Green Transportation Raffle

The BRFM is conducting a raffle for market goers who bike, walk, carpool or ride the bus to the Market. Entries are accepted on both Wednesdays and Saturdays, and you may enter every time you visit. There will be one winner for the month of July.  

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First prize is a beautiful wicker bike basket for your front handle bars OR Simply Organic, an organic sustainable cookbook (valued at about $45). Both prizes will be on display at the info booth, where you can fill out your entry. Go green! 

Vendor Profile: Sunny Creek Farm        

In their first year of farming, Summer and Shawna Cooper are continuing a family tradition of love for the land. Their grandfather raised sheep and cattle on close to 200 acres near Belleville, Indiana. Now his granddaughters are farming some of that land, and in their own words they are "rooted, grounded, and growing."  

Summer had worked for other farmers and had been a CSA (Community Supported

Agriculture) manager, but longed to be a grower. Initially, she intended to be a CSA grower, but found that to be a bit ambitious for a beginner. Their farm is following what she calls a natural progression, learning and letting it unfold without pre-conceived ideas. Older sister Shawna acts as business manager and plans the chemical-free crops, while Summer handles the harvesting and also forages on 10 uncultivated acres. 

Along with traditional Indiana farm produce, the Coopers regularly feature unique items such as the radish pods and daylily buds they offered for sale last week at the Market.  Daylily buds are delicate in flavor and can be dipped in a batter and fried up like a fritter or just sauteed with a little oil and salt and pepper, as they told one customer who asked. The radish pods had a nice crunch to them and a distinctive radish flavor. This kind of face-to-face contact with customers is one of the things they love about participating in the Market.

You can follow the Cooper sisters and their farm on facebook and twitter, and their blog at www.sunnycreekfarm.blogspot.com.   

Focus On: Cucumbers

Cucumbers are an ideal hydrating food, as their water content is high and the hot summer months are their peak season. Raw cucumbers are incredibly versatile used as a snack, on sandwiches, in salads, or puréed into a cold soup. And don't dismiss cucumbers in cooking, as they can be grilled or sautéed, as well. One of the simplest uses is to make a pitcher of refreshing cucumber water. Here's how:

You will need 8 cups of water, and 1 large cucumber, sliced. Float the rounds of cucumber in the water from several hours to overnight in the refrigerator. Place a cucumber slice in each glass before serving. Add a fresh mint leaf or squeeze of lime for extra flavor.

Another quick fix is a cucumber tea sandwich. What could be more refreshing on a hot day than to spread a little cream cheese mixed with fresh chopped herbs on wheat bread and top with cucumber slices. Eat it open-faced or top it with another slice with spread, and cut into quarters. The crunch of the cucumber with the creaminess of the cheese and the texture of the bread has made this a classic around the world.

Now that you're properly hydrated, try these fresh cucumber recipes for quick, cool, summer eating.

Microwave Bread and Butter Pickles 

Cold Cucumber Buttermilk Soup 

Tropical Cucumber Salad 

Mashed Potatoes with Cucumber 

Marinated Cucumber Salad 

Can't get enough? Click here for a market basket full of great cucumber recipes in the seasonal produce recipe guide on the Martha Stewart website. 

Musical Guests:     Wednesday Market - Irene & Reed    

                                   Saturday Market - Witch Hazel Valley People 

Irene & Reed

Don't forget to stop by the entertainment booth at either market and catch our musical guest of the day. 

Friends from their industrial club days, Leslie Benson and Jason Reed Miller reconnected in 2009 to form the folk and blues-influenced, Irene & Reed. Visit their website here.

Witch Hazel Valley People is a popular group doing Early 20th Century, Western and Cowboy music at venues around central Indiana. 

As always, the entertainment is provided at no cost to the BRFM.  If you like what you hear, please consider purchasing a CD and/or leaving a tip.  

Vote for Broad Ripple Farmers Market

as the Best Farmers Market

on the 2011 IndyChannel A-List!   

About the Market

With more than 50 vendors, you'll find just about everything you need at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market (BRFM).  We are open rain or shine, every Saturday from May through November, 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Broad Ripple Magnet High School, 1115 Broad Ripple Avenue and every Wednesday from June through September, 5 until 8 p.m. in Broad Ripple Park, 1550 Broad Ripple Avenue.   

Market Master:  Barbara Wilder 

Newsletter Coordinator: Jinny Sauer Bastianelli