My Market

I guess I owe a big "Thank you" to my parents for instilling in me this love of nature and farming, and an appreciation for things that are much larger than I am. It is funny to think back about how much I hated piling into the White Whale early in the mornings to go to the markets, and now to be able to appreciate all of that is such a gift. It is a huge part of me, it is the part of my childhood that I remember with happiness and a sense of pride. Proud that I am a farmer's daughter. Proud that I know what a real tomato tastes like, that I know what it feels like to run through the corn fields and be covered in dirt and play in mud. Remembering fingers stained green from the leaves of tomato plants, fingers stained black with the juice from berries. Dirt caked bare feet, and sunburned shoulders from long summer days running around the farm.

That is why I love farmers markets. The second that I walk into a market and smell the fresh scent of vegetables and herbs that have been harvested that morning, I feel at home. Whenever life would get too hard and crazy for me when I lived in Portland, I would run out to Sauvie Island and go find a quiet spot on the community farm out there. When I was pregnant with my son Lucas, my mom and I would walk down to the market in Ventura every Saturday morning. No matter what happened during the week, it was those few hours that could bring us together. We would shop around the market, inspirations flowing for our next few meals. Cilantro fresh and ready for a pan of enchiladas or a bowl of salsa. Frozen bottles of strawberry juice that would turn into a juicy slushy on the way home. Oranges sweetened by the Southern California sun ready to be squeezed into a glass for breakfast. We would laugh, chat with vendors, eat together, listen to music and share a happy moment away from the worries of our day to day life.
My hope is that this year my market had that feel, the love of food and farming and a sense of home for all who come.

I hope that it became an evening adventure for those who came down to the market. I hope that people were able to step into another world for a while, to experience new tastes and smells, to learn about food and farming, to escape their daily troubles and enjoy some good food, be entertained and to make new friends.

Yesterday was the last day of the market for this season. I don't know what the market was for others, but for me it was the greatest experience of my life! I have never fallen in love so many times. I am in love with the creamy blue cheeses of Willapa Creamery, the insanely addicting peanut butter sandwich cookies from Upper Crust, the juicy and sticky peaches from Tiny's, the fresh eggs from Oak Ridge, Cottage Gardens and Toboton Creek. I am in love with the tartness of the early pickings from the raspberry bush, I am in love with how their sweetness increases with the summer heat. I am in love with the smoky salmon from Rolf's, the best beef from the mini cattle of Happy Mountain Farms, the hand picked fancy salad mixes from Vittles de Vine. I am in love with the sweet corn sold out of the back of Ron Duris' 1950's Ford truck.

I am in love with the quirky nature and the individuality of each of the vendors that attended my market this year. I could go on for days about each vendor and what made them special and how many wonderful items they brought to the market each day, I wish I could share it all but I would end up with a book and not a blog. Ha!

Being a Market Manager this year has transformed me. It has challenged me to become a better person, to understand the importance of community and building relationships. It has taught me the value of working well and not so well with others, to not take everything so personally, to think a bit more before I speak (still working on that one) and to see the value of each person's contributions in creating a community farmers market. Managing a market this year has given me one of the greatest gifts of all, to be able to tap into and explore what I truly love in each day's work. I hope that I get to keep learning and growing with this market.

I am so very thankful for all who were there by my side helping me throughout the last few months. I feel like I have a new family, I have been embraced by so many wonderful people. I had many great moments with my new family and I was super happy yesterday to receive all of the wonderful hugs from so many people. It is my new friendships that make me feel that this was a successful year. This life is a gift.

Michelle Obama - Supporting Farmers Markets

September 17, 2009, 6:26 pm — Updated: 1:02 am -->
At a New Farmer’s Market, First Lady Picks Up Eggs, Chocolate Milk and Vegetables
By Rachel L. Swarns

Undeterred by a steady drizzle and cheered on by hundreds of (hungry?) onlookers, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated the opening of a new farmers market near the White House on Thursday.
It was part of her ongoing effort to encourage Americans to eat healthier, fresher foods. So she urged the public to peruse the fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses, locally-raised meats and baked goods being sold by local farmers on Vermont Avenue Northwest between H and I Streets.
“In this society today, sometimes it’s hard to make regular meals, healthy meals a part of everyone’s existence,’’ Mrs. Obama said. “This is one of the reasons why I’m so supportive of farmers’ markets.
“For those of us who are battling the time crunch and those for us whom access to fresh food is an issue in our neighborhoods, farmers’ markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support,’’ she said.
Mrs. Obama said that her experiences raising two daughters had inspired her to focus on the issue.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press “Farmers’ markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support,’’ Mrs. Obama said.
“I’ve learned that when my family eats fresh food, healthy food, that it really affects how we feel, how we get through the day, and that’s whether we’re trying to get through math homework or whether there’s a Cabinet meeting or whether we’re just walking the dog,’’ Mrs. Obama said.
The market will be open on Thursdays from Sept. 17 through Oct. 29. Farmer’s market executives said that White House garden goodies will not be on sale.
But not to worry — Mrs. Obama made a point of giving the new venture her personal stamp of approval.
After giving her remarks, the first lady grabbed a straw basket and did some shopping, picking up some black kale, eggs, cherry tomatoes, mixed hot pepper, pears, fingerling potatoes, cheese and chocolate milk to bring back to the White House.
Maybe some kale on your dinner plate tonight, Mr. President?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/first-lady-picks-up-eggs-chocolate-milk-and-vegetables/

Early Fall Food

Driving home from Portland today, I was thinking that quite possibly the reason that the leaves turn brilliant shades of yellows, orange and firey reds is to balance out the gray skies. To give us a little burst of color before we have to endure the darkness of winter. It's like a tease, the earth saying "look how beautiful I am" and then fading away to the baren, naked branches of the bitter winter cold, dark gloom. I am sure there are beautiful things about winter but the novelty wears quickly as the bitter, wet cold lingers in your bones for months. In order to counteract the bitterness we eat warm, comforting foods, sweeten our homes with baked treats that fill the air with spicy goodness. We have holidays centered around great meals that bring others into our homes to warm our hearts. Butternut squash is one of those warm and comforting flavors that we all love. Wether it is whipped up into a creamy soup, diced up and baked with sugar and cinnamon or stuffed with all kinds of tasty treats....

This recipe comes from one of my favorite past-times, laying in bed with a cookbook and a cup of tea. I was gazing upon one of Jamie Oliver's (The Naked Chef) cookbooks.....nice...the other night when I found this recipe.

I, of course, twisted it a bit due to availability of what was in the fridge and cupboard at the time. Here is the original recipe:

Hamilton Squash

Serves 4

1 small handful of dried porcini mushrooms

1 butternut squash, halved and seeds removed

olive oil

1 red onion finely chopped

1 clove of garlic finely chopped

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, pounded

a pinch or two of dried chili, to taste

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaved picked and finely chopped

5 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

sea salt and fresh ground pepper

3 1/2 oz basmati rice

1/2 handful of pine nuts, lighly roasted

First of all, soak your porcini for 5 minutes in 1/2 cup of boiling water. Preheat the oven to 450. Using a teaspoon, score and scoop out some extra flesh from the length of the squash (this is a pain, so I just used a pairing knife to cut out the squash and then scraped out the rest with a spoon). Finely chop this flesh with the squash seeds and add to a frying pan with 4 glugs of olive oil, the onion, garlic, coriander seeds, chili, rosemary and sun-dried tomatoes. Fry for 4 minutes until softened. Add the porcini and half their soaking water. Cook for a further 2 minutes before seasoning. Stir in your rice and pine nuts, pack the mixture tightly into the two halves of the squash and then press them together. Rub the skin of the squash with a little olive oil, wrap in foil and bake in the oven for about 1 hour 15 minutes.

After re-writing this recipe, I noticed that I changed alot and left out alot of the ingredients. I used pre-cooked rice, the recipe said you didn't need to pre-cook, but I didn't want to risk chewy rice, and ruining the whole dish. I didn't have porcini, so I used button mushrooms, didn't have sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, coriander and left out the chili. I didn't chop up the squash seeds either, I guess I forgot that step. I think if I made the recipe again I would use a wild rice mixture and use the sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts. The rosemary was the key ingredient in creating a really well balanced flavor with the butternut squash. If chantrelles are available, I would definitely use them, that would just make this recipe top notch! This was a delicious recipe and would love to include it in a meal with a roasted pork loin. If you are going vegetarian just toss up a green salad and serve it up.

A Day of Farm Touring

When I was a kid, we lived in a greenhouse on the farm. It had walls made of thick plastic, a wooden plank floor and an outside kitchen. We had an outside shower that looked out into the flower garden, our kitchen sink and fridge were outside on the porch and our beds were on the floor of the greenhouse. When it got too hot I would set up my tent out in the currant patch and that would be my bedroom. The floor of the greenhouse was cut out in the middle for my dad's cactus garden, and he had a few loose planks for doing his banking...he didn't trust banks and would bury his money in a giant glass jar under the wooden planks of the greenhouse. We used to grill in the fire pit that was in the flower garden behind the greenhouse. We didn't have a TV, or video games. My sister and I would listen to the radio, sometimes they would play movies on the radio, I remember listening to Alice in Wonderland on the radio while laying on the floor of the greenhouse. We didn't have a real house because the farm was on flood plain and it would just wash away or fill up with mud in the winter time. To get to the farm from any sort of town or highway you would have to drive twenty miles or so up the curviest and turniest, barfiest road ever. I swear I barfed everytime we had to drive up or down that road! In the summer time when the river would lower, someone would bulldoze a road and bring in the bridge. Not really so much of a bridge, it was really just a couple of logs with a few giant planks nailed and tied to them. Super sketchy.....

To see through the eyes of another is a sight to behold. Last weekend was awesome! I went farm touring with my farmer friend Ann. We toured 4 farms and 1 winery on the Key Peninsula. We met up in Gig Harbor and had breakfast while pondering over the map to decide which farms we should visit. We decided to just start with the closest farm and see where we ended up from there. I love plans like that, just get in the car and see where the road takes you.

Bea's Flowers was the first stop. Bea's Flowers is a small family farm on the Peninsula. They have a little farm stand off of to the side of the road. When we got there I bee-lined it for the animals. I loved the baby goats! They were the cutest thing ever! They had a pony that kids were dragging around the farm and bunnies, chickens, ducks and more. Grandpa had an old apple press and was making fresh pressed apple cider. Behind the farm stand was an open air art studio, a sweet little lady was painting pictures of the farm, her paintings were placed all around the farm stand. At the farm stand they were selling potatoes, banana squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, peppers and other fall vegetables. As I was browsing around the stand, a woman came down from the hills with a fresh bucket of chantrelle mushrooms. They were bright orange, moist and covered in pine needles. And they were selling them for only $5 a pound. What a screaming deal! You can't find chantrelles that are more fresh or for a better price anywhere other than going out and picking them yourself. I picked up some delicata squash, chantrelles and a butternut squash to take home for dinner.

Our next stop was Calico Cat Farm, another small family farm, actually all of the farms we went to were small family farms. What I mean by small family farm is, a family, husband, wife and kids being the only people who are doing the farming. If they are lucky they may be able to hire and hand or two to work for them, but these are just small family units that are doing all of the work themselves. Most of them farm and have other jobs during the off season to support the family and farm. They make enough money at farmers markets to support the farm but usually report a loss at the end of the year. It is hard work, with no breaks. And you can see the pride and the joy in their faces as they show you their farms and the fruits of their labor.

Calico Cat Farm had one of my favorite greenhouses and wins the best t-shirt award (see pic). Their propagation greenhouse was made of old glass windows and was brightly painted. It was so cute, I could have lived in it! They had a couple of baby cows, some turkeys, chickens and a giant baby saint Bernard. There was a portable chicken coop and a couple of greenhouses. Their greenhouse that they used for hydroponic growing had been destroyed by the snow last winter. When it was in operation they were able to grow all winter long! They could grow salad greens and other vegetables you only dream about eating fresh during the winter. I bought some fresh eggs (they still had feathers and poop on them) and some baby red potatoes to take home. The eggs were delicately colored in light greens and soft browns and came in all sizes. I have fried them up for breakfast almost every morning this week. They have a nice gentle flavor and taste so good I don't bother eating anything with them except a piece of toast.

Next it was on to Morgan Creek Farm. Morgan Creek was right next to Calico Cat. Steve and Donna White live in an old 1920's farm house with their daughter. They grow tons of flowers and produce for the farmers markets in the area. Donna has an incredible knack for the details. It is all of the little things that stand out on their farm. Small ceramic shoes with plants growing in them. Little wooden, hand painted signs hanging on door knobs. Chairs with plants and flowers overflowing from where the seat should be. Little scarecrows and pumkiny, festive decorations everywhere. They had horses, goats, and chickens. For the day they had a farm stand set up in their barn, a band playing good ole farmy tunes and even a coffee vendor to warm you up for your visit to the farm. I just wandered around the farm taking pictures of all of the tiny things that caught my eye. I even told Steve that I thought they might need to adopt me so that I could live on their farm. Ha! They had a house...I have never lived in a house on a farm. I could have stayed there all day, but Ann made me go, we had to move on to continue our farm tour mission.

Next stop, Barefoot Boys Farm, this is home of The Bee Lady and her family. We wanted to stop by and see how Chanetta was doing and find out about her farm. Chanetta was in her element, she was smiling and happy, her kids were hard at work, manning the booth and selling honey and other goods. The boys were helping to direct traffic for parking. We had the good fortune to come at a time when The Bee Lady could tour us around herself. She showed us her bee hives. She now has eight bee hives and just had to surround them with electric fencing to keep the bears out. Last year she lost 12 hives to the bears. So the tale is really true, bears do love honey! She had a giant green house on the farm, a lavender patch and a large garden where she was growing pumpkins and popcorn for the kids. This year they were even able to provide for a few families with their CSA program. Chanetta has a beautiful family, all of the kids were blonde and blue eyed, fair and sweet. They are lucky kids to be able to grow up on a farm.

Our next stop was Trillium Creek Winery. Both Ann and I were astonished that you could grow grapes in this region. It just seems too cold and wet for grapes. But there they were, growing on slopes in between the trees. Claude shared his stories about the wine that he makes in the basement of their lovely home. We stood on a grassy knoll that was actually the roof of the wine cellar, sampling the wines, listening to Claude talk about his wine. What a character! I wish I would have gotten a picture of him! The wine had an earthy and fresh taste that you don't get from most wines. I can't explain it, it was like drinking a freshly pressed grape. I know that sounds silly because that is what it is, but that is what it tasted like to me.

The day was ending quickly so we had to move on to our last stop. Creviston Valley Farm. 40 acres of pristine farm land. The farm was immaculate and Lelaine went all out. They even had a hayride, bbq and petting zoo. They had chickens, goats, and hogs. Hogs are the funniest thing I have ever heard...they make the weirdest grunting and squeaking noises.

There was also a dog going into labor, just about to have puppies, I felt so bad for her! The farm was so clean and organized, the greenhouse and the barn had everything in its place. The farm house had a giant wrap around porch with a view of the valley and the farm. Another spot I could definitely find myself staying for a long time.

Maybe someday I will get to have my own farm house and my own green house. I can dream...

The End......

Fall Soup Cook-off for a Cause

The forecast was calling for high 50's and rain. It seemed so odd because just a week ago it was nearly 90 and everyone was bitching that it was too hot. I got up and put on a long sleeve shirt for the first time this fall. I had managed to make it through the whole market season without any rainy days. A rare accomplishment for living in the rainiest state in the west. I was bummed, today was the only day I really cared about the weather, because I wanted today to be great. We had planned and worked so hard for this day to come and I wanted it to mean something. I wanted to be able to give back enough and make this a really special day. Today was Tuesday, September 29th, we were hosting a fundraiser at the 6th Ave Market for one of my farmers, Chanetta, The Bee Lady. Chanetta had been selling honey and lavender at my market all season until mid August. Her husband Peter had died unextectedly on a Tuesday evening while she was at the market. She had called me the next day to tell me. I don't know if I am overly sensitive or just becoming human, but I cried so hard. I had never met Peter, but I knew how Chanetta was feeling, I knew how it felt to lose someone who was so important to you, who was a cornerstone in your life and I knew how it felt to make those calls. To tell people that you had lost someone that you loved.

I wanted to do something to help, I wanted to run out to her farm and help her, something, anything. So when we started discussing doing a fundraiser at the market, I knew I wanted it to be for Chanetta and her family, that seemed like the right thing to do.

We started the plans, Market Managers from other markets that Chanetta attended, were getting together to plan a silent auction with donations from vendors at the markets and businesses within the community. Laura (my boss lady) started making the calls to the local restaurants to see if they wanted to join in. And began the challenge of marketing the fundraiser to the community.

It rained early in the afternoon as we started to set up the first of the tents. Then the wind kicked up, we made sure that everyone had weights and had their tents secured. The clouds parted to give us some sun, but the wind kept blowing throughout the evening. The soup contest tent started pulling apart after a couple of big gusts. I had to climb up a ladder and duct tape the metal poles together. I was so happy that so many of my vendors showed up to show their support and to be a part of the market in spite of the forecast for rain.

Ann from Cottage Gardens, set up a beautiful Silent Auction tent with tons of goodies from our locals. Holly from Key Penninsula had talked Chanetta into coming down to the market to sell her honey. So we set up a tent for her, and she and her son came down to the market. Later she told me that she was glad that she came because now they have a new, happy memory of the market again. We had 6 different restaurants compete for the best fall soup and customers got to vote on who they thought was best. There was a Spicy Pumpkin Soup, Roasted Corn and Poblano Soup, Spicy Italian Meatball Soup, Squash Bisque, Clam Chowder and a Root Vegetable Soup.

All in all it turned into a magical collaboration of vendors, local restaurants, customers from the community, volunteers, staff and market managers. I was humbled by the amount work that everyone did to come together to support one of our Farmers. I am blessed to be a part of this community, I am inspired by the compassion and generosity of our farmers market community and of those who support the community. I drove home that night with a big smile on my face, happy to have been a part of this collaboration, this community and this wonderful day! I hope that everyone that was there on Tuesday felt the same way when they went home that evening, because I know that we all made a difference and that we were all there because we care about our Farmers and The Bee Lady's family.

The winner of the soup contest was Chef Joel's Roasted Corn and Poblano Soup. So I decided to include the Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder recipe that I made a couple of weeks ago, courtsey of Cooking Light magazine. It was soooo good, a little sweet from the grilled corn and potatos. I think I didn't have any time or green onions, so I used some fresh basil from the garden for the herby flavor. This is a must make recipe and definitely a two bowl winner! I think I ate more than two bowls. :)

Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Ingredients
1 pound small red potatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon salt, divided
3 tablespoons softened butter, divided
4 ears shucked corn
Cooking spray
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
2 thyme sprigs
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Place a grill basket on grill.
3. Place potatoes and 2 teaspoons salt in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Let potatoes stand in hot water 5 minutes. Drain; cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
4. Melt 1 tablespoon butter; brush evenly over corn. Place corn on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Place potatoes in grill basket coated with cooking spray. Grill corn and potatoes 15 minutes or until slightly charred, turning occasionally. Cool corn slightly; cut kernels from cobs. Place 1 cup corn kernels in a food processor; process until smooth.
5. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt and red pepper; cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Stir in potatoes, remaining corn kernels, pureed corn, milk, half-and-half, and thyme sprigs; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard thyme sprigs. Stir in chives and remaining ingredients.
Wine note: Our creamy Grilled Corn and Potato Chowder calls for a smooth, full-bodied white, like a French chardonnay. Lulu B. Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc 2008 ($10) mixes apple fruitiness with buttery and smoky nuances-a perfect match for grilled corn-while the acidity balances the creaminess. --Jeffery Lindenmuth

Must Watch - Eating Locally in Pierce County

Eating Locally in Pierce County is a documentary about local food in Tacoma, and where it could go in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNw8hynhNE8