The Market has opened it's big barn door...

Open the big barn door...
Spring is here and the market is open.
Vendors are rubbing their eyes early in
the morning as they gather early Spring
crops from the misty fields. Little
bunnies are peaking from the thistle
along side the freshly plowed gardens.
Butterflies are emerging from the cocoon.
The countryside is turning green...
Mother Nature is painting a portrait
this year that we will long remember.

This should be a great year for the farmer
as well as the shopper. God has blessed
our area with plenty of rainfall and a very
pleasant Winter.

Farmers brought the most wonderful bounty
of early crops to the market on Opening Day
this past Saturday. One could fill their
shopping bag with Fresh pork and beef products.
Breakfast items were available including
blueberry scones, pecan tarts, granola,
biscuits,fresh hen eggs, jams, jellies and fruit
spreads. Neatly tied bundles of fresh asparagus
filled the tables of specialty vendors. Cottage
guests ? Serve up a big platter of breakfast
asparagus bedded under a mountain of scrambled
eggs and sausage gravy. Yummielicious !

Amongst all of the fresh Spring veggies, there
were many selections of bedding plants, vegetable
plants for the do-it-yourselfer and truck loads
of flowers to plant. Nursery items and hostas were peeking
from their pots just begging to be planted before
Easter weekend. All little bunnies love to nibble upon
an Easter feast of hosta.

There was a great blue-grass band and the cutest
young chef offering "strawberry slaw" and the recipe
to shoppers as they entered the barn. Many of the
vendors counted their blessings and they counted their
dollars mid-morning. Most left early and made reservations
for next Saturday morning.

Everyone is excited to see which farmer will bring
the first big, juicy, red, ripe tomato to the venue.

Life is good!
Enjoy your local Farmers' Market

JOHNNY IS JUMPING UP !

Spring is now here and "Johnny is
jumping up". When we see Johnny
showing his sweet little purple face
we know it is now the time to clean
the Farmers' Market Barn and prepare
for the vendors, musicians, Master
Gardener volunteers, chefs and last
but not least........shoppers. Our
local home-town market will set up
shop on April 4th at 8:00 AM. OMG
that means that I must shake my self
off at 4:00 AM. Managers must arrive
earlier than the birds that are searching
for the worm.

The musicians have emailed to confirm their
dates as well as the chefs. Everyone is
preparring their new wares and tares for
their new 2009 booths. Farmers have met
with the manager and the new officers for
2009. Reservations are being made for
field and kitchen inspections. Certifications
must be sought from the local County Agents to
ensure that what the farmer sells, the farmer
grows. We are a 100% certified "fresh-from-the
farm, local grown market....Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays. Bakers must also be inspected
and certifided to sell pastries, jams, and breads.

Farmers go thru a lot just to sell their products
to the American public. It's more than just seed
and sunshine, water and prayers. It's hard work,
even on the manager's shoulders. It's like
being the Ring Master of the "Greatest Show on
Earth. Please remember me in your thoughts
and prayers. And of course, remember the vendors...
it's tough rising up at 4:00 AM with a smiling
face and sunny disposition. Ever wonder why so
many folks ask the question, "why do farmers go to
bed with the chickens ?"

Daffodils and Valentines

Spring is just around the corner....
The Daffodils are blooming in the side
forest and I am just itching to go out
and pick a handful for some pre-weekend
decorating. Daffodils and Valentine's
Day fit hand-in-hand....My second grade
school teacher Miss Nola always had this
hugh, petit-point, white, milk-glass vase
sitting in the middle of her desk...she
would take a miniture American flag and
plop it in the middle of the arrangement.

That's American to me. Daffodils, hearts
and little red, white and blue flags.

Junkking Weekend

This weekend we are on a junking search
for creative containers for my little herb
plants that we will be selling at the
Farmers' Market this spring. This year
The Farmers' Daughter will be selling
Kitchen Kounter Herbs, aprons, Creame
Cheese Pound Cakes and a wide variety of
scones. During the later part of Fall we
will offer a selection of fresh-frozen
soups and apple pies. Maybe we will do
a give away to welcome Spring soon.

We are receiving request daily for booth
rentals at the market.....It's going to
be a great season.

Seeds of Faith

My Grandmother used to say, "if you want to get a great job accomplished, all one needs to do is plant a few seeds". Well, what she meant to say was, "if you need someone to help do a job, just hint around and eventually the seed you planted in their brain will start to grow and soon your phone will ring and the task will be on it's way to completion ".

My grandmother had lots of faith in others and many well intentions. It's those "seeds of faith" that will help to keep America on-top of it all in this messed up economic tornado that we have been thrown into.

Patience

Patience is a required virtue of being a
successful farmers' market manager. Let's
not go into the full details today, just
trust me. Bloggiing has been possible for
me since I possess qualities of patience.
My cottage has been in need of attention,
but I refuse to attend to another chore until
I have gotten this down pat ! You ask....
"where are the photographs ?" ....that's a
very good question...... Along with this new
new blog, I purchased a new lap-top computer,
a new camera and a new "supposed to do it all"
printer....."NOW CAN YOU SEE WHY PATIENCE
IS SO VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS BLOG ?"

Please be patient with me. Forward any kind
words of encouragement to help me along the way.
Spring is just around the corner, my market opens
again on April 4, 2009.

Catalogs Everywhere

Today I have spent my time strolling thru seed catalogs, searching
for those favorite heirloom tomato seeds everyone was shopping for last season at the market. Cherokee Purple and Mr. Stripey.
Wow, what planet sent those to us here on earth ? Are heirlooms really any better than plain ole garden tomato seeds ? You bet ya they are ! OMG you haven't tasted a tomato sandwich until you try one filled with Purple Cherokee tomatoes and lots of southern branded mayo. I can almost smell the big, thick slices of juicy tomato lying between two thick pieces of warm toasted 12-grain bread. This southern belle thinks she has died and gone to heaven.

Stacks and stacks of seed catalogs also means that I get to select new varieties of brightly colored, long legged zinnias. Here in the south, we must have lots of little summer cottage bouquets tucked amongst our treasured nic-nacs, from the kitchen sink to the side porch. And don't forget to order some olde timey cocks comb seeds for cutting and drying. These strange furry plants make the most gorgeous dried wreaths. Add rosemary and lavendar to the order sheet. These two herbals are nice to add to a get well pot and summer bridal bouquets.

Spending a lazy afternoon gazing thru seed catalogs is just what I needed today. Now all of those hugh, bare oak trees just outside of my window have the suttle appearance of being full of new spring time leaves. Oh goodness, someone make us a cup of lemonade, it will be 90 degrees outdoors before we know it.

In the beginning...

In the beginning, God created a garden......a beautiful place where Adam and Eve were placed. There were beautiful trees, plants, fruits and vegetables. Eve decided that she must taste one of those big, beautiful apples. The necessity
of invention began ~

Eve decided that Adam, being an obedient husband, should gather
all of the wonderful fruits and vegetables and sell them to provide her with a way to clothe her sinful loins and a way for her to purchase "to-die-for" antiques for the garden. Adam scratched his head and came up with the idea of a market place where he could sell the bounty from the garden. The Farmers' Market of Eden was born. Eve was happy with her beloved mate.


Since the beginning of the Farmers' Market, farmers have been able
to support their families from the hard labor of raising and selling fresh fruits and vegetables from their farms and back yards. Today's markets supply America with the freshest fruits and vegetables available. Our baskets are filled within hours of veggies being gathered at the field and arriving in local markets.

Market shoppers demand "fresh" selections and not those vegetables which have been picked before their time and packed onto tankers and ride on the back of 18-wheelers for more than a week. We want to know the source of origin and what glowing chemicals have been sprayed onto our supper veggies.


Farmers and their families also provide our markets with pottery, wooden furniture, firewood, honey, herbs, baked goods, jams, jellies, wine and trees for replenishing the garden. You can always get an education with each visit to the market. There are musicians and artists available to entertain you while you shop. Local chefs are on hand to cook up a demonstration of new recipes and offer helpful hints of making the best of your veggie selections.


Many folks like to find fault with Eve for tasting that big, red apple. I like to find the good in all situations. God blessed us with the garden. Adam and Eve started the market.