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After Market 5/7/2011

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Well it’s official! Spring Hill Farmer’s Market is open for the season. Our grand opening was last Saturday and it was a beautiful market day. The weather was perfect and it was wonderful to meet and greet new and returning vendors and customers. I was amazed at the variety we have so early in the season. Leslie Birmingham with Sunflowers and Sunshine offers artesian jams and jellies, artesian breads and biscotti and handcrafted items. Kendra Cote with Amathia Soapworks offers handmade cold-pressed soap, bath and body products and herb sachets. Debbie Ford with Deborah’s Decorative Painting offers recycled beaded plates, bottles, flatware and handcrafted greeting cards. Rebeca Hazaleous and Johnna Ellis with Soap Mom Handcrafted Soaps offer handcrafted soaps, lip balms, bath fizzie cupcakes, facial cleansers, bath teas and candles. Peggy Hill and Beth Cupp are back with their delicious baked goods; breads, cookies, cinnamon rolls…and Beth has added some great woodworking items. Eleanor Hoffman with Rachael’s Organic Vegetables is new to market and will have a vast assortment of vegetables, fruits and herbs – all grow using organic practices. Last week she had incredible bags of salad mix. We have been eating salad all week and I can’t wait to get some more. Nancy Kalman with Pickings and Pumpkins will offer vegetables, small fruits and herbs. Lisa Kobel is back with her very sought after hand knitted dishcloths. Nikki Miller will be new to market with her personal artwork. John and Connie Murphy from Connie’s Potting Shed are back again with all types of florals. Last week they had plants and silk arrangements, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for those gorgeous fresh cut bouquets this week. How I have missed my fresh flowers over the winter. Josh and Chris Oliver with O’s Jelly have delicious homemade jam and jelly – and will do special orders and sugar free upon request!  Be sure and try anything with jalepeno…Mike Pierron with Mike’s Farm Fresh Food had honey, bedding plants, fruit bushes and will have lots of produce as the season progresses. He may also offer fresh eggs in coming weeks. Steve Windler is back with all his great decorative metal art. Dan Tatum will be joining us as the season progresses, as will Mark Angermayer (Tubby’s Fruits), Jeff Bingman (produce) and Natalie Wilkerson-Smith (produce). As you can see it is shaping up to be a great season and I am still receiving inquiries for future stalls. See the complete list of vendors at the end of the newsletter for more details on their seasonal offerings.

Congratulations to the winners of our opening weekend giveaways….Gloria Hicks won the embroidered market basket and Judy Derr won the beautiful hanging basket. We will have additional drawings this weekend as well. It promises to be a great day at market and when you have finished shopping with us head on down to the Business Expo and Daffodil Days for continued fun. It is going to be a great day in Spring Hill!

DON’T MISS THIS SATURDAY!  We will have special music as our favorite musicians “Lester and Friends” are back by popular demand. These guys were a huge success last season and we are so happy they are coming back. Not sure of the exact time yet, but we have discussed 9:30-10:00 AM as a starting time.

Why Eat Local? 

During the season we will explore some of the many reasons; health, nutritional and environmental, that we should try and eat local. The chemical Bisphenol A or “BPA” is receiving lots of attention again. Used as food-can liners its use has already been restricted in Canada and some US states and municipalities because of potential health effects. Consumer Reports (2009) testing of canned foods found that almost all of the 19 major name brand canned foods contain evidence of some BPA. The debate around BPA involves if and what is a safe level of ingestion and if it should come in contact with food at all. Sounds like a really good reason to eat local and fresh! Come to Farmers Market and “shake the hand that feeds you…”. Ask how your food was grown, enjoy it fresh picked from the garden…You will be glad you did. Some of our vendors and customers have formed relationships that endure from season to season. Get to know your grower.

Market and the Community

Our market welcomes and encourages community involvement. We reserve a complimentary stall every week for any church, civic organization, non-profit etc. to have the opportunity to introduce themselves, conduct approved fundraising or just increase their presence in the community. We have had ongoing participation from the American Legion, Festival Choral Society, Hillsdale Water Quality Project and St. Clare’s Episcopal Church. Please contact the Market Manager if you have a group that would like to participate. Many thanks to HWQP for hosting a “make and take” rain barrel workshop at market last week. Anyone interested could “make and take” home a completed rain barrel for only $10. It was a huge success and just in time to take advantage of those spring rains for our flower and veggie gardens.

I am asking all market customers and vendors to help support a very worthy cause again this year. Uplift Organization is in need of empty 12-16 oz and 2 liter plastic bottles w/lids. These bottles are filled with cold water and/or lemonade and handed out to the homeless here in KC. Please rinse out empty bottles and drop them off at the market manager’s booth on Saturday AM. Be sure to include the lids! We will collect bottles for the remainder of the market season. This is an opportunity to make a tremendous difference and it doesn’t cost you a penny. Simply gather up those empty bottles you were going to toss in the trash and recycle them in a way that serves others

Friends of the Market

Our Farmers Market is a community service project sponsored by the Spring Hill Lions Club. We are also thankful for the additional support we received from USD 230 and the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce.  A special thanks to Ann Jensen for all her support of the market – she is one of our biggest fans and always promoting our community and its activities! Finally, many thanks to Walt Faber with Vista Signs for his ongoing support. Walt creates all our signage for market and offers a generous discount to any vendor or non-profit.

Calling All Cooks!

Please start thinking about some of your favorite recipes that you are willing to share. If they incorporate fresh, market ingredients all the better. Drop of your recipes at the Market Manager’s booth. I want to compile a Spring Hill Farmer’s Market Cookbook that we will sell (for a very reasonable price) later this season. All proceeds will be donated to a local Spring Hill charity. Recipes can be typed or hand written. Please include your name and phone number or email address in case I have any questions. I will publish the names (only) of contributors in the cookbook unless you tell me differently. I know we have some wonderful cooks in this community!

From Market to Table

Here are some suggestions for fresh and flavorful additions to your menus using seasonal market offerings. The Rhubarb is starting to appear at market so here is a recipe for basic Rhubarb Compote (fancy name for stewed rhubarb) shared by Simple Bites.

Recipe 1: Basic Rhubarb Compote

• 6 cups fresh chopped rhubarb, washed
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/2 cup maple sugar or brown sugar

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and simmer gently for about five minutes. Rhubarb will begin to soften.
3. Uncover and continue to cook another five minutes.
4. Remove from heat, cool.

Makes about three cups.

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For Market Date May 7, 2011

Just a reminder that Spring Hill Farmer’s Market opens this Saturday, May 7^th at 7:30 AM in the Elementary School Parking Lot on Webster. We have 9 returning and 7 new vendors registered at this point with more to come as the season progresses. Opening day will include a “Make and Take Rain Barrel Workshop” hosted by the Hillsdale Water Quality Project where participants will be able to take home a rain barrel for just $10. Last year’s workshop was a huge success. If you are interested, arrive early as quantities are limited.  There will also be drawings for door prizes just in time for Mother’s Day. Mark your calendars to come back the following Saturday (May 14^th) for live music provided by Lester and Friends – our favorite musicians and then go on to attend the Business Expo and Daffodil Days.

This year’s market will have something for everyone. Based on seasonal availability  we will have several varieties of fruits including peaches, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, apricots and pears; produce that includes lettuce, salad mix, tomatoes, okra, cabbage, squash, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, artesian jams and jellies, artesian breads and biscotti,  handmade cold process soap, bath and body products, herb sachets, facial cleansers, bath teas, deodorants, beaded gift items, handcrafted greeting cards, assorted baked goods, traditional jams and jelly, fresh herbs, artwork, fresh cut flower bouquets, dried flower arrangements, wood chips for BBQ and decorative metal art for home and lawn….and that is just the beginning!

There will always be a cup of coffee waiting for you on market mornings. So come and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors, and the opportunity to buy some wonderful, fresh, local produce.

For any vendors that may need help with custom market signage, feel free to contact Walt at Vista Signs 913-636-5449. He offers a discount for all our vendors.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday and throughout the season

Patti Stites

Market Manager