Monday is Labor Day and we will celebrate Saturday
with our annual Facebook parade of photos of those who labor at the market. Our
volunteer Karen photographs the workers at each booth, as well as the market volunteers,
staff, and musician.
Of course, we can’t photograph everyone who
labors at or for the market in one day. Cooking for a Cause typically involves
over 150 volunteers every year and we have many who volunteer with the free
kids meal or at the information desk or help with set up or take down. We have over
20 musicians who play. Our master gardeners who run the kids garden club and
who help in our Kids Community Garden won’t be there, nor will the Extension
specialists and educators who work with our farmers and customers. Or all the
city employees and council who include the market in their efforts. So we take
this opportunity now to honor their labor and the impact they have on the
market. 
As you relax on Monday, take a moment to
remember the farmers who will be laboring in the fields.
Tomorrow is our last Thursday market. We will
continue the Tuesday market through September and possibly October depending on
the weather and whether the produce is still pouring in and on the number of
customers.
Stewart’s Bakery will serve a choice of
hamburger or hot dog with chips for $5, fried chicken salad and fruit salad for
$5 each.
The extension nutritionists will show us how
to make apple sauce.
Just Jake and Corky are on the market stage.
On Saturday Cooking for a Cause benefits We
Care of the Four States food pantry. Stewart’s Bakery will have chicken and
noodles with a roll for eat-in or take out, $5/pint. The Sassy Salad Gals will have
BLT salad for $6, and fruit cups and berry parfaits for $3 each.
Stop by the southwest corner of the pavilion
to sample Terrell Creek’s award-winning goat cheese smothered in Fair Haven’s
jalapeno jam.
And you are in for a special musical
experience on Saturday. Robert Bruce Scott is stopping by during his annual Midwest
tour. He always comes up with something special, one year it was the music of
Simon and Garfunkel, another it was all Broadway, and another it was classics
from everywhere and every time. It helps that Robert can sing in 34 different
languages, including Ewok and Klingon.
He’s tapping into Sci-Fi this year with his
theme – KEYBORG. For those who are not fans of Star Trek the Next Generation,
the borg, who thankfully are fictional characters, are part carbon-based, as in
human, and part machine. Robert describes his solo performance as being on
guitar, mandolin and a small mountain of keyboards. I think the implication is
that he will be one with his instruments. I doubt my description is adequate,
just come enjoy.
The Kids Community Garden is back in action today.
Students are walking two blocks from first grade to see the potatoes dug up. They
planted them last spring as kindergarteners. We’re hoping for some impressive
spuds but frankly with all the rain we’ve had the potato section looks like a
very healthy crop of weeds. We’ll see if there’s treasure under those weeds. (Yes! There were potatoes and it was very exciting!)
In the afternoon the middle schoolers will
have their first turn at the garden. Their task is to clear the east third of
the garden where the potatoes were dug so it can be tilled. Next Wednesday
after school they will sow a cover crop there and learn about the benefits of
taking care of your soil. There’s lots to be learned in a garden – like discipline,
planning, stewardship, and cooperation.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful market
week. I hope you will join us.
