Posts Tagged ‘farmers markets’

To Market to market

Friday, November 20th, 2009

There is still time to get in on your local Farmer’s Markets. This Saturday (Nov. 21st) the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market is having their holiday market from 11am till 1pm. I am thinking of the Turnip Greens and Hot Southern Mustard Greens for Thanksgiving. There will be pies and breads, Lettuce, Radishes, Collards, Crookneck Butternut Squash (5+pounds a piece) and Herb Wreaths (they will also be taking orders for these)-all from the Eco Village! Thymekeepers will have Skin Creams, Spider Necklaces, Bracelets, Dried and Fresh Herbs and Dried Herb Blends-all great for holiday gifts! Speaking of gifts, Berry Good Farm are selling Jellies, Jams and some other stuff! Buying local is great, and food is the gift of love! You can finish off the holiday meal with their pies & pumpkin Rolls, and fresh Bread & Dinner Rolls. Oh, and you can order your Christmas trees!

If you miss it, there is another shot with the Tremont Farmer’s Market. On Tuesday (Nov. 24th) they are hosting an indoor event at the Pilgrim Church, right by the park at 2592 W.14th Street, from 4-7pm. In addition to the fruits and veggies, there will be live music, grass fed meat, locally roasted coffee, and baked goods. Just in time for holiday gifts, there will be gift baskets, knitted goods, and jewelry. You can even get your knife sharpened! To top things off, my friend Nicole McGee of Second Time Designs and her cohort Trish supplies will be there. These guys are my heroes as they turn things like trash and used items into beautiful designed works of art. At least go and see how beautiful old stuff can be reborn!

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Local Food Week October 3-9

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Patterson Farm Apples

To kick off local food week, I started out at Gordon Square Farmer’s Market. Okay, let’s face it, I needed some fresh produce and I try to buy local whenever I can, so I usually go to the Tremont Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Gordon Square on Saturday. The thing about buying at farmers market, is that local produce is just plain better. I sometimes get to chat with the actual farmers or growers of the veggies that I am buying. It is usually nice and ripe, and ready for eating. The produce is ripened on the vine (or tree or whatever) so the end result is a fruit or veggie that gets the most important part of its growing cycle with water and nutrients from the place it is supposed to get them. In case you didn’t know this, tomatoes from far away are usually picked very green, and then blasted with gasses to make them turn red when you put them on the shelf at the local market. This means those tomatoes may look ripe, but are usually still far from ready. I have even seen more producers doing the same thing with tomatoes still on the vine. I used to buy these in the winter months as they were most likely to be riper when shipped, but now I am seeing more producers using this technique to fool shoppers who think that the produce is better still on the vine.

To celebrate local foods, Columbus has a slate of events going on around town all week long. I have yet to see much out of the norm for Cleveland, but there must be some to share. I got some great information from the Local Matters website. Among the statistics that I found important:

Over 99% of food grown in Ohio is shipped out of state. Interesting thing to consider when most of the vendors at the west Side market are selling produce from out of state.

One in three Ohio children is expected to contract diabetes.

In Franklin County, the obesity rate among preschoolers is 20% and 45% for 3rd graders. I am sure that is can’t be much better in Cleveland.

The communities of Franklinton, Hilltop, Linden and the Southside lack access to fresh, healthy food on a daily basis. Obesity and diabetes rates in these communities are some of the highest in the city of Columbus. This only shows the problem of food deserts on communities. The poorer the neighborhood, the poorer the diet. The sector of the population that most needs good food and health care are getting the least of both.

Just a few facts that should get everyone thinking about the importance of local foods. Check out Local Food Cleveland to join in the discussion with other local residents.


We also went to our annual Patterson’s Farm event. This is the big event every year, where I get hang out with our friends’ kids, watching them slide, paint pumpkins, and ride the pony. We also get to have some of the best freshly picked apples in the state. When these great orchards are available so readily, why are we bringing most of ours into Ohio from places like Washington State and New Zealand? We also picked up our annual local pumpkin. Check them out for a fall trip with your kids, and get some great local apples and produce.

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Over the bridge…or under…

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

I really like that Cleveland took part of the Detroit Shoreway bridge and made it a pedestrian and bike friendly through-way. Part of what has been missing from the overall plan for Cleveland’s green future has been to add access to those who are not using a car. In case you did not know, there was originally a trolley line that ran under that bridge. It came up onto the street somewhere by the Van Roy coffee building (near 28th and Detroit). There was a major station that was housed at each end of the bridge. The bank building on 25th and Detroit (where Massismo restaurant is housed) has a beautiful entrance that is still in great shape. Under the bridge, most of the rails still exist as do several other entrances. The tile work is still in great condition in much of the space and with some minor work could almost be made usable again. Let’s face it though, that is not likely to happen.

The underside of the bridge is open to the public at least once a year to walk. If you have not been, then watch for your next chance. The views are great and the columns of the structure add a great ambiance to the overall experience. This weekend was the Bridge Project. The folks who bring us Ingenuity Festival every year decided to expamd on their concept and bring us a little art and culture in September. This time, they held it on the bridge. This was a great way to esperience the mile long expanse of bridge. In the past, it has just been a walk and and gander, but this time I was excited by all sorts of sights, sounds and smells.

There were great exhibits of local artists. My favorite was a Main Street made from toys (like Polly pocket houses and Weebles tree-house) all lined up. They were all boarded up, though to say a little something about the state of the economy in regions like NE Ohio. I say some great drawings and paintings. This type of venue is perfect for struggling artists to get their work out to the public, so you see some truly interesting stuff. There were several bands that played and music varied through out the 2 day event. I hope the organizers felt it was a success, as this is a great way to get more interest in our downtown.

We made the trip with our friends the Purdums. Check out Prasti’s blog here for some great pictures. They have 3 kids, so I was thrilled to see this type of event with little hands and eyes along. It was really a family friendly experience and a great way to expose young minds to new and interesting arts. If they do this again, do NOT miss out!

The space is so interesting, and rarely used, that it makes me wonder why we can’t put together a local market that is open every Saturday during the summer. I love our local farmers markets, but one issue that i see is that there are so many that they tend to be small and fragmented. If we could tap into the energy of the West Side market experience, and bring many vendors together in one place, then we could make something truly incredible happen. The one complaint that I have about the West Side Market is that so few of the vendors are selling anything from Ohio. Most are selling the same produce that is available at Giant Eagle or Dave’s, imported from Chili, New Zealand or California. Farmers markets, on the other hand are full of local (and thus healthier and tastier) produce. Why not expand on it too? Every arts or street fair in Cleveland is packed with people. Why not bring some of these local arts and artisans to one place, mix them with food and farmers, add a little music and voila! The Cleveland Urban Market. The venue is already available. It is currently unused. The costs of having a booth would easily offset the marketing and restroom set up…Know anyone who would like to make this happen? Would you go?

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One person CAN make a difference, so can 2! Why not you?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

I had the pleasure of meeting two young ladies at the Sustainability Summit. They are LeeAnn Westfall and Erin Huber. Students at CSU they have helped for the Campus Sustainability Coalition. This core group of students, administartors, and faculty are working to advise the Energy Committee of CSU on how to best direct the campus’s 42.8 million dollar Energy Conservation Program. Good work, right? But the work for these two is actually bigger than that. A look at the Roof Top Garden Project

Did you know that when the new CSU Recreation Center was built, there was originally a plan for a green garden roof? It was cut from the plan for budgetary reasons. Rooftop gardens and green roofs are an important tool in green buildings. In addition to adding natural beauty, they help to manage stormwater runoff (an important role in Cleveland), remove CO2 from the atmosphere, conserve energy by adding insulative value to the roof, and help to reduce the heat island effect (the effect of raising city temperatures that occurs from lots of dark roofs absorbing heat and holding it in). These progressive students learned about the green roof, and its demise, in their Environmental Science class. They refused to accept it. They organized and raised money through private and foundation donations. They convinced the university to match some of their funds and now the green roof is back on! The hard work of these two young ladies has meant a lot to the school and for future generations. I highly suggest that you contact the CSU campus and tell them how much you appreciate the work these women have done to further sustainability in our city. Give a small donation to further the cause, or drop them a line giving them Kudos! The project can be found here.

For Erin, the work has lead her to form a new downtown farmers market.  It opens September 3 and runs through October 22, every Thursday from 10:30-1:30 every week.  On the corner of 18th and Euclid (in front of the College of Law), here is a chance for those urban dwellers and students and even those who work downtown to drop by and pick up fresh market goodies to enrich their lives.  I am all about local foods and farmers markets, but many in Cleveland are not convenient for some.  Those working or living downtown now have a great new alternative!  Stop by and help them celebrate their opening with the live music and prizes!

So what can a couple of students do?  A lot!  So what can you do? It seems that you can do a lot as well.  I wrote briefly about Wastepedia in a previous post.  The brainchild of our group at the Sustainability Summit, we have started meeting and working to move forward to turn the prototype we created into a reality. Last night, at the E4S meeting, I gave a little introduction to the group about our efforts and the feedback was tremendous! In addition to media opportunities and location options, I left with the names of artists and artisans who are interested in joining us on this project. How great is that? This could help bring a lot of factions of the community together! Four other groups presented and some were born out of the summit as well. Andrew Watterson of the Sustainability Department of Cleveland also talked for a few minutes and I was thrilled to hear that there were actually 7 groups who had begun to meet to turn their ideas from the summit into reality. If even one of these great projects happens then the entire summit was a success. In fact, if none happens, it can still be positive if it helps to propel any energy forward in this arena! One thing that Holly mentioned was that we have to not be afraid to fail, by failing we may find a path to future success. I am paraphrasing, but I think that is the gist. Holly Harlan always is uplifting and forward thinking. I applaud her efforts for this town!

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Farmer’s Markets are set to open again!

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Since moving to Ohio, I have been amazed at the lack of local foods sold in stores and even at the West Side Market. Being the Heartland of America, I thought that local produce would be in abundance, during summer at the very least! It only took me a few years, but I have finally gotten in touch with the local food community. Groups like Fresh Fork and City Fresh are bringing CSA to restaurants and consumers. We have not taken advantage of these yet, as our ever changing lifestyle makes cooking at home unpredictable at best. I am excited, this year, to be in the loop about the many farmer’s markets around town. July marks the opening of the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market (formerly the Ward 17 Farmer’s Market), and in just a couple of weeks is the opening of the Tremont Farmer’s Market. I just got this update via email:

The countdown is on! In a mere two weeks, vendors of all sorts will once again gather in Lincoln Park to display their wares of great, local food, local artwork, fantastic music and more. Put a post-it note on your brain: Tuesday, June 16 from 4:30-7:30 pm . New day and time, almost-new place, a great new season. (Don’t worry, I’ll send you another reminder).

American Farmland Trust has created a bit of friendly competition between markets to increase awareness and interest in farmers’ markets. I was curious, so I signed up TFM, just to see what would happen. So, check it out, and decide for yourself! I believe voting starts on June 1, and the results will be tallied during Farmers’ Market Week Aug 2-8, 2009 . www.farmland.org/vote
To read more about the contest: http://www.farmland.org/news/pressreleases/AmericasFavoriteFarmersMarket.asp

In addition, we’re working to update the market blogsite. Get up to date information and a preview of the season at www.tremontfarmersmarket.com
I would love to add Tremont businesses to the site, just make me aware of them, and I’ll add a link.

I would also like to put in a plug for a new blogsite that endeavors to cover farming and food in our wonderful region. Bounty of the Western Reserve is published by Mary K. Holmes, local food advocate and Presidential Fellow at Case Western Reserve University where she teaches a SAGES seminar, “Food, Farming, and Economic Prosperity.”
www.bountyofthewesternreserve.com

That’s a lot of internet info to throw about, so let’s get grounded!
Dust off your sun hats and canvas bags. TFM is raring to go!

I am looking forward to delicious LOCAL produce this year. I may even learn to start canning. Know of a great local food source or farmer’s market? Send us the info and we would gladly mention it. We want everyone to get involved in making local food available and affordable.

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