| Join us for the Winchester Farmers Market
Saturday, 9:30-1:30, on the Town Common |
| Issue 19 |
October 11, 2008 |
|
Greetings!
Welcome to the October 11 issue of the Winchester Farmers Market newsletter.
Community Appreciation Day at the market last week was a lot of fun for everyone! We got to enjoy delicious apple pie compliments of La Patiserrie and roasted corn compliments of E. L. Silvia Farm. Ed Silivia has generously agreed to donate corn again this week, so we will be roasting more corn. Stop by the Sustainable Winchester tent to enjoy some roasted corn and cider. If you have never tasted corn roasted on the grill, you will be amazed by the depth of flavor and sweetness that the roasting imparts--and having high-quality, fresh picked corn makes it even better. The farmers will still have corn available at the market this week, so after you try the roasted corn, you will probably be inspired to get some to try on the grill at home!
Remember that the market runs through October 25, so there are still three weeks to enjoy the fresh produce and to stock up on fruits and vegetables for preserving or storing for the winter.
The market will always 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. Please try 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
|
|
This Week at the Market |
|
|
This week at the market, the farmers expect to bring the following:
Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard (green, red), collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant (fingerling, traditional purple), kale, onions (red, white), peppers (green, Jalepeno, purple, red, Sweet Carmen, yellow), potatoes, pumpkins, scallions (green, red), summer squash (kousa, summer, zucchini), tomatoes (cherry, grape, red, San Marzano), winter squash (acorn, ambercup, blue hubbard, buttercup, butternut, carnival, sweet dumpling)
Fruit: apples, concord grapes, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries
Herbs: basil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme
Other: cider, gourds, mini pumpkins
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; Trooper's Treats will be selling homemade, all-natural dog biscuits; Taza Chocolate will be selling organic, stone-ground chocolate; and Mamadou Artisan Bakery will be selling bread.
Flats Mentor Farm and Warner Farm will not be at the market for the rest of this season. We hope to see them at the market again next year.
Featured entertainment from 9:30am to 12:00pm will be accoustic quartet Not That Blonde.
The featured artist in the Winchester Artists Network tent will be jewelry maker Anne Hurley, who will have high-quality hand-crafted bead jewelry on display and for sale.
|
| Photos from Community Appreciation Day |
|
|
|
| Featured Item of the Week: Winter Squash |
|
|
 The market is filled with many kinds of winter squash now. Farmers expect to have acorn, ambercup, blue hubbard, buttercup, butternut, carnival, and sweet dumpling squash this week.
Winter squash is especially versatile, and it is a favorite in many sweet and savory dishes. Squash and apples pair well, and both are plentiful at the market in the fall. Many types of winter squash store well for several months in a well-ventilated, dry location, so you can stock up now to have squash to enjoy through the winter. Butternut and blue hubbard are especially good for storing and often last for up to four months. Make sure that squash you plan to store is firm and that the skin is unbroken to ensure longest storage life. You can also puree baked or steamed squash and store it in the freezer to enjoy throughout the year.
A great way to enjoy almost all parts of squash is to toast the seeds just as you would pumpkin seeds, and then eat them as snacks or sprinkle them on soups, salads, or pasta.
The following recipes feature winter squash in a range of different kinds of dishes.
|
| Winchester Eco Festival |
|
|
Winchester's first Eco Festival will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm at the town common, town hall, and First Congregational Church. This date is also the last day of the farmers market this season, so be sure to mark your calendars for what will surely be a fun and educational day.
Sustainable Winchester, in collaboration with the Family Action Network (FAN), organized the Eco Festival to showcase the concept of "reduce, reuse, and recycle." The primary aim of the Eco Festival is to educate community members about the conservation of our natural resources, innovative alternative-energy technologies, and waste-reduction practices. Through children's activities, dynamic exhibits, workshops, and stimulating speakers, the Winchester Eco Festival will foster public awareness about opportunities for environmental change. It is hoped that the event will inspire community members to make their homes, businesses, and town more ecologically minded and environmentally sound, while also encouraging activism and volunteerism.
The Eco Festival is free to the public, thanks to the support of corporations such as Whole Foods Market, REI, Staples, and LL Bean, as well as the support of local businesses including Carole's Kitchen and Bath, Gerrity Stone, Boston Tree Preservation, Local Hero Tech Support, Moriarty & Berty General Dentistry, Pywell Contracting Services, and the Anderson Team Realtors.
Winchester residents can bring many types of household items to the festival, where the items will be collected by different organizations to be recycled. Start collecting these items now to drop of in the recycling area at the festival. Please refer to the Eco Festival website at www.fanwinchester.org/ecofest for detailed information about the strict donation guidelines of some of the participating organizations. Bicycles Computers Eyeglasses Kitchen cabinets and countertops Doors Windows Vanities, Drop-in and pedestal sinks Faucets Some tubs Light fixtures (no recessed lights), Ceiling paddle fans Lumber, plywood, and sheetrock Wood Flooring Carpeting Carpet ceramic and vinyl tile Sheet vinyl (new only) Fluorescent light bulbs Rechargeable batteries Button cell batteries Cell phones Thermostats Thermometers Mercury switches This list is growing every day, so to learn more about what you can recycle on the day of the Eco Festival as well as find out about the activities and exhibitors that will be present, please visit the Eco Festival website at www.fanwinchester.org/ecofest. We still need volunteers to help with many aspects of the Eco Festival. If you are interested, please stop by the Sustainable Winchester booth at the farmers market, contact us by e-mail, or sign up online. |
| Other Local Farmers Markets |
|
|
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
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
