Finding parking in town was a bit of a problem, but I wasn't surprised. Saratoga Springs is teeming with tourists in August, but I eventually found a spot and strolled to High Rock Street where farmers come each week to sell their products. What surprised me was the crowd—hordes of people:
Trying out products...
Talking to merchants...
Listening to music...
Catching up with friends...
Waiting for breakfast...
And the scents—bouquets of summer flowers, fresh basil, bacon frying and freshly brewed coffee overpowered the fumes from nearby traffic, which somehow seemed faraway. Cells phones weren't glued to people's ears and the folk band didn't have any competition from iPods.
Being part of this energetic scene made me wonder if farmer's markets were becoming more popular. People trying to return to a simpler time when merchants explained the details of their products instead of the side of a box; where cash was traded for fresh food as opposed to plastic for packaged products; where smiles and laughter were as common as ripe tomatoes.
I did a little research when I returned home. The answer is: Yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on August 3, 2012 that Farmer's Markets across the nation have increased by 9.6 percent over the past year. Organizations such as, Slow Food, started in 1989 to counter fast food/junk food lifestyles first ignited consumer's needs for fresh, local produce. In 1994 there were 1744 farmer's markets registered with the USDA. Today: 7,864.
By the casual walking, easy conversations, and smiles I observed on Saturday, it was evident that slow food wasn't the only thing people were interested in finding at the market. Slow living was also up for grabs and it appeared to be a very popular product.
Do you visit a Farmer's Market near your home? If so, what is your favorite part? For me, so hard to choose, but I'll go with the overall ambiance of friendliness and joy. It really is a happy a place.
KICK BACK SONG OF THE WEEK:
Gypsy Jazz West entertains at the Portland, OR Farmer's Market. This is a 20-minute video, but stop in for a few minutes and enjoy the festivities:
KICK BACK BOOK OF THE WEEK:
A few years back I came across a truly fun and easy read: A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball. It's about three women whose husbands are gone and children are grown. Amazon.com says, "Tired of always dreaming and never doing, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget make a life-altering decision. Uprooting themselves from their comfortable lives in the suburbs, the three friends buy a run-down mansion, nestled in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley. They christen their new home, "Ladybug Farm," hoping that the name will bring them luck.
A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA:
When Jamie Stolis, the disenchanted heroine in my soon to be released novel, A Stop in the Park, is asked, "What do you feel like when you're in your garden?" She replies:
"Like love is pouring out of me. The earth graciously accepts it and returns my gift with beauty."
Ah-h-h! Nothing like shopping a farmer's market when you want vegetables that are truly fresh! Since moving back home to a small rural town the larger markets are not available. BUT there is a local small market that specializes in corn on the cob right from the field, tomatoes off the vine, potatoes dug from the ground that morning, field peas shelled and bagged, sweet Vidalia onions...should I go on? The friendly ambiance as people come and go make for more than simply idle chatter.
ReplyDeleteSharla ~ You're making me hungry. There really is nothing like fresh, wholesome food right from the farm to the table to our mouths. No wonder farmer's markets are gaining in popularity. And...it's so true about the chatter. On Saturday, it seemed more relaxed and genuine to me. ~ Peggy
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Peggy! I just read your comments on catnip's tranquility. Not sure if you receive notification for my reply so I decided to post it here.
DeleteWOW! 'Poetic essays' – what a beautiful description! May have to do some research on that expression or perhaps you have just coined a new one! Love it and so glad you enjoyed the writing:>)
Hi Peggy,
ReplyDeleteFarmers markets are the hit all over Europe. You can find them in any country and they are just fantastic. Here in the Main Kinzig Kreis where I live, every big town has one and usually they are there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There you can buy, eatö, drink coffee and again a lot of the old timers catch up on what has been happening with their friends and family members they meet there, so I really enjoyed your article.
Ciao,
Patricia
Hi Pat ~ I would love to go to Europe. We plan on making a trip within the next few years. As soon as my husband retires so we can really explore. I work for a public school so have the summers off, which is great for travel. We will certainly go to some farmer's markets. I truly love them! ~ Peggy
DeleteThis is nice to hear. We have a Farmer's Market in a nearby town and it is always packed. It's been going on for well over ten years now. Thanks for sharing this positive trend. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's great. People's lives are so busy and neighbors hardly see each other anymore. I think people crave a sense of community found at a farmer's market.
DeleteWe finally have several farmers markets situated on different parts of the Island, which means we don't have to face the awful traffic and road rage to find one close to home. the prices are cheaper than the supermarkets and locally grown in the garden state of New Jersey. I feel there's less chance of getting salmomella with locally grown foods and hopefully less pesticides, but most of all I like to support my local community. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of supporting the local community. I think many people are feeling this way.
DeleteYes...the desert and the farmer's market don't go together. Enjoy that courtyard, Sunni!
DeletePeggy,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Wonderful pictures! I wish we had a farmer's market like this here in the desert, but then it's harder to grow anything. We do have them, but noting this nice, however, there is entertainment and spots to sit under the trees in a central courtyard. We had wonderful ones when I lived in CA.
Thanks for sharing.
Sunni
http://sunni-faeriebookloft.blogspot.com/
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
Hi Peggy! What a stroll down memory lane. WOW! I can remember watermelon stands in Texas where that was the treat of the day.
ReplyDeleteCold sweet watermelon that dripped with the wet taste of natural sugar.
Then down the road a corn on the cob stand where the corn was served hot enrobed with sweet butter churned in the barn that morning.
Of course to finish off the day, back to the watermelon patch to pick one up for home!
Yum---:)
Thanks!
Mamie
Yum!!! Your descriptions make want to run out and get some fresh corn and a great big watermelon. I love summer!
DeleteWe used to have a Farmer's Market just a few blocks away, but with the recent commercialization of that area, our market is gone and I so miss it!
ReplyDeleteI bet you do. Research says Farmer's Markets are on the rise so maybe one will start up again.
DeleteI enjoyed today's post as well as your photos. Just beautiful. In addition to Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle, farmers' markets abound here in the Pacific Northwest, with one in my town of Auburn and another one in nearby Kent every weekend. The produce from local farms always tastes so much better than what's wrapped in plastic from the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteI love Pike Place Market. As I was researching farmer's markets, I read that the Seattle area has at least ten. It must be a healthy city, Sandy!
DeleteExcellent post! I love Farmer's Markets. My wife and I go to one every other week. My favorite part is homemade jams. We stock up on the different flavors and the restock two weeks later. Have a great day! Oh, and "A Year on the Ladybug Farm" sounds like a really fun read. Thanks for suggesting.
ReplyDeletePaul R. Hewlett
"A Year on Ladybug Farm" really was good. There are also two or three more books in the series.
DeleteI love farmer's markets! I think everything about them is great. I feel good when I buy from local farmers and the food seems to taste better. It is an all around great experience and I love that they are growing. YEAH! I haven't read A Year on the Ladybug Farm- but it sounds good. I love the garden quote- my garden is one of my favorite places to be. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
I think it's official. People who check into this blog like the Farmer's Market! I hope you enjoy "A Year on Ladybug Farm," & I'm glad you like the garden quote.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrased to say I have never been to a farmer's market. Stop that, put your eyes back in your head, yes, you read it correctly! No, I don't live in the city. lol
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the post, but my favorite part was the absolutely amazing quote from your book! What beautiful words! If it is all like that it will sell very well! Hugs, Deirdre