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June 1, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Welcome New Vendor
Buying “Organic” Part 3
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes
LAURA’S CONFECTIONS
Dothan M@D customers have enjoyed a special treat as Laura has blessed us with samples from her kitchen the last two Fridays. We’re happy to welcome this sweet lady and hope you’ll take advantage of her serious passion for quality products. They are everything she describes and more. Just ask the staff at Dothan Nurseries!
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself as a new vendor. If tradition means carrying on something we hold dear what I bake is the essence of that meaning. Many of my recipes were handed down to me by my grandmother whose lessons I carry on with a good deal of pride. Everything I offer is made fresh from scratch using only the highest quality ingredients. Initially, I will be offering Grandma Rhea’s Chocolate Cake, an 8” two layer cake with a French Butter Vanilla Frosting, Pecan Squares (9) soft, butter and nuts delights, Banana Bread made with 3 bananas, New York-Style Cheesecake (9”) baked in a water bath for a delectably creamy consistency, and to compliment, Fresh Strawberry Sauce. I’m very happy to join the Market at Dothan family and your feedback is always welcome.
ORGANIC PEST MANAGEMENT
This is part 3 of a series reprinted with permission from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. In an ongoing effort to become the best educated consumers possible, we felt it important to share what the US Department of Agriculture has to say about what certified organic is and is not, and also the practices they approve.
Pest Management for Certified Organic: For disease, weed, and insect pest problems on the farm, management practices are chosen to reduce negative environmental impacts. The NOP standards emphasize a three-tiered, integrated approach, with particular emphasis on practices of level 1 and level 2. Farmers must also consult with their certifying agency to ensure that approved methods are used in the overall pest management plan.
The first line of defense, level 1, is using cultural practices, such as crop rotation, cover crops, resistant plant varieties, and trap crops. Level 2 consists of adding mechanical and physical control methods, such as mulching, row covers, mowing, and others. The last resort, or level 3, is to use (OMRI) approved pesticides.**
- What is the Organic Materials Review Institute? (OMRI) The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is an organization that tests and catalogs soil improvement and pesticide products for approved use in certified organic production. Organic-approved chemicals range from mild chemistries, such as soap sprays, to target-specific biopesticides, such as Bt, to more harsh chemistries, such as copper sulfate, spinosad, and pyrethrum that require EPA registration. As with any pesticide, always read and follow the label directions for safe use and environmental protection. Spinosad and pyrethrum are examples of highly toxic OMRI-approved pesticides. These are safe when applied correctly but can be lethal to pollinators and other organisms when misapplied.
More on this next week!
MARKET CHITCHAT
A hearty THANK YOU to everyone who picked up early on Friday. Try as we do to keep the temperatures under control in the Market Shed it still helps your orders stay fresh longer to get them home as soon as possible. We appreciate the cooperation, plus it gets us out of the heat sooner!
Ever wonder why some text is green in our newsletter? Those are links to more other websites with more information. If you click on them be sure to come back and finish the newsletter!
If you’ve been with the Market any length of time you’ve probably seen this note on the bottom of an invoice:
Our growers list products for the upcoming week every Saturday, but try as we do, sometimes things just don’t turn out as planned or expected. We appreciate your understanding in these situations.
New & Relisted Products – Woo-Hoo!
- Banana Bread from Laura’s Confections
- Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cookies from Laura’s Confections
- New York Style Cheesecake & Fresh Strawberry Sauce from Laura’s Confections
- Granda Rhea’s Chocolate Cake from Laura’s Confections
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Laura’s Confections
- Pecan Squares from Laura’s Confections
- BLUEBERRIES from 2 Growers! Avalon Farms & Casablanca Ranch
- Garlic from Avalon Farms
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
GRIER ACRES So sorry for our absence but the Hurricane Michael put us back. We are so excited we are getting cucumbers, squash, and okra. Our tomatoes and peppers are growing. We also have some basil growing. Our garlic is being dried out. We have a few bulbs we started drying last week and about 5 yesterday. Our olive trees are growing nicely. We have 4 varieties, Arbequina, Picual, Koreneiki, and Arbosana. We have 20 trees but lost 1 this week. Another didn’t look so good but otherwise they are thriving. Harry obtained some bees with a bee club member Friday but we are almost certain the queen is absent. We have several blueberry plants with fruit. We also have some volunteer Pawpaws that came up from the rootstock of a tree which was destroyed by the hurricane. They are thriving but will not fruit for a few more years.
We also have native PawPaws which are setting fruit right now. If we can keep the possums away from them, we should have some for the market around the end of July. We have a mayhaw pond that had fruit but due to hurricane recovery work we did not harvest it. We plan to check and see if any of the fruit is still there. Jeannie is terrified of snakes and has not been eager to help with this project. Rumor has it that water moccasins love this area. If anyone is interested in the harvest of this fruit we might be willing to work a “deal” for Jeannie to avoid this task of harvesting. We also seem to have an abundance of mullein since the hurricane. It appears when it is cut it comes back 10 fold!!! We also have catnip growing prolifically under a hickory tree. This is our cat’s favorite tree. She rolls in it at times and just loves it. I can’t imagine a cat who doesn’t enjoy catnip. Cammie is always “stoned” after a roll in it. Our chickens are doing well. We’ve seen a racoon in the daytime near the coop and we also have a hawk nesting nearby. Since we are free ranging them in the afternoons we may sustain some losses due to predators. Time will tell.
AVALON FARMS: Many of you know that I, Avalon Farms, participate in other markets over the Summer months. I just want to assure you that you are my favorites. My friends at the Market at Dothan will always get first pick of everything I have.
Love to all and thank you for your support. I couldn’t do this without you.
Wendy
PS – Please keep the heat and drought in your prayers. We need relief on both fronts.
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.
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 Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 25, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Buying “Organic” Part 2
CBD Oil
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes
WHAT IS…
Editor’s Note: ACES kindly granted Market at Dothan to reprint this information. It is quite lengthy so we’re breaking it down into bite size chunks over a few weeks. We hope it will help you be a more informed consumer.
Certified organic is a production term referring to the NOP-standardized practices that farmers and processors use to grow and process agriculture products such as fruits, vegetables, grains, livestock, dairy, and others. Organic farmers use alternative methods and inputs for fertilization, weed control, insect and disease management, and animal health in an attempt to protect environmental resources and reduce consumer exposure to chemicals. These strict standards are voluntarily accepted and federally regulated. Organic farms are also required by law to keep detailed records and undergo an in-depth, annual oversight and certification process to verify that all standards and requirements are being met. These added regulations and requirements are part of the cost of growing certified organic products.
Certified Naturally Grown The Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program serves as an alternative to the USDA’s NOP standards. It costs less, requires less paper work, and is based on a participatory guarantee system allowing farmer-inspectors to make suggestions and assist other producers. The CNG program has strict standards required for using its label. It is primarily designed for small farmers who sell via local networks such as roadside stands, farmers markets, local restaurants, and small grocery stores. CNG producers benefit from the program’s website, which promotes their businesses: www.naturallygrown.org/.
Not included in original article
”Natural” Food labeled “natural,” according to the USDA definition, does not contain artificial ingredients or preservatives and the ingredients are only minimally processed. However, they may contain antibiotics, growth hormones, and other similar chemicals.
Regulations are fairly lenient for foods labeled “natural.” Producers must submit a sort of application at the time of slaughter, detailing practices used throughout the life of animals. Labels are evaluated to prevent mislabeling but no inspections are conducted and producers are not required to be certified.
All Natural The USDA does not define foods labeled “all natural” as any differnt than those labeled “natural.” Foods with this labeling are probably not any different than “natural” foods and may not be regulated as they are not defined by the USDA.
Made with Organic Ingredients Foods with this labeling must consist of at least 70% organic ingredients and none of the ingredients can be produced with sewage-sludge based products or ionizing radiation. Labeling cannot include the USDA seal or the word “organic” in any principle displays. Three of the organic ingredients can be included on the label and all organic ingredients should be identified in the ingredients list. The same controls and regulations are put in place as those use for foods labeled “organic.”
Next Week: A Close Look at Pest Management Practices for Certified Organic Production
IT’S ALL GOOD NEWS
We are pleased to have both Smart Doc Resources and Mayim Farms offering Cannabidiol, known as CBD Oil, to our customers. It is one of the 104 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids found in the cannabis or marijuana plant, Cannabis sativa. CBD does not contain the main psychoactive chemical (tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC) that causes the “high” associated with marijuana. It is a natural and viable option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of marijuana or certain pharmaceutical drugs.
We’ve collected a bit of information with links if you’d like to examine CBD closer.
Healthline lists 7+ health issues CBD oil can help with.
Dr. Axe lists many different forms of CBD oil products and how to use them. (The product that made a believer out of this editor was a topical cream.)
In addition to health problems CBD oil can help with, Parsly Health explains how it works and lists side effects. It also and offers guidelines for choosing your CBD product.
CBD has other well known uses not mentioned above including Pet use, Arthritis and Migraine Relief.
MARKET CHITCHAT
Temperature Up = Curtains CLOSED! The last two weeks The Market Shed has made good use of our curtains. They look super cute year round but the real purpose is to keep the sun out and the temperature down while your orders await pickup. One thing our Dothan customers can do to help keep things fresh is to pickup a little earlier. While it does get a little crazy once in a while we so enjoy the time with you and appreciate your patience.
New & Relisted Products – Woo-Hoo!
- Parsley from Avalon Farms
- Basil from Avalon Farms
- Rosemary from Avalon Farms
- Thyme….reminds me of a song from Avalon Farms
- Green beans from Avalon Farms
- Patty pan squash from Avalon Farms
- Italian Zucchini from Avalon Farms
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS Just finished processing the last of our spring broilers. (So thankful that is done.?) They’re all staying at “freezer camp” eagerly awaiting an invite to your house for a yummy home cooked meal. ?
My thermometer is reading 95 degrees and it’s only 11am. It was just a month ago that we were experiencing super late frosts and heavy rains, now we are extra hot and super dry. The heat is rough on people and animals, but it’s rough on the garden too.
Heat impacts on the garden that you might not have considered… besides plants practically laying on the ground!
Not setting fruit,
Dropping fruit,
Malformed fruit,
Taste,
Germination,
Lousy production all around,
Death and destruction.
….if only the heat deterred the bugs.
Having said all that, I have to get up and go plant more squash and cucumbers. Waiting is not an option as I’m already behind schedule. You can’t pick ‘em if you don’t plant them.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 18, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Ros’s Ramblings
The Lowdown on Organic
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes
An Intro
I’m alternating between typing and enjoying lunch. The beautiful salad below has Danny’s salad greens, spinach my daughter brought down from Memphis Farmer’s Market, cucumbers from Avalon Farms, cheese, tomato & avacodo my Mr. brought home, EVOO and Cascadian Raspberry Vinegar from my kiddos in Pensacola.
I’m tasting the love.
I’ve been contemplating the connection between food and love for a few days now after realizing that babies experience love through feeding. Bottle or breast, they are held close while their most basic need is met. A child’s need for connecting and belonging is later met around the family dinner table. Sweethearts still melt into each others eyes over malts and milk shakes. Lovers are wooed over a candlelight meal.
No doubt this topic is deeper than this lay person can delve into, but it is something to think about!
We regularly get questions and have a lot of discussion within our M@D family about “organic” and what it means. If you’ve been a reader of this newsletter for any length of time you know we try to be pro-active in educating about growing practices, labeling, etc. Our own Market embraces the spirit, intent and practices of certified organic standards, but because our growers are too small to take on the hassel and expense of certification, we go with “Sustainable.” Our growers often use stricter protocols than required for National Organic Program (NOP).
With summer crops starting to come on strong, farm stands full, csa’s popping up and various markets abounding, it seems like a good time to revisit the labels and what they mean. Please know above all else that knowing your farmer is the very best way to know about your food! Labels tell you what the certifying agency is all about. The farmer is the one who knows what’s really going on.
Thomas Agee is an extension agent in Dale County and has given permission to publish the following article from ACES. It’s long so we’re going to do it in several parts. The good thing is – it’s official! It is written by specialists, Ellen Huckabay, Tyler Weldon, & Ayanava Majumdar, Alabamians who deal with growing standards and certification every day. We hope it will help you in your own quest to eat healthy!
PART I, FACT & MYTH
When asked the difference between organic goods and those labeled all-natural, eco-friendly, or naturally grown, consumers may respond that these are one and the same. In reality, they are different.
In 1990, the federal Organic Foods Production Act established the National Organic Program (NOP) to support specialty crop producers,* organic farmers, and the standards for producing, handling, and processing organically grown agricultural products.
Organic foods are typically from farms growing specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, and other small-scale produced crops and livestock) for direct market to consumers and local markets. In Alabama and across the nation, both organic and other specialty crop farms sell to an ever-expanding market
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic as a labeling term for food and other agricultural products in much the same way as it defines labeling terms for the grading of beef, eggs, and dairy products. The organic label can only be used on products produced by NOP-approved methods, which are intended to promote and enhance biodiversity, biological cycles, and biological soil activity. They are based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance natural cycling of the farm’s ecological resources. Use of the word organic is mandated by the NOP standards.
Thus, all-natural and organic are not the same. All-natural or eco-friendly products might have been produced using some of the organic standards and principles in the pre- or postharvest of their ingredients, but these labels do not guarantee that the product complies with the federal regulations defining organic. Although organic farming and all-natural gardens can both support a local ecology, only one is certified.
More to come! Next week we look at the labels closer.
MARKET CHITCHAT
Summer Schedule: Now that we’ve got all our spring farmer’s markets and Open House behind us we’ve done a big exhale and wanted to let you know what’s in the works. At this time the only thing set in stone is a break in schedule for the week of Saturday, June 29 – Friday, July 5. The Market will reopen for orders on Saturday, July 6.
If we get enough interest we may do a canning class in June or July.
Fall Farmer’s Market will start in September.
New & Relisted Products – Woo-Hoo!
- Moringa Powder from Smart Doc Resources
- Green cabbage Avalon Farms
- Zephyr Squash
- Yellow Crookneck Squash
- Yellow Straight Squash
- Zucchini Squash
- Swiss Chard
- Slicing Cucumbers
- Moringa Leaves from Mayim Farms
- Pickling Cucumbers
- Snacking Cucumbers
- Kinston Sweet Onions and Creole Red Onions!
- Blackberries
- Red Potatoes
- Turnips (possibly)
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
SMART DOC RESOURCES: Greetings! I have just returned from my 2nd trip to Africa. Our nonprofit Earth Farm Gambia is up and running. More info on that later. But also brought back lots of moringa (freshly harvested) and shea butter from Mali. I worked with some of the farmers (myfarm for one) and got some of their recipes for tea and soap. This week we are listing freshly ground moringa leaves and moringa tea with recipes. Also I have a few pounds of raw pure shea butter. Our hydroponics have been dismantled and we are moving indoors. The garage gets a little too warm for these delicate leaves and produce. Watch for an announcement soon. Hopefully we will have microgreens back in two weeks. A little info about moringa:
Moringa
The National Health Institute calls it the plant of the year. It africa it is called the living tree and the tree that never dies. Throughout the world, moringa is used for treating widespread conditions such as inflammation related diseases, cancer, diabetes, anemia, arthritis, allergies, asthma, constipation, stomach and intestinal issues, epilepsy, chronic headaches, high blood pressure, kidney stones, libido issues, viral and bacterial infections, fluid retention and much more. It is also widely used for weight loss and to increase energy. It is chock full of nutrients per gram than most foods. For example, it has two times the amount of protein than yogurt, four times the amount of vit A as carrots, three times the amount of potassium as bananas and four times the amount of calcium than in cows milk. In africa they put moringa in recipes and drink tea several times a day (along with green tea). Recipes will be posted on fb page.
We have listed powder and several different tea recipes, including plain moringa in resealable tea bags so you can add your own ingredients to taste.
Our organic garden is growing too….so watch for announcements. Please feel free if you have any questions to contact me.
Blessings
Virginia and Clifford
MAYIM FARMS: Mayim Farm…. Listing fresh Moringa leaves again for season 2019. One of the most nutritionally dense plants we grow. editor’s note – Mayim’s moringa trees are located on their farm in Opp, AL
AVALON FARMS
So much going on!!! That’s how spring is every year for every farmer. You wait and watch, hope and pray, and then suddenly everything starts producing. Which is awesome!!! But now you have to harvest everyday. Rinse the dirt off and remove the field heat. Then pack in crates and store in the cooler. It’s wonderful and it never takes a day off.
Oh, and while dealing with this wonderful abundance, keep the weeds at bay, water, fertilize and plant the next succession of crops.
Last week, the onion harvest started (still going on). This week, the potato harvest will start. Garlic will be soon.
Blackberries and blueberries are starting to ripen.
The “To Do List” is long and resets everyday. LOL But the best part is seeing you select my products and then bringing them to you on Friday. ? Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your life.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 11, 2109 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
In Season
Market Chitchat
No Grower Notes
CARROTS
Danny’s beautiful carrots have been selling out every week – and with good reason as they’re the most healthful and delicious you can get in the Wiregrass, at least at this time! Danny’s non certified organic beds are hand tilled and hand tended from start to finish for all his products and you can really taste the difference. So this week, while they’re still available we pay homage to the carrot, a versatile and sometimes underappreciated staple of the human diet.
MARKET CHITCHAT
Thank you to everyone who came out to Open House this week. We home you had fun. Market at Dothan will be back to our regular schedule starting with this newsletter complete with Daleville and Enterprise Deliveries!
While summer is not “officially” here it may as well be past solstice in the Deep South as Blackberry Winter is past and our days are consistently warm. Spring was cooler for longer than usual which has made things quite interesting for farmers and beekeepers alike! We’re looking forward to plenty of yumminess in the coming weeks.
Upcoming plans are to continue normal operations through the summer months with one small break in July. A monthly Fall Farmer’s Market will start in September.
New & Relisted Products
- Vanilla Oatmeal Shea Butter from St. Andrews Soap Company
- Ready to Use FRESH Tumeric Powder from Sweet Acre Farms
- Hawthorne Berry Tincture from Mayim Farms
- Endive
- Thyme
- Peppermint
- Little Gem Romaine
NO GROWER NOTES
We’re skipping the Grower Notes this week to give all our hard working farmers a breather and to wish you all a
Mother’s Day is steeped in history and tradition and is celebrated worldwide albeit not always at the same time or in the same way! If you want to learn more here are a few websites to dig into.
- Trivia From Town & Country
- 23 Fascinating (& Distrubing!) Facts from Fiscal Times
- Grower Direct Facts, Trivia & Lore
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 4, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEK!
Giving Back
Grower Notes
PICKUP IS CHANGED THIS WEEK ONLY
Even if you do not place an order this week you are invited to attend an old timey Ice Cream Social this Thursday at Dothan Nutseries from 3pm – 7pm. Many of your M@D vendors will be on hand to with fresh products for meet and greet. We also have several great guest vendors lined up as well.
Order Pickup will take place starting 2 pm on Thursday, May 9 instead of Friday this week only, including orders for our Daleville or Enterprise customers. We look forward to seeing our friends from Dale & Coffee County and hope you enjoy your visit to the Nursery.
| Avalon Farms | D’s Jellies | Casablanca Ranch |
| Fostering Hope | Hortons Farm | Martin Teas |
| Smart Doc Resources | Panda Organics | Mark It With A B Whoopie Pies |
| Throckmartins Table | Koning Pottery | Mary Opiary |
| Wild Rose Apothecary |
SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT
We here at M@D have supported causes and done fundraisers before, and this week for Open House we’re doing it again, albeit a bit differently. A representative from Fostering Hope. will be present to share information about the many ways they help children and families in the Wiregrass.
Fostering Hope’s mission statement is . . . to support, encourage & assist foster families and children of the Wiregrass. We want them to be well loved and supported by the community and the Church as a whole.
Foster Care and Adoption is near and dear to the folks at Hortons Farm and this week they’re partnering with Fostering Hope to give a portion of all honey sold at Open House to this fine organization. There will be plenty on hand and we hope everyone will plan to stock up!
Fostering Hope has furnished us with a list of current needs. If you would like to help with any of the following please bring them to the Hortons Farm/Fostering Hope tent on Thursday. Your tax deductable gift will go toward helping a foster/adopting family and children starting a new life.
*Laundry Soap *Infant Laundry Soap *Quart Zip Lock Bags *Small Hangers of all Types *3# size diapersTHIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS: World Naked Gardening Day! Nope, Avalon Farms did not participate yet again. LOL You gotta be kidding me!
Following my foot surgery last week, I’ve had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with my kids and their spouses. They were wonderful helpers and kept the farm alive…and took great care of me! “We” harvested and prepared your orders. Things weren’t done quite the way “I” do them, but “we” got it done. If you happened to have any issues with your produce, please just let me know and I’ll get it fixed. ??
One of the things that “we” did not get done was keep the sugar snaps picked. Once they start maturing they have to be picked or the pods get over mature and lose their sweetness, BUT they still have tasty little peas in them! So this week I’ll be offering SHELLED sugar snap peas.
English Peas are starting to fill out!!! They are such lush healthy plants! It’s so exciting and gratifying when something grows so well. (God’s grace, obviously)
HORTONS FARM “Ditto What She Said”
We did not observe what has come to be known as WNGD either and have made it a point to stay away from websites and social media where it has been celebrated. We did however bump into a list of gardening activities NOT recommended for the first Saturday of every May .
1. Plant Roses
2. Re-pot Cacti
3. Use a Weed Eater or other Power Tools
4. Squat in the bushes
5. Sit on the ground
6. Any type of pruning.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 27, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Roz’s Ramblings
Food For Thought
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
This has been a BUSY spring! We hope everyone has taken advantage of the beautiful weather and opportunities to visit Dothan Nurseries when tents were up.
Last weeks Get Green Alabama Marketplace gave me a fresh perspective on all the wonderful things that are and that take place at Dothan Nurseries. Normally I participate by working, and while I did invest some work for Get Green Alabama, on Saturday when it took place I attended as anyone else from the public, as part of the crowd.
To be honest, the shift in gears didn’t happen immeiately, but being with family who had never been to the Nursery was a huge help. My trendy, hipster, city slicker kids picked up right away that Dothan Nurseries is a special place . . . and they were in no hurry to leave long after Get Green Alabama had packed up and gone home! They had all made new friends and great memories before leaving. On the way back to Echo they remarked that they were quite surprised to find a place “like that” so close to home.
“Like that” indeed! We count our blessings to work alongside JD and all the Nursery staff. It truly comes across that it’s not all business, but about being a blessing to our community. Thanks guys! You’re the Best!
. . .OR NOT
Food is always in the news. Good, Bad and Ugly, it’s all there. Here’s a smattering of recent news starting with the ridiculous:
- Bob Ross Cereal Is Here To Help You Understand The True Joy Of Breakfast
- Walmart is selling Nikelodeon Green Slime Ice Cream
- Firebox Will 3-D Print Your Face On A Chocolate Egg
Seriously – would you want to eat the image of a loved one?
And then there’s bad news:
- AriZona Iced Tea Is Being Sued For Falsely Labeling Their Green Tea With Non-Existent Ingredients. (Apparently, "the right amount of ginseng” is none.)
- A woman died after falling into an industrial meat grinder at work.
- 113,000 of ground beef recalled after yet another e-coli threat. (this and similar stories seem to frequently repeat themselves.)
Thank God there’s useful news!
Like Soda, Kombucha is very harsh on your teeth’s protective barrier. It must have a pH level of below 3.5 in order to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. And you can do something about it:
- Neutralize the acid levels in your mouth. “Drink it with some foods lower in acidity or give your mouth a swish with some water after you finish drinking it.”
- Find kombucha with lower sugar content. "Kombucha isn’t meant to be savored and sipped. It’s purpose is for health benefits, not for flavor.
- Drink it quickly. “Drinking it quickly will reduce the amount of time it takes for you to be able to restore the pH levels in your mouth to a more neutral state.”
Lastly, a warning: Do not, DO NOT watch the KFC Mother’s Day video unless you want to lose valuable cognitive function and spend the rest of the day wishing you could pressure wash your brain to get rid of bad mental images. (that is not a confession)
These and more mostly useless stories may be found at at Delish Food News
MARKET CHITCHAT
If you didn’t pick up on it, this year’s Open House theme is an old timey Ice Cream Social. And we have a lot of great vendors lined up to participate in the Farmer’s Market:
Order Pickup will take place starting 2 pm on Thursday, May 9 instead of Friday this week only.
There will be no Daleville or Enterprise delivery that week. We hope our friends from Dale & Coffee County will visit us during Open House and meet your growers! These guys are signed up so far:
| Avalon Farms | D’s Jellies | Casablanca Ranch |
| Fostering Hope | Hortons Farm | Martin Teas |
| Smart Doc Resources | Panda Organics | Mark It With A B Whoopie Pies |
| Throckmartins Table | Koning Pottery | Mary Opiary |
New & Relisted Products
- Avalon Watermelon Radishes are back!
- New: English Breakfast Radishes
- Sugar Snap Peas (in case you didn’t see them last week)
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS: I’m writing this as I wait to be wheeled back for foot surgery. As you can imagine this will have quite an impact on the next few weeks of farm work. With the help of my stupendous husband and my favorite daughter, I’m hoping to keep the minimum things going.
The sugar snap peas are in full production mode. The English peas finally have baby peas. I’m secretly hoping they will come in this week while there’s extra help!
Watermelon radishes are finally sizing up so I will be listing a few.
English Breakfast Radishes, new to the market this week, are cylindrical and known for their coloring which changes from a vivid fuchsia-red to bright white at the tip. They are a very crispy radish with a mild spicy flavor. Roasting or grilling brings out a slight nutty and sweet flavor. Have fun experimenting!
Potatoes are blooming. Onion and garlic are sizing up.
Cukes will be appearing in the next few weeks, as they are just setting fruit.
Everything seems behind. Normally I would be picking squash by now. Those late cold snaps held things up. But we’ll get there soon.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 20, 2019 M@D Abbreviated Newsletter
A FEW QUICK NOTES
Thank you for your patience and understanding that Market At Dothan did not send out a “proper” newsletter earlier today. Sometimes life just takes over and such was the case. Nothing went exactly as planned or expected, yet when it counted we were exactly when and where we needed to be. No doubt if you’ve lived long enough you’ve experienced something similar!
We don’t want to take a lot of your time so this week’s M@D notes will be brief:
1. Avalon Farms will continue to list products on the Market website the next couple of weeks but Wendy will not be making deliveries to Daleville or Enterprise. If you live in one of those areas do not fear! We are making arrangements to cover that and will notify you who to look for and if there are any adjustments in the schedule.
2. Welcome back Sweet Acre Farm!. Our new customers may not be familiar with these great folks but they are sweet Market friends of many years and we’re excited to have them listing again. This week they have Little Gem Romaine Lettuce, Thyme, Spearmint, Peppermint, Oregano, Endive and Ready-to-use Powdered Turmeric!
3. We missed updating Danny’s Greens before 5 pm so if you can’t live without his lettuce it has been relisted along with more green onions and CARROTS.
So that’s it! Have a blessed Easter and we look forward to seeing you next week!
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 20, 2019 M@D Notification
Happy Easter Weekend!
This notification will have to suffice for our regular newsletter for the moment.
Market At Dothan is open for orders. Feel free to take advantage of all the wonderful things our growers offer.
Blessings,
Ros
041319 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Today
Next Week
Grower Notes
April Tent Market
Get Green Alabama
Don’t forget that Saturday, April 20 the first GET GREEN ALABAMA MARKETPLACE will be taking place at Dothan Nurseries. There will be 20 sustainable businesses (not just food!) on hand along with workshops, live music and a food truck. Market at Dothan along with several of your favorite Market vendors will be on hand.
Visit the Facebook Page to learn more about the upcoming week of community events starting this Monday, April 15.
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
CASABLANCA RANCH: It’s been a wonderful secret and now things are getting ripe and will be listed on the Market starting this week.
DANNY’S GREENS: Danny as a limited quantity of his fabulous green onions (scallions) available this week.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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 6, 2019 M@D Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Outdoor Farmer’s Market
In Season
Market Chitchat
Grower Notes
NEXT SATURDAY!
Don’t forget that the following Saturday the first ever GET GREEN ALABAMA event will be taking place at Dothan Nurseries. Market at Dothan will be there along with some of our regular vendors. We hope to see you there!
RADISHES
Those of you who picked up in Dothan last week may have seen these lovelies from Avalon Farms.
Radishes are one of those vegetables that you either like . . or don’t. Many of us fall in the don’t category. Kathy (of Kathy’s Churpers) nas been sharing on Fridays that radishes are not limited to spring salads and cute culinary roses, but may in fact be roasted and seasoned like other root vegetabes. A quick internet search confirmed that along with many recipes for both roots and the greens. So here’s to trying something different!
MARKET CHITCHAT
Help Solve a Market Mystery – On Friday two bags of Mayim’s Spring Salad Mix seems to have vanished into thin air. Nobody is going hungry because of it but we are very curious about what happened to them. If they accidentally wound up in your bag please keep them, but do let us know so that we can improve our service going forward. Many Thanks!
Two of our Market family have completed the Beginner Beekeeping Course offered annually by Wiregrass Beekeepers Association. Both Clifford Judge (Smart Doc Resources) and Patty Basford have earned their . . .wings, stings . . . we’re not sure, but they completed and we’re proud of them as it takes a special kind of person to take that plunge.
New & Relisted Products
- Soothing Salve from Mayim Farms
- UTI Stone Formula from Mayim Farms
- Hawthorne Berry Tincture from Mayim Farms
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS:
What a crazy time of year it is! And what a crazy year for weather! (Over here in Kinston, I’ve actually had frost on the ground twice in the last 2 weeks!! Scared me LOL)
Succession planting allows you to have a continuous supply of quality vegetables available. To do that I have planned to plant squash successions every 3 to 4 weeks. Sounds simple enough, right? In reality the 5 rows of squash planted 3 weeks ago have just come up. I’m assuming it is due to the unusually cool temps. Then, right on schedule, I planted 7 more rows this week. 50 days from now there should be squash everywhere. Ha Ha
Been working on root crop production. So proud of my raised beds of carrots. Finally, good germination. Woo Hoo Tried an old trick I’d heard of and covered the beds with burlap bags. Watered twice a day. And surprise, baby carrot plants!
Other root crops currently available and coming soon: red radishes, Easter egg radish assortment, watermelon radishes, just right turnips, salad turnips, red potatoes and 2 kinds of fingerlings.
Smart Doc Resources Virginia is headed back to Africa for a few more weeks. If you have any summer clothing or children’s arts supplies to donate please take it to the donation box at the Market Shed ASAP. Microgreens will continue to be on the Market as Clifford will be holding down the fort here in Dothan in her absence.
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.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Parking area behind Daleville Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Pickup: Grocery Advantage, 1032 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
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!