April showers bring May flowers. I learned that in grade school, and I hang on to that hope as we tough out the rainy week. Saturday, however, is supposed to be rain free. And it will make a great day for checking out the market to see what new treasures spring has given us. Also, the Brookside Annual Art Fair is this weekend. So, make a day of it and peruse the art and shop for your organic goodies. Just keep that in mind as you plan your driving route and parking this Saturday.
This week we will have another special treat: The zoo will be at the market tent this weekend talking about their efforts to preserve wildlife for future generations, and how you all can get involved. They will be handing out literature about the Zoo and its mission here in the Kansas City area. Good stuff.
As always, we look forward to seeing you each Saturday at 63rd and Wornall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit us on the web at www.farmerscommunitymarket.com
See you Saturday!
Franki
Now from our vendors ...
From Bear Creek Farms:
Another wet week here but lots of signs of summer headed our way. The quail have started their bob-whiting, the bull frogs are in full chorus, the turtles are crossing the roads, and the lilacs are in full bloom - and full smell! The only worrisome thing - other than having fields too wet to farm - is that the whip-poor-wills have yet to arrive and usually they are here on the 14th of April. I wonder where they might have gone.
And - tis the time to plant tomatoes! We'll bring lots to the market. As always we are growing hundreds of varieties of heirloom tomato plants, so you'll have many to choose from - orange, yellow, red, pink, purple, black, green and striped. Nothing says summer quite like your own home grown sun-warmed tomato!
Along with plants we'll have asparagus, leeks, green onions and rhubarb. It's not a lot, but soon things will dry up and there will be a bounty of fresh vegetables at market!
See you all Saturday,
Robbins and Jim
From Blue Door Farm:
If only I had decided to grow umbrella plants this season, I'd be in clover. :)
Saturday is looking good though - so I'll be at market this Saturday with salad mix, more lovely swiss chard, golden frill mustard bunches, red (and green!) head lettuce, garlic chives (the perfect addition to scrambled eggs) and, best of all: the first of the spring garlic!
I'll also be back with more herb, vegetable and flower transplants for your garden, yard and patio. The nasturtiums won't stop blooming and I'll have more colorful hanging baskets. Gardeners - now is the time to plant those tomatoes, basil, peppers and eggplants! If you haven't planted your broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage or then hop to - spring is underway and hot summer days are just around the corner.
Hope to see you Saturday!
Laura
From Bread of Life Bakery:
Hello Brookside Market,
We are in hopes of no rain this week but the forecast does not look good for Josiah to plant. The rain seems to keep coming. Maybe the rain will not come on Saturday at least.
Josiah will be bringing eggs this week since he will be able to sell at Brookside Market this year. We are raising a new batch of chickens to add or replace some of our old ones. Every March we love to get new chicks and raise them for our egg production. This year we will raise Rhode Island Reds, Delaware,Buff Orpingtons, Araucanas, and Barred Rock. It is fun to see the chicks grow and run around in the yard during the day pecking at the ground and chasing each other.
Thankfully the rain does not hinder our baking much, we just have to compensate for change of weather on the bread in other ways. This week we will have Vegan Brownies, Pretzels, Vegan Scones, Vegan Crumb Cakes, Cookies, and assorted breads. Asiago Spinach Cheese bread is great with a salad or a bowl of homemade soup. Our Meat Burritos will have Benedict Builders sausage,potaotes, onions and our farm fresh eggs. The Vegetarian Burritos will feature spinach and potato.
Come by and warm up with a cup of Puddin' Head Coffee. And say "Hi" to Luke and Chris.
Luke, Chris and Kathy
From the KC Center for Urban Agriculture:
Fish farming. We’re thinking about fish farming. And maybe rice. We’ve heard that rice grows well in big puddles of water like we’ve got at the bottom of our field. Alternatively, we could open up a spa that specializes in herbal mud wraps. Mmmmm, I bet running a spa is a much mellower activity than beating back the weeds in June.
On the other hand, rainbow chard is much lovelier than rainbow trout. I prefer my herbs chopped into a nice spring salad. And nobody eats better than a vegetable farmer, so I guess it is all a moot point. We’re vegetable farmers, for good, bad, and everything in between, so don’t come to the market looking for KCCUA fish, but do come looking for our spring veggies!
The harvest list is long- but I want to start out with the BROCCOLI RAAB. If you think of raab as being bitter, think again. These greens are wonderful. They will wake up your palate after a long winter of grocery store vegetables. Our SPRING MIX is also a delight, I’ve been eating huge bowls of it every night, with a bit of grated cheese and hard-boiled local eggs. And we’ve got CARROTS (we’ll harvest more this week so we don’t run out by 9:00) and BEETS and SCALLIONS and RADISHES and SWISS CHARD and KALE and ARUGULA (ditto on the harvesting more) and nice new baby TURNIPS. And we’ll have the first harvest of CHINESE BROCCOLI, a small heading broccoli that is great eating.
Oh, and we’ll have Oak Ridge Farm’s Shiitake Mushrooms, too! Alan said they are exploding out of the mushroom logs, with all this rain, and they are good-good.
Transplants- we have lots of plants that are just ready to get out into your home gardens. Tomatoes (we’ve got some really nice ones in gallon pots) and peppers and eggplant and herbs and more. We know the weather is going to dry up next week, so we’ll all be out madly planting to try to catch up. (What is the point of having the earliest tomatoes on the block if it is August??) Come and have faith that spring and summer will soon be here, and we’ll all be eating ripe tomatoes with a dash of salt and crunching our teeth through beautiful peppers!
See you Saturday,
Katherine, and the rest of the fine crew
From Wells Family Farm:
Hi Everybody,
Well I am not sure when we will dry out but it sure is growing around us. Beautiful and green as only spring can be! We will be at market on Saturday with our nutritious beef, Diatomaceous earth, soybeans (dried) and red clover/burdock seeds. Then to keep you out door time pleasant, our bug repellant, made with natural cold pressed oils and mineral oil really does work. And it has a pleasing scent to men and women both.
Come see us and enjoy a great day out with your local farmers.
Kim & Sharon
From Green Dirt Farm:
So much rain! In a few days the morels will be popping. The ewes are eating lush Brome grass and early clovers as well as new tender sprigs of nettle and locust and buck brush. Their forages give their milk and our cheese the flavor of spring. Come out to the market this Saturday and have a taste. We will have all of our aged cheeses and most flavors of our fresh cheese. We are low on lamb cuts, so email us if there is something specific that you'd like us to reserve for you. We hope to see you there!
Sarah
www.greendirtfarm.com
Saturdays, 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 to
Creating a Unique Partnership between the Community and
Farmers who provide High Quality, Local and Organic Products
in an atmosphere that is mutually beneficial, wholesome and fun.
The Market also helps to support the Border Star PTA.
The Market is located in the Heart of Brookside where many Unique Shops and Restaurants are nearby to explore and spend a delightful Saturday afternoon.
The Market has a lively mix of Local and Certified Organic Farmers who provide Freshly-picked Vegetables, Fragrant Herbs, Juicy Sweet Fruit, Edible and Cut Flowers. Our Farmers use Sustainable and Humane practices to produce hormone and antibiotic-free Meat, Free-Range Eggs and Honey products.
The Market also features Organic Freshly-Prepared Artisan Food, including fresh hot Breakfast Burritos, and fresh hot fair-trade and locally roasted Coffee, Baked Goods including Pies, Assorted Breads, Cinnamon Rolls, Granola Cereals, Cookies, Brownies, Squares, including many Vegan varieties, Gluten-free and much more.
Organic Hand-Crafted Soap and Artists with unique handmade crafts complement our market.
There are weekly events at the market tent including live music, children's activities and cooking demonstrations by local chefs, which feature samples and seasonal recipes.
Tables and Chairs are here to Relax, enjoy some of our Tasty Breakfast Treats or Sit to Visit with your Friends. Some Upcoming Special Events:
- Herb Festival is May 9
- Flower Festival June 27
- Tomato Festival is July 25
- Children's Festival is Aug. 15
- Fall Festival is Oct. 10
- Closing Day is Oct. 24
Thanks for your support of our market.
