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Market At Dothan News & Coming Events
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May 16, 2020 M@D Newsletter



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Yes, we Can Can!
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Richter Farms & Avalon Farms

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


CANNING SEASON IS UPON US

If you’re like a lot of southern (and northeast, and midwest and northwest and southwest . . . oh shoot the whole country) country folk, you grew up eating green beans and tomatoes and an assortment of pickles, relishes, jams and jellies from a mason jar. If it originated in your mom or grandma’s kitchen it was indeed some good eating as it was picked and preserved at the height of freshness. Unlike grocer counterparts, you didn’t have to worry about what may be added to enhance color, freshness or flavor.

Canning has never really gone out of style, but its not as popular as it one was. Succeeding generations have not picked up where mothers and grandmothers left off as evidenced by all the unwanted jars and equipment that estates are often left to deal with. Really great stuff often winds up in the dump, flea markets, Craigs list or thrift stores.

canning


Covid is changing minds and more people are more people become interested in taking control of their pantry and food supply. The good news is one can start simple with nothing more than a few jars and a big old stock pot. The possibilities are pretty amazing from there and thanks to the internet even old hats like this writer are learning new methods and recipes every day. Best of all some of the new equipment like the Carey Electric Canner that Richter Farms uses has removed some of the fear that held a lot of would be canners back.

Carey
Click HERE to watch this video.


This is the perfect time of year to start canning. Strawberries are still in season and blueberries and blackberries are still to come. One young family went out to pick strawberries this week and came home with 25 gallons of fresh picked green beans, and no idea what to do with them. With both Sysco and commercial operations disposing of perfectly edible fresh food, why should it go to waste? Your market manager nearly cried a couple of weeks ago when we learned of a local charity throwing out cases of fresh mushrooms because nobody wanted them.

canning-05142020
These jars are getting a 20 minute water bath for the pickled eggs and sausages they hold. The sealed jars will stay good for several years though we doubt they’ll last that long!

So give it some thought and if you’re interested, speak up! There are a lot of us, both growers and customers, in our M@D family with years of experience who would love to help. Next week we’ll be sharing some good resources. We know canning is not for everyone but for those of us who’ve got our feet wet and got in the water, there is something deeply satisfying about the whole business. Like one lady said “It makes me feel like a Proverbs 31 woman.”

Oh, and the lady with the green beans . . . she’s bringing them all to my house to process next week.

MARKET CHITCHAT

We’re excited to WELCOME BACK Restoration Gardens! The Tavares Family were locallygrown.net and Certified Naturally Grown farmers before they moved to our area a few years back. Their garden is just starting to produce and they’ll be adding new products as they become available.

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Few things sadden us more than when someone comes to pick up an order that doesn’t exist. This sometimes happens when that last button on the page showing all your ordered items doesn’t get pushed just right. There are several things you can do to make sure this does not happen to you:
1. Check to make sure you have an email order confirmation. It will show you everything on your order page.
2. On your “My Account” page, click Your Order History. The order you just placed should be at the top of the list.
3. If your order is not showing in your order history email marketatdothan@gmail.com and we’ll check it for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are slowly getting back to having TABLE SALES available on Fridays. Covid prevented us from doing this for many weeks and with the state starting to open up and our growers gardens producing abundantly its an unintended blessing that you can take advantage of if you’re comfortable doing so.

While we’re on the topic of opening up – we plan to start using MARKET BAGS again the first Friday in June.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New & Relisted – some from last week in case you missed it!
RICHTER FARMS PORK IS BACK!
Genovese Basil – Restoration Gardens
New Red AND Fingerling Potatoes – Avalon Farms
Yellow Crookneck Squash – Avalon Farms
Pickling Cucumbers in 1 lb & 5 lb sizes- Sandy Valley
BLACKBERRIES – Avalon Farms
Yellow Straightneck Squash in 1 lb & 5 lb sizes – Sandy Valley
Jumbo Kinston Sweet Onions – Avalon Farms
Asian Greens – Avalon Farms
String Beans in 1 lb & 5 lb sizes- Sandy Valley
Red Round Radishes (new crop) – Avalon Farms
Zucchini Squash – Restoration Gardens Avalon Farms & Sandy Valley
Zephyr Squash – Avalon Farms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our COVID protocol is still in place for everyone who wants curbside service.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service: It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


RICHTER FARMS PORK IS RELISTED We have ground, mild pan, chops, sliced ham, boston butt. The smoked sausage, smoked ham and bacon (smoked the old fashion way) won’t be ready until early June.

AVALON FARMS:

Collage-Maker-20200516-133147448

Started digging taters this morning. We planted our standard Red New Potatoes but also planted fingerling potatoes too. We are very excited about the fingerling potatoes! There is a white skin and a red skin for visual interest. 

Fingerling potatoes have a waxy texture similar to new potatoes, but with a thinner tinder skin. Great for roasting or boiling since they hold their shape so well. 

There will be some new listings of Asian greens and perhaps turnip greens.

Blackberries are getting started! Yummy.  There will be some of those listed too.

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

May 9, 2020 M@D Newsletter - Lots of VEGGIES this week!



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Heeeeeee’s Back!
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes: Richter Farms, Avalon Farms, & Casablanca Ranch

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


WELCOME BACK SANDY VALLEY

Exciting News! SANDY VALLEY is rejoining Market at Dothan (M@D) this week. They’ve been on our grower page, sometimes active, sometimes inactive, for many years. It’s not that they ever really left, but owner/farmer/all around great guy Scotty also runs another business which sometimes interferes with his true love of gardening. Scotty is picky about the quality of his food and has grown beautiful chemical free produce for many years. So we’re excited things have worked out for them to return.

scottys-garden
This type of gardening allows organic liquid fertilizer to be applied through irrigation lines. Hortons Farm has used this method in the past.


And here’s the deal – his garden is bigger than ever, and doing so well with this beautiful spring weather that produce is coming in sooner than expected. His products will be offered in both 1 lb and 5 lb sizes for those who wish to can, freeze, dehydrate or make pickles. With food shortages predicted this is a wonderful opportunity to be prepared.

This week Scotty has string beans, yellow crookneck squash, zucchini and pickling cucumbers. Cowhorn okra, eggplant and sweet corn will follow in a few weeks. Other vegetables are planted and we’ll let you know as they become available.

Welcome Back Scotty!

MARKET CHITCHAT

WELCOME NEW CUSTOMERS! We’re glad to have you on board and hope Market at Dothan works for your needs and lifestyle. If you’ve not had a chance please get to know us better by reading our Question & Answer page. Our business model is a bit different and we don’t claim to be like other food sources, but we do offer the absolute BEST products in the area!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New & Relisted
Sugar Snap Peas – Avalon Farms
Yellow Straightneck Squash – Sandy Valley
Yellow Crookneck Squash – Avalon Farms
Pickling Cucumbers – Sandy Valley
Jumbo Kinston Sweet Onions – Avalon Farms
String Beans – Sandy Valley
Red Round Radishes (new crop) – Avalon Farms
Zucchini Squash – both Avalon Farms and Sandy Valley
Zephyr Squash – Avalon Farms
csa-6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s exciting that our state is going to start opening back up on Monday. We are cautiously optimistic that as the population continues safe practices that the “curve” won’t worsen. That being said – is anyone interested in classes this summer? In the past we’ve offered classes and talks on a variety of subjects and would love to do so again. Please notify us if there are any particular topics that would interest you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This section is for the benefit of our new and returning customers.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service: It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


RICHTER FARMS I will be picking up fresh pork on 5/11! I will have ground, mild pan, chops, sliced ham, boston butt. As of now the smoked sausage, smoked ham and bacon won’t be ready until early June, (smoking the old fashion way)! I will gladly bring what I have if you let me or Ros know. I will try and list some but I am swamped with farm chores. Still have some smoked sausage left, reg, jalapeno and cajun, not a lot of each and will bring what I have Friday. Let Ros know if you want to add some to your order. 

I planted a garden so hopefully I can help supplement what Avalon Farms will be offering, she has been working so hard to have fresh veggies for you! 

AVALON FARMS:

IMG-20200509-110754

Jumbo Kinston Sweet onions – Sandwich size onions for onion lovers!   These jumbo “Kinston Sweet”  onions are delicious on burgers! One slice will fit side to side on  a 4 inch bun.  Supply is limited!

Squash – it’s back in a big way! If you haven’t tried the Zephyrs you need to!!

Sugar snap peas – I’ve really struggled with these this year. I tried a new variety and the early heat wave took them out. My old faithful, Super Sugar Snap peas, were also hurt, but are making a small crop. They will only be available for a few weeks.

Asparagus – Asparagus has a short harvest window (usually 6 weeks). This will probably be the last week for asparagus.

CASABLANCA RANCH: Dear Folks, I wanted to let you know that some of our stock has been depleted with the recent run on beef—But believe me the cows are not bothered by Covid-19. They are happily grazing and chewing their cud and having calves that are running and jumping along.

We process once monthly and although we are out of some of our cuts, they will be replenished soon. Cows age for a certain amount of time before they can be packaged and that will take time. The next processing date is 5/21 and we will make it available as soon as we receive it. Maybe now it the time to try a new cut or make some bone broth as it is highly nutritious. Some folks have a hard time with our grass fed steaks being tough. Low and slow is the way to cook grass fed steaks and a marinade can make all of the difference.

I want to share my favorite marinade and my bone broth recipe. Hang in here with us while we all try to navigate this time resting assured that we can trust God for His guidance and help.

God Bless You

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bone Broth
Braise in oven at 450 degrees for approximately forty-five minutes or until nice and brown.Move to large stock pot and cover with water. Add flavoring of your choice. You may add onions and carrots celery etc but I do not always. Let them lightly simmer for a day or two,making sure they are covered with water and a lid. Discard bones and remove fat. Strain to catch small bones and vegetable parts. May add meat from bones back to broth. Use as desired or pressure cooker can. Delish!

This Korean-Style Short Ribs Marinade is our favorite for T-Bones and Ribsteaks.

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

May 2, 2020 M@D Newsletter - We're Open for Orders!



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Loving on Mom
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


HONORING MOM

We love our Moms, and while covid may have changed a lot of the way we interact with our moms (or the way they interact with us!), thank heavens we have creative options for ways we can show our love to them, and another week to plan it out!

We thought we’d share some ideas for ways you can love on the special women in your life while supporting both covid guidelines and small businesses. Here goes!

1. Something beautiful from Dothan Nurseries. Right now your Market Manager is kicking herself that she didn’t know about the continual blooming Sunfinity Sunflower yesterday while at the Nursery. The Sunfinity is one of many delicious plants Dothan Nurseries posts regularly on their Facebook page. While the Nursery is the loveliest and safest place to shop in the city, if you can’t get out much connecting with them through facebook is a great way to see what’s available.

sunfinity

2. Hand crafted artisan bath and body products fromSt. Andrews Soap Company and Bella Eden Farms. Both these companies have great luxurious soaps, lotions, serums, etc. You can’t go wrong with anything from either!
3. Special Taste Treats: D’s Jellies makes uniquely Southern jams and jellies from things grown on their Cottonwood farm, including the Mahaws! Casa Perdido has a fine selection of flavored vinegars made from Alabama muscadines, and both 3LC Apiary and Horton’s Farm have local honey available every week.
4. Holistic health products from Mayim Farms and Horton’s Farm. Both have a long history of making health and wellness products from nature. Thorough product descritpions are available on the Market page.
074
Fire Ant First Aid which is made from Alabama Bee Propolis and Locally Sourced Emu Oil

5. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to prepare a good meal we’ve got the good eats and drinks!

MARKET CHITCHAT

What a beautiful site in the Market Shed yesterday! Thank you to everyone who ordered. While we’re thankful for the white bags, we’re really looking forward to getting back to using your bags as they hold up so much better. Plus they just have so much more character. Soon . . . we hope!

20200501-093142


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This week we added a new section to our Question & Answer page. Our long standing customers are familiar with what has been been written in the Order Pick Up Policy. We’ve just grown to the point it needed to be put in writing.
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New & Relisted
New – Fresh Dill from Mayim Farm (shown below)
New – Holy Basil (Tulsi) from Mayim Farm
New – Sinus Support Capsules from Mayim Farm
Relisted – Kinston Sweet Onions from Avalon Farms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This section is a reprint from last week’s newsletter for the benefit of our new customers.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service:>/b> It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


MAYIM FARM Mayim Farm- 
New…Fresh Dill, Fresh Holy Basil (Tulsi), Sinus Support Capsules (My main remedy for seasonal allergies)
We are awaiting a delayed seed delivery for sprouts…should be back in stock next week. 
Plenty of Lettuce mix still looking great. 
Fresh Moringa…if you don’t know about Moringa, it tastes great fresh and is a nutritional powerhouse in your salads, dried for soups or teas and powdered capsules for a supplement. 
Collards will be around for a little while longer…

holy-basil

AVALON FARMS: Avalon Farms
First the bad news: We are almost out of our whole pasture raised chickens.

The OK news: There’s a few left I found in our “personal” freezer. One has a broken wing. With the current demand I’m listing these.

The good news: There will be 40 birds processed in a few weeks. With several more groups in the pipeline.

Previously we only used Freedom Rangers for our meat chickens. They are known as good foragers and do well on pasture. They also take 14 to 16 weeks to grow out on pasture.

The traditional meat chicken, Cornish Cross, grows out in 5 to 6 weeks. They need half the time and feed. These are what’s raised in all the big industrial chicken houses. In that industrial environment, with thousands in one house, they have unlimited feed 24/7 causing them to grow too fast which causes health issues for them and a high mortality rate. They are usually processed around 5 weeks. You’ve probably seen the truck loads of miserable looking chickens on the way to processing.

The 40 birds we have on pasture now are Cornish Cross. By raising them on pasture, with limited feed, they naturally scratch around and eat bugs and grass like you would expect. The fresh air, sunshine and exercise helps them to live a happier,healthier life. Providing us with healthier chicken.

These are not genetically modified “franken-chickens”. They are a breed of chickens bred using normal methods to have a “high feed conversion ratio” (meaning their biology is more efficient at converting food into body mass).

We’ll be processing the oldest ones in a few weeks. As you can see they do grow fast!

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

April 25, 2020 M@D Newsletter - We're OPEN for orders!



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Looking Forward
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


MORE CHANGES AHEAD

”Opening Up” – aren’t those beautiful words? It seems the whole nation is trembling with anticipation as those words are becoming more frequent.

Just as Market at Dothan had to adjust to the pandemic quarantine we’re going to have to adjust to returning to normal too, which is not that simple given that “normal” will be different. Covid will still be running around out there. Those of us who are fragile will still have to be diligent and those who are not must continue to show care and respect.

For the Market there’s no returning to the way things were. We will continue the heightened cleanliness protocols. Voluntary prepay and curbside delivery will remain available. But we will have a bit more liberty so if anyone wants to come inside that’s ok too. Hugs . . . well . . . let’s see what the governor says first!

I would like to leave you with a great video made by a friend in ministry. While this is geared toward basketball the things he talks about apply for all of us: relationships, productivity and mindset. We’ve all come to appreciate the love of our families more – relationships. We’ve made the most of a distressing situation – that’s productivity. And we’re preparing for the future – that’s a mindset. Here’s hoping all are at their peak for you going forward!

Pete Wehry, Nations of Coaches

New & Relisted
New – Pink Daikon Radishes from Avalon Farms
New – Harmony Gold Face Serum from Bella Eden Farms
New – Spelt Flour from Mayim Farms
Relisted – Kinston Sweet Onions from Avalon Farms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This section is a reprint from last week’s newsletter for the benefit of our new customers.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service:>/b> It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


MAYIM FARM Fresh moringa is back! Use with your salads, soups or put it in your smoothie! It is one of the most nutritious plants on earth.

AVALON FARM:

First of the Kinston Sweet Onion harvest! When onion tops flop over it is an indication they are done growing. So when I saw some onions flopped earlier this week I knew I had to get them harvested before the rains on Thursday. Even though these aren’t dried down yet I’m going to start offering them to you, my favorite customers. They are so crunchy and sweet.

Also harvested a few of these purple and pink daikon radishes. These varieties are smaller and have matching color on the inside. Something fun for your plate.

HORTONS FARM: Confessions of a Mad Canner

Besides the ongoing work with our honeybees I’d love to tell you about all kinds of work getting done in the garden, but alas, that’s not the case. Until the fences are completed to keep out our four legged companions out I am on strike for any vegetable gardening.

There has been no lack of productivity here though. One of my covid projects has been to empty a freezer that needs some work. If you’ve ever emptied a freezer you know that it don’t happen overnight without losing stuff. So I started canning. A bag of Okra from 2 years ago, a little turkey and some shrimp . . Gumbo! More okra, corn niblets, onion . . Vegetable Soup!

Things were going very well till my husband decided to clean out a different freezer and started hauling out 25 lbs of stuff at the time. It really got crazy then. Italian sausage was made into Zuppa Tuscano and several versions of Tuscan Bean Soup. Rebel Canners Facebook Group provided recipes for Raw/Cold Pack Chili using ground beef he defrosted. I canned frozen Alfredo sauce using the method for canning milk. I learned to oven can pecans. Last night I processed 18 pints of dry pack carrot sticks. This morning it was a dozen half pints of hot honey salsa. If things go well I’ll do some pints of crack cole slaw this evening with 10 lb of chopped cabbage the he got somewhere.

As of this moment I’ve processed right at 160 jars. That doesn’t include the little Mason keto cheesecakes Kathy (of Kathy’s Churpers) taught me to make. Most are soups. Some are meant to eat over rice.

So that’s what’s been happening at Horton’s Farm. And the reason that if you hear Ros mumbling weird things about time/temperature/weight/wet/dry/waterbath or pc . . . it’s just internal calculating how something can be stored in a jar forever.

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

April 18, 2020 M@D Newsletter - We are Open for Orders!



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Something Fun
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


BREAD BOUQUETS

Are you sick of the Rona? I think most of us are. So we’re skipping with any talk about that this week to check out some fun FOOD. Part of the inspiration for this is four sourdough cinnamon raisin english muffins that someone shared with me yesterday. Since this person does not bake for the Market they shall remain anonymous, and since they’ll read this, THANK YOU, and they are DELICIOUS.

Check this out:

bb-collage
What you’re seeing is a friend’s first attempt at “edible bouquets”. The Easy Garlic Foccacia Bread is from Inspired Taste.


Beautiful Foccacia is not a new thing. Our own Wendy at Avalon Farms sometimes makes lovely Foccacia using seasonings and veggies from her farm.

blondie-rye-edible-art-5
Wendy did not make these. These were made by a high school history teacher. You may find many more of her mouthwatering photos at My Modern Met.We would love to share YOUR photo when your give it a shot!





MARKET CHITCHAT

We’d like to say THANKYOU! for the generous outpouring of egg cartons on Friday.
IMG-20200411-131840


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fresh Moringa from Mayim Farms has been relisted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are we the only ones excited to hear all the talk about re-opening the economy?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This section is a reprint from last week’s newsletter for the benefit of our new customers.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service:>/b> It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


MAYIM FARM Fresh moringa is back! Use with your salads, soups or put it in your smoothie! It is one of the most nutritious plants on earth.

AVALON FARM: First off, a BIG Thank You to all of you that brought egg cartons last week! We all appreciate them and will put them to good use. Keep ’em coming.

This week the 2nd crop of squash seeds made it into the ground. Also planted: a row of asparagus beans (aka yard long beans or Asian beans), delicata squash (aka sweet potato squash) and honeydew melons (aka yummy).

Collage-Maker-20200418-131851773

Learned something new this week….these caterpillars make Common Buckeye butterflies. I’ve been finding these all over the “natural areas” (weeds growing on edges and walkways of gardens). I was afraid it was early army worms that needed to be done away with, but a quick Google search saved them from certain death….as long as they stay on the weeds!

Another big round of storms tomorrow. Batten down the hatches. The chicks have been issued life vests and had their lifeboat drill. They are ready.
See you on the other side.

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

April 11, 2020 M@D Newsletter - HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!


Happy-Easter-Images

Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Food for the Heart, the Soul and the Tummy
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


EASTER INSPIRATION

Editors Note – This will not be a typical Easter for any of us! But it will be one we won’t forget. Rather than concentrate on staying safe, protocols, masks etc, etc, etc, we’ve collected a hodgepodge of things to keep it a bit lighter and hopefully encourage / inspire you as well. Many thanks to our growers who contributed.

Relish-easter-eggs
No dye for eggs? There’s a good chance you have something in your kitchen to provide beautiful natural color. Other Relish egg ideas use things like rice, crayons, and fabric for unique egg decorations.


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Apologies to those of you who saw this on Facebook first

The first Easter didn’t happen in a church.

It happened outside of an empty tomb while all of the disciples were sequestered in a home, grief stricken and wondering what was going on.

So we’re all going to be keeping things pretty Biblical this Easter.


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Passover-Salad
Passover Mixed Green Salad with Cream Cheese “Croutons”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From One of our Farmers. Edited for privacy.
This Sunday, we are meeting for church in our home in *, where the meeting restrictions are not as strict as Alabama. We live out of town where there is plenty of (space and) open air for everyone and where we won’t raise eyebrows.

Our very close friends are coming (the ones that are actually more like family), as well as some acquaintances that don’t have a place to go for Resurrection Day. We are planning a regular service with singing, and one of the men is teaching a study.
My family is cooking three roasts and we’re planning a big lunch.

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Marshmallow-animals
Fun critters to make with marshmallows
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Lastly, on a more serious note, Mrs. Laura (Laura’s Confections) shared a touching and sad Easter week experience that reminds us of the cycle of life and death that touches us all here on planet earth. If you have a soft spot for animals have your hanky ready. You may find it in the Grower Notes.

MARKET CHITCHAT

A hearty WELCOME to all our new customers! We hope you are enjoying your orders and we look forward to getting to know you better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And THANK YOUI to everyone who came through for curb delivery on Friday. This week seems to have gone the smoothest of all and we appreciate everyone’s kind patience.

One bit of information that should help everyone who picks up in Dothan – the driveway into Dothan Nurseries goes all around the property and comes out on the other side of the parking lot. So whether you come in the north or the south gate, you don’t need to turn around to exit or to get your order. Be sure you pull in close to the Market Shed no matter which direction you come from and that you leave others enough space to move in and out as needed. Thanks so much!

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Woo-Hoo! New & Relisted Products!!

  • Beets from Danny’s Greens
  • Spring Carrots from Danny’s Greens
  • Bronchial Support Gummies from Mayim Farm
  • Red Muscadine Vinegar from Casa Perdido
  • Herbal Smoking Blend Mayim Farm
  • Sinus Sniffle Tea from Mayim Farm
  • Bronchial Support Tea from Mayim Farm
  • Einkorn Wheat: Berries and Ground
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are publishing this every week for the benefit of our new customers. If you know the drill feel free to skip this segment:

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy. Please do this no later than Thursday than 6pm for accounting purposes.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service. It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


AVALON FARM:

IMG-20200411-131840

Recycle Egg Cartons, Please
With all of us being extra concerned about germs and viruses, there has been a significant decline in egg cartons being returned for reuse. Because of this shortage, I actually had to buy egg cartons this week. To cover this cost I had to raise my egg prices.  (Sorry!) A safe and simple solution to the cartoon shortage would be to put your old egg cartons in a plastic bag and put them in your trunk. Then when we put your market order in, we can take the cartons out. 

By letting them sit till the next week, any virus will have naturally died on the surface of the cartons. Cartons do not need to be washed, but free of egg remains makes our lives easier.

IMG-20200411-113843739

This week, with dear hubbies help, I got the tomatoes trellised. This is necessary to keep them off the ground and help prevent disease. With the wind storm we’re forecast for Sunday night I also pruned off all the lower leaves. Those big leaves really catch the wind and could break the stems, even though supported by the trellis.

This next week will be time for the 2nd planting of squash and cukes. I’ll also be adding a few surprises I’ll tell you about next week.

LAURA’S CONFECTIONS I have a great deal of planting to accomplish now that I have trees, bushes, and flowers needing a home in the soil. One of the feral cats I feed recently had a litter of kittens. Three days ago I came out onto my front porch and found one of her kittens she had left. It was very young and I felt there must be something wrong but having no experience with very young animals I could not say what. I scooped it up and brought it into the house then went for a powdered milk supplement and bottles to feed it. I tried to reach the Wiregrass Humane Society but, as with almost all businesses, they were closed. It was a charcoal colored, long hair kitten and so very sweet When I held it, it found it’s way up my chest to tuck itself under my chin. It’s behavior certainly warmed my heart and I hoped I could save it. but the only way I could feed it was to force open its mouth and squeeze in a few drops of the milk. I knew it was only a matter of time. For two nights it slept with me curled around its body but it finally perished and I wish I knew why I couldn’t save it. I wrapped it in an old cotton shirt and placed it in a small, sturdy corrugated box.  I will bury it deep under one of the two new topiary and pray to God He takes this sweet, blue-eyed angel into His hands and allows it to live among the stars in the vastness of space and time.

On a more epicurean note, I’m making brunch for my roommate and I consisting of Eggs Benedict, bacon, and fresh blueberry pancakes with a warm blueberry compote along with Mamosas. 

I extend my warmest wishes to everyone at Market at Dothan for a Happy Easter with family and friends celebrating this most glorious of Christian events."

HORTONS FARM: “Happy Birthday to Me” I’m not telling you when my birthday is, but this is the 2nd year I’ve treated myself to chicks using that as an excuse. I’ve wanted some Marans for a long time and Friday they were available at the feed store.

chicks-0411

They are quite happy in a repurposed dog crate with plenty of heat and sustenance. I’m quite happy to have them close yet safe from curious dogs.

On a different note the concrete slab for the garden shed was poured and finished last week. We’re pretty excited to see some progress on that project.

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

April 4, 2020 M@D Newsletter



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


A Different Perspective
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Thank you for your continued support of our local farmers. We count it a privilege to serve you!


Open Letter from ER Physician

Editors Note – what follows was written last week by the E.R. Physician husband of one of our Market customers. Please share it as you see fit! We appreciate both Basford’s so much and encourage you to pray with us for all of our medical front line soldiers and their families.

Dear America,

I am sorry that you are struggling in this time of uncertainty and quarantine. Death does not care about your suffering, but I do. I want deeply to help you through it. I want to ease your suffering and free you from fear. I am not quarantined. I am an emergency medicine physician, and I am not alone. Along with me, thousands of healthcare workers and hospital support staff are braving work each day for you. We go to work because of you. We ask that you stay home for us.

I say braving because, like you, we are afraid. We are afraid because each patient that we touch may be the one that gives us this virus, this uncertainty, and this fear. We touch you because you are afraid, and at the very depths of what we do, we want you to be free from this fear. Each day, when I come home from work and I kiss my wife, I fear that this singular act of love will be the one that kills her. Every member of my hospital staff feels the same way. The fear is palpable. We fear for our own lives, but more than that, we are afraid because of our love for those around us. We deserve to be free from this fear, and that is why I am writing this.

You are right to say that this virus is not as deadly as Ebola or the bird flu. You are wrong to say that it is no worse than a bad seasonal flu. People in contact with this virus are more likely to contract it and somewhere between 5 and 10 times more likely to die from it than the seasonal flu. Not only do symptoms last longer that the flu, you can give it to your loved ones without knowing it, as some who are infected barely develop any symptoms; those that do succumb die of suffocation.

But you are young, America. You are not Italy, Spain, or China. You are healthy and vibrant. Your liberties and your freedoms set you apart. Your government has no right to make you stay home or arrest you if you don’t (they do have this right, though). You are unique in the world. You are right that this virus will likely not kill most of you. As I write this, current projections suggest that as many as 150,000 Americans will die directly from this disease before the end of summer. This number will be much higher if we don’t stay home, but so many of these deaths can be prevented by just staying home. The economy will recover. It will recover sooner if we end this plague now.

Social distancing isn’t about letting the virus fizzle out over time—social distancing will draw the disease out for quite a while, but that isn’t the point. The point is, that if we don’t let the virus fizzle out over time, our hospitals will not be able to take care of you, your spouse, your children, or your parents. If our hospitals are overrun with respiratory disease, we will not be able to take care of the healthcare problems that don’t stop just because the emergency department is busy with COVID 19. I will not be able to take care of your mother having a heart attack or your infant child with a seizure. When a drunk driver hits you on the way home from the grocery store, I will not be able to take care of you. I will have to tell your mother that her daughter died because I didn’t have any room to take care of her. You or your family might die because I am sick at home because I didn’t have a facemask.

In a few weeks, our capacity to take care of COVID 19 patients may overwhelm our nation’s hospital capacity. If and/or when this happens, people will die. They will not necessarily die solely because of COVID 19, but they will die from all of the other things that kill Americans—heart attacks, strokes, car wrecks—they will die because our liberties made it seem more important to prove that we are all Americans than to keep our families alive by just staying home.

If you care about your family, stay home. If you care about your freedoms, stay home. If you want this to end, stay home. If you care about America and the freedoms on which She was founded, stay home.

If you are still having pool parties and barbecues to prove that you are not afraid, shame on you. If are still holding church services to prove a point, shame on you. If you think that shopping or visiting your friend is more important than the health of your fellow man, shame on you. If you are so arrogant to believe that these rules do not apply to you, shame on you; you are the reason that I and my colleagues are afraid to go work. Surprisingly enough, though, you are also the reason that we still go to work.
Grace and Peace,
Jesse Basford

MARKET CHITCHAT

WOO HOO! NEW PRODUCTS!

Red round radishes
Leeks
Spring Onions
Asparagus

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More covid-19 procedures: This week we added a couple of things to our arsenal against infection. We now have a hand washing station at the Market Shed and now have masks. Of course the masks are not medical issue but they do the job of keeping the bulk of our own germs close to us and not you. And if nothing else they are cute.

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I guess it’s ok to mention that your Market manager has been in contact with other farmer’s markets around the state because our business model and new pick up procedures are working so well for the current situation. Some of this came to fruition Friday when Elizabeth Thompson who runs the farmer’s market in the Decatur area visited us Friday. They are working to implement a similar system for their farmers and customers. Unfortunately covid did not allow most of you to meet this delightful lady. We wish her and her market family there well as they take this bold step!

On a different note, we learned from our locallygrown.net developer that he’s been swamped helping other new locally grown markets like ours around the country get up and running.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More closures ordered by the Governor: If you are wondering they do not affect Dothan Nurseries or Market at Dothan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What follows is a “tweaked” reprint from last week’s newsletter for the benefit of our newbees.

I. Order Payment:
1. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible using this PAYPAL link. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.

2. You may use PAYPAL curbside on Friday. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.

3. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards using our regular system. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader. We do our best to avoid touching your card or you touching the equipment which means we sign an “x” for your signature.

4. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window

II. Curb Service. It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


AVALON FARM:

IMG-20200404-130512

Leeks! Decided to start offering the leeks. They are approximately an inch in diameter and will be sold in groups of 3. Fresh dug, with all those lovely leaves. Google “leek leaf uses” and you’ll get things like: stock/soup, chips, salad toppings and wraps! Let’s not waste them!

Spring onions. Apparently there are a myriad of definitions of that term. What I’m calling Spring Onions are young, not fully mature bulbing onions. An order will consist of young Kinston Sweets and Creole Reds.

Red round radishes are a nice size finally. They are listed again. There are some purple and green mini daikons growing alongside them that are just starting to bulb.

Asparagus are showing up daily but not in full production yet. A few bunches will be listed in the hope of better production this week. (Keep your fingers crossed.)

All the transplants of tomatoes,  peppers and eggplants are out in the field. Have some new greens transplants to plant out still. And it’s time for the 2nd succession planting of summer squashes. 

Be safe. Don’t eat all the goodies the first day! 
Big cyber hug from Wendy, Avalon Farms.

HORTONS FARM: What a day! We got to witness one of nature’s marvels in our front yard today. As a beekeeper having a swarm is embarrassing because it means I failed to prevent it. On the other hand, they’re just so cool to watch! These bees didn’t like my husband’s almond tree and moved to a flowering crabapple in the shade. I’ll be collecting them and rehoming them to a hive in the pasture a bit later today.

20200404-152625

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

MArch 28, 2020 M@D Newsletter



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Roslyn’s Ramblings
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

Only one photo today. Little did we know when we gave this cup to Wendy . . . hope it makes you smile too.


Unprecedented Times

“The Governors coming on in 15 minutes!”

That was the word we got from JD during Market Pickup yesterday. After Gov. Ivey’s last appearance announcing the shut down of schools for the remainder of the year we had a bit of anticipation about what to expect.

As we all know now her announcement put a lot more people out of work. That hurts. And at the same time we can’t forget it’s the cost of saving this very precious thing we call life. We can come back from economic disaster but there’s no coming back from death.

It made me think of another group of people, another time in another place who had their lives turned upside down overnight.

It was a group of school children who were told to pack their things and leave together. They were separated from the home and friends they knew and marched for miles to a place where they had to sleep on the floor with very little food. After a time there they were forced to march many more miles to a fortress of sorts where they were kept at gunpoint for several years.

Many of you are familiar with this story. It is the experience of my sweet mother in law who grew into a lovely young woman after WWII was over, married, raised a beautiful family and has spent her entire life serving others. What she lived through was traumatic and hard, but her final attitude toward it helped shape her into someone who has given back to humanity after experiencing some of humanity’s worst. Mom Horton lived through extraordinary times that went down in history just as the event we’re experiencing will go down in history.

A wise woman once told me, “You only have today.”

She was right. TODAY we each have a choice. We can choose love. We can choose faith. We can choose to do the right thing. And we can choose to make the most of this precious thing we still enjoy called LIFE.

MARKET CHITCHAT

SUCCESS!!!


I have to hand it to our customers – GENIUS! Yesterday several of you had your ziploc payment baggies in the truck so there was no need to approach the driver at curbside pickup. Just goes to show there’s always room for improvement and you guys knew just what to do!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I may get in trouble for this, but one person who needs to be recognized is our customer Stephanie Dellafiora. Early on she stepped up to keep all of us SAFE by donating a respectable amount of Melaluca disinfectants, hand sanitizer, etc. Our new early Friday protocol starts with spraying everything in the Market Shed down. Stephanie is a Melaluca consultant and if anyone would like to know more about these great GREEN products we’ll be glad to put you in contact with her. For what it’s worth these are the products your Market Manager uses at home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We get to tweak pickup protocols every week as we learn what works in our current situation.

1. Order Payment:
a. Voluntarily prepay by 6 pm Thursday if possible. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. paypal.me/MarketAtDothan. Your invoice will be marked PAID and pickup is fast and easy.
b. paypal.me/MarketAtDothan curbside. Not quite as efficient as we have to verify receipt but it does work.
c. Debit/Credit – yes, we still take cards. We just have to get within 6 feet for you to put your card in the chip reader.
d. Cash and Checks – please put them in a plastic baggie or bank bag. If you want to put them in your trunk/tailgate that would eliminate the need to come near the drivers window.

2. Curb Service. It’s OK to pull up next to the building. In fact we recommend it as tractor trailers sometimes need to share that space. Have your trunk/ hatchback open and we’ll load you up!

GROWER NOTES

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


MAYIM FARM: Just a quick note…we have increased our seedling/transplants and are continuing to plant these in the ground daily.
Hopefully we will have some of your old favorites available again and new products ready for market in a couple weeks.
We are also planting more of our medicinal type plants, focusing on those that might be helpful in these times.
One of our core values for Carole and I is…plants over pills. This also includes our food as medicine.
We are striving to make these personal choice options to all…
Stay healthy…Greg and Carole

DANNY’S GREENS: Our green onions are just now getting big enough to pick so they are listed along with the salad greens and a bit of kale and collards.

HORTONS FARM: Spring has Sprung and with it all the less pleasant aspects that go along with it in the deep south. We have a few products that should help if any of these ail you:
Fire Ants – there are multiple home remedies that will relieve the pain, but Fire Ant First Aid is still the only product out there that can prevent pustules when used right away. It’s especially effective on children’s tender skin.
Plantain antiseptic salve. Keep this in your glovebox or purse. It will cover, protect, soothe and kill germs till you can get that injury looked at.
Allergies – Stinging nettle provides time proven respiratory support. We offer both tinctures and capsules. Makes a great vitamin supplement even if you don’t have allergies.
Cuts, Scrapes, Burns. Local Honey may be sticky but it’s a proven to kill germs, create its own natural hydrogen peroxide and promote faster healing through enzyme activity.

AVALON FARM:

IMG-20200328-122529

Oh, kale no, the veggies aren’t ready yet. ; )  

Sorry to disappoint. Things are growing but it will be a while yet. I did see the first couple asparagus stalks. So that’s exciting. Should be able to list those in a couple weeks.

Stocking up on chicken feed, especially for the meat birds. If things go sideways I want to have enough feed on hand to grow these 50 out to eating size. 

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

March 21, 2020 M@D Newsletter



Market at Dothan is open to accept orders.
Orders close Tuesday at 5pm
We use the word “Sustainable” over “Organic” because you can grow organic without being sustainable, but you cannot be sustainable without utilizing organic practices.


Making the Most . . .
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes

This is a long newsletter. We hope you’ll take the time to read it to keep up on the changes we have made and how our growers are doing their part to serve you.


. . . Of A Tough Situation

It seems like the whole world is on lockdown. Granted some places are locked down tighter than others but the whole planet is affected by covid-19 in some way. Last night I listened to Pastor T.D. Jakes encourage us to be intentional in staying connected. Matthew McConaughey put out a great motivational speech. We could spend the rest of the newsletter just listing challenges to come out of this better and whole.

Then there is the humor. Thank the Lord for humor! It is the relief valve for the pressure cooker we find ourselves in.

0321-TP-2


Lastly, there’s the practical. Families with children are discovering new ways to occupy, challenge and engage their kiddos. What follows below are a few ideas and resources that have crossed my path this week.

31 Days of LEGO Play Calendar
leggo-face-time
Emmi (Raleigh) and Colby’s (Memphis) very safe leggo play date ended in knock knock jokes


Mo Willems of the Kennedy Center started these great doodle art videos for kids last week.


What could be crazier than watching an astronaut read a book from space?


Lastly, what’s for us grown ups who suddenly have all this TIME on our hands to do? The sky is the limit on that one! The sites that follow have plenty of inspiration.

ehow.com instructables.com wikihow.com
monkeysee.com (food) makezine.com youtube.com
http://bizarrelabs.com soyouwanna.com about.com
techcrunch.com videojug.com expertvillage.com
Our sincere hope is that this information helps you cope with the current situation and come out better when it’s all over.

MARKET CHITCHAT

SUCCESS!!!


We were kind of holding our breath prior to pickup time yesterday hoping/praying that the new protocols to practice social distancing and sanitary transactions would prove successful. We ended the day with a huge weight lifted off our shoulders because the protocols WORKED. If you missed it in any of our previous newsletters here’s how we’re handling Market Pickup for the foreseeable future:

1. Prepay online if possible. This eliminates passing paper currency back and forth or handling of debit/credit cards on site. The website to make your payment is paypal.me/MarketAtDothan. We’re working on setting up Venmo for those who do not use Payapl and will announce that if/when that takes place. We recommend doing it when you get your order confirmation with the correct total + tax.

2. Curb Service. Pull up to the Market Shed with your trunk/ hatchback open and close to the entrance. If you’ve prepaid we’ll place your things in the back so all you have to do is close the vehicle and drive away. So simple, so EFFECTIVE. If you’ve not prepaid please have your correct cash or check in a ziplock bag or bank envelope. If you’re using debit/credit, we have plenty of disinfectant on hand to protect you from our germs.

A huge THANK YOU to all of you who got to be guinea pigs doing all this for the first time yesterday. You truly are the best and we’re thankful to continue the privilege of serving you.

GROWER NOTES

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


DANNY’S GREENS: We’re going strong over here and have limited quantities of collards and red russian kale this week in addition to the salad greens. The carrots and beets will be ready in a week or two.

LAURA’S CONFECTIONS:
“President declares a national emergency; Panic; Mixed Messages; Fistfights over Toilet Paper, Wine; Empty Shelves; Cancellations; and a host of other illogical and sometimes dangerous behaviors are all contributing to a societal devolution that, no doubt, will terminate with the Zombie Apocolypse. 

I have lived long enough to witness many healthcare crises billed as worldwide pandemics which spike then disappear as our attention span diminishes and we move on to other more mundane tasks of daily living. What I do find somewhat alarming is that the industry being hit hardest centers on foodservice and I believe it is time to remind everyone at Market at Dothan the practices I employ to ensure my baked goods are prepared, handled, and packaged with the utmost of care.

I am obsessively clean and acutely aware of the responsibilities that fall to me in the preparation and bringing to market not only exceptionally delicious confections but the health and well being of my customers. I wash my hands with hot soapy water dozens of times a day drying them with a clean paper towel. Every morning my kitchen surfaces are disinfected, the floor is swept and every other day washed. The refrigerator interior and exterior are kept spotless. All door handles and cabinet hardware is cleaned daily. Every single piece of hardware I use for baking has been sterilized in the dishwasher and put away on sanitized shelves behind closed doors or in drawers. Ingredients are properly stored in sealed containers and/or refrigerated. My stovetop and oven are immaculate. Even my recipe binders are cleaned with disinfectant wipes. All products used for packaging are stored on disinfected shelves behind closed doors. The ingredients I use are of high quality and safe for consumption. Just the other day I learned two things. The baking powder I use contains aluminum and the lemon and orange extracts I’ve been using contain terpenes. Terpenes are the waxy part of the fruit and cause the extracts to go bad quickly. The source of this information came from Olive Nation where I purchase vanilla extract. I have ordered from them aluminum-free baking powder and organic, terpene-free extracts.

Very soon I will add to my repertoire Lavender Buttermilk Scones. Yesterday I placed an order for “Organic Dried Culinary Lavender”.

Finally, I would like to share with all of you something I discovered completely unrelated to what we do at Market At Dothan. It is called an Aviation Cocktail which tastes like Spring. In a shaker with ice add 1 oz. FRESH lemon juice, 3/4 oz. cherry liqueur, 1 3/4 oz. high-quality gin, and 2 ozs. Creme de Violette liqueur. Shake and pour into a martini-type glass. I wouldn’t normally mention something so off-the-beaten-path, but I think we’ve all been somewhat traumatized by the Coronavirus scare and we deserve to sip on Spring."

AVALON FARMS:

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What a beautifully colored ladybug on this potato plant!

What’s happening down on the farm with this virus threatening, gatherings canceled and physical set-up farmer’s markets in limbo? We are all unclear on what the future holds. So the question arises, do I continue with “the Plan” for planting, scale back or ramp up?
For today I am continuing “the Plan”. That means squash and cucumber seeds went in the ground this week. The 2nd round of potatoes (both fingerling and new potatoes) will be planted today. There are transplants in the greenhouse. Tomatoes and fish peppers are ready to get planted. Eggplants and more peppers in a couple of weeks along with several new to me Asian greens that are quick growing and sound delicious.
Squash should start making in 45 days (give or take). Cukes take a couple weeks longer. Greens should come in sooner (I think).

Other things currently growing in the ground but not ready for harvest are leeks, garlic, onions, radishes and sugar snap peas.

Also part of “the Plan”, 100 fluffy baby chicks were delivered this week. 50 are meat birds. 50 are layers. The cycle continues.

I’m doing what I can to hurry spring production and get some kinds of quick growing green things available as soon as possible.

We still have plenty of fresh eggs, whole chickens, feet and livers available, along with watermelon radishes (Cube and roast in the oven – yum!)

In the meantime, remember Who is ultimately in control. Take care of each other and be safe.

MAYIM FARM: Needless to say, these are unprecedented times. Carole and I are taking every possible precaution suggested by the CDC and our market manager to prevent any kind of contamination on any of our fresh veggies and medicinal products. 
We believe as a whole these times will change our attitudes for the better on food and medicine supplies, IE local food and herbal medicines. In our view, not a necessarily bad thing. There has been very little information given from any source I have seen, on what to do before getting the virus other than washing your hands.
It has been our main focus and continues to be, with our medicinal products to bring back the knowledge of our grandmothers on using herbals and keeping us healthy. We are not medical practitioners nor can we give advice other than to say “what we do personally”. We are farmers with a passion to help people. This is why we do what we do.

We are continuing to grow and make our medicinal products available. While we are unable to prescribe for any particular ailment, there is a wealth of information available to educate yourself on these formulations and products. We suggest everyone do that for yours, and your family’s benefit. As you might expect, there is increased demand nationwide for herbal products. Several national retailers have completely shut down all herbal product ordering. All orders from M@D have priority over any of our website sales. If we can be of service in these changing times please let us know. We are here for you! Sincerely, Greg and Carole      Stay Healthy! 

FOOTNOTES

We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.

Market Schedule
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: 10am – 12pm, Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: 11am – 11:30am, Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: 12pm – 12:30pm, Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
Join our Online Discussions! www.facebook.com/groups/MarketatDothanDiscussion
Be sure to use our hashtag! #marketatdothan

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!

Special COVID-19 M@D Newsletter



To our Friends -

In last Saturday’s newsletter we mentioned that so much changed in a week . . . that’s no longer the case because of all the changes that have happened TODAY!

Last Saturday we were asked if we would close. I stand by the original answer that we will if we need to. After thinking long and hard about what it means to “love thy neighbor” we are staying open for the foreseeable future. As much as your Manager would love to just bunker down isolation is not what serving and loving our neighbors looks like, at least at this time.

Being a very small business definitely has its advantages for M@D. We don’t exceed the government’s “10 or less” group guideline during the few hours on Friday when we actually see each other. Our growers and producers are already extremely safety conscious and we’re implementing additional protocols for both customer and Market staff safety.

So here’s what you can expect:

1. Curb service. We prefer you pull up to the Market Shed rather than get out. It’s not that we don’t want to see you, we would just rather go overboard to protect all of us. So stay in your car and be patient with the person ahead of you if need be.

2. Plastic Bags. We’re dispensing with reusable bags for the foreseeable future. If you would like your fabric or plastic bag to take home for cleaning on Friday please shoot us a message at marketatdothan@gmail.com so we can have yours ready. We LOVE packing your orders in them but again, we’re going overboard here.

3. Please consider voluntarily prepaying your Market order online. As a bit of history, we chose years ago not to enable online payment as it would prohibit some of our vendors from participating in the Market. Now it appears to be a good idea! Voluntary prepayment would eliminate touching plastic (where the virus can live 3-4 days) or paper (where it can live up to 24 hours). Our payment url is paypal.me/MarketAtDothan for those who wish to help this way. Please do so by 6 pm on Thursday so we can mark your invoice.

4. We’ll be using hand sanitizer like crazy and disinfecting everything possible in the Market Shed where your orders arrive and are packaged.

5. Lastly – if you’re up to it take advantage of the Nursery before you pick up your order. Get out and walk around. Fresh air is good for you and the weather is so lovely this week. You don’t have to touch anything and may find something that lifts your spirits. That’s important. The nursery staff are some of the most caring people you’ll ever meet and won’t crowd you. Even with social distancing human interaction is still good for our souls. Who knows, getting some sunshine might just help keep you well!

So that’s it. As always we enjoy hearing from you and welcome input, ideas, etc. Serving you is a privilege and a joy we don’t take for granted.

Ros Horton
Market Manager

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!