I would say at this point “just kidding” but I’m not. This is
an education center so all are welcome to come learn. Unskilled as I am, I
expect to be fully competent in high tunnel installation by the end of the
week, and I know the 10 farmers I’ve been working with will be too. We’re learning
from our Extension educators and the site mentor, Hector Troyer. As a bonus,
Randy Garrett, Lincoln University’s local livestock expert, taught us how to
deworm a cow and give a shot to a sick calf. Another bonus was that my
Australian grandchildren called on Facetime and I was able to give them a tour
of the high tunnels, and cows and chickens. It gave me major street cred,
especially the cows. Madeleine, the four year old, in return sang a new song
she had learned for a school performance – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – in
Italian. In her previous performance she learned to recite from memory a long
section of Shakespeare (All the world’s a stage…). Well, I, my dear, can deworm
a cow!
But enough about me. The market tomorrow is well worth a visit.
Santa will be at the market between 9 and noon and is hoping for lots of kids
to sit on his knee. It’s free, but bring your own camera.
Harmony Hill is serving chili with cornbread for only $3.50 a
serving. You can enjoy it in the heated pavilion or take it home. We have a
quartet from MSSU’s music department caroling tomorrow.
Minerva Candy Company returns with handmade candy canes in a
variety of flavors – peppermint, cinnamon, wintergreen and clove. Wonderful
Things makes their first appearance of the season with their carved walking sticks,
beaded pouches and other fanciful things. The Christkindlmarket will be full of
handcrafted goods.
Market Lady Carolyn Smith is serving pecans seasoned with
Cook’s Berry Junction Farm’s smoked salts. She’ll also have gift packaging
ideas for giving the pecans to friends. And we should have plenty of pecans. Misty
Morning Farm has cracked pecans in several sized bags. Fairhaven and Luman
Farms have picked out pecans. It may be the best market of the year for pecans.
We should have nine farms tomorrow with lots of fresh produce,
plus baked goods, jams and jellies (this may be Fairhaven’s last time at the
market this year, so tomorrow is the day to shop for jams and jellies), eggs, freshly
roasted coffee beans, frozen blueberries and blueberry syrup, raw food bars,
goat meat, beef, pork, pheasant and chicken, eggs, raw food bars, freshly
roasted coffee beans, honey, smoked flavored salts and frozen tamales.
Wait a minute – did I say farms with local produce? Yes, I did. You will see tables loaded tomorrow
with lettuce, kale, microgreens, turnips, radishes, green onions, tomatoes, cabbage,
kohlrabi, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cut herbs, peppers – hot and
sweet. Oh, yes, there will be fresh local produce. And with the all training
from our Winter Production Education Site, plus our Midwest Winter Production
Conference in January, we expect to have more farmers farming more successfully
next winter which means more produce for us. Life is good all year long here in
Webb City!
Next Saturday will have its charms as well. Our Santa next week
loves kids, but he especially loves animals. His favorite story is when he
posed with a very large boa constrictor!
Please don’t bring snakes to the market next week, but your more
traditional pets would be very welcome.
You’ll want to eat at the market again, when Mabel at Harmony
Hill brings chicken and noodles with garlic bread and the Mayfields from Ozark
put on their Christmas show. That will be our last Saturday market until
January 2, 2016 – we’ll be closed on December 26, but don’t forget the
Christmas Eve Market from 11 to 1 on Thursday, December 24th.
I never would have guessed ten years ago that December would be
one of my favorite months at the market. How about you?
