Question: What do you call the tapping, sniffing and hefting to find the biggest, most perfect melon at the farmers market?
Does the lady next to me know something I don’t? Should I ask her secret, or just hip check her out of the way? Ahem…I suppose that last one would be wrong, wouldn’t it? This is Lansdowne, after all.
It’s an uncertain science, but there are certain tips that are generally held as wisdom: the size and color of the yellow belly on that watermelon says it’s ripe and heavy with passion-pink pulp. With the cantaloupe, it’s the golden veining and the perfume wafting from the softened stem end that signals a winner. It also makes the ride home a sweet torture, as you smell that ripe readiness all the way into your driveway.
Now for the moment of truth…a sharp knife and a decisive plunge. Who hasn’t closed their eyes, opened their mouth and swooned just a little? Is it just me, or does the taste of melon recall every summer of your entire life? Picnics and porches, the sweet stickiness that requires a dip in the kiddie pool or a run through the sprinkler; throw in your first romance and you could write a memoir. Which is exactly what Raymond Bradbury did. If you haven’t yet read his Dandelion Wine, do it now. Or maybe save it for the dreary dank of February. But read it you should.
BTW: who besides me has wondered why we don’t see that third melon of the trinity…the one that looks like a full moon, at our produce tables? I’m talkin’ about the liquor-y sweet honeydew. Well, a quick tap into my sensei, the Google, provided some answers. Turns out that the PA growing season is generally a tad too short and several degrees too cool to raise the honeydew as a cash crop. Possible but not profitable. In other words: folks, DO try this at home.
And now for the really big news: Freestone peaches are here! No more leaving half of the meat on the stone. Same great taste when eaten out of hand, but these babies are also great for grilling. Just slice ‘em in half, remove the pit, oil and grill flesh-side down to heat, then flip and fill that perfect center with …well, with whatever sounds good…sweet or savory: butter, brown sugar, a sprinkle of ginger or even cayenne, or spooned out of a Relishing Grannies jar …or maybe that jar of mint jelly that everyone has waaaay at the back of the fridge. Go look. I’ll wait.
And we’re still in the peak of corn season…so lots of summer ahead. Blackberries as big as your nose, plums and nectarines, peppers and potatoes. If cooking isn’t your thing, maybe pick up a little sump’n sump’n with the work already done…yeah, we got that too. Here’s this week’s list of vendors:
Big Sky Bread, Fruitwood Farms, Herrcastle Farm, Mitchell & Mitchell Wines, Potato Homestead, Wilson’s Curiously Good Foods, Amazing Acres Goat Dairy, Conshohocken Brewing Company, Firehouse Donuts, Greenhorn Gardens, Kay Way Juice, Lucille’s Grand Daughter, Red Brick Craft Distillery, Yaya’s Caribbean Cuisine, Relishing Grannies
To see the schedule for the whole rest of the year, go to the LFM website or visit us on Face Book.
And judging from the customer feedback, you’ll be happy to see GreenHorn Gardens back for a reprise of their first visit…potted plants, posies, plenty of peppers and more, all served up with a side order of charm.
In the Music Tent: Enjoy the traditional and contemporary bluegrass stylings of Boulevard Express.
Artist of the Week: No use trying to pigeonhole Kate Clifford’s Crafty Kate Creations. You just have to go see for yourself what can be done with some fabric, some paper, a sharp pair of scissors and “stuff.” Some great gift ideas.
Health & Beauty: Christine Fierras is the Essential Herbalist. A holistic approach to getting and staying healthy.
Hey! August 31 is the next Community Day and at last report there were maybe three spots still available. So, if you’ve been on the fence about putting your passion out there, go here and seal the deal.
And…maybe the kids still have just under a month to start thinking about school, but how about your favorite pooch? LFM’s Dog Day is coming on Sept 14…the funnest market of the year. Will Fido or Fluffy be ready to strut their stuff in front of our very discerning panel of judges? No time to waste.
In the meantime, there’s still stuff to do right now. Like the Second Saturday Community Pot Luck at the Landing. That’s this Saturday! And frankly, we’ve been wondering where you’ve been. We would love for more people to come and sit for a while…bring anything from store-bought pizza to wings to a fabulous antipasto platter from your kitchen. We’ll help you polish it off while we get to know you. So don’t be shy. The Landing was made and meant for bringing the Village together. Whether you’re new in town, or been quietly living here forever, please come. And bring the kids…or not.
Keep the flip-flops, straw hats and sunscreen within reach for a bit longer; relax and enjoy the dog days of summer with us at the LFM.
See you there!
Terry Baraldi