More Farmers' Markets Opening Schedules

Here's a note from the Pittsburgh BusinessTimes about the Market Square Farmers' Market opening on Thursday.
"Pittsburgh's only mostly organic farmers' market", Farmers at the Firehouse is opening this year on May 9th.
Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful is opening their Waynesburg Farmers' Market season this year on Wednesday May 13th with afternoon hours and a new location in Waynesburg.
The Main Street Farmers' Market of Washington, PA will be opening on Thursday May 14th. It looks like they have a gift certificate program this year ..... check out the "Market Dollars".
And in the Laurel Highlands region, where it stays cooler later into the season, the farmer operated Somerset County Farmers' Market will open their popular market on Saturday May 30th.

Found from last fall .....

I found a treat from a visit to the Somerset County Farmers' Market last fall. Wrapped tightly in a brown paper bag was the third bar of Triple Mint soap that I got on my trip to Virginia. It still smells great!

This reminded me of some of the local products I have been using that were obtained when the farmers' markets were in full swing last fall. Garlic Wing Sauce from Lambert Mountain Acres , McCormack Farm Honey --- found year round in local grocery stores and Janoski's Farm Market, and of course, the dried flowers used over the winter.But the really good news is that farmers' markets in Western PA are getting ready to open up in May. The first day of the Beaver Farmers' Market is May 2nd behind the Beaver County Courthouse. Check with your local vendors and market managers to see when they're opening up.

It's time for fresh local food. See you there!

Free Hoop House Webinar

Here's a link for farmers market produce growers ..... This is a free webinar scheduled for MAY 7th by the USDA's National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).
Hoop Houses for Extending Your Growing Season.
Register on-line and learn about hoophouses without leaving home in this busy season!

Are you looking for books for children about food & farmers' markets? Brain Child Press has several interesting titles that can get kids interested in their food and "where it comes from".

Interested in community and food? Free PDF Handouts can be downloaded from the Community Food Security Coalition web-site.

Some growers are working on developing workplace CSA's. Here's a free 59 page guide for "Community Supported Agriculturefor the Workplace:A Guide for Developing Workplace Community Supported Agriculture Distributions". Note that this is a very large file if you have dial-up access ......

Finally, a good primer or review for producers & managers before the farmers' market season gets into full swing, the Farmers' Market: Marketing & Business Guide.

Happy Easter !

Up on the Roof ....

Here's an interesting picture that illustrates that there's always something going on in the greenhouse business. It doesn't seem that warm outside right now, but it was time to get the shade cloth over the greenhouse roof at Janoski's Farm & Greenhouse today. The huge cloth was laid out in the parking lot and about 6 people were involved in guiding it up to the roof and then dragging it down over this section of the greenhouse. What's inside of the greenhouses now? Plenty of lilies, mums, hydrangeas, azaleas, etc for Easter. The mums were "Buy 2, Get 1 Free", so of course 3 mums came home with me.. I ran into a friend who owns Bocktown Beer & Grill today at Janoski's. She was picking up a flat of mini potted violas for decorations at the restaurant. Perfect for little table decorations! BTW, Bocktown is planning to get active in sourcing even more of their foods from local growers and producers, so stay tuned to their web-site. Of course, they are already a supporter of regional breweries. (If my "friend" is reading this, drop down to the 3/22 post below & see "Chefs")
As a final note - take a look at these lettuces and kole crops out in the flats under the awning! Can gardening be far away now? Inside the greenhouse we spotted a few tomato plants with a tiny tomato or two on them already ....... also plenty of herb plants. Why not grab a basil plant as my friend did, and do some snipping on it for cooking in the next month or so? Then plant it outside when the weather warms up!