Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I’m afraid I don’t have a green thumb, but I love eating fresh vegetables, so I thought I’d check into what happening at the farmer’s markets. There are three community gardens in the district, one in Mountain View, Fairview, and Russian Jack, and they are well loved and well-tended.
I interviewed Bhai who sells the vegetables she grows in the community gardens. I thought maybe the year of COVID, with so many people eating at home, might have spiked sales or expanded people’s eating habits, but no such luck. Bhai tells me most of the other gardeners use their produce for themselves. This year’s cold weather slowed down growth, but didn’t stop it and the vegetables on display by the different growers were so shiny they looked polished.
I’ve listed what’s in the market and what’s coming up soon below, but thought I’d tell you about an idea that may make the farmers’ markets’ sales even more diverse. Many of the gardeners also have been making condiments or canning vegetables for their own tables; however, they can’t sell them unless they are made in a commercial kitchen.
A commercial kitchen would make the growing/selling population even more self-sufficient. That isn’t the only need for a community use commercial kitchen. It’s exciting to see residents think about what is next for their community. Of course, there are always questions about funding, location, etc…many questions and few answers at this point, but I thought you’d like a sneak preview of what’s going on behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, below is a partial list of what’s in the market and what’s just coming in or will soon be in.
Enjoy your summer and keep safe,
Kayla
Available now: collards, green and purple mustard, baby bok choy, curly, Russian and dinosaur kale, apple turnips, peanut and medium purple potatoes, chives, green onions, garlic, cilantro, orch (a salty purple leaf which is an interesting addition to a salad), and radishes. Just arriving or soon to arrive, green beans and peas. My favorite is salad mix which includes a variety of leaves and a few edible flowers.
