The Weblog
Our goal is 100% Customer Satisfaction…comments, questions or concerns always welcome!
www.Facebook.com/MarketAtDothan
March 25 Market Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Know Your Farmer
Schedule
Market ChitChat
In Season
This Week’s Grower Notes
Five Reasons to Know Your Farmer & Food Maker
The Practical Reason: As humans, we can be a little particular about how we do things. It’s good to have people you trust providing you with the things you need. Food is one of those things you need. Your farmer is the person who grows and cares for the food you eat; he/she is also the person you can talk to about it. Want to try a new veggie? Place a custom order? Understand food lingo? The artisan food maker? They’re making a living (hopefully!) off of the food they’re making. Passionate producers know what went into your food, they’ll have the answers to questions a grocery store can’t. And if there’s one thing you should be able to ask questions about, it’s the food you eat.
The Economical Reason: Supporting your farmer will strengthen your local economy and revitalize your community. Eating locally and regionally cuts down on transportation and storage costs. Buying directly from your farmer or at a farmers’ market is generally cheaper than the grocery store and returns more profit to the farmer than when you purchase indirectly. Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.
The Ethical Reason: Exchanging money for a good or service is akin to voting for it. Every purchase you make is a vote cast. This means every purchase is a chance to vote for what you value. When you know your farmer and food producer, you know how your food is grown, made and where it comes from. It’s an opportunity to support and promote what you deem important, from organic to sustainable to humane to community-oriented to educational. When you know your maker, you know what’s important to them and you can vote for the food producers who live your values.
The Holistic Reason: We know you’ve heard it before; we’re a little detached from our environment in these modern times. Buildings don’t offer the same atmosphere that the actual atmosphere does. As family farms declined over the last century, fewer people worked in communion with the land. Knowing your farmer allows you to connect with your roots. And by roots we mean the practice of agriculture that allowed us humans to survive and thrive over thousands of years. Experiencing the earth produce food, and knowing the farmer who cultivates it, means engaging with the magical cycle that keeps us alive. Your farmer is the key to that cycle and the natural world. Much in the same way, artisan food makers keep traditions alive by going beyond the mass-produced norm with the best ingredients and old-world methods to create foods that harken back to the days before big food took over.
The Human Reason: Farmers. Their job is more important than athletes and actors combined without any of the accolades or rewards. Farming is tough. It’s physically demanding, livelihood is dependent upon the weather (which is never as predictable as Doppler wants you to believe), and it’s not particularly lucrative. But it’s essential. If we ever want to take back our food system we have to support small food business owners. The cider makers, the farmstead cheesemakers, heirloom grain bakers, healthy living innovators and sustainable butchers are imperative to our food system. So get to know your farmer and food maker and say thanks.
Adapted from barnraiser.us
Schedule
Market ChitChat
What a delightful surprise to have Greg and Carole Lolly of Mayim Farms drop in Friday! Thank You for spending part of your day with us and Happy Anniversary!
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Dothan Nursery’s Butterfly Open House on Thursday. We have plenty of “butterfly supplies” left and will have those available at the Market for kiddos to make their own butterflies starting in April during Market Pickup. If you’ve not had a chance to visit the Butterfly House is open during the nursery’s regular business hours.
In Season
ASPARAGUS!!!!!! Finally! What a treat that it’s finally here! We hope you’ll take advantage of this delectable vegetable and enjoy it in all the glorious ways it can be prepared. We are sharing “a few of our favorite things.” Thank you Avalon Farms for your patience and persistence to grow this and for sharing your bounty with Market at Dothan.
Only three ingredients for this paleo Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS AVALON FARMS Asparagus is finally making a showing. It will be available in ½ pound bundles. Grocery stores usually sell 1 pound bundles, but you lose half because of dry tough ends. There isn’t near as much waste when the asparagus is this fresh and handled properly. Asparagus should be kept in water (like a flower) in the frig and they will last for weeks. Hope you enjoy!
HORTON’S FARM: We will be off this week with the exception of Danny’s Greens. Ros is traveling to meet the newest Grandson!
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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!
Market Newsletter . . . 2nd Try!
This Week’s Newsletter:
Butterflies and Bubbles
Schedule
Market ChitChat
In Season
This Week’s Grower Notes
Bulletin Board
Dothan Nurseries Invites YOU . . .
“Come check out our brand new butterfly house next week. Our butterfly house will be full of fun butterflies and butterfly plants for you to check out. We’ll also have bubbles for the kids and bubbly drinks for the adults. Live music and face painting will also make this the can’t miss party of the Spring. Bring your kids, bring your family, bring everybody!
“When you arrive, make sure to grab your ticket for 20% off any one item of your choice. And when you use it, we’ll enter you to win one of three $100 gift cards.”
Market Note: we hope you’ll take advantage of this great opportunity! Some of us will be on hand with a few food items, but this is mostly about FUN! Bring the kids because we’re going to be making CRAFTS!!!!
(VIP – Regular Market Order Pickup will take place on Friday morning as scheduled.)
Schedule
Market ChitChat
A hearty Thank You to Patty D. who surprised and delighted us for St. Patrick’s day yesterday! The sweet hand made decorations inspired us . . . you’ll just have to see for yourself!
If you ordered last week we hope you found the refrigerator magnets in your bag. Our goal is to get one in EVERYONE’s kitchen! We want your refrigerator match the one at our Dothan pickup location. If you don’t have one we’ll have them at Open House next Thursday.
Daleville Customers – we appreciate you so much! No doubt Wendy is enjoying getting to know you. If and when you get a chance to come to Dothan be sure to say Hello to the rest of us. :)
Sandspur Farms still has plenty of beautiful fresh collards!
In Season
The Market is blessed with an abundance of beautiful greens and fresh strawberries these days. Salads like these are a good way to treat yourself healthy. As spring turns into summer and other berries become available more flavor combinations are available. Google will be happy to assist (“berry salad”) if you need additional inspiration.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
HORTON’S FARM: Praise the Lord! Happy to report that the strawberries survived last week’s freezing temperatures thanks to some hard work and row covers. The sad flip side is that we weren’t able to cover all the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash etc. and they did not. Fortunately they’re easier to replace.
On a different note, we will be taking a week or so off starting around 3/25/17 to greet the newest grandbaby. Viki Richter will manage the Market that week. One upside of this is that the eggs collected during that time will be PERFECT for EASTER boiling!
KATHY’S KLUCKERS: We’ll be back next week!
MARY’S PEEPS: We are so very greatful to everyone who recycles for me and others for this market. Its very heartwarming how special ya’ll are. Thank you! it does mean a lot that you do this. Please leave comments, it’s the only way we know if we are doing a good job. Also try and look for the new product that I try very hard to integrate into the different categories every week. Always trying to add something good, new, and hopefully interesting to your day. Again many thanks for your support to Mary’s Peeps, and Mary Bees.
SANDY VALLEY: Off next week to give the vegetables a chance to catch up.
Bulletin Board
The Bulletin Board is for your garden/kitchen/farm listings. Please email your notices to marketatdothan@gmail.com with contact info. Posts will be run for 2 weeks.
Is there a vendor or local farmer whom I can get or purchase untainted animal droppings from, preferably llama, alpaca, rabbit, sheep, and/or goat? (334)791-6819
Recycling Need: Avalon Farms is in need of empty large push button type laundry or fabric softener containers. These may be dropped off any time at The Market Shed at Dothan Nurseries. Please leave them under the table behind the picket fence.
Items Available: A wonderful Market Customer has donated a large quantity of food grade plastic 1.75 liter bottles for recycling. The uses are endless! If this is something you could use please stop by on Friday morning for pickup or contact us to make arrangements to get them. If you’re in Daleville, just include a note with your order telling us how many you would like. (Mary’s Peeps showed us how to turn these bottles into very effective wasp and yellow jacket traps. Be sure to ask!)
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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 11 Market Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
The Tea Cart Story
Schedule
Market ChitChat
This Week’s Grower Notes
NEW – Bulletin Board
The Tea Cart’s Story
This is where we are now in the story, but how did we get to this point.
I was born in Bibb County Alabama, the youngest of 10 sibling. I missed out on my Grandfather’s sharecropping days. By the time I came along, we had moved into town.
I do remember big gardens out back of the house with wonderful vegetables, chickens and a pig or two, canning in the late summer and fall.
After high school attended Tuskegee University with a major in Sociology. After college married and have 3 wonderful children. Adult working life with Social Security Administration, retired in 1999.
Returned to school, attained Certificate in Holistic Health Studies and practiced as a Birth Doula for several years before retiring to Dothan.
Now how did I get into tea: My daughter lived in Asia for several years and was introduced to the drinking of tea as the beverage of choice. She was interested in the business, so I started going to classes, tea conventions with her and learning about Tea. I have been selling tea for three years. Tea is a fascinated plant. All tea comes from one plant, but we get six varieties from this one plant, Camellia sinensis. The different varieties are white, yellow green, oolong, black and puerh.
Check out the Tea Cart on the ordering page. I will continue to add more teas for you to order. Thank you Market At Dothan for the opportunity.
Schedule
Market ChitChat
A hearty Thank You to Maura at the Nursery for her ongoing work making the Market Shed cute, cozy and functional. Our vendors have a work party planned next week to DECORATE!! We’ve been collecting “stuff” . . . not telling what, but if anyone is available Tuesday morning, the 14th about 9 am and would like to roll up their sleeves and get their hands in it, we won’t turn down the help.
On a technical note, if you use an AOL email for your market account take note that they’ve had issues recently. Methinks it’s a weird technical glitch but can’t prove it given the circumstances. Rather than bore you with details, just know that if you find yourself missing the Market Newsletter on Saturday or you can’t place an order it’s an easy fix once we know about it.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS: Thank you all for helping me contain the egg avalanche! I’m going to continue offering 18 count eggs at a regular price of $5.75.
Just when you thought it was safe, the weatherman is forecasting cold weather next week. We are breaking out the row cover for all the tender summer crops. Saw the first bloom pods on some of the tomatoes. Can’t let those babies get burned.
HORTON’S FARM: We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst around here. The strawberries are doing great and we’ve started putting out row covers for the cold snap next week. On a different note, more grain products have been added this week. As always we have fresh local honey and a limited supply of tupelo available.
SANDY VALLEY: Next week we will have carrots, kale, chard and strawberries. Thank you for your support.
Bulletin Board
The Bulletin Board is for your garden/kitchen/farm listings. Please email your notices to marketatdothan@gmail.com with contact info. Posts will be run for 2 weeks.
Is there a vendor or local farmer whom I can get or purchase untainted animal droppings from, preferably llama, alpaca, rabbit, sheep, and/or goat? (334)791-6819
Dothan Nurseries is in need of BUTTERFLIES for their new Butterfly House. The Nursery is investing in various species, but they also need local varieties. Please see a staff member for assistance when you bring them. 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL.
Recycling Need: Avalon Farms is in need of empty large push button type laundry or fabric softener containers. These may be dropped off any time at The Market Shed at Dothan Nurseries. Please leave them under the table behind the picket fence.
Items Available: A wonderful Market Customer has donated a large quantity of food grade plastic 1.75 liter bottles for recycling. The uses are endless! If this is something you could use please stop by on Friday morning for pickup or contact us to make arrangements to get them.
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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 4 Market Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Spotlight on Strawberries
Schedule
Market ChitChat
Urgent FDA Need – please read!
This Week’s Grower Notes
Spotlight on Strawberries
For most people fresh strawberries are one of those “must haves” of spring. It’s possible that the appreciation of a fresh juicy sweet strawberry has diminished with time as big agra has perfected growing year round berries thanks to chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and transportation improvements from places like Peru. The misfortune of this is that they are in the Environmental Working Groups “Dirty Dozen” most contaminated foods list.
Thankfully that’s not the case with our Market berries. This year we are blessed to have two vendors growing clean eating berries without the use of all those nasty things. They do require more work in the field, but the sweet results are oh, so worth it!
Like all good gifts our Creator provides for us, strawberries are fascinating little treats and we thought you may enjoy learning a bit more about them.
Scientifically known as Fragaria ananassa, the strawberry originated in Europe in the 18th century. It is a hybrid of two wild strawberry species from North America and Chile.
Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, folate (B9) and potassium, and contain small amounts of several other vitamins and minerals.
The carbohydrate content of strawberries consists mainly of fibers and simple sugars. They score relatively low on the glycemic index and slow down the digestion of carbs. This reduces spikes in both blood sugar and insulin levels.
Strawberries may decrease the risk of heart disease by improving the cholesterol profile, lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition animal and test tube studies suggest that strawberries may help protect against several types of cancer.
Strawberries are listed on the Market this week thanks to favorable weather conditions. If they are all sold out by the time you order please know that if extras are available our growers will bring them to Market for sale on a first come, first serve basis.
Schedule
Market ChitChat
Slowly and surely the new Dothan pickup site is coming along. Thanks to Mr. Bob at the Nursery “The Shed” now has electricity! This means that your tender fresh fruits and veggies will stay cool as spring turns into summer. Be sure to thank him for his help and support if you get the chance! He’s been busy, busy, busy first building and now prepping Dothan Nursery’s new Butterfly House. We’re excited for both the Nursery and Wiregrass residents who are sure to be enchanted when everything is up and fluttering smoothly.
We’re happy to report that the web address in our new logo is functional now. You won’t see anything different if you use it, but it should make it easier for people to find the site.
Thank you for your ongoing RECYCLING efforts! Many of you have been bringing useable items to the Market for a long time. Your efforts have helped many a market vendor keep their costs down and we truly appreciate the effort. Now that our pickup location is under a roof please know that you are welcome to drop items off at your convenience. We just ask that you try to put them behind the refrigerator. THANK YOU!
Lastly, we would love your FEEDBACK. If you have an idea for the newsletter or would like to provide a product review, YOUR imput is important and we welcome it. Just shoot an email to marketatdothan@gmail.com.
FDA Needs Your Common Sense NOW
Market Note: At this time this issue would only affect large honey producers packaging over 50,000 lb per year. OF COURSE it would widen the distinction between commercially produced and local honey and we’re ok with that. The danger lies in that if this goes through, at some future point they could require local beekeepers like our Market vendors to do the same.
The Food and Drug Administration released a rule last year changing nutrition guidance on packaged products, including honey. They have since released more detailed guidance. As it stands, the FDA, beginning in 2018, will require packaged honey to include on the nutrition label both “Total Sugars” and “Added Sugars”.
The problem is, they do not distinguish between the two and so labels will need to include the same amount of grams of sugar under each category e.g. “17 grams of Total Sugar” and “17 grams of Added Sugars”.
To say this will confuse consumers is an understatement. What is “Added Sugars”? The FDA means added to your diet. What do you think consumers will think that means? Consumers will think it means sugars have been added to the honey that are NOT naturally occurring in the honey. Thanks to the National Honey Board, there are studies to prove it, studies that have been presented to the FDA, but they have ignored.
Now is the time to let FDA know your thoughts. The guidance is subject to a comment period and agency review before being finalized. COMMENTS CLOSE ON MARCH 6, 2017 so the time to voice your opinion is critical and short!
Please take 5 or 10 minutes before March 6th to write to the FDA now and ask them to exempt honey from the “Added Sugars” labeling requirement! Click on this link and submit your thoughts. If the link does not work for you (we think it’s temperamental because they’re being bombarded), please copy and paste this web address: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FDA-2016-D-4414-0002
You can be as brief or elaborate as you want in your comments. Be sure to include all the required information about yourself and that you are an individual CONSUMER.
Thank You in advance for your efforts to keep sanity and common sense in our federal programs.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS – Egg Special 18 count $5
So many eggs!!! My new chicks are laying and my counters are overwhelmed with them all. Beautiful shades of brown; buff to chocolate. My favorites are the speckled ones!
D’S JELLIES I bought pepper plants today at Wal-Mart. They are a nice size and hopefully grow fast once we plant them. We will keep them in our shop until it is truly spring. You can announce that I have sold out of D’s Hot Pepper Jelly. I think July is a good estimate of when I will be making it again. I have had an awesome selling season at every event that I have been a vendor at! So blessed! I have D’s Mayhaw Jelly and D’s Blackberry Jelly. I have blueberries in the freezer and may get busy making D’s Blueberry Preserves! I will keep you posted. Dianne Herring
HORTON’S FARM Danny sends word that he is busy transitioning his Gourmet Salad Mix to include warmer weather greens with red and green summer crisp varieties, arugula, young kale greens and (NEW!) leaf broccoli. Leaf broccoli is reported to have higher nutritional value than head broccoli. Of course we’re excited!
MARY’S PEEPS Please check my products of wildflower honey with comb. This is something most people pay a lot to get every year, and I have it in some of my jars of Comb honey. I also have pepper jellies, divinity, very generous portions, and variety of cakes. I offer full size to smaller, for people who like cake but don’t need a big one. I have cupcakes, muffins, many varieties, homemade bread, and fresh free range eggs from hens, they get all sorts of healthy clovers and grass, sunflower seeds, herbs, and good healthy feed. They are elderly girls cause I don’t retire them, they lay and grow old. So like us they retire here too. My pecans have almost ran out for the market, I have only 3 bags of 1/2 lbs. I appreciate all of my customers who bought a lot of pecans this year, they were a good crop. If anyone needs or wants something special please let me know. Thank you
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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!
February 25 Market Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
New Vendor: Mayim Farms
Schedule
Market ChitChat
Farm to School Legislation
This Week’s Grower Notes – VIP!
New Vendor: Mayim Farms
Greg and Carole live on almost 30 acres of pasture and oak/pine woods in the Opp area. Neither has a farm background but love having fresh produce, free range eggs and clean meat. They knew early on that they wanted to garden sustainability and raise livestock.
Much research and many hours of study and asking questions later both Greg and Carole are Master Gardeners who have a unique understanding of traditional vs. sustainable agriculture. They now grow delicious nutrient dense produce using natural farming methods and teach others how to both do the same indoors and outdoors. Greg speaks about soil health and natural production methods to Garden Clubs, civic groups etc, and Carole shares preparation information through her blog.
All of Mayim’s produce is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, chemical or organic.
“It is not our job to improve nature. Nature already has what it needs to survive and thrive. Our job is to optimize and partner with nature.”
Schedule
Market ChitChat
A hearty THANK YOU to JD and Maura at Dothan Nurseries for all the work that went into moving our pickup location across the property. I’m told that some heavy machinery was involved . . . and JD wasn’t running it! Yesterday was the first time working from the shed and everything went very smoothly. Our vendors are already tossing around ideas about how to “decorate”. This is going to be fun!
On a different note, you may have noticed the different logo at the top of this newsletter complete with a different website address . . . well, don’t try that url yet! It is secured and belongs to us but it’s not “connected” yet. We’re just happy to have the new image and want to start getting it out there. It will be on all our digital and print material in time. We’re just kind of proud of it and want to show it off. Many thanks to one of our behind the scenes supporters, Becky Sue Wehry, whose 15 minute youtube tutorial showing how she created it (one vegetable at the time) did not go viral.
Lastly, a hearty recommendation for SANDSPUR’s whole leaf collards. I don’t know if anyone besides me compares grocery (chemical induced perfection my husband calls it) produce to the Market’s wholesome sustainable vegetables, but Sandspur’s collards leave them all in the dust. Bigger prettier plants, better for you and cost less on top of that. It don’t get any better.
Saveur has a collection of creative recipes that feature collards.
Farm To School Legislation
If you have a child in Public School this issue concerns YOU. In 2012 our state took the bold step of allowing farmers to sell to school lunch programs. Because of the way the paperwork was written however that has not happened. There is an amendment introduced to our current legislative session that clarifies and will enable this to take place. We hope you’ll take the time to contact your representative and senator and tell them to support this! Even if it don’t affect you personally it could make all the difference for a child who needs better nutrition. Legislative contacts can be found here
FARM TO SCHOOL PROCUREMENT ACT AMENDMENT
This simple amendment will clarify the Farm-to- School Procurement Act (Act 2012-437) which was unanimously passed by the legislature in 2012. The Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries have jointly drafted this amendment in an effort to clarify the 2012 Act.
This amendment will:
1. Clarify that federal dollars received by the Department of Education for the school lunch program may be spent to secure healthy unprocessed agricultural products for our students from local producers pursuant to the Farm to School Procurement Act.
2. Raise the small purchase threshold for agricultural products from $100,000.00 to $150,000.00 which is the amount currently allowed by federal law. This is accomplished by indexing the State’s small purchase threshold to the federal small purchase threshold set by the United States Code.
3. Remove any ambiguity that might be preventing local school districts from taking advantage of the Farm-to- School Procurement Act and allow another opportunity for Alabama agricultural producers to sell their products within Alabama.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS Red Thumb fingerling potatoes breaking ground. I grew some of these as a test last year. They have the most amazing flavor when roasted. Well worth a few carbs.
Cut the first 3 (count them, 3) asparagus tips. If the weather cooperates I’ll be listing a few in next week’s market.
SANDY VALLEY We’re glad to hear everybody enjoyed our strawberry samples. We expect to have more in the coming weeks as the plants are LOADED. Be sure to check out the vegetables we have available this week.
SANDSPUR We are busy planting for spring and starting transplants for summer veggies. We have updated some inventory. Thank you to each person that orders every week.
THE TEA CART The pollen came early this season. If you are sneezing, coughing, wheezing and generally feeling terrible try , THYME TEA. Go to your spice cabinet get the thyme. Boil 8-12 oz. of water. Use one teaspoons of thyme. Steep for five minutes, strain and enjoy the warmth and aroma. I hope this herbal help relieve some of your symptoms.
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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!
VIP Market Newsletter Feb. 18, 2017
This Week’s Newsletter:
Vendor Spotlight: Richter Farms
Schedule
Special Announcements
The Intersection of Fresh and Year Round
This Week’s Grower Notes
Vendor Spotlight: Ricther Farms
We live on almost 30 acres of pasture and oak/pine woods. Neither of us come from a farm background but love having fresh produce, free range eggs and clean meat. Knowing we wanted to garden sustainability and raise our livestock we have done lots of research and asking questions. Having gardened for years we extended our farm by adding livestock.
Our Heritage Red Wattle hogs freely roam grassy fields and pine and oak woods feasting on green grass and acorns. We supplement NON GMO balanced swine feed. Hogs require a varied diet and to make the best pork they benefit from more protein than they get from pasture alone. To make sure they thrive, our hogs get NON GMO swine feed, spent brewer’s grains, soaked corn and organic kelp for minerals and probiotics. We never use GMO grain, antibiotics, hormones or soy products. So, what’s the big deal about GMOs? Aren’t they just like we’ve been breeding for better genetics all along, except with modern technology? Aren’t they going to help us feed the world, and with less pesticide use? Well, the companies profiting from the patents would certainly have us believe that :) One of many examples of the problem is GMO corn and wheat normally are bred to allow more, not less, of the toxic chemical herbicide Roundup. The added chemicals get uptaked into the grains and add more cancer causing chemicals to livestock, not less. We and many of our customers would rather be safe now instead of waiting years for the long term effects to become common knowledge. But, our pork just tastes fantastic anyway, so give it a try if you haven’t already.
Our hogs are gentle and love back scratches and belly rubs! They share the fields and woods with Nubian Goats and are protected by Livestock Guardian Dogs. We feel our meat is some of the finest pork you can find local and sustainable. Our mixed flock of chickens enjoy some of the same benifits as our hogs as we feed them NON GMO non medicated feed, no soy and they free range the woods, fields and yard during the day and sleep in locked coops at night safe from predators. Nothing like waking up to hearty crowing and collecting brown, olive, blue and chocolate colored eggs!
Schedule
Special Announcements
It’s Official! Dothan pickups will take place from our new location next Friday. We are going back to our “roots” on the other side of the property and will be in the Shed with a real roof, and electricity and everything! Thank you JD and staff for all your hard work to make this possible.
Daleville pickups will continue to be on the corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134, diagonal from Bojangles.
IF the weather cooperates the Market will have a limited quantity of fresh strawberries available next Friday. They are not available for pre-order on the website but will be available in the (above mentioned) pickup location. Both Sandy Valley and Horton’s Farm have berries almost ready to pick.
The Intersection of Fresh and Year Round
In talking with people I’ve come to realize that our modern food system has created a disconnect between people and the living systems that sustain them. Baby boomers like myself grew up being able to find most anything in the grocery store, and in recent years thanks to improved food transportation systems, many foods that are impossible to obtain locally.
Our part of the US is blessed to be able to grow pretty much year round, but that does not mean that every food product is available year round. A few things, like Danny’s greens, can be produced through all seasons with lots of tLC, but most are seasonal, meaning they are only available a few weeks of the year. This is especially true of fruits and berries. Many vegetables can be grown during several seasons, but because each food item needs x number of days to produce, a farmer would need to be planting them weekly in order to provide a continual supply.
This is the reason the selection and quantities at Market at Dothan vary from week to week. We are thankful for all of our wonderful farmers and their hard work to bring you the FRESHEST LOCAL SUSTAINABLE food YEAR ROUND.
This Week’s Grower Notes
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS Spring cabbage, Tuscano/Dino kale and kohlrabi transplants went out. So stoked that my new homemade grow table is working well. The tomatoes, eggplants and peppers are still in there keeping warm. Flung thousands of pounds of peanut shells (it seemed like that much anyway) mulching the asparagus rows. They’ll be popping up soon.
Planning. Planning. Planning. Who knew there was so much math in farming? :-) My goal is to grow intensively with succession plantings of veg intermixed with cover crops to enrich the soil. If done right, there will be no need for added nutrients. Probably won’t make that goal this year. One step at a time.
HORTON’S FARM The bees are a buzzin!’ We’re watching them bring in dandelion, red bud and red maple, along with mustard and henbit pollen these days. Our Local Wildflower honey is available in several sizes.
Danny sends word to “stay tuned” as his spring garden is coming up. Lots more will be listed in the weeks ahead. Salad Greens are available this week.
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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!
February 11 Market Newsletter
Vendor Spotlight: Smith Farms
Our family moved to Graceville Florida in 1999. We had always wanted to live in the country; so when the opportunity arose, we moved out to 40 acres of family land. For the last 18 years, we have worked to turn that land into a home and working farm…..it seems like there is always some project to start, improve on, and/or finish!
When we first moved down, we lived in a small trailer-house (the land only had a small shed that kept an old tractor that was used maybe once a year). We knew we wanted to build a house, but after pricing it, we decided that the most economical thing to do was to build it ourselves. So for the first three years we were down here, we cut lumber off of the property, milled and dried it on site, and eventually used it to build the house. That was a process! …but we learned so much!
My parents home-schooled me and my three sisters during all of this (we were ages 5-11) and we had the most fun (and learned ALOT) being able to help with the house. We didn’t hire any steady labor. My Dad, my sisters, and I (with our Mom running everything else) mostly built the house ourselves.
We got started with livestock because we girls got on a dairy goat kick (don’t ask me how or why…I think it had something to do with a little goat book we randomly rented from the library one week), and we bugged our parents until they gave in!
To begin with, we raised livestock for our own fun/use: dairy goats for milk, then chickens for eggs, then sheep because we love mutton (and couldn’t always afford it!), and then cows because we wanted to have natural meat (and again, its cheaper to do it yourself than to buy organic! …this seems to be a recurring theme!).
We have always appreciated the natural way of doing things, be it raising livestock or growing a garden. Learning how to actually pull it off and be productive at the same time was a huge learning process…and one that we are always working on. It is a lot of work, but what has delighted us is the return: the difference in quality and taste is very noticeable and very much worth it.
I also love how at the end of every day on the farm, after work has been accomplished and your body is equally as tired as your mind, you can enjoy a rest that feels justified, and wake up eager to do an even better job the next day!
Sweet Happenings at Market at Dothan.
If you placed an order last week you got a sweet surprise with your products – Mrs. Birdie’s cookies! Mrs. Birdie is an expert herbalist and specializes in unique blends that have provided the Wiregrass with the highest quality teas that are both delicious and good for you. Naturally we’re excited to have The Tea Cart join us!
D’S JELLIES – D’s Mayhaw Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, and BlackBerry Jelly are good year round.
GINTHER FARMS Fresh UNFERTILIZED eggs from young chickens. Perfect for Deviled Eggs.
HORTON’S FARM Local Wildflower honey in several sizes and a limited quantity of Tupelo. Check our our plain and flavored Kombuchas: your system will THANK you for it. Danny only has salad greens available this week while his other vegetables reach maturity. Thank you for your support of FRESH, LOCAL and SUSTAINABLE agriculture!
KATHY’S CHURPERS Always the finest in fresh local eggs.
MARY’S PEEPS Specialty treats: cake in jars, muffins in jars, cake rolls chocolate, vanilla and a peanut-butter cake roll. There will be several 2 person layer cakes and individual cup cakes wrapped with fancy wrappings. A special THANK YOU to everyone returning containers to recycle. Thank you for your orders and support. Mary Peeps, Mary Dale Peeples
RICHTER FARMS: Red Wattle Pork Products raised in rural Henry County. Red Wattle is an old heritage breed producing high quality, highly sought after pork products.
SANDSPUR FARMS Sandspur is BUSY getting ready for spring! This farm has it all: Meats, Vegetables, Kitchen Treats and more. To see Sandspur items exclusively please use the “show specific growers” feature in the box below the categories on the Market Page.
SANDY VALLEY Sandy Valley is taking a week off to give their vegetables time to mature. This way you can enjoy them at their prime!
SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef
SWEET ACRE FARMS We have it on good authority they will return later this year with lots of yummy vegetables. Stay Tuned!
AVALON FARMS New this week will be Garlic scallions. They are small whole garlic plants used like regular scallions but with bonus garlic flavor.
In farm life, we’ll be making our first potato planting of Red Pontiacs (red new potatoes) and fingerlings this week.
CASABLANCA RANCH. Locally Grown Hormone Free Santa Gertrudis Beef.
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville: Corner of Daleville Avenue and Hwy 134
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!
February 4 Market Newsletter
Valentine’s Day Market Edition
Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That’s what Valentine’s day is all about, right? Well, maybe not.
The most popular legend is that St. Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. During that time, there was an Emperor who ruled Rome named Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married and outlawed marriage for all young men serving in his army. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn’t fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had him impisoned, and later put to death. Some stories say that the young couples, who Valentine had married, gave flowers and letters to Valentine when they visited him in the prison.
In a slightly different version of the legend, Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ‘valentine’ to his love when he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘Your Valentine’. These words are still used on cards today.
Another famous person from Valentine’s Day that you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, “desire”). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.
Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure…February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating way back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentine’s Day ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.
Sweet Happenings at Market at Dothan.
Just when you thought things were starting to settle down a bit here we come with another change . . . we’re MOVING! Not too much anyway. JD at the Nursery tells me that our (Dothan) pickup will be moved to a different part of the Nursery property by March 1. That’s all you get for now because even he’s not exactly sure it will be, but we know it will be good. Stay tuned!
CASABLANCA RANCH. Our hearts are heavy with the passing of Mrs. Anderson of Casablanca Ranch. Please show your support of this fine family farm providing Locally Grown Hormone Free Santa Gertrudis Beef.
D’S JELLIES – D’s Mayhaw Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, and BlackBerry Jelly are good year round.
GINTHER FARMS Fresh UNFERTILIZED eggs from young chickens. Perfect for Deviled Eggs.
HORTON’S FARM Selected products available this week. Viki Richter will be managing Market Orders this week while Ros teaches at the Alabama Master Beekeeper Symposium.
KATHY’S CHURPERS Always the finest in fresh local eggs.
MARY’S PEEPS HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE! Here at Mary Peeps we are going to be hard at work making some special goodies for you!
I am going to be offering some specialty Valentine treats, cake in jars, muffins in jars, cake rolls chocolate, and vanilla and a peanut-butter cake roll. There will be several 2 person layer cakes for that special day. individual cup cakes wrapped with fancy wrappings, all for Valentines day. I will use rasberries, strawberries, and cherries, and a few chocolates, hand made. I will also offer Brownies with frosting layers, yumm, already getting hungry. Will offer still the divinity, maybe some pink would be nice. Anyway check out my new specialties for our Valentine surprise. I appreciate everyone bringing and recycling, that is such a blessing and thank you for ordering. Mary Peeps, Mary Dale Peeples
RICHTER FARMS: Red Wattle Pork Products raised in rural Henry County. Red Wattle is an old heritage breed producing high quality, highly sought after pork products.
SANDSPUR FARMS “We’re breaking out the melting pot! We will have chocolate covered pretzels and candy coated apples. All decorated for Valentine’s Day. And for a special dinner for you and/or your sweetheart, we will have our country style ribs on sale too. A country style rib is usually a boneless cut of meat. Some may have a small bone due to being from the juicy boston butt. Another treat in case you have not yet tried is our pimento cheese. It can be a spread on sandwich or grilled cheese or if you want, I can shape it into a cheese ball. I’ll have a sample to leave at Dothan during pick up. Thank you for your orders!"
SANDY VALLEY We are still recovering from January’s freezing temperatures and will have a greater variety of vegetables in a few weeks. Please enjoy the high quality Kale we currently have available.
SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef
AVALON FARMS My chickens say it’s Spring and are ramping up egg production. I’ll be offering some for sell this week. These chickens are pasture raised. They don’t even know what a cage is.
Sugar Snap Peas are up! Beets are just cracking the ground. We’ll have Detroit Golden, Chioggia and Kestrel Beets in 50 days. (God willing.) My homemade grow table for transplants is working! Excited to have 8 different fancy little tomatoes, ground cherries, 3 kinds of eggplant, kohlrabi, kale and cabbage transplants growing well. These will go in the ground starting in a few weeks.
Holiday Inspiration Series
Most holidays we dedicate a Market Newsletter to healthy holiday foods. If you have anything special your family enjoys we’d love to know about it! While we realize that many of the fruits pictured below are anything but SEASONAL, they are much better for you than most traditional Valentines desserts.
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
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!
January 28 Market Newsletter
Vendor Spotlight: D’s JELLIES
I am Dianne Herring and I sell D’s Mayhaw Jelly, D’s Hot Pepper Jelly, and D’s Blackberry Jelly. My husband, Phillip, and I have been married for 41 years and our country home is near Cottonwood, AL in Houston County. Sitting on our front porch is an enjoyable place to spend time together. Our garden and fruit orchard provides the peppers, blackberries, and mayhaws that I gather for D’s Jellies. Being a part of The Market at Dothan Nurseries since it began has been a pleasure. I also sell our blackberries in late May and early June. I have a blog for my recipes – mycookingmemories.com. I am also a contributing chef for Wiregrass Living Magazine.
Market Info
Slow Roasted Lamb with Kale, Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas is one of those fantastic one-pot dishes that takes minimal effort and tastes great. It’s a complete meal with protein, veg and starch. It takes a while to cook, but that’s mostly inactive time. The work is pretty much all up front and takes maybe 20 minutes total.
AVALON FARMS I’ve pulled all of our winter vegetables. Although the Dino kale will probably be back in a week or so. Planted onions last week. Southern Belle Red, White Bermuda and Yellow Granex (think Vidalia).
Sugar Snap peas will be going in the ground next week. Followed shortly by fingerling, red pontiac and yukon gold potatoes.
Asparagus is an early spring crop. Usually it starts in April, with this weird weather this year it might start early. Keep checking on the website. The standard is a 1 lb bundle. Would anyone be interested in ½ lb bundles?
If you have any suggestions or questions contact me at wendy@avalonfarms.us
CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/. Locally Grown Hormone Free Santa Gertrudis Beef
D’S JELLIES – D’s Mayhaw Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, and BlackBerry Jelly are good year round.
GINTHER FARMS Fresh UNFERTILIZED eggs from young chickens. Perfect for Deviled Eggs.
HORTON’S FARM Selected products available this week.
KATHY’S CHURPERS Always the finest in fresh local eggs.
MARY’S PEEPS I am super ready for the new year and back enjoying making baked goods and pepper jellies, my favorite thing to do. Be sure and check out the baked goods as I am always adding a new product every week. Thank you for trying the things I make and I appreciate any suggestions. Please remember to recycle because it helps keeping cost low. I would love feedback. Have a good year. Mary Dale Peeples, Echo Community, Ozark, Al.
RICHTER FARMS: Red Wattle Pork Products raised in rural Henry County. Red Wattle is an old heritage breed producing high quality, highly sought after pork products.
SANDSPUR FARMS “We raise our pigs over a spread of close to 100 acres, they are allowed to roam the pastures and fields and are given NON GMO veggies and supplemented with some NON GMO feed and minerals. We take pride in our heritage bred hogs and produce some of the best tasting pork. Our pork has been sent to as far north as Kansas and as far south as Orlando and everywhere in between. Our prices are kept low as we believe it should not cost an “arm and a leg” to eat healthy and provide flavorful meals to our families.”
SANDY VALLEY We are still recovering from January’s freezing temperatures and will have a greater variety of vegetables in a few weeks. Please enjoy the high quality Kale we currently have available.
SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
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!
January 21 Market Newsletter
Vendor Spotlight: SANDSPUR FARMS
Who is Sandspur Farms? Well, it’s the dream of a father turned reality by his middle daughter of three girls. My parents moved to the homesteaded property when I was six months old. This same property has been in our family for now over 100 years. He worked years getting the place back in shape. I’m thirty-six now and am bringing his dreams to reality. We raise heritage breeds of hogs such as Duroc, Berkshire and Hampshire. I have a Hereford cross sow that I raised from one of my first litters. Their meat, whether purebred or not, is so much better in quality and taste than anything found in the grocery stores. And actually the first cross between two breeds yields the best because it’s a combination of the best qualities. They call it hybrid vigor. (Look into it for some extremely interesting info).
They’re allowed to roam free never spending a day on concrete. They have grassy fields, oak trees with acorns and pecans, plus they get fresh veggies. We don’t believe in feeding them only stuff to get fat on but to be healthy and happy pigs for the best tasting pork, just like our grandparents had growing up and some now into their 90’s. However, they will create a stampede of a situation when they see us out and about in the fields. They were quick to learn that if they come to their two legged mom when she calls them, she has treats for them. They eat what we grow, all NON-GMO. We know what they eat from day one until the last day. We believe that when we have less going into a product we should not be charging an outrageous price. We also believe that when you take care of the land and animals, they will in turn take care of you. We love our pork and believe that it truly is the best that money can buy. We want to remain affordable for singles, families of four and more and everyone in between. Price and customer service are our number two priorities, after caring for the animals.
We also raise Texas Longhorns just as carefully as our pigs, but I love my piggies way more. We’re lucky to be part of the Market at Dothan and have grown some of the best friendships from customers ordering. You’re not just a name or an order, you’re somebody we are feeding a healthy product to just as we feed and care for our family. You are family.
Market Info
Beef Stroganoff may be made with ground beef, stew meat or sliced beef. Served over whole grain noodles or rice it makes a delicious meal. There are many “clean” recipes on the internet that do not use canned soups.
AVALON FARMS Be sure to check Wendy’s jam and jelly special.
CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/. Locally Grown Hormone Free Santa Gertrudis Beef
D’S JELLIES – D’s Mayhaw Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly, and BlackBerry Jelly are good year round.
GINTHER FARMS Fresh UNFERTILIZED eggs from young chickens. Perfect for Deviled Eggs.
HORTON’S FARM Selected products available this week.
KATHY’S CHURPERS Always the finest in fresh local eggs.
MARY’S PEEPS I am super ready for the new year and back enjoying making baked goods and pepper jellies, my favorite thing to do. Be sure and check out the baked goods as I am always adding a new product every week. Thank you for trying the things I make and I appreciate any suggestions. Please remember to recycle because it helps keeping cost low. I would love feedback. Have a good year. Mary Dale Peeples, Echo Community, Ozark, Al.
RICHTER FARMS: Red Wattle Pork Products
SANDSPUR FARMS “We raise our pigs over a spread of close to 100 acres, they are allowed to roam the pastures and fields and are given NON GMO veggies and supplemented with some NON GMO feed and minerals. We take pride in our heritage bred hogs and produce some of the best tasting pork. Our pork has been sent to as far north as Kansas and as far south as Orlando and everywhere in between. Our prices are kept low as we believe it should not cost an “arm and a leg” to eat healthy and provide flavorful meals to our families.”
SANDY VALLEY NEW This week: Cabbage Collards. Also available: Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Radishes, Japanese Salad Turnips, Vates Curly Kale
SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef
Footnotes
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
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!