Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Webb City Sentinel market column - 11/15/17



The market will be open this Saturday, from 9 to noon, in the ENCLOSED and HEATED pavilion.  Who would have thought our farmers market would be busy as a cranberry merchant in November – in November!  

Saturday is the day to place your orders for the Holiday Market on Wednesday, November 22, when the market will be open in the pavilion from 11 to 1 pm.  This tradition of many years is your opportunity to fill your Thanksgiving table with local bounty.  Counting on pecan pie or leafy greens or dinner rolls or any of the other delights at the market, place your order with our bakers and growers this Saturday!

It will certainly be busy this Saturday because the tickets to the Polar Bear Express – the Book Version – will be available.  The tickets are free but required for a reserved spot.  The “Book Version” runs from 9 to noon on Saturdays, December 2, 9 and 16. It differs from the night time version sponsored by the Parks Department because, obviously, you can’t see the light show during the day but you and the kids can follow along while the Polar Express book is read.  The Library and Friends of the Library provide a book for each bench to use during the ride.  And, of course, during the day you can fully appreciate the decorations in the streetcar which is nice for me since it takes two days to festoon it in silver and blue tinsel and balls and bows. 

So stop by the information table on Saturday and pick up tickets for family and friends.  The ticket holds your spot until 10 minutes before departure time, then unfilled seats are released to folks without tickets.


Saturday is also the last day for shrimp until January.  Sales have been so brisk that farmer Mervyn Yoder has to wait for a new clutch to mature before he can harvest again. (Yes, I had to Google what you call a group of baby shrimp!)

It will be the last Saturday for apples.  My, they have been good this year.  I enjoyed a dish Allphin Orchard brought to our annual Harvest Meal for vendors and volunteers.  It was delicious which they attributed to the market honey in it, but local fresh apples was also key.
 Stewart’s Bakery will have breakfast – biscuit and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, hashbrown casserole and juice or coffee for $6, as well as chili for eat-in or take-away, $5/pint.

Scott Eastman performs.

Buffalo Creek will be in the Christkindlmarket Saturday.  That’s our lovely musician Lee Ann Sours who is also an exceptional weaver.  She usually only comes one time during the holidays because she can hardly weave fast enough to keep up with demand.  Photo is of a work in progress.  

And finally, don’t forget Empty Bowls is tomorrow.  

Lunch will be served from 11 am to 1:30 pm and dinner from 5 to 7:30 pm tomorrow at Phoenix Fired Art, 1603 South Main Street in Joplin.  For a minimum donation of $25, donors can select a handmade bowl and choose a serving of soup donated by 21 local restaurants.  Additional servings can be selected for a donation. Funds raised go to Crosslines, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Watered Garden’s and the market’s WIC program and partnership with Feed the Heart food pantry in Carterville.  Feed your body, eye and soul!  (We do that a lot at the market.) 

See you Saturday!