Happenings at Gordon Square Farmers Market September 8

Subject: eater update: 8 september

Hello fellow eaters:

I hope that everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend. Sometimes I find that I have grand plans for getting stuff done when I have an extra day off, only to find that I not only did not get more done, somehow I feel further behind. While I still have not done the weeding that I intended to do on Monday--and it is not looking good for getting it done between now and Saturday morning--it is certainly not going to happen on Saturday at noon. Gentle reader, there is an impromptu holiday at the market on Saturday: tomato tasting day. I think that this idea is genius; I wish that I had thought of it; let's savor this idea one more time: tomato tasting day. While this is actually a contest (there is a prize, I am told), I prefer to think of it as a quilting bee or even getting together to watch the big game (with snacks): everyone brings what he or she has to contribute, and the whole is greater that the sum of its parts. I am not sure who the judge(s) are, but who cares? For small fee you, too, can sample the tomatoes and pick your own winner. With care you might even save a couple of seeds from your favorite to attempt to grow in the garden next year (hope for an heir loom or it might be a surprise). Here's the thing, this holiday will not take up your whole day: it only runs from noon to when the tomatoes run out. So you can bring your proudest tomatoes, or you can just bring yourself in a tasting frame of mind. For those few odd ducks who do not like tomatoes as much as the rest of us, you can just do your shopping, and we will welcome you (more tomatoes for the rest of us!). Happy tomato tasting day!

EcoVillage Produce will have tomatoes, green beans, eggplants, okra, peppers (cubanelle, jalapeño, banana, and bells), kale, collards, cucumbers, potatoes, bunching onions, garlic, apples. In the herb department: basil, sage, parsley, chives, cilantro, thyme.

Golden Gate Garden will have tomatoes--cherry and slicers, beans, collards, kale, cabbage, kohlrabi, miniature ophelia eggplants, peppers, squash, beets in abundance, and flowers.

Maggie's Farm will have tomatoes, trombone squash, pumpkins, a variety of zucchini, yellow squash, kale, swiss chard, green beans, barcarole lettuce, arugula, and maybe some surprises. Diane, welcome back!

Origins Beanery will have coffee of several varieties, probably hot and cold press. Perhaps they will have lisa anne's homemade jam as well.

MoBite Bakery will be back, I think, with their delicious, delicious, delicious, and healthful delights.

Peddler Bread usually has multigrain, cranberry walnut, and cinnamon raisin loaves; sometimes they have french loaves. Bakers and their friends take note: they also have locally-grown and milled white (unbleached) and whole wheat flours.

Bethany's fabulous Maria Quiles will probably have fabulous mexican-puertorican food: tamales, empanadas, and sometimes the widely-enjoyed pork sandwiches. Other parishioners may have plants to sell.

ReMemories will have her stylish purses, totes, and quilts made from repurposed fabrics. She will also have her unique reclaimed chairs.

Anita Nonneman might be at the market with lovely South African village crafts.

Sister Fires will be at the market with their fair trade crafts, including hand woven baskets from Africa, hair wraps, tote bags, purses, handmade prayer flags from Tibet, dreamcatchers, and items for children.

There will be yoga at the market this and every week, woo hoo! Class is from 11-12 and is open to all levels of practice. the class is donation-based and will meet in the labyrinth across the street from the market.

The Gordon Square Farmers' Market: more food, fewer tourists.
GSFM is usually located in the parking lot of Bethany Presbyterian Church at W. 65th and West Clinton streets (one block south of Detroit Ave.).
Every Saturday through October, 10am-2pm.
Feed back? Please email or talk to us at the GSFM booth on Saturday.
www.gordonsquaremarket.org

Happenings at Gordon Square Farmers Market August 11

Hello fellow eaters:

This week is the fabulous sweet corn festival, back at our usual spot at west 65th and west clinton. I have enjoyed myself so much at some of the previous sweet corn festivals simply by sitting at the market, eating freshly roasted corn, and conversing with friends and neighbors about what is going on in the world. There is no question that fresh, good sweet corn is truly a treat, but corn is a tricky thing to love in some ways. I grew up physically surrounded by it (and soybeans), and many of my extended family members make their living growing it (and its close buddy popcorn), running their vehicles on its oil, and heating their barns with it. But, as many of you know, industrial corn growing in the US is one of the worst offenders in terms of extreme monoculture, extreme pesticide and herbicide use, the use of petroleum-based products to grow food and transport it long distances in its many forms, the acceleration and expansion of genetic modification practices possibly past our ability to evaluate their effects, the lopsided subsidies of the federal agriculture policy, and the subtle and not so subtle sweetening of all manner of processed foods--15 years ago I had a teaching assistant whose parents sent him unsweetened peanut butter from canada! peanut butter! Now I know that you might get poked with a pitchfork if you suggest an end to price supports for sugar among some beet farmers, but corn really has the numbers, and really, who wants to pick a fight with beets. Nonetheless, as bart simpson has said, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And what better time to think about (and maybe wean from) unnecessary added sweetness than during a drought when the price of corn is going to go through the roof, adding quite a bit to the cost of said added sweetness and other things, (including chicken feed for some friendly layers whom I know). We vote with our pocketbooks and our taste buds, and we can choose to eat corn when we want corn and choose not to eat corn (or to eat less of it) in some of its stealth forms in other things, say peanut butter or ice cream or breakfast cereal or mayonnaise or ketchup or granola bars or salad dressing, et al., ad nauseum. It is not only a question of high fructose corn syrup versus sugar; the question is whether we really want all of these things to be uniformly sweet --or do we want something more diverse. And the answer will certainly be different in different households, heck, even on different plates, possibly even in different times of year; why not experiment? So, gentle eater, this might be a year in which sweet corn is really a treat rather than something whose apparently infinite supply we take for granted or, pardon my french, pig out on. However, there will probably be enough corn at the market this week that you can pig out a little bit. 

In addition to sweet corn, here is what I know will be available. 

EcoVillage Produce will have a variety of tomatoes, red and green and beautiful purple-y, big and bite-sized, you get the picture. They will also have tuscan kale (and sample of a easy and tasty recipe), cabbage, napa cabbage, collards, eggplant, wax beans, green beans, another kind of beans that I forgot, peppers (red, green, banana, jalapeño, paprika), new red chieftain potatoes, and herbs including rosemary, sage, thyme, lovage, stevia, and a player to be named later.

Golden Gate Garden will have beans, squash, potatoes, peppers, greens, kohlrabi, and tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, he will also have herbs and flowers.


There will be yoga at the market this and every week, woo hoo! Class is from 11-12 and is open to all levels of practice. the class is donation-based and will meet in the labyrinth across the street from the market.

The Gordon Square Farmers' Market: more food, fewer tourists.
GSFM is usually located in the parking lot of Bethany Presbyterian Church at W. 65th and West Clinton streets (one block south of Detroit Ave.). 
Every Saturday through October, 10am-2pm. 
Feed back? Please email or talk to us at the GSFM booth on Saturday.
www.gordonsquaremarket.org

Happenings at Gordon Square Farmers Market July 28

Hello fellow eaters:

I was out of the great state of ohio last weekend, so I missed all of the festivities, but I heard that events were a great success and the neighborhood was crawling with folks who are now in on the secret of our great and engaged neighborhood. I hope that many of them come back to visit more often. And, before I forget, there will be yet another spectacular opportunity for those not fortunate enough to live in walking distance of the market to come and see amazing sights: on the 4th of august the gordon square farmers' market will temporarily (one week only) be at the zone recreation center to celebrate the re-opening of the greenspace around the rec center: sports fields, walking paths, dog park , on-site storm water management, and other amenities, did I mention dog park? The mayor will be at the rec center to help kick-off the celebration, and the market will be there, too, so mark your calendars for a different location. 

While I was visiting in illinois, I had the occasion to visit a farmers' market, and I would like to say that there was not enough swiss chard to feed the gordon square neighborhood greens habit, but they were doing very well with beets and popcorn and honey and melons and sweet corn. It was heartening to see a robust farmers' market because even in the county seat of an agriculture-oriented area, the food in the grocery store comes from some other place. Folks within 80 miles grow every manner of fruit and vegetable (including really, really good peaches which my mom and a neighbor braved seriously inclement weather to pick one year), and you cannot get it in the grocery store. So our food system problem is not just a problem in urban areas in ohio, it is a problem (and an opportunity) everywhere. Farmers' markets are not the only solution, but they are part of the solution. And, farmers' markets are more fun and more interactive than the average solution to a problem. So, come to the market, meet some neighbors, buy some food, trade some recipes, and vote for more of our food coming from here.

EcoVillage Produce will have early gonzalez cabbage (a green cabbage), napa cabbage, scallions, hot southern mustard greens, swiss chard, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, radishes, beets.

Maggie's Farm will have golden beets, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, green tomatoes, swiss chard, and russian kale. Diane also wants to let market denizens know that the there will be a celebration of the first season at maggie's farm, Sunday, the 5th of august, 7 to 9 pm at the farm on 61st street. Maggie is hosting, and there will be music. Rsvp to 216-961-3113 orhuntress58@att.net. hope to see many folks there.

Old Husher, Dharma Garden, and Golden Gate Garden did not check in, so we'll see. 

Wooden Knight Farm will have their lettuce mixes (got some relatives to eat it and they liked it!), swiss chard, carrots, garlic, the first harvest of green beans, and a small quantity of plum tomatoes.


Berry Good Farm will have honey and honey products, eggs, a delicious variety of baked goods, locally grown and milled oats and other grains, soap, candies, and other good things.

Origins Beanery will probably be at the market this week, I hope. 

Peddler Bread usually has multigrain loaves, cranberry walnut loaves, and something else. They may have locally grown and milled flours. I had a cranberry-walnut bread a couple of weeks ago when what I really wanted was sold out, and now I am a cranberry-walnut convert. 

MoBite Bakery never ceases to amaze with their vegan delights, from pies to main dishes. 

Bethany's fabulous Maria Quiles is bringing tamales, so consider coming to the market hungry. 

ReMemories ... I am thinking Phyllis will be there. 

Anita Nonneman might be at the market with jewelry, serving utensils, wall hangings, carved items and other things made by south african craftspersons.

Sister Fires will be at the market with their fair trade crafts, including purses of various sizes, belts, hair wraps, dreamcatchers, wallets, bookmarks, etc. they will also be taking orders for leather goods.


Also there will be yoga at the market this and every week, woo hoo! Class is from 11-12 and is open to all levels of practice. the class is donation-based and will meet in the labyrinth across the street from the market.

The Gordon Square Farmers' Market: more food, fewer tourists.
GSFM is located in the parking lot of Bethany Presbyterian Church at W. 65th and West Clinton streets (one block south of Detroit Ave.). 
Every Saturday through October, 10am-2pm. 
Feed back? Please email or talk to us at the GSFM booth on Saturday.
www.gordonsquaremarket.org

Receive a Free Growhio T-Shirt!

Survey Market Shoppers

Receive a FREE Growhio t-shirt!

Growhio and its partner markets seek volunteers to conduct very brief in-person surveys of shoppers at 8 area farmers' markets. The surveys are designed to gauge the impact of our collaborative marketing campaign on first time and returning market visitors.

We are seeking 1 volunteer per market to conduct surveys on 5 separate market days. Volunteers who survey 6 visitors (at least 3 of which must be new visitors) per market day on 5 separate survey days will receive a free Growhio t-shirt! Volunteers are not required to stay for the the entire market - only long enough to collect the 6 surveys.

Farmers' Market	Dates	Volunteer
Broadway	Mondays 4-7p July 16, 23, 30 August 20, 27	Sign up
Coit Road	Saturdays 8a-1p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Downtown	Fridays 11a-2p July 13, 20, 27 August 17, 24	Sign up
Gateway 105	Fridays 3-7p July 13, 20, 27 August 17, 24	Sign up
Gordon Square	Saturdays 10a-2p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Kamm's Corners	Sundays 10a-2p July 15, 22, 29 August 19, 26	Sign up
Lakewood	Saturdays 10a-1p July 14, 21, 28 August 18, 25	Sign up
Tremont	Tuesdays 4-7p July 17, 24, 31 August 14, 21	Sign up

Alternative dates can be arranged. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Happenings at Gordon Square Farmers Market Saturday 6-23

Hello fellow eaters:

I have a slightly dopey tale to tell this week, but bear with me because I think there are things to ponder as a result of it. A couple of weeks ago I had to run to the garden to get something. Now, going to the garden to get something should be a happy thing: I am cooking and I need something and I will just pop over to the garden to get it. But I was feeling over-worked and over-stressed and in a hurry and grumpy so I left the dog at home and headed there. But I stopped just for a second to check out the new tree that friends had planted in honor of the birth of their daughter and found something even more wonderful: goats. There were goats in my friends' backyard, munching away at grass and weeds (and the pear tree, truth be told). They are even-tempered, unflappable, quiet, pregnant, and cute as buttons; thus, I had an attitude adjustment. These are working goats whose job--munching away at grass and weeds on vacant and abandoned property--started the next day . Now I have always had a thing for goats, maybe because cutting grass and weeding the garden were among my childhood chores (along with laundry and dishes, which raises the question, exactly what did my siblings do, but never mind that for now). Suffice it to say that it has always struck me that goats would be a much better way to deal with excess vegetation than child labor. Now, gentle eater, you might reasonably ask what this has to do with our farmers' market. The short answer is that one of these goats will be visiting the market this Saturday, between 10 and 11. The medium answer is that in order to make goat cheese (which you can buy at the market) you need goats. The longer answer is one that really requires thinking and discussing what we want our cities to be and how we want to get there. In the past cities were places of urgent density: density of people, of buildings, of entertainment, of work/production/manufacturing, of difference (linguistic, cultural, belief systems, politics), etc. Now cities have lost population, buildings have been abandoned and torn down, and many kinds of activity have been reduced. So now many cities have more space available than they have since the early twentieth century, and that strikes me as a mixed blessing. I have written in the past about the wonderful and compelling work being done by folks (including our vendors) in market gardens, community gardens, pocket-parks, re-imagining a more sustainable cleveland parcels, et al., indeed our farmers' market and our efforts to rethink our food systems would be nowhere without that work. I also hope that we can think about how to have both density and strategically-sited (and productive) greenspace; indeed how we can re-tool the notion of "mixed-use" to include agriculture as well as commercial and industrial uses, but not lose sight of the density and the palpable activity of people that is and always will be the lifeblood of cities. So I am very happy to see mow goats chewing their way through lots that have lost their activity, and hope that activity returns and the goats do not have to stay in one area too long. 


EcoVillage Produce will have: Egyptian walking onions, spinach, arugula, hot southern mustard greens, herbs: sage, rosemary, lavender, lovage, mints. Plants: black cherry tomato plants, Italian parsley plants, rosemary plants.

Origins Beanery will be bringing coffees from Ethiopia, Kenya, Sumatra, and Columbia. They will have plenty of cold brew for Vietnamese style iced coffees and will be doing pour-overs for those that want it hot. They thank market-goers for their support, adding "you rock."

ReMemories will be at the market showing really stylish quilts, carry-alls, purses big and small, maybe jams and jellies, and the most festive chairs you have ever seen. 

There will be others, although I am not sure who. By next week we ought to have the system down pat, so you and I both can be more informed consumers!

Also there will be yoga at the market this and every week, woo hoo! this week the teacher will be neighborhood resident Justin Glanville. Class is from 11-12 and is open to all levels of practice. the class is donation-based and will meet in the labyrinth across the street from the market.

The Gordon Square Farmers' Market: more food, fewer tourists.
GSFM is located in the parking lot of Bethany Presbyterian Church at W. 65th and West Clinton streets (one block south of Detroit Ave.). 
Every Saturday through October, 10am-2pm. 
Feed back? Please email or talk to us at the GSFM booth on Saturday.
www.gordonsquaremarket.org 

Receive a FREE Growhio t-shirt!
Growhio and its partner markets seek volunteers to conduct very brief in-person surveys of shoppers at 8 area farmers' markets. The surveys are designed to gauge the impact of our collaborative marketing campaign on first time and returning market visitors.

We are seeking 1 volunteer per market to conduct surveys on 5 separate market days. Volunteers who survey 6 visitors (at least 3 of which must be new visitors) per market day on 5 separate survey days will receive a free Growhio t-shirt! Volunteers are not required to stay for the the entire market - only long enough to collect the 6 surveys. Sign up!

WEAPONS OF MASS CREATION FEST RETURNS TO CLEVELAND’S GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Regional creative event takes the next steps in its evolution to prepare for thousands of attendees

CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 25, 2012– Weapons of Mass Creation (WMC) Fest, the premier art, design and music event of the Midwest, returns to Gordon Square Arts District June 8^th-10^th, where 20 speakers, 20 designers and nearly 30 bands will enlighten and inspire 1,000+ attendees.

The concept was conceived three years ago by Jeff Finley, a partner at local design firm, Go Media, to build a sense of community and excitement among creative professionals who often interact online, but lack many opportunities to engage in person. WMC Fest has since brought entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, students and fans together to learn, become inspired, collaborate, network and celebrate.

“At many design conferences, there seems to be a disconnect between the attendees and the organizers,” says Finley. “Our goal is for WMC Fest to grow organically, without losing the personal connection that our participants have with their audiences.”

This approach was also applied when choosing the music line up, which will include over 30 bands across two stages ranging from punk and indie to folk and hip hop. Attendees can soak up the ambient soundscapes of Eluvium to the spastic energy of Cloud Nothings and Algernon Cadwallader. “We have really amped up the whole band experience this year with the addition of the colossal Saigon Plaza venue, the staggered dual stage approach, and a more diverse band roster to experience; all while keeping true to our roots and independent ethos,” said Jesse Sloan, music curator for WMC Fest. Saturday kicks off with a two-on-two break dance battle hosted by Cleveland b-boy staple Swift Ali. The winners receive a $500 cash prize.

Based on advance ticket sales and online buzz, over 1,000 attendees are expected at this year’s fest, a steady increase over the previous two years. In anticipation of the crowds, Finley has expanded the venues to include five key Gordon Square Arts District locations, all within walking distance, including:

• The Happy Dog: Pre-fest mixer
• Reinberger Auditorium: Speaker venue
• Saigon Plaza: Band venue
• ilTHY Workshop: Art & design show
• Spice Kitchen + Bar: VIP lounge

WMC Fest is funded by ticket sales, corporate sponsors, pre-fest fundraising events and, potentially, a Kickstarter initiative that is slated to raise $7,000 by Friday, May 4^th. The money will be used to fund growing expenses related to venue rentals, promotional efforts, a mobile app, and a robust street team.

The complete 2012 event schedule, including featured speakers, designers and bands, is online at WMCFest.com. Media contacts and industry partners are encouraged to attend events firsthand. For more information, including high-quality photography, video or interviews, please contact Jeff Finley at 216.939.0000 x227or Jeff@GoMedia.us.

WANTED: Market Vendors!

The Broadway, Coit Road, Downtown Cleveland, Gateway 105, Gordon Square, Kamm's Corners, Lakewood, Tremont and WOW farmers' markets are seeking vendors for the 2012 outdoor market season! Details and application information.

Each of these markets provides a neighborhood based hub of activity and gathering place for residents and visitors to enjoy entertainment, wellness outreach and of course, vendors' tasty local food offerings! These farmers' markets are an excellent venue for starting or growing your local food business. 

Vendors enjoy the benefit of a 9-market strong Growhio collaboration, which includes joint programming, marketing and promotion including:

• Distinguished market presence on Growhio.org (visited by 500 unique 
• visitors/month)
• Market billboard advertisements (9 ads reaching 3 million people)
• Growhio e-newsletters and blog posts (500 subscribers)
• Growhio social media blasts (800 followers)
• Promotion at numerous strategic events (thousands of attendees)
• Opportunity to participate in Growhio events
• Market inclusion in the Growhio Local Food Guide 
• Start-up produce, honey and maple syrup vendor assistance program
• Educational outreach

Apply today!