FILLING THE VOID OF LEAVING MY GARDEN BY VISITING A FARMER’S MARKET

It is no lie, I even miss the garden!

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Let’s face it, being away from home is hard. There are so many things to miss, and my crazy jungle garden is on the list. Yes, I know that my garden is not all that great this year, but it still keeps me fed and is a great place to snack and forage.

Thankfully, there was a farmer’s market nearby yesterday, so we got there right away when it opened. There is something about real fresh produce and the people who take the time to grow it that I find attractive. Soon, we were shopping like crazy!

THE VARIETY!

As many of you know, @papa-pepper likes variety. There are more garden plants in existence than just red tomatoes and green bell peppers. I am pleased to see that many at this farmer’s market already knew this.

Even with the “staples” like tomatoes, I love to see a wide spectrum of colors, shapes and sizes. This farmer’s market did not disappoint.

Since I like variety, a place like this is also a great place to find some seeds. Now, no one here was selling any garden seeds, but a lot of the produce already contained some!

When you find produce, especially ripe, organic, and heirloom produce, then you have a great chance to get your hands on some quality seeds. The best part is that you can still eat the food! We just enjoyed one of the melons above, and I am saving the seeds to grow next year!

A few of the varieties that I picked up were mostly for the seeds that they contain!

This was an interesting thing to see too. I have picked and eaten Pumpkin blossoms before and know many other people who have as well. This was the first time that I had ever seen some for sale though. If you have never tried eating these, it can be as simple as dipping them in pancake batter and frying them in a pan. We really enjoy eating them that way.

CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORT

Perhaps @papa-pepper is just too generous sometimes, but often I round up for these growers. If one tells me my total is $11.75 USD, I may say, “How about we just round that up to $13 USD even?”

I think of it as a way to put my money into what I believe in. Technically, I view it as an investment. By supporting these local growers I am supporting a way of living life that I believe in. From the actual interaction with creation in the planting and harvesting of food to the entrepreneurial spirit that drives a local market, this is the stuff that I like to see.

There is also something rewarding about having a connection to your food source. Of course growing your own produce cuts out the middle man, but when you can place your money into the hand and shake the hand that dug that potatoes or pulled the carrots this morning that you are buying, there is still a connection.

BEST IN SHOW

Since this is something that @mama-pepper and I are considering doing in the future, we look at farmer’s markets from a little different viewpoint than you average customer.

This time, one specific grower really caught my eye. Presentation plays a big role in making things inviting, and I think that these guys aced it.

Of course the produce itself looked incredible, and the baskets and cartons were great too, but it was their signs that caught my eye. By putting some chalkboard paint on small pieces of wood, they could use chalk to write the names and prices of their produce on them. Honestly, I fell in love with the idea. I thought that it was genius!

SOME OF OUR PURCHASES

Yes, it felt strange purchasing things like Ground Cherries when I know that I have a garden full of them at home, but I'd rather be able to purchase some to enjoy that to go without. Also, foods like this are the best types of "fruit snacks" in my opinion.

It is so rewarding to see the @little-peppers excited about real food and eating healthy too. These children usually have no issue with "eating their vegetables" and sometimes even ask for them by name. Now, they understand the effort and labor that goes into producing crops like this, so I think that they have a greater appreciation for the food too.

Some of the Kohlrabi, Melons, Garlic, and Tomatoes that we picked up are some amazing varieties that we have not grown ourselves yet, so it is nice to be able to try them, especially when they are fresh.

One of the best things that we picked up was a loaf of cheese bread. It was Italian seasoned, and tasted incredible. No matter how much food we grow of our own, farmer's markets will always be a great place to enjoy the produce of others and interact with some great people. We were so blessed that there was one yesterday at the park next door.

As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:

proof-of-farmer's-market

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Until next time…

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