Join us for the Winchester Farmers Market
Saturdays, 9:30 - 1:30, Town Common
Contents of Newsletter for July 18, 2009
This Week at the Market
Featured Item of the Week: Blueberries
Check Your Tomato Plants for Late Blight
Tiny Farm Blog
Warner Farm CSA Shares Still Available
Volunteer at the Market
SCHEDULE CORRECTION
 
In the newsletter sent out earlier today, there was a mistake in the schedule for the community tent. This week in the communnity tent will be FAN Splash, the Family Action Network's Borggaard Beach Revitalization Project. The Winchester Historical Society will be in the community tent next week, July 25.
 
Greetings!

Welcome to the July 18 issue of the Winchester Farmers Market newsletter.
 
This week, we are pleased to welcome local florist Stems to the market. Stems has been a local florist for 18 years, and they will bring to the market flowers from local farms, small vase arrangements, and small gift items.
 
Many of you have been enquiring about Hanatow Ranch, the meat, poultry, and eggs vendor we announced at the beginning of the season. The ranch is a first-time commercial venture for its owner, and the process of obtaining all of the required insurance and inspections has been lengthy. We hope that within the next few weeks, Hanatow Ranch will be ready to come to the market.
 
Get your breakfast at the market from regular market vendor and Winchester business Cocoa Express, who will have freshly brewed coffee and tea (hot and iced), along with fresh muffins and breakfast breads.
 
Stop by the market manager's tent this week or look for volunteers with clipboards to fill out a survey about your experience at the farmers market. Your feedback will help us to improve the market!
 
You can always check the farmers market website for additional information about the market, including vendor profiles, frequently asked questions, and the schedule for artists, entertainers, and community groups. Visit the website for Sustainable Winchester, the sponsor of the farmers market, to get information about current projects, monthly meetings, and volunteer opportunities.
 
Remember that the market will take place rain or shine throughout the season. Try to bring your own shopping bags to the market, and please ride your bike or walk to the market if you can. If you drive, 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.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday on the common.
 
Sincerely,
Winchester Farmers Market Organizing Committee
 

This Week at the Market

 
Carrots  Colorful chard  Squash      Herbs from Lanni Orchards
 
Vegetables: beets, bok choy, cabbage (green, red), carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers (slicing, pickling), lettuce (mixed, romaine), peas (shelling), pea tendrils, pumpkin vine, radish, scallions, squash (kousa, summer, zucchini), Swiss chard (green, rainbow, red), tomatoes
 
Fruit: black raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, red raspberries

Herbs: basil, cilantro, dry herb and spice blends, herbal tea, lemon balm, lemon thyme, mint, herb plants, summer savory, thyme, winter savory
 
Flowers: annuals, cut flowers, hanging baskets, plants
 
Other products: bread; chocolate; cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses; fish
 
Artist: Susan Vrotsos, paintings and monoprints
 
Entertainment: Not That Blonde, an acoustic quartet (bass, vocals, guitars, mandolin, ukulele, hand percussion) with a repertoire of obscure folk, country, pop, jazz, and other music. Two of the members (Maury Wood and Geoff Muller) are Winchester residents.
 
Community Tent: FAN Splash, the Family Action Network's Borggaard Beach Revitalization Project 
 
Featured Item of the Week: Blueberries
    
BlueberriesJuly is National Blueberry Month, as first proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1999. Blueberries are in peak season now in Massachusetts and are available this week at the market.
 
Blueberries are one of the few fruits that is native to North America, and today, most of the commercial blueberry production in the world takes place in the United States. Historically, blueberries have been used for many medicinal purposes and as a fabric dye.
 
Blueberries are one of the most nutritious fruits, filled with antioxidants and nutrients. And, of course, they taste delicious. Fresh blueberries should last for up to a week in the refrigerator, and you can freeze any leftovers by spreading them in a single layer on a cookie sheets in the freezer and then putting them in bags after they have frozen solid.
 
If you have never ventured beyond blueberry pie or blueberry pancakes, try some of these recipes to enjoy more blueberries.
 
 
ALERT: Check the Tomato and Potato Plants in Your Garden
 
The Boston Globe of Thursday, July 16 contains yet another great reminder of why "going local" is a good idea. A fungus called "late blight" has arrived in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, in tomato plants distributed in big box stores like Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Kmart. Late blight is the fungus that caused the Potato Famine in Ireland in the 1840s and quickly leads to devastating rot in tomato and potato plants.

What does the blight look like? How do you properly dispose of infected plants so as not to spread this to other gardens or to 2010 and beyond? For photos and more information check these links:

 
Tiny Farm Blog
 
As you shop at the farmers market and talk to the farmers who are growing the food you buy, some of you may be interested in learning more about the day-to-day operation of a farm. Tiny Farm Blog is a great blog about a small organic farm in Ontario, Canada, that sells their produce at farmers markets, through a CSA, and at a farm stand. The blog is filled with great pictures and discussions of all aspect of farming, from planning to growing to selling.
 
Warner Farm CSA Shares Still Available 
 
Warner Farm, one of the regular farmers market vendors, still has some CSA shares available in Winchester for this summer. The cost of shares is prorated for people who join after the beginning of the season (share distribution started on June 16). Check out the details on their website, and stop by their tent at the market to sign up if you are interested. 
 
Volunteer at the Market
   
Every week on market day, we need volunteers to help with setting up and taking down the market, as well as activities during the market, such as taking surveys.
 
If you would like to help at the market this week or in the future, click here to sign up for a time slot. You can volunteer for as little as one hour and help support the market.