| Join us for the Winchester Farmers Market
Saturday, 9:30-1:30, on the Town Common |
Greetings!
Welcome to the August 16 issue of the Winchester Farmers Market newsletter.
You may have noticed that we have been having some unusual weather this summer--lots of rain and in some areas even hail storms. What you may not have thought about is how weather conditions affect farmers, who depend, in part, on the weather to grow successful crops. Last week, Flats Mentor Farm did not attend the market and Autumn Hills Orchard did not start at the market as planned. The growing fields were flooded at Flats Mentor Farm, and Autumn Hills experienced hail damage in their orchards. Flats Mentor will be back at the market this week, and we hope that Autumn Hill will join us this week or next.
The market will take place rain or shine throughout the season. Please try to ride your bike or walk to the market if you can, or park your car in the Aberjona or Shore Road lot to leave parking spaces surrounding the common open for short-term parking near downtown businesses. The Aberjona lot, which runs along the commuter rail track across from the post office, is free on weekends, including the permit spaces in the end of the lot.
Remember to bring your own shopping bags to the market if you can.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday on the common.
Sincerely,
Winchester Farmers Market Organizing Committee
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This Week at the Market |
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This week at the market, the farmers expect to bring the following:
Vegetables: amaranth, arugula, beans (green, wax), beets (standard red and Chioggia), bok choy, broccoli (standard green and Chinese), cabbage (green, red), chard (bright lights, green, red), carrots, collard greens, corn, cucumbers (pickling, salad), eggplant (Chinese, fingerling, Japanese, traditional purple ,white), fennel, garlic (braided), kale (green, red), lettuce (baby lettuce mix, red leaf, romaine), mustard greens, new potatoes, pea tendrils, peppers (sweet and Jalepeno), radishes (red, Shunk-yo), scallions (green, red), squash (kousa, sunburst, yellow summer, pattypan, zucchini), tomatoes (cherry, grape, plum, red, yellow), water spinach
Fruit: apples, black raspberries, blueberries, currants, golden raspberries, gooseberries, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, Rhubarb, strawberries
Herbs: basil (African blue, Italian, purple, Thai), chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme
Other: cut flowers, herb plants, perennials
In addition to the farmers, Globe Fish will be selling fresh fish, Glutenus Minimus will be selling gourmet gluten-free cookies, Cocoa Express will be selling coffee, tea, and baked goods, and Trooper's Treats will be selling homemade, all natural dog biscuits.
Featured entertainment from 9:30 am to 10:30 am will be Winchester resident Julia Cirignano and her cousin Natalie and from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm the Hoboken Philharmonic Jazz Quartet, made up of Winchester High School students.
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| Featured Item of the Week: Culinary Herbs |
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 Many different types of culinary herbs are available each week at the farmers market. You are probably familiar with the traditional use of herbs as seasonings for both sweet and savory dishes, but there are many other ways to use herbs that let them take center stage in a dish.
Think about adding chopped herbs to a salad. Basil, chives, dill, and parsley are especially nice additions to a salad.
Make a cup of herb tea (try mint or sage) by adding several fresh herb springs to boiling water and steeping for at least 10 minutes. Or add some fresh herbs to a black tea while it steeps for added flavor (you'll get best flavor if you leave the herbs to steep for 5 to 10 minutes longer than the black tea).
Herb butters are a great addition to steamed vegetables, corn on the cob, or grilled meats. Chop herbs and mix them into softened butter, and then form into a log and refrigerate until firm.
Basil pesto is one of the most popular ways to use fresh summer basil, and you can also make great pestos out of other herbs such as cilantro or parsley. In addition to the common uses of pesto on pasta, bread, or tomatoes, try using pesto as a salad dressing or as a toppping for grilled fish.
Some herbs, such as basil and cilantro, don't dry well, but you can preserve them to enjoy throughout the fall and winter by putting them in the blender with some oil or water and then freezing them in ice cube trays. You can easily pop out one of the frozen herb cubes to add to soups, sauces, and many other dishes.
Following are some recipes for featuring herbs.
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| Art in August and Art in the Park |
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Throughout August, the Winchester Artists Network and the Downtown Business Association are collaborating to present Art in August, a month-long festival of local art displayed in local business establishments. One of the highlights of Art in August is Art in the Park, which will take place on the town common, along with the farmers market, on August 23 from 10 am to 4 pm. At Art in the Park, local artist will display their work and do demonstrations. If you have been enjoying the local artists in the Winchester Artists Network tent at the farmers market each week, don't miss Art in the Park, where you'll be able to see the work of many local artists in one day.
Read the following article from the Winchester Star for more information about Art in August.
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| Other Local Farmers Markets |
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If you ever have to miss the Winchester Farmers Market on Saturdays, there are several other great local farmers markets you can visit on other days.
Lexington, Tuesdays 2pm to 6:30pm, Mass Ave. and Fletcher Ave., Lexington Center
Somerville, Wednesdays 12pm to 6pm, Day St. and Herbert St., Davis Square
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