Monday, April 27, 2009

Local diet update - April 27, 2009

As I watered my backyard garden, I eyed bed after bed of tiny seedlings that will grow up one day soon to feed our hungry bellies. And in that peaceful, pensive moment, it occurred to me... we have ALOT of tiny seedlings! Yikes! Before long, we're going to be swimming in greens, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Sweet!

Of course, right about now, we're between harvests. There are still enough onions to keep my breath smelling lovely for the next month, but other than that, our backyard harvest is waiting for all these baby plants to mature.

In the meantime, I've counted 13 pints of stewed tomatoes and 21 quarts of soup on the pantry shelves from an overage of fresh, local veggies in months past. It was with this stock in mind (along with a full harvest to come) that I decided I needed to take it easy on the fresh veggies at this week's farmers' market. Other than needing to get wheat flour and a few fresh veggies for Dave, I declared this week Pantry Week (right, like that ever works once I lay eyes on all those goodies at the market...).

As usual, I pulled into the market about 7:30, giving me a full 30 minutes to set up my small market info booth before customers began to arrive. Unlike last week, the rain held off and it was a great day for a market. Eighteen vendors joined me that day selling a beautiful array of fruits, veggies, breads, canned goods, and crafts. Included in this week's display were:
Veggies: beet greens, swiss chard, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, green onions, yellow onions, red onions, beets, carrots, arugula, spinach, snow peas, red potatoes, white potatoes, peppers, yellow squash, bok choy, tomatoes

Fruits: dried cranberries, dried apples

Canned goods: pickles, jams and jellies, tomato juice, salsa

Baked goods: cornbread, yeast breads, sweet breads, bagel bites

Other: eggs, egg noodles, olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, fido-bites, locally-roasted peanuts, herbs

Crafts: jewelry, pot holders, walker aprons, candles, soaps

Plants: veggie, herb, and ornamental plants
So did I stick to my list in the face of all that beautiful food? Actually, I did a pretty good job. I picked up two containers of locally ground wheat flour, egg noodles, carrots, red potatoes, snow peas, puppy cookies (fido bites), and 2 bars of soap.

So Pantry Week is on (for me anyway)! I'm planning on steaming those carrots and snow peas for Dave to go along with a homemade pizza and/or pasta (with those yummy egg noodles). We also have local eggs still in the fridge and plenty of my homemade toast (honey is local and flour is ground locally). Kelsey, who's 12th birthday is this week, will be munching on her puppy cookies. And I'll be working on those soups and canned tomatoes in the pantry. 

Tune in on Thursday for this week's Market to Table post to see how all these goodies come together, and who knows - maybe I'll keep those red potatoes to myself and try a little something new...

Have a great week, everyone. And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!

To find out what's happening in other farmers' markets around the county, check out this week's Farmers' Market Report on To Every Meal There is a Season.

6 comments:

Sue said...

You're so lucky to have the farmers' market in full swing. I still have over 2 months to go. Mmmm, I can still IMAGINE all that good food. Take care

Chile said...

I'm looking at a Pantry Week, too, since we returned from "vacation" a week early. The only fresh foods in the house are an avocado, tomato, half a bag of little carrots, and a loaf of bread bought on the road. But, I still have frozen soup and 4 servings of frozen rice with Indian chard. I haven't checked the chard patch, but I'll bet I have some fresh chard available, too.

On the other hand, I'm sure I could bike down to the CSA tomorrow afternoon and beg for some surplus leftover from last Friday to get me through to my pick-up this Friday. ;-)

hmd said...

Sue - Two more months? :( I suppose that makes the market that much more precious when it does open. In case you'd like to jump start your season, I was able to grow some herbs and peppers indoors this winter. If you have even a little space, you could have a small container garden...

Chile - The fresh food is always a temptation isn't it? I'm doing well with the pantry week so far. I've even been cooking up several meals at a time so that I don't have to cook them and wash the dishes each day. Good luck with your pantry week!

ttammylynn said...

My garden is beautiful thanks to all the rain. I still have herbs,a few baby potatoes,onions, tiny carrots, a few strawberries and small tomatoes in harvest mode.My raspberries are blooming, as are my pomegranite, blueberries, peppers and tomatoes. Coming up are broccoli, pak choi, and some errant snow peas(that may not make it);also green beans, 3 kinds of corn, butternut squash, yellow squash, 8 ball zucchini squash, pineapple tomatoes, canteloupe, watermelon, malabar spinach, and cucumbers(that should all do well).
I was plucking at weeds yesterday, so I am hoping to have good fortune at harvest time.
I didn't make it to market because I had way too much work on Saturday and there was little point after the CSA pick-up. Vicki gave me flowers, peas, green beans, broccoli, bok choy, onions, beets, greens, lettuce, mint, cilantro...I could be missing something,lol, it was crazy.

hmd said...

Tammy - all your gardening is inspiring! You're so much further ahead than I am. I'm hoping in the next few years to have as wonderfully varied and full a harvest as you do. Yum!

It was another GREAT rain today! My plants are getting so big! I have about half a dozen tomatoes growing so far and lots of teeny tiny green beans starting to grow. VERY exciting! Yeah for rain!

Kerry said...

I'll be back to see your "Market to Table" posts!