HAPPY TO BE HOME

A hearty THANK YOU to Viki Richter and everyone who helped keep the Market running in my absence. Many of you know that my sisters and I took our Mom to a place she’d dreamed of visiting all her life – Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. She had always wanted to visit Green Gables Heritage Place which inspired the setting for L.M. Montgomery to create her beloved tale of a red-haired orphan, Anne of Green Gables.

We saw and experienced so much on this trip – too much to share in one newsletter so I hope nobody minds a little bit here and there in the weeks ahead. For the moment suffice to say that late September/early October is the BEST time to visit these sweet Canadian neighbors. Everyone we come in contact with was welcoming, kind and helpful. We hit the “sweet spot” right after tourist season, right after the leaves started changing (so there was lots of color!), and right before EVERYTHING tourism related shut down till next year.

THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES

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

AVALON FARMS: Why yes, we are still farming. LOL Shall we say it’s been “interesting times" as in the Chinese proverb kind of way.
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Thank you to all you brave souls trying the persimmons last week. That crunchy sweetness is so surprising. They will be available for several weeks. Remember they will continue to ripen on your counter.
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This week we have new listings of: salad turnips (both white and red), braising greens, parsley, basil, watermelon radishes, and possibly regular turnips, chard and kale.
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The broccoli and cabbage are looking good. They have several weeks to go. Sugar snap peas are running up their new trellis. Assorted beets are wondering how they wound up in South Alabama. : )
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Anyone interested in stewing hens? Seems like it’s time to repurpose some of the older girls. Love broth made with a flavorful hen. Holidays are coming!
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Also for the holidays, now offering chopped pecans. The stories these giant trees could tell…all us grandkids were always getting in trouble for climbing them.

BAIN HOME GARDENS: Hello Market Friends!
It was so nice to push past names on an invoice and see some friendly faces. We appreciate the support of the community and of our fellow vendors! Shout out to Roslyn for her hard work with organizing this ongoing event!

HAWKINS HOMESTEAD FARM: How exciting it was to welcome all the new faces to day 2 of The Fall Farmers Market today! Thank you for helping to grow our family! We were also very thankful to see so many returning! It warms our hearts to see that so many of you are enjoying what we have to offer. Our family works hard to provide you the very best of what we have. We appreciate being able to provide a local, fresh, clean food option.

With cooler temperatures (we hope) and cold and flu season coming up how many of you are thinking about some wonderful bone broth, chicken soup or homemade stock? Well we have a load of chicken feet available just for you. Yes, I said chicken feet! Now before you get all grossed out let me tell you just a few things about chicken feet.

I remember being a little girl and watching my great grandmother eat chicken feet. She would actually boil hers low and slow, suck the meat off the bone, and either drink the broth or save it for later. This was her staple and if you ever enjoyed a home cooked meal with her well, she used this stock for everything. Now this woman who lived to be 105, was hardly ever sick. Really, if old age didn’t catch up with her she would be running around here telling all of us what to do!

Recently, many have been introduced to bone broth and all the health properties from it. Chicken feet is one of the best ways you can take advantage of your very own broth. It contains loads of collagen. One benefit of collagen is that it reduces inflammation. Chicken feet also contains protein, calcium, and so many other minerals that our bodies need. So we have it right here waiting on you to try.

Please don’t take our word for it, ask your Great Grandma, Google it, or just buy some. We would love to know what you think.

MARY’S PEEPS:Sorry but this week I am taking off to go get a very special lady in my life, my Mother who lives in south Georgia.  She will be spending some time with me this winter, so she is ready to come back for a visit. I appreciate all the customers who have been so very nice to try my products, and I will be back ready for orders the next week. My Mom loves to help me especially making my Pepper Jellies, so I am getting a bit low so that will be one of our projects when she comes. Heck she’s only 93 going on 35 she thinks, but she still loves to help me in the kitchen, who do you think I get it from.  So see you next order week, which will be our next tent market.  Thank you so much for your kindness.  Mary Dale Peeples—Mary’s Peeps, and Mary Bees. 

MAYIM FARMS: Thank you so much to everyone who has come by the booth and said hello the past Saturday markets and have supported us through the market weekly. Carole and I are truly blessed by your support!
Mayim Farm is your farm, you are our family, our joy.
It is our highest calling…to give.
We live to give!

Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out Mayim Farm’s newest product – Anti Inflammatory Dash!

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.

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!