Thursday, April 11, 2019

Come and Taste Spring


Market List; Egyptian Walking Onions, Spring Salad Mix, Slow Food Non GMO Duck Eggs, Chicken Eggs, Limited amounts of Grass Fed Lamb and Tomato Plants.


I can't believe it's time again, Spring is here! Despite falling temps tomorrow, my Daffodils, Red Buds and the Hawthorns say it is. It was both the slowest and fastest moving Winter ever. Finally my Egyptian Walking onions have recovered from all the Ice and Snow They are so beautiful and ready to grace our Market booth for the opening day at Tower Grove Saturday.


The Cayuga ducks are laying beautifully too, both literally and figuratively. Check out these beautiful multicolored eggs.

As you may or may not know, Cayuga ducks are a Slow Food Ark of Taste listed bird. We received a Grant for them about 10 years ago. They are the only duck that lays multiple shades of egg colors. Until the Pekin duck came to America, they were at one time the Meat Bird of choice. Now they are on the endangered list as there only 12 noted breeding flocks left. 

So this stands to be an Allium year on the Farm. 
Here is Bill and my mom planting Shallots. This is one of our recycled tarps. We've been using them for 6 or 7 years now. My neighbor rescued them from Busch Stadium. Anyway, this year, besides the Egyptian Walking onions, Shallots, Scallions and Garlic, we received another grant this year for Garlic Ramps. Ramps are a wild delicacy and another disappearing food source.




So what were growing brings us to an important topic. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but there are more and more vegetables showing up at the market that are not grown by the persons vending. As many of you know, the market started as a locally grown only market. Slowly, starting with Sweet Corn, vegetables were allowed to be brought (bought) in, IF there was nothing of that item available at Market but you had to get permission first. Now there are at least 5 stands at the market that the bulk of their goods are from the Amish Auctions. Mimo Davis came up with the catch phrase. This simply means that we want our Market to support Vendors who grow their own stuff. You notice that  I'm not saying Farmers here. We're not talking about someone who brings Paw Paws that they picked in the woods for instance, or Morels that they harvested. This is about knowing where your food comes from and what's on it. Because if it comes from the Auctions, you don't. So don't be afraid to ask the Farmers; Did you grow this? If you wanted that type of market,  you could just run down to Soulard but we know that's not what you come to us for and it's not fair for the facts not to be plain and above board.

So that's about all. I'm not sure yet if we are bringing Lemonade. It's supposed to be a frosty 58 degrees. We'll see what tomorrow's forecast says. Every day this week, it's been warmer than projected. If it's above 60 degrees we will.

Happy Opening day everyone!

God's Blessings on you and yours,

                                                                            TTFN

Sam and Bill

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