Growhio is a non-profit Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative designed to strengthen and support all aspects of Northeast Ohio's local food economy through branding, marketing and collaboration.

9.30.2011

Happenings at the Downtown Cleveland Farmers' Market


We'll be at Public Square today 11am-2pm, RAIN or SHINE! Grab an umbrella and come on down! As I'm looking at yet another rainy forecast, I wanted to take the time thank all of the loyal patrons who make it down to the market each week - no matter how cold or wet - to support their favorite vendors. This season's market runs through Friday, October 28 so we have just a few weeks left on Public Square. Come on out and make the best of what's left of the 2011 farmers market season. 

Cleveland Cooks with The House of Blues Foundation Room
There are still a few spaces available for tomorrow's Cleveland Cooks class. Theresa Todia, Executive Chef for The House of Blues Foundation Room will lead the cooking class, which takes place tomorrow - Friday, September 30 at 2:00pm. To attend this intimate hands-on cooking class, please email downtownclevelandmarket@gmail.com or call (440) 821-0254.

A monthly cooking series providing hands-on demonstrations from area chefs. Part of the 
Growhio Education Sessions, classes will include a guided market tour, hands-on instruction in meal preparation and tips on how to grow produce easily at home. Classes are free and open to the public but will target Downtown residents and employees. Cleveland Cooks will take place at Old Stone Church on the last Friday of the month. Cleveland Cooks was made possible thanks to a grant from Neighborhood Connections. 

Photo: For photos from previous Cleveland Cooks classes, please check out ourFacebook page. 

EBT Incentive Program: Just a reminder that this week and every week, you'll get $5 free when you use your EBT card at Downtown Farmers Market. Thanks to the generousity of The Gund Foundation, residents who use their Ohio Direction Card to make purchases receive an additional $5.00 in tokens (w/ a minimum $5.00 purchase). Please stop by the information table tomorrow for more information or to use your card.


FREE PARKING! 
We have saved a limited number of parking spaces for shoppers of Downtown Farmers Market on Rockwell Avenue between Ontario and East Roadway.

 

Come down on your lunch hour and stop by Judy's Oasis for a Middle Eastern meal including Falafel sandwiches & meat pies, Frickaccio's for pizza bagels and pepperoni rolls, BONJOUR's gourmet crepes, or visit one of the food trucks (Dim and Den Sum, The Nosh Box and StrEat Mobile). Just make sure you save enough time during lunch to visit all of your favorite vendors, enjoy the fresh air, listen to the live music, and maybe even picnic in the grass!


Follow Downtown Farmers Market! Facebook | Twitter | Blogspot
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Shaw, Market Manager
Downtown Farmers Market at Public Square
downtownclevelandmarket@gmail.com
(440)-821-0254

9.29.2011

Happenings from Gordon Square Farmers' Market

Hello fellow eaters:

I had been giving myself fits about the fact that I have hardly put anything up this year, so I finally froze some stewed tomatoes, and in the process realized that it really has been a challenging year in the garden.  The rain, rain for the whole month of May and then the regular four-inches-of-rain-in-two-hours downpours caused trouble with the nightshades and many of the cucurbits.  So, no wonder I only did one batch of tomatoes; I ate up the rest in gazpacho.  Most years one could physically not eat enough tomatoes to keep up with the flow; donation and preservation were the only reasonable options.  There was a window of zucchini, and then trouble.  The neighborhood cherry crop was thin at best; the neighborhood peach crop was basically non-existent.  And there was just too much going on during blackberry season for the canning guild to do jam.  Maybe this year will serve to remind us not to take blackberry jam for granted.  So, this was not the strongest year ever for canning in my neck of the woods.  Fortunately,  we do have growers nearby where conditions were just a bit different, or they trellised their cucumbers or their drainage somehow served their squashes better.  And we have farmers' markets where we can buy such prizes and at the same time support the comeback of local agriculture.  And there is no rule that says you can only can what you yourself grew.   And there are still bright spots and opportunities.  The beets and the greens seem to be doing well, except for that aforementioned incident with the collards.  The pumpkins and winter squashes are abiding, as in "the dude abides," and starting to look really beautiful.  We are starting to get the fall round of the cool weather things:  lovely broccoli, for example, at the market last week.   And I still have hope for the pears, the absolute workhorses of the neighborhood fruit trees, which seem to have made it through that crazy storm in August unscathed.  So I am hoping that there is both pear cider and pear sauce in the near future.  In the mean time, here is what I know about the market on Saturday.

EcoVillage Produce will have green beans, yukon gold potatoes, kennabach potatoes, black beauty eggplant, green cabbage, red and green tomatoes, grape and black cherry tomatoes, okra, jalapeno peppers, red hot peppers, hungarian wax peppers, cherry bomb peppers, sweet peppers of several colors, and radishes.  They will also have greens: arugula, spinach, curry kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard greens, gourmet lettuce.  In the  herb department: rosemary, chives, lemon/lime thyme, english thyme, sage, sweet basil, parsley, peppermint, lemon balm, spearmint, and loveage. They will also have goat cheese, cloth shopping bags, and a host of fun.

Old Husher is, I think, at the pawpaw festival.  If not, I hope that he will have beets.

Golden Gate Gardens … hmmm they will probably be there.

Berry Good Farm will probably have honey, grains, jams, and perhaps sunflower and pumpkin seeds.  They will also have zucchini and applesauce breads and their famous-on-the-west-side “Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake."

Mobite Products  will have vegan zucchini bread, banana bread, vegan sweet potato pie, apple pie, and carrot cake.

Origins Beanery  will have temperature-appropriate coffee as well as jams.

Cathy Brenkus will be at the market this week (last opportunity until the fallidaze market) with halloween and fall-themed towels and or course her lovely bracelets as well.

ReMemories did not check in, so I am not sure what Phyllis's plans are.  Her cut flowers are the talk of the neighborhood, so I hope she will have a full compliment in addition to her beautiful quilts, bags, and chairs.

Bethany Presbyterian will have plants as well as really tasty tamales and empanadas (I hope).

Neighborhood table will feature neighborhood residents Fran and Mark Didonato.  What they will have is a very closely guarded secret--even your eater update correspondent does not know what it will be; I cannot wait to find out.

We will again have Yoga in the Labyrinth across from the Gordon Square Farmers Market from 11-12 this Saturday (rain or cold location inside the church).  This is a donation based class; this week all donations are for the Seva for Haiti Project (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seva-for-Haiti/138219226253693)  Pay only what you can, and all levels are welcome.  Our teacher is Sarah Perkins.  Her practice is focused on breath, strength, flexibility, balance, motion, and stillness - and is set to an eclectic mix of music.  All levels are welcome.

Every Saturday during market season, the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market provides our neighborhood with healthy, affordable food while recreating local food systems, building community pride, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Your support and enthusiasm for the market has helped make GSFM a successful independent farmers' market. As GSFM continues to grow, there are many opportunities to contribute to the market’s success.  Throughout the remainder of this season and next the GSFM is expanding opportunities for volunteers. GSFM volunteer coordination meetings are held each Wednesday during market season at 6:30pm at alternating locations in Detroit Shoreway. I hope you can join us to learn more about opportunities to volunteer with market. Please email emily.holody@yahoo.com or call me 330-256-6641 if you have any questions.

9.20.2011

The Taste of the Harvest Benefiting The Covenant


Please Save the Date: Friday October 21st, 2011
Order Tickets Online   |   Order Tickets Via Email   |   Call to Order: (216) 256-7793 |  Like us on Facebook Like us
TOH
TOH Back
Please join us this October 21st for the 4th Annual Taste of the Harvest. A participating member of Cleveland Beer Week, Taste of the Harvest is the only event to feature local, hand-crafted beer! The event will focus on pairing appetizers from some of the finest restaurants in Cleveland with our craft brews and will feature a dessert buffet, live music, silent auction and more!
For More Information, Please Contact:

Christa Kraft

9.16.2011

Happenings at Broadway Farmers' Market


Market Day: Sept 19

Special guests: The Golden Ciphers Youth Drum Corps!

(come ready to dance)

It's September, y'all: that means produce is piled high on the tables of our hard-workin' farmers. Come see what Por-Bar, Green Corps, Canal Corners, and a few smaller vendors have to offer your hungry belly. Remember to bring your knives for Noon Sharpening to do what he does best: sharpen!

For our customers who use Food Stamps: use your Direction Card at the Market for $5.00 or more, and you get a bonus $5.00 to use at the market!

For our customers who use WIC benefits: this week (Sept 19), MetroHealth will be at the market to distribute the special WIC Farmers' Market coupons.

Be sure to stop by and see what all the fun is about! Nothing's better than a fall day surrounded by vegetables and young drummers.

See you next week,

Emelio

9.13.2011

THE TASTE OF AUTUMN BENEFIT

Monday, September, 19th 6:00 – 9:00 PM

BEACHLAND BALLROOM

$35.00 / person includes local food and music

The annual Coit Road Farmers’ Market Benefit hosted by Fred Griffith of Good Morning Cleveland features live music by Albert Dennis & friends and the taste of the local harvest from area farmers prepared by the region’s finest chefs. Featured chefs include: Matthew Anderson of Unami, Beachland Ballroom, Grovewood Tavern, personal chef, Eric Wells, Chad and Brian of Sowfood, Superior Pho, Ryan Cipriani of Angela-Mia Pizza, and Regina Nethery of Arts Collinwood CafĂ©. Founded in 1932, the mission of the Coit Road Market is to provide access to affordable locally sourced farmed fresh products to the residents of Greater Cleveland.

The proceeds support operation of the market during the winter months. The event includes information about the market, community gardens and local farmers.

Tickets are available at at the Coit Road Farmers’ Market or online at www.coitmarket.org. The Beachland is located at 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44110.

Some of the farmers at the market have participated for three generations. Gloria Jailil is one of the newer farmers that grow on the Coit Road site next to the community garden. She serves her customers by providing healthy and fresh food. “When you grow fresh food," she says, “you are not robbed of nutritional value”

“Sustaining the Coit Rd Farmers’ Market gives the community needed access to fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. We offer programs such WIC, Senior coupons and EBT Ohio Direction card access for those in the community needing assistance,” offered Board Member Tony Matlak.

“At the Market, you can meet the grower or preparer and know the source of your food and how it is processed. You can get ideas on preparing foods especially those you’ve heard about but have not tried. We can also explain the different varieties of fruits, vegetables and spices.” Kevin Scheuring, vendor – Spice Hound


The Coit Road Farmers’ Market
15000 Woodworth Rd. East Cleveland, OH 44110

216-249-5455 

9.09.2011

Happenings at the Gordon Square Farmers' Market

Hello fellow eaters:

I am happy to report that my work schedule and my stomach (not to mention my brain) are starting to get back in synch.  So I hope to see everyone again at the market this week.  Now that I feel like eating something other than gazpacho, I have noticed that we are in the middle of a greens explosion, with the sturdier, cooking greens doing quite well and the late summer lettuces coming in full swing.  And, with a bit of chill in the air the past few mornings, it might be just about time to think about  soup, warm soup, that is.

EcoVillage Produce will proudly bring the following produce to market: greens, greens, greens: collard, turnip, swiss chard, kale, mixed greens, and red leaf lettuce.  Other fabulous produce:  red cabbage, green cabbage, yukon gold potatoes, red cheifton potatoes, kennabeck potatoes, okra, moresale cucumber, tomatoes (cherry bomb, beefmaster, and early girl), tomatillo, jalapeno pepper, hungarian wax pepper, cherry bomb pepper, sweet pepper, red peppers, rosemary, loveage, english thyme, common sage, chives, lemon balm, peppermint, sweet basil, purple basil, thai basil, and spearmint, as well as goat cheese, cloth shopping bags, and plenty of enthusiasm...

Old Husher, Golden Gate Gardens, and Berry Good Farm will set up shop, I think, and maybe there will be beets.

Liberian and American Community Garden (a new vendor from our neighborhood through the Growhio Community Vendor Assistance Program) will have tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, belgian endive, radicchio, melons, lettuce, beans, and onion.

Mobite Products will not be at the market this week.

Origins Beanery will be back this week (they are allowed to go out of town periodically), so no rioting.

ReMemories will not be at the market this week, but she will be back next.

Bethany Presbyterian will have plants for sale.  Also, my informants tell me that  Maria Quiles, Bethany Session member, has been bringing delicious tamales and empanadas to sell as a benefit for the church and that her hot sauce is amazing.  I cannot think of anything that sounds more delicious at this exact moment, even though it is not quite 5 am.

Neighborhood table will have Sarah Perkins selling handmade gift bows (made from recycled materials) and eye pillows to raise money as part of an international effort to benefit Haiti.

Every Saturday during market season, the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market provides our neighborhood with healthy, affordable food while recreating local food systems, building community pride, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Your support and enthusiasm for the market has helped make GSFM a successful independent farmers' market. As GSFM continues to grow, there are many opportunities to contribute to the market’s success.  Throughout the remainder of this season and next the GSFM is expanding opportunities for volunteers. GSFM volunteer coordination meetings are held each Wednesday during market season at 6:30pm at alternating locations in Detroit Shoreway. I hope you can join us to learn more about opportunities to volunteer with market. Please email emily.holody@yahoo.com or call me 330-256-6641 if you have any questions.

9.08.2011

Happenings at the Downtown Farmers' Market


Learn about Agritourism from Morgan Farm Stay
Morgan Farm Stay will be joining the market this week to share it's vision of Agritourism in todays exciting sustainability, local food movement. Morgan Farm has availability for family vacations this fall, during the most beautiful time of the year in Ohio. All the joys of farm living, without the hard work.


Cleveland Cooks at Downtown Farmers Market
 A monthly cooking series providing hands-on demonstrations from area chefs. Part of the Growhio Education Sessions, classes will include a guided market tour, hands-on instruction in meal preparation and tips on how to grow produce easily at home. Classes are free and open to the public but will target Downtown residents and employees. Cleveland Cooks will take place at Old Stone Church on the last Friday of the month. Cleveland Cooks was made possible thanks to a grant from Neighborhood Connections.

Our next cooking class is Friday, September 30 at 1:30pm. To attend this intimate hands-on cooking class, please email downtownclevelandmarket@gmail.com or call (440) 821-0254.

Photo: Chef Brian Goodman of the Greenhouse Tavern on August 26, 2011. For additional photos from previous Cleveland Cooks classes, please check out ourFacebook page. 


Live music tomorrow: Harry Bacharach will be playing from 11:30am-2:00pm. Listen here.

Featured Vendor: Plant Kingdom Bakery
Specializing in nutrient-dense goodies, Plant Kingdomcomes stocked on Fridays with all vegan baked goods and nutty snacks. Ask baker, Jeremy, what makes the goods so valuable and you're sure to hear about the benefits from Hemp Seeds.

Hemp is the primary protein source in Plant Kingdom's energy bars. Scrumptious and satisfying choices abound including coconut, berry, apple maple, carob, and chocolaty snack varieties. "We're really rooting for sustainable farming practices to win out over the polluting ones" Jeremy says.  Ohio-proud to the max, Plant Kingdom sources Spelt & oats from Organic land in Holmes County. If it's not made with those Ohio-grains, that's because it's a gluten free option! Find out more on Fridays or visit www.plantkingdombakery.com

Since Plant Kingdom is dedicated to putting the Industrial Hemp crop to work in N E Ohio. Operations Manager, Jeremy Koosed, is always fielding questions related to the Hemp seed snack foods. By posting some FAQ's here, we're hoping to bring clarity to the subject.

Q: What is Hemp? What are Hemp seeds?
The term Hemp refers to the Industrial Hemp crop, a non-drug variety of Cannabis Sativa that is genetically (and visibly) distinct from Marijuana plants. Hemp has a tall, woody stalk, growing well over 8 ft tall. It only needs to be planted 6 inches apart. Fibers derived from the Hemp stalk or other stalks are called "bast-fibers". Hemp fiber was a primary resource for Paper, cloth, strong rope for thousands of years. In fact, the term "canvas" is derived from "cannabis."

Hemp is a bast-fiber as well as an oilseed crop. The Hemp seeds are remarkably nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids (a complete protein) and essential fatty acids that we need in our diet. Hemp seed is not only a complete protein, but a high-protein food, second only to soybeans in respect to protein density

Q: What will this do to me? Will I fail my drug test?
No you cannot fail a drug test by eating Hemp seed foods. The Hemp industry pledges this with the website, ww.testpledge.com. There is no marijuana on the Hemp plant when it's growing. Eating Hemp seeds helps us feel strong! The goods knock-out hunger and the good-fats benefits our brain health and circulation so it’s help us feel clear and alert!

Featured Recipe: 
Purple Bean Salad w/ Hummus

This recipe shared by HAPI Fresh. You can find them on Fridays 11am-2pm at Downtown Farmers Market at Public Square.
  • 6 oz purple beans, chopped
  • 3T hummus
  • 1t lemon juice 
  • 1 sprig parsley and oregano, minced
  • 3 ounces romaine lettuce, shredded
  • 1 tomato, thinly sliced
  • Fresh ground pepper to taste
Steam the beans for 4 minutes, set aside. In a small bowl, combine hummus, lemon juice, oregano, and parsley. Set aside. Place salad lettuce in bowl, top with tomato slices and warm steamed beans. Season with pepper and and pour hummus mixture over salad. Toss lightly to coat. Serve immediately.

The Cleveland Farmers Market Guild and Growhio have teamed up to bring you this collection of recipes featuring ingredients from your favorite Cleveland area farmers markets. Please feel free to send your own market recipes to downtownclevelandmarket@gmail.com and we'll share them on this page. 

Fundraiser: Support Growhio while enjoying delicious Ohio wines!
What: $20 proceeds to benefit Growhio, will help continue efforts to advance the region's local food economy and to connect you to the region's amazing local food resources for buying, eating and growing local. Also, at 7:00pm a "No Cook Fresh Prep Produce Demo" by Arabelle Rome of Acenda Yoga and at 7:30pm, a screening of Growhio's Local Food Video.
You can also sign up for a Market Tour by NEO Food Tours. Kick off with a glass of wine at Visible Voice at 6:00pm then walk over to the Tremont Farmers Market in Lincoln Park, returning to Visible Voice at 7:00pm. Contact info@neofoodtours.com for tour info & pricing.
Who: Growhio and Visible Voice Books
When: Tuesday, September 13 from 6:00-8:00pm
Where: Visible Voice Books, 1023 Kenilworth Avenue in Tremont


FREE PARKING! We have saved a limited number of parking spaces for shoppers of Downtown Farmers Market on Rockwell Avenue between Ontario and East Roadway.


Furnished Market Booth Space is available for start-up fruit and vegetable farmers at the following farmers' markets:
  • Broadway
  • Coit Road
  • Downtown Cleveland
  • Gordon Square
  • Kamm's Corners
  • Lakewood
  • Tremont
Sign up to participate or visit Growhio.org for more information.

Are you interested in becoming a vendor at DFM? Emaildowntownclevelandmarket@gmail.com for more information.

About Downtown Farmers Market: Each Friday, look forward to delicious prepared foods for lunch as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, cheese, spices, salsas, chocolate and baked goods to take home.

Here's a complete list of vendors that you'll find at the market tomorrow:
  • Por-Bar Farms: Heirloom and organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers
  • HAPI Fresh: Vegetables including Bok Choy, carrots, cabbage, and Asian eggplant
  • Judy’s Oasis: Middle Eastern Cuisine, including hoomus, meat pies, falafel and prepared foods for lunch
  • No Whey Chocolates: Vegan, whey-free chocolate candies and chocolate-covered fruit
  • SpiceHound: High quality spices, herbs, chilis, and natural salts
  • Plant Kingdom Bakery:Vegan, organic and gluten-free snacks and bakery
  • Ohio City Pasta: Hand-crafted pasta
  • Ohio Farm Direct: Organic, grassfed cheese
  • Frickaccio’s: Pizza Bagels and pepperoni rolls
  • Oh Baby Cakes: Cupcakes that come in many flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Banana, German Chocolate, Peach, Carrot, and more!
  • Just Good Scents: Locally made teas, honeys, and other aromatherapy items
  • French Creek Bakery: Artisan breads and pastries
  • Jorgensen Apiary's: Homemade honeys, james, preserves, and beeswax products
  • BONJOUR Crepes: French crepes using locally grown and organic ingredients
  • Dim and Den Sum: Regional comfort foods with an Asian flair 
  • The Nosh Box: A mix of midwestern comfort food with a Tex/Mex kick
  • Publish Ohio: Cleveland-area prints, postcards and photos
Come down on your lunch hour and stop by Judy's Oasis for a Middle Eastern meal including Falafel sandwiches & meat pies, or Frickaccio's for pizza bagels and pepperoni rolls or visit one of the food trucks (Dim and Den Sum, The Nosh Box and StrEat Mobile). Just make sure you save enough time during lunch to visit all of your favorite vendors, enjoy the fresh air, listen to the live music, and maybe even picnic in the grass!


9.02.2011

Happenings at the Gordon Square Farmers' Market

Hello fellow eaters:

I hope this belated note finds everyone with electricity back on and at least a plan for the tree trimming.  I have to confess that again my work schedule has caused delay to the eater update:  I have been working nights or splits for almost three weeks now, and I am here to tell those of you who have not had this experience that it stinks.  However, I have made one startling discovery:  when I get home from work, I really want to eat something, and yet eating right before bed does not seem like the best idea.  It turns out that what really hits the spot is either a tomato from the garden with a bit of some tasty olive oil or gazpacho.  I believe that I have mentioned gazpacho in the past, but it is possibly the easiest soup in the whole world to make.  Long time readers of the eater update know that I try to avoid authenticity arguments, so I am willing to consider that there are other recipes with more ingredients and more detail, but the one I use was passed on to me from a spaniard I knew in chicago and was basically in the form of a ratio:  into the food processor go a couple of tomatoes, a red onion, a cucumber, and a bell pepper, plus a bit of garlic, some balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, and a bit of dill.  I do not want to be precious, gentle eater, but real tomatoes are such a treat, and we should not take them for granted.  Indeed a nutritionist might have something to say about eating from the nightshade family right before bed (weird dreams! indigestion!), and yet it has become my perfect very late night or early morning (!) snack solution.

Another neighborhood food announcement: The Ithaca Court Community Garden will  have a Chef in the Garden event featuring chef Andy Reichert, in action as he cooks up a fresh vegetarian chili using just-harvested ingredients from garden plots. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy chili and other snacks offered by the gardeners. There will be free sidewalk chalk and lots of space for kids to decorate.  The event is this Saturday, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the garden.

Again somw of the usual suspects have not emailed their produce lists, so we will have to go to the market to find out and cook with what is good and available.

EcoVillage Produce will have eggplant, cucumber, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, red & green tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red & green cabbage, red onions, mixed greens, yukon gold potatoes, rosemary, thyme, sweet basil, sage, turnip greens, tomatillo, jalapeno pepper, hungarian hot wax peppers, yellow bell peppers, green bell peppers, cherry bomb peppers, sweet bell peppers, summer squash, goat cheese, and many more surprises...

Cathie Brenkus will have colorful and themed towels as well as her bracelets this Saturday.  Because of labor day, she will feature patriotic towels this week along with the usual patterns.

ReMemories will have cut flowers in addition to her usual fabulous and stylish quilts, purses, and totes.

Every Saturday during market season, the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market provides our neighborhood with healthy, affordable food while recreating local food systems, building community pride, and supporting local entrepreneurs. Your support and enthusiasm for the market has helped make GSFM a successful independent farmers' market. As GSFM continues to grow, there are many opportunities to contribute to the market’s success.  Throughout the remainder of this season and next the GSFM is expanding opportunities for volunteers. GSFM volunteer coordination meetings are held each Wednesday during market season at 6:30pm at alternating locations in Detroit Shoreway. I hope you can join us to learn more about opportunities to volunteer with market. Please email emily.holody@yahoo.com or call 330-256-6641 if you have any questions.