Fresh & New
August 30, 2003
THIS WEEK, AUGUST 30 9:15 a.m. - 10 a.m. Waterwise Gardening and Landscaping workshop at the Garden Patch in the park.
Austin's water supply is finite and fragile. Homeowners are adding compost and topsoil to lawns and gardens, reducing turfgrass, increasing mulch areas, planting shade trees and ground covers. The list goes on and on. Please come and participate in the discussion of six Austin home landscapes that are designed to save water, retain water, re-use water. Presented by Dick Pierce, Sustainable Food Center board member, master gardener, master naturalist, master composter and landscape designer and permaculture advocate.
We have FUN at the Austin Farmers' Market every Saturday and especially once a month during the Festival Days! Take a look at the pictures from last week's 'Some Like it Hot' Festival. The okra relay involved getting gloves on, picking up an okra baton, and 'relaying' both gloves and okra to another team member until three stages were complete. Congrats to Jose, Lakeisha and Maddie who won that race. For the Eggplant Head decorating contest, Ananda Houghtaling won. And the hot pepper eaters Mark Itz and Jose Estrada battled it out with just a two-pepper difference, Mark won with eight jalapeno peppers eaten in one minute! Give both of them a hand when you see them; Mark is the farmer/owner at McCall Creek Farm and Jose owns and grows on Estrada Farm.
Next festival up is the Pear Festival September 13.
In the Austin Farmers' Market this week. . .
Vegetables: Tomatoes are building again for fall harvests. There's also eggplant, lots of fall cucumbers, peppers (sweet, hot, otherwise), new fall lucious zucchini, eight ball and yellow squash, basil, sprouts, microgreens, summer greens, onions, shallots, garlic, lots of okra, winter squash like acorn and butternut, and fresh herbs such as basil, oregano and mint.
Fruits: Goodbye to the Gala apples. Kim and Jacque McBride sold their local harvest (their orchard is just a mere 60 miles away) for that sweet treat last week, but they will be back with Pink Ladies later in the fall. The Reese Farm had such a run on the watermelons during the week before Saturday that he sold out! Congratulations, Sam. There are still a few watermelons from others and pears that go great with goat cheese!
Meats: Austin Gourmet Gamebirds in a holding pattern. Grass-fed long-horn beef, lamb and bison from conscientous ranchers--Arrow K, Loncito's Lamb and Thunderheart Bison are all here this week. Don't forget the eggs too from Alexander Farm.
Dairy: Pure Luck Grade A Dairy's national award-winning cheeses of chevre, farmstead, feta, and much more in delectible flavors with enhancements from their own organic certified herbs and vegetables.
Baked Goods: Breads, rolls, cookies, pizzas, brownies, granola and much more from four of Austin's best bakeries, Full Belly Bakery, Sweetish Hill, Texas French Bread, and Wildwood Art Café (Wildwood and Sweetish Hill are out this week but back Sept. 6); and Giovanni Biscotti (out this week). Indian Hills Farm that makes organic granola will return in the fall.
Flowers: Sunflowers, salvia, gomphrena, rudbeckia, tuberoses, celosia, mixed bouquets, and zinnias from Arnosky Family Farm. Lost Truffle Farm will be hunkering down in August and return to the market in September.
Plants and trees: Shade trees (Hammack Farms is returning in the fall), plumerias, cacti, flowering plants, herbs, medicinal, and edible plants.
Assorted: Fresh squeezed all natural juices, herbal teas, fresh bottled rainwater (first in the nation), fresh brewed coffee, hibiscus mint tea, snow cones (a favorite in this hot weather!) with organic juice, Ethiopian wraps and dishes, breakfast tacos, Oaxacan tamales, frozen traditional tamales, empanadas coming, smoked salmon, jams and jellies, pickles, canned peppers and okra, honey, wheat free and other specialty dog treats.
Crafts and arts: Paintings, jewelry, wooden hand carved canes, painted furniture, Adirondack chairs, metal work, blown glass, soy candles, tie-died clothing, cigar box and cloth purses, and pottery.
Services: NEW CAFÉ AREA in the park by prepared food; Massage (ahhhh...); knife and scissor sharpening with valet (leave your knife at Alexander Farm booth and pick it up when you're done shopping); portraits by Isabel Goode-DeBlanc (ALL her revenues from the made-at-the-market portraits are donated to the Market - returning September 20); face paiting by Sonya; herbalists; and misting area by the band (courtesy Tank Town Rainwater).
Weekly fun: Live local bands play at the Market 9:30-11 (usually) and in the park; Chefs' Circle will begin again in September; Weekly drawing for Market Card winners at 9:45 a.m. where the Chefs' Circle usually is; and take home projects from Kids' Patch activities in the shade 9 - 11 a.m. (during Festival weeks children's activity times are different).
We are a growers-only market and the farmers only sell what they grow. Satisfy your connection to the food you eat and meet the farmers directly!
Thanks again to the generous contributions and partnerships with the Austin Museum of Art and Classified Parking (for the farmer truck area gratis), Safe Zone (for reduced street barricade fees), City of Austin and the Parks and Recreation Department (for reduced fees and security) and many more major sponsors in the downtown area and in the media. We also thank the hundreds of individual supporters who have become FOUNDERS of the Austin Farmers' Market to help us with the start up and continuing operating costs. We encourage you to jump on the scale and 'Weigh In' (give your support) and still take advantage of FOUNDERS t-shirts available with your tax-deductible contribution. And for all the 100+ volunteers, some of them coming weekly, Thank You!
posted August 27, 2003 | permanent link to this article
August 23, 2003
There were plenty of families, couples and friends who inaugurated our shaded café area last week that is located at the Austin Farmers' Market in the park area across the sidewalk from the prepared food vendors. Continue to enjoy this seating area every week.
The "Some Like it Hot" Festival is this Saturday, with fun activities for all types to get a little silly and possibly win some prizes. Children's and adult's categories of competition will start at 9 a.m. with the Okra Baton Relay at the 4th Street station; 9:45 a.m., Mr./Ms. Eggplant Head contest is on for the kids at the Kids' Patch in the park; and Jalapeno Chili Eating Contest at 10:30 a.m. (adults only) in the park--don't worry, it's not a 'all you can eat' contest--it's a timed event to eat as many peppers as you can in 60 seconds. When you thought you had enough of peppers, please stay for the freezing and preservation cooking workshop at 11 a.m. at the Chefs' Circle. Dolores Sandmann from Travis County Cooperative Extension will show you the easy way to 'put up' salsa in the freezer.
Look for a great learning session next week in the park with the Waterwise Gardening session by Dick Pierce at 9:15 a.m.
In the Austin Farmers' Market this week. . .
Vegetables: Tomatoes from just a few farmers--there's a new fall crop from McCall Creek Farm as well as the summer holdouts from Combs Garden, Oasis Garden, Estrada Farm, Zamudio Farm, McCrary Farm and a few others, eggplant, some beginning fall cucumbers, peppers (sweet, hot, otherwise), new fall lucious zucchini, eight ball and yellow squash, basil, sprouts, microgreens, summer greens, onions, shallots, garlic, lots of okra, winter squash like acorn and butternut, and fresh herbs such as basil, oregano and mint.
Fruits: Gala apples!, Jubilee watermelons!, Pears! and maybe peaches this week.
Meats: Austin Gourmet Gamebirds will be coming to the market in about a week! Grass-fed long-horn beef, lamb and bison from conscientous ranchers (Thunderheart bison and Loncito's Lamb comes back this week the 23rd. The Arrow K Longhorn beef Kinningham family is settling their oldest daughter into college, but then they will be back next week). Don't forget the eggs too.
Dairy: Pure Luck Grade A Dairy's national award-winning cheeses of chevre, farmstead, feta, and much more in delectible flavors with enhancements from their own organic certified herbs and vegetables.
Baked Goods: Breads, rolls, cookies, pizzas, brownies, granola and much more from four of Austin's best bakeries, Full Belly Bakery, Sweetish Hill, Texas French Bread, and Wildwood Art Café; and Giovanni Biscotti (back this week). Indian Hills Farm that makes organic granola will return in the fall.
Flowers: Sunflowers, salvia, gomphrena, rudbeckia, gladiolas, tuberoses, celosia, mixed bouquets, and zinnias. Lost Truffle Farm will be hunkering down in August and return to the market in September. The Arnosky Family Farm is here every week with many different bouquets to choose from.
Plants and trees: Shade trees (Hammack Farms is returning in the fall), plumerias, cacti, flowering plants, herbs, medicinal, and edible plants.
Assorted: Fresh squeezed all natural juices, herbal teas, fresh bottled rainwater (first in the nation), fresh brewed coffee, hibiscus mint tea, snow cones (a favorite in this hot weather!) with organic juice, Ethiopian wraps and dishes, breakfast tacos, Oaxacan tamales, frozen traditional tamales, empanadas coming, pestos from farmers' produce, smoked salmon, jams and jellies, pickles, canned peppers and okra, honey, wheat free and other specialty dog treats.
Crafts and arts: Paintings, jewelry, wooden hand carved canes, painted furniture, Adirondack chairs, metal work, blown glass, soy candles, tie-died clothing, cigar box and cloth purses, and pottery.
Services: NEW CAFÉ AREA in the park by prepared food; Massage (ahhhh...); knife and scissor sharpening with valet (leave your knife at Alexander Farm booth and pick it up when you're done shopping); portraits by Isabel Goode-DeBlanc (ALL her revenues from the made-at-the-market portraits are donated to the Market - returning August 23); face paiting by Sonya; herbalists; and misting area by the band (courtesy Tank Town Rainwater).
Weekly fun: Live local bands play at the Market 9:30-11 (usually) and in the park; NO Chefs' Circle DEMONSTRATIONS IN AUGUST; Weekly drawing for Market Card winners at 9:45 a.m. where the Chefs' Circle usually is; and take home projects from Kids' Patch activities in the shade 9 - 11 a.m. (during Festival weeks children's activity times are different).
We are a growers-only market and the farmers only sell what they grow. Satisfy your connection to the food you eat and meet the farmers directly!
Thanks again to the generous contributions and partnerships with the Austin Museum of Art and Classified Parking (for the farmer truck area gratis), Safe Zone (for reduced street barricade fees), City of Austin and the Parks and Recreation Department (for reduced fees and security) and many more major sponsors in the downtown area and in the media. We also thank the hundreds of individual supporters who have become FOUNDERS of the Austin Farmers' Market to help us with the start up and continuing operating costs. We encourage you to jump on the scale and 'Weigh In' (give your support) and still take advantage of FOUNDERS t-shirts available with your tax-deductible contribution. And for all the 100+ volunteers, some of them coming weekly, Thank You!
posted August 20, 2003 | permanent link to this article
August 16, 2003
Come sit, nourish yourself and take a break in the park! We now have a shaded café area in Republic Square Park for you to enjoy your morning coffee or your delicious sandwich. Get ready for new prepared vendors like Terra Verde Farms with their specialty peach cobblers prepared by chef Paul Hieb and wonderful marinades, sauces, preserves and more will be coming to the market with the likes of an enterprising empanada maker. Also look for award-winning sandwiches and and don't forget the four bakeries represented, Pure Luck Grade A Dairy cheeses, Aster's Ethiopian Food, Aw Shucks tamales, Oaxacan Tamaleo ready-to-eat tamales, J.C.'s Tacos (part of a micro-enterprise program for AFM), Jim O's organic juice sno-cones, Awad's hibiscus tea, Texas Coffee Traders, Rain Water, and Daily Juice's freshly prepared raw juices. Did you know that Republic Square Park hosts the Auction Oak where Stephen F. Austin auctioned off much of the downtown plats of Austin? Come make history with the farmers and other local small businesses to make the Austin Farmers' Market a living legend that keeps local dollars here and helps family farms stay in business.
Another new arrangement is having the merchandise tent and donor contribution area (Austin Farmers' Market, a project of Sustainable Food Center, is non-profit) right next to the Information Booth. That way, you can grab a 100% organic cotton Austin Farmers' Market shopping bag and/or t-shirt, get your market card stamped, and find out about the crops and farmers all at one spot!
Saturday, August 23rd, get ready for the "Some Like it Hot" Festival which highlights the vegetables and herb that do happen to flourish in the heat of the summer--peppers, okra, eggplant and basil! Come participate in fun plant-based competitions and win prizes! Children's and adult's categories of competition will start at 9 a.m. - Okra Baton Relay; 9:45 a.m., Mr./Ms. Eggplant Head contest; and Jalepeno Chili Eating Contest at 10:30 a.m. (adults only).
In the Austin Farmers' Market this week. . .
Vegetables: Tomatoes from just a few farmers, eggplant, some beginning fall cucumbers, peppers (sweet, hot, otherwise), great new fall zucchini and yellow squash, basil, sprouts, microgreens, onions, shallots, garlic, lots of okra, winter squash like acorn and butternut, and fresh herbs such as basil, oregano and mint.
Fruits: Gala apples!, peaches for maybe one more week, and pears. Watermelon is coming in from another region for about three weeks beginning August 23.
Meats: Austin Gourmet Gamebirds will be coming to the market in about a week! Grass-fed long-horn beef, and bison from conscientous ranchers (bison is out during much of August). Don't forget the eggs too. Ooops, Loncito's Lamb won't be coming in this week as planned because of some hardships. Thunderheart Bison is on the road and will be back soon!
Dairy: Pure Luck Grade A Dairy's national award-winning cheeses of chevre, farmstead, feta, and much more in delectible flavors with enhancements from their own organic certified herbs and vegetables.
Baked Goods: Breads, rolls, cookies, pizzas, brownies, granola and much more from four of Austin's best bakeries, Full Belly Bakery, Sweetish Hill, Texas French Bread, and Wildwood Art Café; and Giovanni Biscotti (out this week). Indian Hills Farm that makes organic granola will return in the fall.
Flowers: Sunflowers, salvia, gomphrena, rudbeckia, gladiolas, tuberoses, celosia, mixed bouquets, and zinnias. Lost Truffle Farm will be hunkering down in August and return to the market in September.
Plants and trees: Shade trees, plumerias, cacti, flowering plants, herbs, medicinal, and edible plants.
Assorted: Fresh squeezed all natural juices, herbal teas, fresh bottled rainwater (first in the nation), fresh brewed coffee, hibiscus mint tea, snow cones (a favorite in this hot weather!) with organic juice, new lunch sandwiches, Ethiopian wraps and dishes, breakfast tacos, Oxacan tamales, frozen traditional tamales, empanadas coming, pestos from farmers' produce, smoked salmon, jams and jellies, pickles, canned peppers and okra, honey, wheat free and other specialty dog treats.
Crafts and arts: Paintings, jewelry, wooden hand carved canes, painted furniture, Adirondack chairs, metal work, blown glass, soy candles, tie-died clothing, cigar box and cloth purses, and pottery.
Services: NEW CAFÉ AREA in the park by prepared food; Massage (ahhhh...); knife and scissor sharpening with valet (leave your knife at Alexander Farm booth and pick it up when you're done shopping); portraits by Isabel Goode-DeBlanc (ALL her revenues from the made-at-the-market portraits are donated to the Market - returning August 23); herbalists; and seated misting area by the band (courtesy Tank Town Rainwater).
Weekly fun: Live local bands play at the Market 9:30-11 (usually) and in the park; NO Chefs' Circle DEMONSTRATIONS IN AUGUST; Weekly drawing for Market Card winners at 9:45 a.m. where the Chefs' Circle usually is; and take home projects from Kids' Patch activities in the shade 9 - 11 a.m.
We are a growers-only market and the farmers only sell what they grow. Satisfy your connection to the food you eat and meet the farmers directly! Catch a television interview with one of the farm families on KLRU-TV--look for the times under Meet the Farmer section.
Thanks again to the generous contributions and partnerships with the Austin Museum of Art and Classified Parking (for the farmer truck area gratis), Safe Zone (for reduced street barricade fees), City of Austin and the Parks and Recreation Department (for reduced fees and security) and many more major sponsors in the downtown area and in the media. We also thank the hundreds of individual supporters who have become FOUNDERS of the Austin Farmers' Market to help us with the start up and continuing operating costs. We encourage you to jump on the scale and 'Weigh In' (give your support) and still take advantage of FOUNDERS t-shirts available with your tax-deductible contribution. And for all the 60+ volunteers, some of them coming weekly, Thank You!
posted August 13, 2003 | permanent link to this article
August 9, 2003
Apples in August? Yes, Kim McBride from Bat Creek Farm in Burnet County will be bringing in bushels full beginnning this Saturday and only for about a month.
The dog days of summer are shining upon farmers in Central Texas. It is in August and early September that farmers' crops from early summer come to an end and the fall crops struggle through the heat to get estalished for a future bountiful crop. In the late summer there is a lull in production and a hunkering down to think of good things to come. To learn to eat off the local food table of Central Texas farmers, it is important to realize the change in seasons and the struggles farmers go through in order to sell direct to you. Come on out to support the farmers as they bring out a little less, but still their own fresh, life-filled produce. You'll see some faces missing in the next few weeks, but they all will be back in full flourish in late September and October and some even sooner. Come early for the produce and stay longer for the baked goods and prepared foods, refreshing drinks, social time, songs in the market and the park, shade and crafts and great services like massages, knife sharpening and herbal remedies. You may even win the weekly drawing too, like Kathleen Richards did in this picture; be sure to use your Market Card every week! Our drawing this week features gift certificates from Malaga downtown, with chef Alex Duran's cuisine.
Saturday, August 23rd, get ready for the "Some Like it Hot" Festival which highlights the vegetables and herb that do happen to flourish in the heat of the summer--peppers, okra, eggplant and basil! Come participate in fun plant-based competitions and win prizes!
In the Austin Farmers' Market this week. . .
Vegetables: Tomatoes from just a few farmers, eggplant, last of cucumbers, peppers (sweet, hot, otherwise), tail-end of zucchini and yellow squash, second round of green beans, basil, purple and black-eyed peas, sprouts, microgreens, onions, shallots, garlic, okra, winter squash like acorn and butternut, and fresh herbs such as basil and mint.
Fruits: Gala apples!, peaches for maybe one more week, pears!, figs!, and very little melons.
Meats: Austin Gourmet Gamebirds will be coming to the market in about 2 weeks! Grass-fed long-horn beef, and bison from conscientous ranchers. Don't forget the eggs too. Look for Loncito's Lamb next week August 16th (he's alternating every other week.)
Dairy: Pure Luck Grade A Dairy's national award-winning cheeses of chevre, farmstead, feta, and much more in delectible flavors with enhancements from their own organic certified herbs and vegetables.
Baked Goods: Breads, rolls, biscotti, cookies, pizzas, brownies, granola and much more from four of Austin's best bakeries, Full Belly Bakery, Sweetish Hill, Texas French Bread, and Wildwood Art Café; and Giovanni Biscotti. Indian Hills Farm that makes organic granola will return in the fall.
Flowers: Sunflowers, salvia, gomphrena, rudbeckia, gladiolas, tuberoses, celosia, mixed bouquets, and zinnias. Lost Truffle Farm will be hunkering down in August and return to the market in September.
Plants and trees: Shade trees, plumerias, cacti, flowering plants, herbs, medicinal, and edible plants.
Assorted: Fresh squeezed all natural juices, herbal teas, fresh bottled rainwater (first in the nation), fresh brewed coffee, hibiscus mint tea, snow cones (a favorite in this hot weather!) with organic juice, new lunch sandwiches, Ethiopian wraps and dishes, breakfast tacos, Oxacan tamales, frozen traditional tamales, pestos from farmers' produce, smoked salmon, jams and jellies, pickles, canned peppers and okra, honey, wheat free and other specialty dog treats.
Crafts and arts: Paintings, painted furniture, Adirondack chairs, metal work, blown glass, soy candles, tie-died clothing, cigar box and cloth purses, apliqued clothing and wall hangings, and pottery.
Services: Massage (ahhhh...); knife and scissor sharpening with valet (leave your knife at Alexander Farm booth and pick it up when you're done shopping); portraits by Isabel Goode-DeBlanc (ALL her revenues from the made-at-the-market portraits are donated to the Market); herbalists; and seated misting area by the band (courtesy Tank Town Rainwater).
Weekly fun: Live local bands play at the Market 9:30-11 (usually) and in the park; NO Chefs' Circle DEMONSTRATIONS IN AUGUST; Weekly drawing for Market Card winners at 9:45 a.m. where the Chefs' Circle usually is; and take home projects from Kids' Patch activities in the shade 9 - 11 a.m.
We are a growers-only market and the farmers only sell what they grow. Satisfy your connection to the food you eat and meet the farmers directly!
And, Thank You!
posted August 5, 2003 | permanent link to this article
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