Did you get all the green beans canned this
summer that you want? If not, tomorrow’s
the day! Harmony Hill is having a green
bean sale – when buying 20 pounds or more, the price drops from $2.50 a pound
to $2 a pound. In other words, they have a lot of green beans.
There continues to be a wonderful selection of
fresh and local produce at the market. I don’t know why I feel compelled to
keep repeating that except that even after all these years, I find it
surprising.
I stopped by Green’s Greenhouse and Garden
just west of Galena this week to pick up some produce for my KSN segment with
Carol Parker. Tim is in the process of pulling his field plantings even though
they are still loaded with produce. He wants to get them ready for spring
planting.
I’ve never seen richer soil than his. Tim thinks the key to good
produce is healthy rich soil so he loads the soil with compost. He tells me
healthy soil equals healthy plants which not only produce fabulous veggies but
also can stand up to the stresses of disease, pests and inhospitable weather
better than plants malnourished from poor soil.
His three high tunnels are planted for the
present and the future. That’s where he’s getting hundreds of beautiful colored
sweet peppers. The cucumber vines growing 10 feet high explains those tubs of
cukes on his market table. His fall tomato plants will be ready for harvest in
a couple of weeks. The tunnel planted in strawberries will bear fruit in the
spring. We are expecting 10 very good farmers at the market tomorrow. The selection
will be wonderful.
Amos Apiaries will be at the market tomorrow. I’d
recommend stocking up. Jann tells me that this Saturday and Saturday, November
19, will be his last days. He’s retiring!
For those of you hungry for Harvest Hill’s
bacon and other tasty pork cuts, your long wait is over. They’ll be at the
market this Saturday and every Saturday until their supply runs out. The West
usually only raise five or six hogs which they have butchered all at once. My
guess is that they’ll be at the market for about three months (unless my
son-in-law Kit buys all their bacon). Don’t tell Kit, but I’m buying a cooler
load to take to him. I’m going to Denver to celebrate Halloween with grandson
Wyatt and I’ll be well received if I’m bearing Harvest Hill bacon!
Johnson Farm will also be at the market with
pork. They have developed quite a fan base since starting with us last spring. Sunny
Lane will have their all-natural chicken, lamb and beef. Sunny Lane is also
raising a few hogs so we will soon be in hog heaven. Center Creek Farm has
pheasant. Get it while you can. Like Harvest Hill they just butcher once a year
so the pheasant will likely be sold out by Christmas.
We should have plenty of farm fresh eggs,
wonderful baked goods, including the artisan breads of Redings Mill, plus
frozen tamales, kettle corn, jams and jellies, and frozen blueberries.
As we near Christkindlmarket – which starts
next Saturday – we’re adding a few crafters tomorrow – Rebecca Bristow with
jewelry and glass and metal art, JJ with painted gourds and jewelry, and Quilts
‘n Crafts by Leona.
Ricky McFarland will have his show cocker spaniels at the
market tomorrow for the last time this year – they’ve got shows to go to!
Magic and Sammie get more accustomed to crowds while our customers enjoy
petting them and learning about show dogs.
Stewart’s Bakery serves breakfast: sausage, eggs,
biscuits and gravy and hash brown casserole for $5 or a giant cinnamon roll for
$3. Either selection includes a choice of coffee or juice. Scott Eastman takes
the market stage.
Next Saturday (remember, no more weekday markets until April)
Stewart’s Bakery will serve
Who would have guessed that November and December would be some
of the market’s busiest and most abundant times!
