Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market

Newsletter for Friday, November 16, 2012

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THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT

This week we are delighted to introduce Carriage House Farm and Kate Cook, the farm's garden manager. Carriage House Farm is an Ohio Century Farm, established in 1855.  The farm is located in North Bend, Ohio less than twelve miles from LEWFM.  Now that is really local.  A quote from their website clearly shows their commitment to helping us Live a More Sustainable Life: 

We are helping lead the way to a new food culture in the Greater Cincinnati region by moving from GMO mono-crops to small specialty grains, fresh produce, and farming based on polyculture and sustainability.  The fresh vegetables, herbs, honey, and grain we produce is available at various markets.

 

Kate attended our market for the first time last Friday where she and all the products she brought were a big hit, some of which we have never had at LEWFM:  wheat berries, corn meal, polenta, just to name a few.  Not only did Kate supply market shoppers with great food items, she also explained how to use some of the items that were new to us.  Kate explained that we can use Carriage House Farm wheat berries as we would rice or barley.  She did caution, though, that they need to be cooked a bit longer.  

Kate also encouraged customers to use all parts of the produce; for example, even the greens of the radishes can be used as a cooking green.  Kate made many customers very happy last Friday and we look forward to her return this week, and throughout the winter market season.  When you visit Kate at market you might want to also congratulate her for being one of the honorees of the recent "Celebration of Women Farmers" held at Grailville.  We at LEWFM are truly fortunate to have such a multi-talented addition to our lineup of Very Valued Vendors.  

NOTICES          

• Mohr Animal Acres will be at market November 16, November 30th, and every other week thereafter.
• Yellow Creek Weavers will not be at market this week.  They will return on November 30th.
• Evergreen Holistic Learning Center will be at market November 16th, November 30th, and December 14.  Watch this newsletter for their schedule for 2013.
• Remember to fill out your free raffle ticket each week at the Market Management booth.  At the end of market day the last Friday of each month during the winter market (Nov. through April) we will draw a ticket and the lucky customer will win $20 in Market Bucks, which they can use at any of the vendor booths (no expiration date).  And, as a way to introduce more people to LEWFM, customers who bring new folks to the market will receive one additional raffle ticket for each new person they "bring" to market (they don't actually have to come in your car).
• There will be no market Friday, November 23 (the day after Thanksgiving).  Market will resume on Friday, November 30. 

THANKS TO THOSE WHO HELP US EAT WELL 
During a conversation with "Jenny the Pie Lady" (of Angela's Homemade Pies) at last Friday's market, she said she would like to thank all the local growers who supplied many of the ingredients she uses in her pies and other baked goods.  Jo the Jam Lady got in on the conversation too because she also sources many of her ingredients locally.  We decided to use this newsletter as a way to publicly thank some of the people who help us Eat Well.  Following is a list of local growers and some of the items both Jenny and Jo purchased from them: 

Hollmeyer’s Orchard (Green Twp.)

         Apples and peaches

     Schering’s Orchard (Colerain twp.)

          Apples and peaches

     Backyard Orchard (Rising Sun)

         Apples, peaches and grapes

     Charlotte’s (Batesville)

         Blackberries

      Pat Knebel (Green Twp.) and Ed Lohman (Batesville)

         Grapes

     Minges Greenhouse and Farm (Harrison)

          Pumpkins

     Charles & Roena Moore (Burlington)

          Pumpkins

     Jenny's brother, Jamie (Colerain Twp.)

         Honey and sweet potatoes

     The Hen House (Green Twp.)

         Eggs

     Mohr Animal Acres (Urbana, OH)

         Maple syrup 

     Village General (Price Hill)

         Black Walnuts

     Carriage House (North Bend

         Corn meal
Karen Arnet (Mt. Healthy)
pears
Carriage House Farm, LLC (North Bend)
wheat berries
Grandpa Cliff's Garden (Colerain Twp.)
various produce
Tom Cail (New Paris, OH)
wheat berries
Reidel's Village General (Price Hill)
various produce
Romans Family Farm (Vevy, IN)
various produce
  
Now that is an impressive list!  Jo and Jenny are only two of numerous vendors at LEWFM who purchase many of their ingredients from local growers.  We encourage you to ask the market vendors about the great lengths they go to in order to bring such quality products to you each week. 

The Thanks Giving & Receiving Tree 
Customers are invited to stop by the Market Management booth this week to give and/or receive a leaf from The Thanks Giving & Receiving Tree.  Each of the vendors has placed leaves on the tree.  Many of the leaves offer discounts on the vendors' products.  There will also be blank leaves which customers may use to write what they are thankful for and then place the leaf on the tree.  Just the act of putting our thoughts into words can add power to them.

We wish to thank Julia and Tammy for creating The Thanks Giving & Receiving Tree.  How appropriate that they would do this, given that they are The Tree Huggers, one of our Very Valued Vendors.  Julia and Tammy make synthetic chemical free soaps and other personal care products, household cleaners, soy candles, doggie treats, bird seed wreaths, and more.  Purchasing gifts (for yourself and others) from The Tree Huggers is good for the environment (including people).

For a full listing of our vendors, their products, and services including:

• Chair Massage, where you can relax after a hard day
• Kids & Krafts, where the kids can have loads of fun so you can leisurely shop the market (available from 4:45 until 6:45)
• Many food and non-food items
• and a list of vendors who accept credit cards

check out our Vendors.

KIDS & KRAFTS
Charles Purdue is a natural with the kids: They gravitate to him and his hand made Native American Flutes, "tape drums" and other fun games and craft activities he brings to market so kids can have loads of fun while their parents peacefully and leisurely shop the market. Parents tell us their children, who hate to go to the grocery store, love to go to the Farmers' Market so they can hang out with Charles.  Kids & Krafts is available from 4:45 until 6:45 each market day. 

JOINING LEWFM
Anyone wishing to vend or volunteer at LEWFM can contact us with the link below.   
Vendors/Volunteers Click Here!

VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
We are very pleased to announce that we now accept Food Stamps at our market.  If you would like to use your food stamp benefits to purchase items at our market simply bring your EBT card to the Market Management Booth.  

We hope everyone will help us spread the word about this great news.  Please share the information with neighbors, friends, and co-workers so food stamp beneficiaries will become aware that they can now purchase fresh produce and other healthy food items at the Farmers' Market, directly from the people who produce the foods.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"In 1910, for every dollar Americans spent for food, 41 cents went to farmers and 59 cents to marketers and input providers; now 9 cents go to farmers, 24 cents to input providers, and 67 cents to marketers." 

from Going Local, by Michael Shuman

Would you like to see more of your money getting into the hands of the person who did the work to provide the products you purchase?  One way to accomplish this is by making your purchases at your local Farmers' Market, where you can find food for your family, as well as food and non food items for gifts. 

We hope to see you real soon at Lettuce Eat Well Farmers' Market!

 Just a reminder that the market is now held in its warm indoor location at Cheviot United Methodist Church, 3820 Westwood Northern Blvd.  The hours remain the same:  3:00 - 7:00 P.M.

Please share this newsletter with friends and family to help spread the word about LEWFM!