Greetings Market Friends,
Judging from the drastic increase in the mercury level, I guess summer is here. But even if you do not have a thermometer, the sauna like heat and hits you in the face when you step out the door would have been notice enough. I do declare, the last two days have been scorchers!
Please note that a most important event of the summer is upon us – the Urban Farms Tour. You will see some links and more details in the KCCUA portion of the newsletter below. Several of our vendors are on the tour. This is your chance to see where your food comes from. Pretty cool, huh? You won’t get that from supermarket selections—unless you fly to California or Hawaii. There are also several great educational sessions in addition to the farm tours that you can take in. Check out the link and see the many options. You can also buy your tickets at the KCCUA tent at the market.
As always we look forward to seeing you every Saturday from April through October from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the heart of Brookside at the corner of 63rd and Wornall. Also, check us out at www.farmerscommunitymarket.com.
See you Saturday!
Franki
Now from our vendors:
From Blue Door Farm:
I know we farmers have spent alot of time this year talking about the vast quantities of rain this spring, so I will spare you all my thoughts on the deluge/downpour/gully-washers that sent cataracts/flash floods/washouts tearing through my field, taking many a newly planted seed with them. I won't mention a thing. Nary a word. No need to thank me.
I will happily report that some crops are doing well, and I'll be bringing more of the popular italian broccoli, conveniently sized cabbages, scallions, freshly dug potatoes and more.
See you Saturday!
Laura
From Bear Creek Farm:
Another wet week with 4 inches of rain plus 70 mile an hour winds on Monday night. We got to spend most of Tuesday cleaning things up, though there are still tree limbs and such to deal with. This summer just gets more fun every day!
This week at market we'll have loads of broccoli, bright orange and snow white cauliflower, baskets full of sweet, sweet red and white Candy onions, purple, pink and yellow new potatoes, fabulous spring garlic, piles of kales and swiss chard, and, as always, many things I can't think of while sitting here writing.
Jim and Laine will be manning the tent at market this week. Hope you all have a cool dry Saturday (I can dream!).
Robbins and Jim
Laine
From the KC Center for Urban Agriculture:
What a week! Rain, wind, heat, humidity! Some really glorious sun, some really grey clouds! We’re glad to see some settled weather in the forecast, our boots are sprouting mushrooms and moss is growing in the high tunnels J
We want to invite everyone to come to the Kansas City Urban Farms & Gardens Tour. The tour is Sunday, June 28, from 10:00-5:00, and it showcases urban farms, charitable and educational gardens, community gardens, and some truly impressive “urban homesteads” all over the metro area. It is a self-directed tour, so look at all the sites on the tour and the overview map, and you can put together a tour to visit the sites that tickle your fancy. A number of the market vendors are on the tour- Ambrose Bee Pharm, Blue Door Farm, Drumm Farm Garden, our own farm, and the New Roots for Refugees farms (though they aren’t selling at the market quite yet- they’ll be here soon!) The tour website is www.urbanfarmstourkc.org.
In advance of the tour, we’ve also got a lively slate of activities planned, including a movie showing of “Mad City Chickens” about urban chickens in Milwaukee (we just can’t resist the title, let alone the topic) at the All Soul’s UU Church on Tuesday, June 23. Wednesday, June 24, is “Eat out Local and Eat Out Responsibly” night. If you go eat at the Bluebird Bistro, http://www.bluebirdbistro.com/, Eden Alley Café, www.edenalley.com/, Renee Kelly’s, www.reneekellys.com/ or Chipotle on 39th & Bell, www.chipotle.com each of these restaurants will generously donate a percentage of the proceeds to KCCUA. There is much more, visit the website and see what suits you.
At the market this weekend, you can buy tickets to the tour, and you can also feed yourself well all week long from the KC Community Farm’s bounty! We’ll have beautiful SUGAR SNAP PEAS, FAVA BEANS, SUMMER SQUASH of all types, CUCUMBERS, SPRING GARLIC (oh my this is the best garlic ever!), FENNEL, CABBAGE, MICRO MIX, SALAD MIX, HEAD LETTUCE (very very pretty and tasty), CHARD, KALE, HERBS, ARUGULA, CARROTS, TURNIPS, RADISHES, and BEETS. The featured veggies for the week however are TOMATOES! both cherry and slicers and NEW POTATOES, which cook up so incredibly tasty and melty.
It looks like a beautiful day on Saturday- we’ll see you then!
From Bread of Life Bakery:
Hello from Bread of Life Bakery,
The hot weather is here this week so we will have to remember to drink lots of water in the Bakery. Josiah and Bethany spent today working in the garden and it was hot work also. The ground is still very wet so weeding is done with care. Josiah is also waiting to mow hay but the weather is not cooperating for that project. I guess he will have to get some other task done until the rain stops for a few days.
Our breakfast burritos and coffee will be available for the market with greens from market added to the burritos and Benedict Builders sausage for the sausage and egg burritos. Our usual Whole Grain breads, specialty breads, homemade jams and jellies, cookies, scones and granolas will be available so stock up for the week.
Luke, Chris and Kathy
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Farmers' Community Market at BrooksideSaturdays, 8am to 1pm
under the white tents at theBorder Star Montessori School
63rd & Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64113 << Map it!
The Farmers' Community Market at Brookside is Dedicated toCreating a Unique Partnership between the Community andFarmers who provide High Quality, Local and Organic Productsin an atmosphere that is mutually beneficial, wholesome and fun.The Market also helps to support the Border Star PTA.