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It was a great day! Check back for news about the 7/25/15 market day, and click HERE for pictures from the 7/18/15 market day.
We are looking forward to another great market day, with Tower Root Beer making another visit, Bondat Foods and 7ate9 Bakery back to their biweekly schedule, more freshly picked produce than ever from our local farmers, and great banjo music by the award-winning Ed Britt and Don Borchelt.

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Ed Britt and Don Borchelt will be back for their first visit of the season, playing five-string banjo duets in the old-time clawhammer and three finger styles of banjo picking. Ed and Don are both multiple past winners of the annual Lowell Fiddle and Banjo Contest. They can often be found busking during the warm months in Harvard Square and at local farmers markets.

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Miss Holly will be in the center tent this week and plans to start her cooking demonstration around 10:15. As always, she will use fresh produce and products purchased that morning at the market. Holly always provides samples to try, and children really love her style. I have seen kids ask their parent to buy arugula or another unexpected request after trying one of Holly’s recipes. Last week Holly made a delicious, no-cook summer vegetable salad with a honey maple wine vinaigrette and a grilled cheese sandwich using ginger chevre, with chocolate and caramel sauce. Out of this world. And so easy! All recipes are posted on our website and available as handouts at the market. For more about Holly, see thesoulchef.com

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NEWSFLASH:  The Roasted Granola will NOT be here this week but will be back again next week for the rest of the season except for 8/15.

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Our non-profit table will feature folks from local CPA firm Tonneson + Co publicizing and signing folks up for the 3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk around Lake Quannapowitt  taking place on Sunday July 26, 2015 to benefit our Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry’s Kids First program. This program provides extra food items to help replace the free or reduced meals provided during the school year. Do be sure to stop by to learn about the event and thank the good folks at Tonneson for their good works.

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As (almost) always, our Yarrow will be with us with his magical balloon creations, and there will of course be hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, and jump ropes on hand for kids of all ages. If you are interested in organizing a chalk drawing or hula hoop contest or exhibition, let us know. Really!

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And, before we go on, don’t forget:
Volunteers ALWAYS welcome and needed.
You can sign up here for spots and tasks throughout the entire season.

As of Friday early afternoon, we still need  one person for the general table help 11-1 shift (this would be a great introduction to volunteering at the market), and we could use one more person each for set up and breakdown, as well as someone to fetch the signs at the highway exits and around the lake. Note: The sign fetching is a good “partners” project: one to drive, the other to jump out and back in quickly with the signs. 

Thank you to: Alison, Doug, Jackie, Janice, and Marietta for already signing up for7/18/15! Click HERE  to learn about all the volunteer opportunities. Thank you all!

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We like to remind folks that, along with accepting credit and debit cards, we also proudly welcome SNAP/EBT transactions in exchange for “Market Bucks.” Our market continues to match SNAP/EBT purchases up to $10 per visit so all of our neighbors can afford to eat healthy local foods. Just stop by the Market Manager Tent to get your Market Bucks.

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Our market will continue participating in the Plant A Carrot Campaign, a program designed to help farmers markets raise funds as well as raise awareness of farmers and farmers markets all across the country.  “Carrots” will be available for sale ($5 each) all season at the market. To learn more and to get your very own Carrot, be sure to stop by the Market Manager tent!

Now, here’s what you’ve been waiting for – this week’s vendors! Patty and Nate Sr. will be back, bringing Charlton Orchards wide variety of farm products, from freshly picked veggies and berries to beef and eggs, fresh cider, and wine made from their orchard fruits. Kelly’s Farm expects to have their corn this week, and Farmer Dave’s will have corn, as well, and they both will have a plethora of freshly picked veggies, greens, and berries on handFlats Mentor Farm will have Asian greens, daikon radish, pea tendrils, basil and mint, and more. I hope they will have Yu Choy again this week –it is really good raw, steams, or in soups. In fact, is my new favorite veggie.The Fish Lady will be here with freshly caught, local seafood from Reds Best. Each pack is labeled with the name of the fisherman who actually caught it. You can learn more about this innovation local company, and the fishermen, at redsbest.com.Copicut Farms has their own pork, along with tasty chicken and eggs, and Lilac Hedge Farm will be here this week, with a lovely assortment of beef, pork, poultry, and eggs. We are hoping they bring some honey this week, as well since, as noted above, The Roasted Granola will NOT be with us this week.For the most amazing handcrafted hard and soft cheeses from goat, cow, and sheep milk, including my favorite marinated feta, West River Creamery is the place to shop. All of the meats, poultry, eggs, and cheese from our farmers are from pasture-raised animals.Ackermann’s Maple Farms will be with us this week, as will Bondat Foods, with their truly amazing rubs and seasonings. They are all great, but the chocolate on beef is my current favorite.For great pasta, along with pesto, marinara sauce, and fresh mozzarella, visit Fior D’Italia, and for the best Middle Eastern food around, stop by Samira’s Homemade – the latter perfect for picnic fare.

The Popover Lady will have fruit pies and sweet and savory popovers, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery will have their awesome artisan breads, including their superb sourdough loaf, and Swiss Bakers will have all sorts of breads and baked goodies, as well as sandwiches.  As always, see Goodies Homemade for the very best of cookies.

Vermont Gourmet Candy Dish will have their most delectable dessert sauces, unique jams combining sweet and savory flavors, and the very best of horseradish. And, for the best salsa and salsatina (pea pesto) be sure to visit  the In Good Taste (Pam’s Salsa) tent.

Tower Root Beer is back for their second visit of the season with the best root beer and more. You have to try their ginger beer. They also have great ginger ale and cream soda. And, Downeast Cider is back for their biweekly visit, with handcrafted hard cider made right in Charlestown MA from locally grown ingredients.

7ate9 Bakery WILL be back this week! You will find them next to Pour Man’s Coffee with amazing cheesecakes. For a quick snack, try their luscious frozen cheesecake pop. Just the right size for tasty treat. You can order online and pick up at the market! 7ate9bakery.com

As always, you can get most excellent hot and cold Fair Trade coffee and tea, as well as thirst-quenching fruit concoctions from Pour Man’s Coffee. They also have rotating assortment of really unique and totally delicious baked treats. You can also purchase their special blend of Dean’s Beans Fair Trade coffee by the 1 pound bag.

All About Corks is back with whimsical, decorative creations from recycled cork, and Salem Street Beadery will be here with lovely jewelry and more, much of which is made from beach glass, shells, and other finds from nature.

Our super soap makers Kaleidoscope Soap and Wicked Good Soap, each with their unique line of products, will also be here, as will Doug Heath and Alison Simcox with their books about local destinations Lake Quannapowitt, Breakheart Reservation, and The Fells.

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