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February Highlights:
Live Music Saturday, Feb. 5th: Butch Ross, Mountain Dulcimer, Chattanooga, will play at 10
Curb Kid Whacky Olympics on Saturday, February 19th, morning activities; contests at 11:30
Live Music on Saturday, February 26th: Robbie Hazen, Alternative, at 10
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Free Strawberry Shortcake on Wednesday, February 23rd AND Saturday, February 26th!
Wow, did you say FREE strawberry shortcake?
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A Few Gallery Pictures...
Nancy Gilbert-Pierce, Trevor Pierce, Morgan Strickland, Ellery Pierce
Some hula hoop action
The Acosta family works on an art project.
Market Manaager Jim Luna keeps his eye on things |
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 Happy Valentine's Month!
February is American Heart Month and it contains St. Valentine's Day, which again reminds us at the Curb Market that we LOVE our customers! Without your support we couldn't be here. We've packed this month with lots of fun things to do at the Curb Market in addition to the always awesome vendors and sense of community we have every Market day! Take a look at the plans we have for this month plus hints about other happenings later on! Be Our 'Street Team': Do you know a good place to put one of our new Farmers Curb Market posters or a stack of fliers? Just tell us where and how many you need. Here's what they look like: New Poster New Fliers
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 Every Vendor Has a Story...
Bruce Leber's Kettle Corn
"After church one Sunday, some friends asked if we wanted to go to the Mayfaire Art Festival with them. They wanted to find the kettle corn guy and buy some to take home. I asked them, 'What is kettle corn?' They explained that it is popcorn with a sweet and salty taste that's cooked in a big steel kettle. We found the kettle corn stand right as he was cooking a fresh batch. I was intrigued and enjoyed watching the popcorn exploding to life from seeds that were being heated up in the open kettle. I was watching a mini show of the whole process of cooking the corn, dumping it to be cooled, and then bagged. I got a free sample and was hooked on the flavor.
"A year went by and I didn't think about kettle corn until it was Mayfaire time again. The same friends asked us if we wanted to join them again and the first thing I did was look for the kettle corn stand. It was in the same spot. I bought a bag, asked the owner a few questions about the business and spent thirty minutes talking about kettle corn vending. After leaving the festival I researched the idea of vending part time. I found a company in Ohio that makes everything I needed to start my business. After acquiring the necessary licenses and permits I met with Jim Luna at the Curb Market. It has been two years now and I look forward to being there every week. I have met many nice people and have a new appreciation for how hard the other vendors work to make the Market special. I enjoy kettle corn vending because it gets me outdoors where people are choosing to come, shop the Market, and have a good time buying a few items. They are always in good moods and that's a plus when you choose a part time job."
Bruce says anyone who tells him they saw this story can buy a $3 bag of Kettle Korn for $2 through Valentine's Day! |
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 Every Vendor Has a Story...
Armando's Produce & Honey
Armando and his wife Jeannie moved to the area in 2006 from Key West. In fact, Armando is a third-generation Key West native of Cuban descent. He retired as the fire department captain there. One day, he was looking for something fun to do with a grandson and stumbled upon the Farmers Curb Market in Downtown Lakeland. He said he'd always wanted to have a produce stand, and the rest is history!
These past few months, Armando has made every effort to be present on all Market days in spite of health challenges, and we miss him when he's not there. With the help of Jeannie and the rest of the family, Armando has continued to bring us the local honey, plants and great produce we love having at the Market. They say they have been very grateful for the Farmers Curb Market family that has been so supportive of his business and of him over the years. He loves to talk with his customers, so if you have a chance, make sure to stop by Armando's booth and say hello! |
February Events
- Sat. 2/5: Live music, Butch Ross, mountain dulcimer, 10-12:30
- Sat. 2/19: Curb Kid Whacky Olympics (juggling, hula-hooping, jump roping, etc.) Whacky activities for kids all morning; funky contests at 11:30. Fun, no pressure, silliness for kids!
- Wed. 2/23: FREE Strawberry shortcake, while it lasts.
- Sat. 2/26: FREE Strawberry shortcake, while it lasts.
- Sat. 2/26: Live music, Robbie Hazen, adult alternative music, 10-12:30
In Coming Months
- Sat. 3/5: Tom MacCubbin, Gardening Expert, Free lecture, Q & A, 10 am
- Sat., 3/12:Spring Obsession (Not Curb Market sponsored, but a great Downtown event right next to us in Munn Park!)
- Sat., 3/19: Live music, The Dalziels, award-winning folk duo, return! 9-11:30
- Sat., 3/26: Tai Chi, with Rudy of Kelly Recreation Center, 10 am. Try it - It's FREE!
- Sat., 4/9: Live music, Hannah's Whirl, folk duo from Tampa, 10-12
- Sat., 5/7: Live music, Bill and Eli Perras, folk duo from Deland, 10-12:30
- Sat., 5/14: Ab/Body Sculpting with AJ of Kelly Recreation Center, 9 am. Try it - It's FREE!
The Market is located at E. Pine Street & N. Kentucky Avenue in Downtown Lakeland, Florida |
 Why Should We Eat More Organic, Local & Seasonal Food?
Organic (raw, low or non-processed) food has higher levels of many vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It lowers the incidence of many diseases and conditions, including cancer, coronary heart disease, allergies, migraines, asthma, hyperactivity, E. coli contamination, multiple sclerosis, salmonella, and Alzheimer's.
Eating in-season produce is better because plants respond to local conditions as they grow, the same conditions local consumers experience, in the right balance for our area. The closer to your environment the plant grows, the closer it is to matching your needs. Current weather conditions affect us as well as the plants. Our needs change with the seasons and with weather and air realities. Our plants, and we humans, all adapt to these constant local changes.
A localvore is a person dedicated to eating food grown and produced locally. There are a lot of good reasons to eat locally grown and produced food:
- Less resources (primarily fossil fuels) are expended packaging and transporting local food.
- It supports the local economy - more money remains in our local community.
- It is healthier - processing and preservatives are less important since the food doesn't have to travel so far.
- It is safer and thus localvores are less susceptible to food born illnesses.
- It is more honest - honesty in terms of the food source (i.e. organic seeds vs. GMO seeds) and the growing/producing process. It has to be! We are all neighbors.
- If for no other reason - IT TASTES BETTER!
Many of our vendors have a weekly e-mail list of local, seasonal, organic produce or meat th at you can pre-order. Ask them!
As Michael Pollan, author of the best-selling Omnivore's Dilemma says: "Eat only foods that will eventually rot."
Here's a delicious REAL food soup/stew that will nourish your body, mind and soul and made mostly with ingredients from our wonderful market! Curried Lentils with Sweet Potatoes |
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