Final Christmas Wreath!

Open 'Til 8 PM This Week!

We're down to the final Christmas decorations, so LFLF stopped at Hozak Farms for a fresh wreath.  They are open 'til 8PM this week, but the fields close at dusk if you're going to cut your own tree.  There are trees at the Christmas Barn lot if the wagon to the field experience isn't your thing .......
Nothing like the smell of fresh pine for Christmas!  Did we mention the snack bar in the barn for food & hot drinks?

The Christmas Barn At Hozak Farms

Last Day For Beaver Farmers' Market!

Pat's Pastries - Christmas Cookies!

Saturday was the last day of the season for the Beaver Farmers' Market in 2011.  LFLF took the opportunity to buy 2 batches of Christmas cookies from Pat's Pastries.  Don't they look great? We also picked up some white chocolate Peppermint Bark from Pat too.

And now farewell for the 2011 season from some of the farmers & vendors. See you in May!

Pat's Pastries - Wood Street Bread - Dave's Vegetables - Until Next Year!

Douds-Floyd Farm - Last Market!

Christmas Spirit!

Tree Shoppers Head Into The Greenhouse!

Nothing like a trip to Janoski's Greenhouse to get in the Christmas spirit!  LFLF went out today & got pointsettias for home & the office.  Never satisfied with the standard red, we always make it a point to get some of the "different" bract colors & forms.  We got a variety new to us this year & after a bit of poking around, it appears to be "Primero Glitter" by Ecke.   Ecke is THE premier pointsettia breeder & many growers get their cuttings from Ecke to grow out.  Don't be alarmed ... this pointsettia went into the yellow painted powder room, so it's not out in the middle of the traditional Christmas settings!

A Look Across The Greenhouse!

Of course we got a more traditional large 3 color red, white, & pink pot for our "feature" pointsettia!

Last Day For Wreaths!

Snapping Up The Wreaths & Swags!

Today was the last day for wreaths & swags at the Beaver Farmers' Market.  The Volkar family had their usual great selection & this makes for the largest single purchase LFLF makes all year at the markets!  We went directly to a cemetary after market & saw another market customer placing the wreath that she just bought .....

Wiring Wreaths To Easels ..... Something For Everyone!

 Next week will be the last day for the season & the last chance to get some of Pat's Pastries!  The featured items are mixed holiday cookie platters, although she sold out of the small containers by 11AM.

Pat's Pastries All Bundled Up!

It was cold, but we'll take the sunshine at this time of year!

Time For Greens!

Wreaths, greens, trees, & roping!

A little side trip north of Pittsburgh got LFLF an opportunity to go past Soergel Orchards & a chance to look over some Christmas greens.  There wasn't a type of wreath or roping that wasn't there ......

Sprays of Holly Berries

We always decorate with live greens, some gathered on our own farm, & the rest from local nurseries & tree farms.  Several of the local farms bring in plant materials from other states too to add to their own hand crafted wreaths & swags.  A couple of weeks ago, we were at Musser Forests in Indiana, PA & they were just starting on their wreaths.  The smell in the garden center greenhouse was great!
And ..... there are still local greens available if you visit the markets! 

Beaver Farmers' Market Still Open!

Last Day - Make That December 17th!

The official last day of the Beaver Farmers' Market is Saturday December 17th, despite what the sign says!  :)

Our Favorite New Variety - Speckled Hound!

Still lots of produce left ----- LFLF loved the descriptions of the various winter squashes.  Double click on the picture to read the information .......
Don't forget to get your Holiday greenery, wreaths, & swags at the market!

Buy Local At Standing Chimney!

Luke - The Welcoming Committee At Standing Chimney!

Today LFLF took a short road trip into adjoining Lawrence County & arrived at  Standing Chimney , "in the middle of nowhere ... on the way to everywhere".  We saw their ad in the October/November edition of Edible Allegheny  & decided to pay a visit & do some shopping.

Felting From Standing Chimney's Own Icelandic Sheep Wool!  

The shop is a few minutes off of I376 near New Galilee, PA and focuses on local artisans, bakers, & candle stick makers!  :)  Let's just say that there was something for everyone here. 

Examples?  Wood cutting boards, hand carved walking sticks, alpaca yarns, felt, & rovings, tole painting, embroidered towels, locker hooked runners, placemats & coasters .....  Soaps, hand creams, greeting cards, fresh rose hip sprays, handmade jewelry, fresh pine wreaths & roping, apple cider, shadow boxes, candles, birdhouses, hand thrown pottery pieces ..... just too much stuff to list & most of it is very local according to shop owner Beth. 

Local Sauces & Standing Chimney Brand Dry Rubs

We left with a stash of baked goods & some of the BBQ Dry Rub for meats, plus an embroidered towel for a Thanksgiving hostess gift.  There were lots of goodies for all of the foodies on your gift list & a sign on the freezer promised "Pierogies inside - just ask"! 

Stop out next Friday 11/25 - Saturday 11/26 or Friday 12/2 - Saturday 12/3 & buy local!    

It's Time For Fall Foods!

Beaver Farmers' Market

It's time for all of the fall & winter comfort foods.  There were cabbages, all kinds of squash, potatoes, turnips, peppers, beets, apples, cauliflower, greens, horseradish, leeks, and on and on and on today!

Oak Spring Farm Cabbages

The number of vendors drops, but the variety of goods is still fantastic!  LFLF bought a couple of leeks today.  We've never cooked with leeks, so this will be an opportunity to try something new.  Funny, the farmer said that they've never used leeks either, but that they sell a ton of them each fall!  We didn't get any of these, but the turnips were in plentiful supply too ......

So, our haul today included Buffalo Chip cookies, potatoes, leeks, ground beef, Butter cheese, fudge, & Melrose apples.   The last 3 gallons of apple cider got snapped up by the time we made it around the rest of the market!  :(

Golden Cauliflower!

Golden Orange Cauliflower!

LFLF waited too long to pick up one of 2 golden cauliflowers at the Beaver Farmers' Market on Saturday.
We snapped the picture, but a customer picked it up just after this shot was taken ..... well, we got a regular one instead. 
The weather turned really nice for the weekend and the farmers had all shifted down to one side of the parking lot, now that there are fewer of them at market.  The last day for the Beaver market is December 17th.  Hopefully market days will be sunny even if they're cold.
This weekend's stash included apple cider, pizzelles, sweet potatoes, onions, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, & fudge for Mr. LFLF.  There were still some tomatoes, but I don't know how much longer they'll be around.

Sewickley Farmers' Market In The Rain!

Sewickley Farmers' Market in the Rain

LFLF was heading towards Zelienople today, so on the way we stopped at the Sewickley Farmers' Market.  In fact, we made it a point to stop today ..... we had our first snow of the season.  It was snow early in the morning, but had turned to cold light rain & drizzle by market time.  These are the days when you have to appreciate the local farmers who work in all kinds of weather.  That's our bag of spaghetti squash that we put down to take the picture from under the tent.

Bonus Parsley!

We had stopped to talk with a friend who farms near us and got a geat shot "behind the scenes" of a customer who found a bonus - parsley picked with the roots still on.  She was happy to take it and plant some of it for a winter window garden! 

SteffesWood Apiary Honey Selelction

Local honey was a must on the LFLF shopping list, so we stopped & picked up a bottle of "Aliquippa Wildflower" Honey from SteffesWood Apiary.  As a native of Hopewell Township, it doesn't get any more local than that!  In addition to the honey, they have a nice selection of beeswax products ...... candles, beeswax blocks, lip balm, & little beeswax bowls!

SteffesWood Apiary Beeswax Stuff!

We also picked up a gallon of apple cider from Dawson's Orchards of Enon Valley & a batch of chocolate chunk cookies ...... and we didn't get too wet!

Great Market Weather In Beaver

Greens, greens, greens!

We had really great weather for the market Saturday in Beaver.  There were some gorgeous greens - chard, kale, & savoy cabbage, plus the root crops - turnips, beets, carrots, & potatoes galore. 

Melrose Apples - Woodwards Orchard

Then it was on to our favorite Melrose apples plus a gallon of apple cider.   We also picked up some of what could be the last green beans of the season ...... It turns out that we had our first frost Sunday morning, so if it wasn't picked by now, it could be gone!  That's why we got a quart of tomatoes & 3 green peppers ..... they may not be there next week.

Douds-Floyd Farm Winter Squashes

There were still plenty of winter squash, pumpkins, & decorative gourds for everyone.  This great table full is from Douds-Floyd  Farm.   LFLF couldn't get all of the varieties in the picture.  You can just see the bottom of a butternut squash ...... 

Finally, a note in passing.  The Beaver County Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association put up a small memorial display for Mr. Lester Zahn.  Mr. Zahn was a charter member of the association & for some time also was known for raising turkeys at Zahn's Turkey Farm. Market regulars knew him for his garlic too!
    

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

Janoski's Squash & Pumpkins

LFLF did a little looking around on Friday at Janoski's Farm & Greenhouse for pumpkins & squash.  We were looking for the smallest pumkins for our fence posts.  There were lots of small pie pumpkins, but they were a little too big, so we went away empty handed, but got this great shot above of part of the selection available.  Plenty to choose from & there were several families circling the area for just the right pumpkin. 

Beaver Farmers' Market Fall Display

Luck held out for the farmers today at the Beaver Farmers' Market ...... lot's of rain Thursday night into Friday, but no rain today!  It was very windy all day & most vendors didn't bother to put up their pop up tents.

Oak Spring Farm Pumpkins

LFLF found just the right size pumpkins from Oak Spring Farm for our fence posts.  We picked the 10 smallest ones out of this crate.  Bonus - they all had nice handles!   I confess to liking the traditional tan/brown stems, not the dark green stems that the plant breeders select for currently ......
What else did we pick up?  Ginger snap cookies, red cabbage, edible pod peas - yes, this is the fall crop, Melrose apples - tart & delicious to eat out of hand, apple cider, & potatoes.  
Oh yes ..... our last LFLF post was put up HERE by mistake on the Wild Rose Farm blog ......

Grapes, Apples, & Mums

Grapes - They Smell Wonderful!

Grapes are only at market for a few weeks each year & only one or two growers bring them.  They looked fantastic today.  LFLF did pick up several sweet peppers this week, but they were all smaller than usual.  I suspect that the farmers were picking them earlier before the stink bugs could get to them.
We also got some sweet corn, cookies, new potatoes, apples, & tomatoes. 

Chili Peppers!

Unusual at the Beaver Farmers' Market today were hanging bunches of chili peppers & Edamame pods (edible soybeans) ......

Stinkbugs Affect The Farmers!

LFLF went to the Beaver Farmers' Market today (minus the camera) with peppers on my shopping list.
I arrived a little late, true, but there really wasn't a selection of sweet bell peppers to be found.  In talking with several farmer friends, I found that the disgusting stinkbugs have damaged quite a few crops!  So far they hadn't gotten the hot peppers, but the sweet peppers got hit pretty bad.
I've been hearing about the stinkbug damage on the KDKA Radio Sunday morning show,  The Organic Gardeners.  The web-site has an entire discussiom thread on the Forum about stinkbugs.
Too bad the camera was at home .... I got some nice Teddy Bear sunflowers for the office! 

Heirloom Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Peppers, Etc!

Beaver Farmers' Market Shoppers & Vendors

There were really good crowds at the Beaver Farmers' Market on Saturday.  The summer veggies & fruits are in full swing now.  Heirloom tomatoes, the first new apples, beets, okra, basil, garlic, swiss chard, summer squashes, crenshaw melons .... just some of the things available. 

Cheese & Beef

LFLF made a special effort to remember to bring along a little cooler & ice pack on Saturday.  As always, we got veggies & baked goods --- onions, cucumbers, garlic, raisin puff cookies, and lemon zucchini bread at the Beaver Farmers' Market.
Then we picked up some frozen ground beef and sampled some cheeses.  We picked out the smoked Swiss cheese in the upper left of the picture.  Several varieties were already sold out for the day! 

Busy Saturday @ Beaver Farmers' Market!

Customers were lined up at most of the booths today at the Beaver Farmers' Market.  LFLF picked up summer squash at the Volkar Farm table above ---- squash was a popular item as you can see!

Carrots & beets looked great & we got some cucumbers from the same farm. 
Our last stop was a pint of black raspberries that we picked out right next to these beautiful currants!  You don't see these at markets very often & there's nothing like bright red clear currant jelly .....

Sewickley Farmers' Market Today!

LFLF was in the Ambridge/Sewickley area this morning and we made a stop at the Sewickley Farmers' Market.  We first visited this market in 2008 and things are still going strong.   There are lots of local food & value-added food product vendors, but of course, the produce farmers are the backbone of any market.  We got strawberries, snow peas, cucumbers, & Pennsylvania maple syrup.  Cabbage, lettuces, onions, garlic, rhubarb, basil, & other herbs were in abundance! 

This market has a couple of greenhouse growers, so new summer squash, zucchini, and greenhouse tomatoes were also available.  More of our area growers are using high tunnels & greenhouses to try & satisfy the market for fresh local veggies early in the season.
Sewickley is a great place to buy local beef, lamb, chicken, & chevon. 

Our friend Lynne of Dream Thyme Farm sells lamb & chevon and has a message to all the eaters out there! 

More Than Greens

Customers At Enon Country Gardens

LFLF found more than greens this week a the Beaver Farmers' Market. 
McCormack Farms had really nice hanging baskets and, of course, the full array of honey products.

Picking Up Some Honey At Market

The beets below were grown under a high tunnel & we were next in line after the lady buying 2 bunches in this picture. 

Buying Fresh Beets