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.