and other plants such as ramps (wild leeks.) He had the ramps the first two weeks of our market only as they are an early spring item. Cultivated shiitakes are his primary product. As with any farm crop, there are variables in how many he can bring to market. Moisture is key as you might imagine when growing mushrooms.
The process of growing shiitakes is fascinating. First Paul uses either oak or maple logs no larger than 4-6” in diameter (my math guess as to size). Then he uses a drill and drills one inch holes all over the log. After that he takes mushroom spore and with a special tool plugs it into the hole. Then he covers the hole with wax, and labels the end of each log with the date of this process.
When you harvest the mushrooms you must twist the stem and then pull them off the log. So now we all know why the fancy mushrooms cost what they cost; lots of labor and time is involved. If you want to see some of what I’m talking about go to our website or Facebook where I’ve posted some pictures.
Another Poem
Cynthia Melcher sent me this poem. It is by Max Coots.
Let us give thanks for a bounty of friends.
For generous friends with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms;
For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us that we’ve had them;
For crotchety friends, as sour as rhubarb and as indestructible;
For handsome friends who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn;
For plain friends, who, like potatoes, are so good for you;
For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussel Sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes;
For serious friends, as complex as cauliflowers and as intricate as onions;
For friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini, and who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the winter;
For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening time;
For young friends, growing as fast as radishes;
For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings;
And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past that have been harvested, but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter;
For this bounty of friends we give thanks.
This ‘n’ That
The Downtown Springfield market begins this Friday, June 4th, from 11-2 in the park across from Tower Square.
If you have a special occasion coming up, and you don’t need anything, ask the folks who are likely to give you a gift to give you a book that you can donate to a school, or homeless shelter.
If a census worker comes to your residence, please be cooperative and let them fill out the form even if you sent yours in. Those of us who are doing this work don’t have a clue why we are asked to get information when the person said that they sent in the information previously. Perhaps it got there late. Who knows? All I know is that it is very important that everyone be counted.
Mayou’s Apiary, our honey vendor comes to the market every other week, so plan accordingly.
Please license your dog. If it gets lost, that’s the best way to identify them. Also, it’s the law.
The Sector H (Forest Park/East Forest Park) neighborhood police meeting is this Wednesday, June 2nd, at 7pm. Held at Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St. In July and August it will be held at the Jewish Community Center. Go to the JCC a little early and take a look around—it’s a terrific place.
Need More Money While at the Market?
Many of you know that we have a credit card machine at the market table where we can swipe your EBT/debit/credit cards and give you tokens to use just like cash. The EBT tokens can only be used for food, the others can be used for anything. You can also make out a check to the Farmers’ Market at the X for tokens instead of using a card.
A Gift Idea
Purchase a market bag at our market table and fill it with non-perishable items from the market. Or, purchase tokens and put them in a card with a note that says that they can be used for anything at the farmers’ market.
It’s Strawberry Season!
Due to the warmth of the spring, strawberry season is ahead of schedule. We are fortunate in that we live near many places for pick your own berries. Check out the green crate for recipes. Freeze some also.
Senior Farmers’ Market Coupons
We do not give out these coupons. You must contact your local senior center. I think they start giving them out in June. If you don’t have a local center that you go to, contact Greater Springfield Senior Services and they will help you.
Like to Cook?
If you haven’t already shopped at our many ethnic markets do so. Milanos, Mom & Rico’s, Zonin’s, Frigos, 3 NG Market & Bakery, Saigon Market, Zone Supermarket, Asian Market. And that’s just the South End and Forest Park. There are others all around the region. Even though it seems as though every region looks alike with all of the chain stores and restaurants, we are fortunate in that we have lots of independent places left.
