MARKET CHITCHAT

Did you notice it? We’ve settled on M@D for our Market at Dothan abbreviation. Steve of 3LC apiary thought it made more sense than “MAD”. We agree!

THANK YOU to everyone who made the effort to come a little earlier on Friday. We’re asking that for the next few weeks while the heat and humidity are intense that folks try to pick up by 11:30 am. We appreciate your understanding.

Don’t be alarmed if you don’t see your favorite grower the next couple of weeks. With summer coming to an end and the school year starting many things are going on that prevent several of them from listing this week.

New & Relisted Products

• Lemon Ginger Pear Jam from Hawkins Homestead
• Bulk Okra from a Sustainable Seasonal Grower
• Brown Sugar Pear Jam from Hawkins Homestead

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 admit defeat. The summer squash are on the list to be pulled out this week. I’ve done everything I can think of and they are still sad and not producing. So, put on my big farmer-girl pants and get ’em gone. (I hate killing plants!)

One thing that does seem to be doing well…the one row of winter squash that DID come up is starting to run! Also my mulching experiment is working too! Been saving my animal feed sacks and used them on the left side. On the other side is hay that I gleaned after the big farmer and big tractors got done on the hay field my Dad rents out. Made me feel smart and sneaky all at once. Plus a free upper body workout.

I found this nest while checking my persimmon tree a couple weeks ago. Now we have baby birds. Very vocal baby birds. LOL They’ll be assisting with pest control before long.

HAWKINS HOMESTEAD: Hello Market Friends! Today I want to talk to you about food preservation. So how do you preserve foods only available in one season for the whole year? For example, in the Spring and Summer we grow different organic basil varieties that aren’t available during other times. So how can we make sure there is basil year round? We make pesto! Pesto can be frozen in ice cubes trays and then you have access to basil year round. Not just that, but have you ever thought about dehydrating basil to make your own organic seasoning? Try it!

Another idea is with pears. If you’ve checked our Facebook Page lately, you’ve seen that we have been making preserves and jams with our freshly picked pears. If we only thought about pears as a fruit, it would go to waste, but by making them into something else, we are stretching our food and making fresh pears last the whole year or even longer.

Food preservation could also help not just your family, but others in times of need. If there is a family who has fallen on hard times, you could help them with a gift that was made from fresh organic food and preserved for later! Since we’ve done the research and possess the knowledge, we want to share with all of you.

Think about it this way, if there is a major disaster in our area and we lose power, the grocery stores are closed, and you can’t get off your street, will you be ok? What food provisions do you have on hand? Even water becomes so precious in a situation like that.

Now of course we know that not everyone has time or wants to grow their own gardens. We also know that canning is hard work. So thats where we come in. The law doesn’t permit us to sell everything, but we try to do our part for our family and yours! So if you’re already growing, think preservation! If you’re not, that’s ok too, because we’re always here to help. Until next time!