Now that the orange smog has gone wherever it went, and the deluge has wound down to a normal July downpour…
No joke, for the last two weeks the skies have been anything BUT friendly. Foul air and flooded streets and basements have been just one dark cloud after another…but as the saying goes, “Behind every dark cloud…”. When was the last time you heard everyone everywhere buzzing about the nice weather we had last week? I’ll say never. But give us a good patch of bad to commiserate over and it’s the Silver Lining Sing-Along.
And speaking of tunes…how about that music tent last Saturday, huh???? Not to brag…and I won’t, because nephew Bill Baraldi learned absolutely none of that from me…but I have to say I was pretty darn proud of twisting his arm to play…and to bring the lovely Simone with him. Turns out they had so much fun that they asked to come back. I’ll try and make that happen.
New stuff: When you stop by Tucquan Acres, as one does, and after bizbazzin’ with Karl, don’t forget to take the next tent to your left and visit Tucquan Hollow Pastures…Amos Stoltzfus has promised to be here this weekend with chicken and farm-fresh eggs. As the season progresses, he’s also hoping to bring more dairy items and a variety of meats. Not sure of his Market schedule yet…he’ll have to talk to his chickens about supply-side issues.
NOTE: Take a minute or two each week to check the LFM vendor schedule to see who will be bringing what. And while you’re at it, take a side trip to the In Season Now page for some help with your shopping list.
We sell lots of stuff at the Lansdowne Farmers Market, and I hope you all find time to browse the whole midway…but the real impetus of why we’re here is, in a word, farmers. We want everyone to recognize and appreciate the faces behind the food on your tables. Local food. From the farm just up the road or across the river. The best…because isn’t that what you deserve?
Let’s just pick one…this week you may yet find a rare end-of-season strawberry, and cherries are still on the table, but why not go for the dazzle of those red red raspberries. The ones here are the grown-up and cultivated cousins of those bushes you’ve seen, and I’ll bet stopped to pick, along roadsides and parking lots…me, too. I could expound on the health benefits of these babies, but here’s a fact you won’t get in any medical journal: Why do we call making a certain rude noise “giving a raspberry?” Actually, it comes from the Cockney…those refined Londoners who love to speak in rhyme and riddle…so when they say “raspberry tart’ they are really admitting to making a…well, you can figure out the rest. You’re welcome.
BTW: Raspberries make some mighty fine desserts, so while you’re deciding what to enter in our end-of-season LFM BAKE OFF, (you are, right?), make some room in the freezer and give these gems a thought. Maybe some actual raspberry tarts!
In the Music Tent: TBD
Artist of the Week: Useful & Beautiful Upcycled goods from local fabric miracle worker, Karen Heenan.
Now, I’m going to say this until somebody hears me…Become a Volunteer! Everyone loves that we have a Farmers Market…scheduled so conveniently on Saturday mornings. But what if when you got here…the Market wasn’t? If it weren’t for the half dozen of your neighbors who arrive each week to put up the tents, take them down, source vendors, bring the music and otherwise keep the ball in the air, it wouldn’t. Volunteering to help with set-up or take-down would be HUGE! Plus, you’d get to sit with us…and we’re FUN! Sign up and see if we aren’t! And we’re just one of the things to do in our town that depends on the muscle and time of volunteers. So consider how and when your talents (or muscle) could make a difference. Come to the Managers’ tent and we can help you connect.
That’s it for now…You have your homework: plan a dessert, read the newsletter for upcoming events, and VOLUNTEER!
Now scroll down and talk to me,
Terry Baraldi