One of the great pleasures of summer is the predominance of farmers markets. Tents and tables spring up like sugar snap peas and leaf lettuce across these burbs. Open air produce markets can be found on any given day hereabouts, with fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and plants, artisanal cheeses and fresh bakery items all for the picking.
I visited my first market on Wednesday.
It is still early in the midwest for most produce, and we have had a very long and dry spell without any rain, which doesn’t bode well for crops like corn and beans and pumpkins and such. The cool weather crops, however, seem to have done well, as evidenced by all of the berries being sold. I snatched up a quart of some Michigan grown strawberries, and then there was the blueberry man . . .
Thursday’s breakfast was this big bowl of freshness, glistening in the sun, reminding me of my two favorite “berry” kids. Kezzie and Jake, my granddaughter and grandnephew, love their berries more than anything else, especially Jake who prefers berries to birthday cake. Go Jake!
Here’s to farmers markets. May they continue to rise up from the pavement and bring wholesome goodness to us city folk.
What have you been picking up, or out of the ground, lately?
Not anything out of the ground yet for me, but I’m looking forward to a little later in the summer when the kohlrabi and peas are ready for picking. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the homemade breads at the farmer’s market, perhaps a little too much. My eggs come from the farm across the bridge. Love the light on your bowl of berries. God bless the blueberry man.
I meant to buy some kohlrabi and then didn’t get back to the stall selling it, Teresa. Oh what tasty pleasures you will have when yours are ready for the picking. Ah, the baked goods; there are French nuns who bake all sorts of heavenly things through the night and bring the most delectable of treats to the markets in the morning. They support local endeavors with the proceeds. If I don’t make eye contact with one of the sisters, I’m safe.
This looks and sounds great. One of my great friends in Wisconsin looks forward, eagerly to the pick your own strawberry season….and her strawberry pies are to die for. I also have a great passion for Door County cherries. Enjoy it all. J.x
It is sweet bliss, Janice. Door County cherries are so wonderful and oh the pies and cobblers that they make. We haven’t been up to Door County in ever-so-long. Must remedy that. Thanks for mentioning it.
Such a luscious breakfast with an artistic color contrast!
We have fresh berries also and watermelons. Soon we will have tomatoes, squash and peaches.
Have you ever had a fried green tomato??? We live close to the Whistle Stop Cafe of Fannie Flagg fame.
Yes! I have had fried green tomatoes. We read the book a good many years ago and that month’s hostess, Sharon, made them for us. They were so good, Marilyn. How fun that you live near the Whistle Stop Cafe.
I just came home with a watermelon. They aren’t ready here by a long stretch, but they looked so good I couldn’t help myself. Your season is so much earlier and longer than ours. Enjoy it all, Marilyn.
We have had the opposite of a dry spell, Penny, and it’s hard to harvest anything. But I have picked rhubarb. I love this stuff: tastes heavenly, and is so easy to prepare for puree or snow or crumble. I wish I had a whole field of the stuff.
Your berries look so appetising!
I know you have had so much rain, Kate. We are in a drought, which doesn’t bode well for local crops and it is even worse in central Illinois. I’m just trying to enjoy that which comes our way.
They are almost gone, Kate – except the blueberries. The blueberry man sells them in boxes, frozen, and they are like eating candy. In fact, I need some right now. tee hee
Those berries look delectable! I love them too, especially blueberries. The farmers’ markets are so good to visit. I hope you enjoy many more ‘bowls of freshness’ – what a perfect way to describe them. I think you have definitely found your muse again.
Oh, thank you, Juliet. You always make me feel good about my writing and I appreciate it. Blueberries are wonderful. One of the vendors, the blueberry man, has introduced us to eating blueberries frozen. You would be surprised how tasty it is – especially in winter when they aren’t in season.
I shut my eyes to the price and bought cherries last weekend. Not for pies but just to eat. We’ve had new potatoes and corn from our garden. Soon will have more corn than we can eat. It sure is good though!
Our little town’s farmer’s market is Thursday evening. The Mennonites always have a long line for what they are selling – breads etc. Looked like quite a crowd last night.
I almost did the same thing today, Joyce. Right now, the Ranier cherries are in the stores here. They are so good and only around for a short time. They were a bit expensive, so I passed, but maybe . . .
Is there anything that says summer better than corn on the cob? We’re so dry here in Illinois, I’m not sure how good of crop we will get this year.
There is only one evening farmer’s market near here, Joyce, and I enjoy it, walking when it is cooler than the heat of the day. I can only imagine what wonderful bakery items the Mennonites sell. Around here, we have French nuns. I can resist them as long as I don’t make eye contact; then I feel guilty and buy something.
Not a lot round here, it’s too early for anything except strawberries. But they are delicious and well worth havig for every kind of meal, not just breakfast.
We had strawberries with our evening meal tonight, Friko. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Strawberries came and went here so quickly. I noticed that mulberries are on the tree so I am guessing my wild raspberries are ripe. I have been so busy I hope I haven’t missed them. It is a bit of a climb to get to them. The blackberries will come later, but we are concerned about the drought making our berries less juicy. We will see. Your breakfast looks yummy.
Tom’s been shaking the mulberries off of our trees here, Janet. They are so sweet, aren’t they? I hope you find some of the raspberries to eat before the birds get to them. All the ramifications from no rain. We have huge cracks in the soil now. I can only imagine the toll this is taking in your area.
It was a very yummy in the tummy breakfast.
I didn’t know it had been so dry on the Cutoff, Penny! What is that about? Here’s the east coast practically under water…there’s no way to plan, is there! The berries are wonderful and both strawberries and blueberries are all over our farmer’s markets, too. And tomorrow morning I go to pick up my produce box and I have blackberries coming! I’m quite excited about that. I love them with greek yogurt! We need to simply feast on these berries while we can! Have a good weekend, my friend! Debra
There isn’t, Debra. I walked around a pond yesterday a few miles from here and it was sad to see how low it was. Our farmers will have a very rough time of it this year, I fear. I so enjoy eating what is in season-which is exactly what you will be doing. I hope you will share with us what your produce box yields. Oh, gosh, blackberries with Greek yogurt. My mouth is watering here. Enjoy, dear Debra!
Those berries look so ripe and delicious! I think I’ve mentioned before how much I love chine teacups and pictures of them just grab my eye!
I know you do, Janet. We really should have some proper tea together one day. Come fall, perhaps, when you are back from your Irish cottage. The berries are just about gone here – except all the frozen ones from the blueberry man.
Dear Penny, this posting so fits with where I am right now with regard to my life. That is, I’m trying to decide whether moving back to Minnesota at age 76 is wise or unwise. And part of that decision has to do with gardening. I’d given it up in the last three years because of health problems, but now I want to begin again. I love working with soil and plants–both vegetables and perennials. And yet I know I can garden here as well as there.
I’m in somewhat of a conundrum about moving. It’s at times like this that I wish there were a “deus ex machina” that would descend from the heavens and say, “Dee, do this! This way leads to true contentment and happiness. It will bring meaning into your life and fulfill you.” Ha! Ha!
Nothing like that is going to happen. The decision rests with me. I’m grappling with it but finding no sure path. If you have any visualizations or prayers or good vibes or thoughts, Penny, please send them my way.
Ah, Dee, there have been many-a-time in my life were I wished for a “deus ex machina” to fall from the heavens! How I wish I had an answer for you. I’m a praying sort, so that, with good thoughts, are sent your way.
I’m sure that gardening is only one component to your conundrum. Perhaps holding on for a year or so to wade out this season of your life as you decide what to do next would be of benefit. I promise you I will think on about this . . .
There is a remarkable garden that was started by parishioners at a church near here. It is a fairly large sized garden plot on the church grounds and is maintained by a group of like-minded volunteers. The produce they grow is donated to local food pantries. I believe they have been doing it for three years and it has grown in its scope. I’m wondering if something like a community garden would be a good way to garden, get your fingers dirt, etc.
One thing I want to start doing here is to establish a few raised beds on our property. As a result of a nasty car accident a few years ago, I am no longer able to get down on my knees as I used to. I’ve seen some very inspiring “enabling” gardens that I would like to establish as I look to the future.
Oh, Dee, you have me on a roll here and I’ve just about written another post in my reply. Sorry.
My daughter’s grandkids (I thought I’d word it a little different) are coming for a month’s visit in Oregon — the 4-yo asked her if the berries had blued yet. (They love picking blueberries — so do !).
” . . . if the berries had blued yet.” That’s a wonderful quote, Salllie, right up there with Ratty and Pooh Bear. Won’t you have fun with your daughter’s grandkids when they come! It is so heartening to think of all of the generations you shepherd with your family. Make sure you take of photo of those blueberries when they blue.