WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — What a week for night sky gazing! Meteor showers and a “super blue moon.” This full moon was the “sturgeon” moon….super because the moon is one of the biggest and brightest (and within 90% of its closest approach to Earth), “blue” because of the relative rarity of four full moons within the three-month period, and sturgeon because the Algonquin tribes referred to this moon after the fish that were more easily caught during this month.
We’re not getting the rain we so badly need, but the cooler weather has provided welcome relief from the summer heat (which will be back by the time this goes to press). I hope everyone found something special to see, experience and marvel over during this last week or two.
Many of our garden vegetables will suffer from the heat and drought, but tomatoes are not likely to one of them. A native of South America, tomatoes “prefer” the hot, dry season we are having. Usually our summers are both humid and wet, and while we may have hot weather, the dampness is not a friend to tomatoes. There is an abundance (quantity and variety) of tomatoes at the Fayette County Farmers Market, and you will want to get them while they are good – which they just are not during other seasons. Tomatoes are delicious and also packed with what we need – lots of water, few calories, as well as beta carotene, lycopene, vitamin C and more. All of you reading this are probably already eating them sliced, as snacks, on BLT sandwiches, chopped into salsa/pico, stewed for a simple spaghetti or pizza sauce. How about sauteed with corn and/or zucchini in oil or butter? Or sliced, topped with cheese, fresh basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar? There are a million recipes with tomato ingredients….so enjoy this wonderful, seasonal fruit!
Join us this week for a special “tasting” of local brats and chicken. This tasting is brought to you (and us) thanks to the Fayette County Travel and Tourism Bureau. Try the chicken raised by Jason and Jenna Bryan (Compton Creek Farms) and Bob Lehnert’s (Lehnert Meats) brats.
And for something new for our young shoppers…..there will be a fun Scavenger Hunt coordinated by members of the MT girls soccer team this Saturday for elementary age children shopping at the market 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Stop by and see Mrs. Debra at the Kids’ Activity Table at the Information Booth to participate and win prizes.
The market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon. It is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets. SNAP EBT food benefit cards and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for food purchases receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) good only for fruits, vegetables, and food producing plants. So,”buy one, get one” for up to $25 every market day. Five dollar coupons will be available again for Fayette County Farm Bureau members at each Saturday market; these can be spent at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.
The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well.
DSC Produce Farm (Darren Cox): 10 flavors of salsa (bacon to pineapple), salad dressings (including blueberry vinegrette) and BBQ sauce. Pumpkin butter.
Engeti (Alana Walters & Janet Bick): dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, cakes, brownies, pies, cookies, and other baked goods.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Fresh produce (chemical/pesticide free) —cherry tomatoes including Matt’s Wild and Sungold, peppers including serranos, and tomatillos. Baklava (with farm honey), paraffin free buckeye candy, mini-pecan pies and sourdough crackers. Pennyroyal, garlic chive and parsley plants.
Jim’s Premium Ground Beef (Jim Hobbs): Premium ground beef in assorted packages (patties, bulk tubes).
Karyn’s Kreations (Karyn Brunton): Crocheted creations and stickers.
Lehnert Meats (Bob Lehnert): Assorted brats, including Original, Cajun Style, Sweet Italian Sausage and Strawberry Bratwursts. Great for grilling. Sampling live at the market.
PPCF/The Jam Man (David Persinger): Jams/Jellies/Fruit Butters: New: plum butter, pear butter, peach habanero & no added sugar triple berry. Elderberry jelly back in stock. Texas chocolate sheet cakes with or without pecans and zucchini bread. Produce: greasy beans (SHUCKY beans, a Kentucky heirloom). Jasper Twp raw honey.
PPCF/The Pie Lady and S. Plymouth Raw Honey (Julie & Dennis Mosny): Local raw honey, cut honey comb and beeswax. Baked goods include assorted fruit pies, cinni minis, Buns bars, cinnamon rolls, pecan sticky buns, banana cake with old fashioned burnt butter icing and oatmeal raisin cookies.
Red Maple Goats and Soaps (Cindy Grover): Goat milk soaps as well as soothing bath soaks, foot cream, lotions, and 100% handmade goat milk products.
Rural Beans Roastery LLC (Kameron Rinehart): Assorted freshly roasted coffee (beans and ground).
Slate Hill Farm & Orchard (Greg Hood and family): Honey crisp (hopefully) and Gala apples.
Sunburst Wormstead (Sarah & Daniel Jewell): Vermibrew (worm tea) – liquid fertilizer made from worm castings and full of beneficial microbes for your indoor & outdoor plants.
Teter Farm (Owen and Kate Teter): Fresh and dried flower bouquets and arrangements, mini dried flower bunches. Tomatoes.
The Casual Gourmet (Jason Gilmore): Assorted baked goods.
Wood Designs by DW (Debbie Welch): One of a kind handcrafted wood items— signs, tables, gnomes, as well as bird feeders (freestanding and hanging) and hanging bird houses. Wooden solar mushrooms and sunflowers. Crocheted items including a variety of stuffed animals, kitchen towels, pot scrubs, pot holders, baby booties, and afghans. Will take custom and special orders.
Your Other Mother’s Kitchen (Don & Sara Creamer): Bread and other baked goods. Sewing crafts.
Bridge View Gardens (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Fresh produce including slicing and cherry tomatoes, zucchini, yellow summer squash, green beans, bell peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash (acorn, butternut and spaghetti), eggplant and cucumbers. Watermelons.
Compton Creek Farms (Jason and Jenna Bryan): assorted packaged (frozen) cuts of pasture raised chicken. Sampling live at the market.
Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Baby essentials including hand crocheted blankets and hats, flannel burp cloths, muslin swaddle blankets, beaded and macrame pacifier clips, crinkle squares and other baby teethers. Also crocheted kitchen dish cloths, pot scrubbers, essential oil car diffusers and hand poured wax melts in over 50 scents.
Katrina Bush is a vendor at the Fayette County Farmers Market.
