FARMER’S MARKET WEEKEND

Next Saturday, June 2 is the big day for Farmer’s Markets in Dothan as the big one (we’re not naming names) will open downtown. Of Course we expect you to visit them! Our very own Avalon Farms will be there all summer with their locally grown sustainable food products and vegetables! To our knowledge it will be the first time this market has included a grower who does not use synthetic fertilizers, gmo’s, or chemical herbicides and pesticides. We can only hope the general population of the Wiregrass comes to appreciate the difference.

Market at Dothan will be set up June 2 from 10 am to 2pm at Dothan Nurseries. You can TRUST everything you purchase from our growers.

WHY SUSTAINABLE PART 2

3. Promote public health. By supporting sustainable producers, you are promoting farming practices that do not endanger public health.

Industrial agriculture involves heavy use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers that pollute the water, air and soil near industrial farms and can travel large distances causing problems such as the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Antibiotics are widely used in industrial livestock production, and there is a large body of evidence indicating that this excessive use is leading to antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs that threaten public health.

4. Save family farms. By eating sustainably, you’re supporting a true American tradition — the small, independent family farmer.

Family farmers are being forced out of business at an alarming rate. The American Farmland Trust estimates that more than an acre of U.S. farmland goes into development every minute. As a result, there are nearly five million fewer farms than there were in the 1930’s. There is also a lack of young farmers: the average age of the American farmer is 55. Many small farms will cease production because farming isn’t economically feasible for the younger generation. If this continues, we will lose our food security and have to rely on industrial agriculture and more food imports from other coun

MARKET CHITCHAT

New & Relisted Products

• Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Vegan Gluten Free Carob Chip Cookies
• DECAF Cold Brew Concentrate
• Japanese Eggplant
• Almond-Raisin Biscotti
• BLUEBERRIES!
• Shungiku Edible Chrysanthemum
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Peachberry Pie

THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES

We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.

AVALON FARMS: This is the crazy time of year for me. Especially with the rains I can barely keep things picked much less weeded or even think about the next round of planting. It’s time to plant the winter squash. Before long it will be time to start fall transplants. Oh, and keep the summer things going as long as possible.  Keep starting squash every 6 weeks. (I truly am a crazy person)

No green beans this week. It will be a couple weeks for the next planting to produce.Watermelon radishes are gone for. More coming if they survive the summer heat. No more asparagus. Going to give them an early rest in the hopes that they will do better next year.

Garlic is dug and drying down. Wait till you see the size of these! So much better than last year. They’ll be in the market soon.

BAIN HOME GARDENS: Hello Marketeers! How are you? We are so very excited about a break in the rain! It has allowed us to get some planting and some MUCH needed weeding! As we tour the garden, we see loads of growth due to the days of rain we have had. We are now harvesting cucumbers!

We really love them! Beans are also coming along nicely as well as okra. As of now, our Radish Leaf Pesto is done till fall, unless you would like to see it on the market sooner. Let us know. We aim to please. The Shungiku Edible Chrysanthemum has made its way back to our listings as of last week.  So many new things happening we can hardly keep up ourselves! So keep an eye out on us! In fact, you can check out what we have to offer on June 2nd at the Farmers Market! The Fall Farmers Market was very exciting. It was nice to get to know many of you, your experiences that have led you to a healthier lifestyle – led you to us! We know this Spring Farmers Market will be just as thrilling! We will be looking for you.

HAWKINS HOMESTEAD: Hello everyone! Well this week has been filled with ups and downs for us and maybe some of you as well. With all the rain the roots were showing on our corn plants, so we had build small mounds around the stalks. Then the wind blew some of the tomatoes literally off the the plants! If that wasn’t enough, the gate for our chicken enclosure came crashing down and needless to say the chickens had a field day in the bean plants! One even got into the front yard and man was a workout! Guess I needed it.

On a lighter note, we have some beautiful beans growing, our zucchini and squash plants are flowering, plus cucumbers too! So we take the bad with the good and are thankful for what we have each day!

We are very much looking forward to Day 2 of the Spring Farmers Market coming up this weekend. We hope that you will stop by and say hello. We will have lots of goodies plus our organic lemonade too! Oh by the way, the weather looks sunny for that day! So we’ll see you soon.

HORTONS FARM: Thank you to everyone who tried our cold brew coffee concentrate last week. My Mr. raised an eyebrow when I first told him I was making it available to our Market family. I think now he understands that his wifey isn’t the only one who likes good coffee! That being said I had to curb my own consumption after enjoying it too much one day! Then it hit me . . . DECAF! I’ve been drinking decaf at church on Wednesday evenings for several years right before taking on a large group of pre-teens. Why not! So if you drink too much (coffee) like me – now you have another choice.