Young & Old At Market!

Beaver Farmers' Market - Young & Old!

LFLF made a beeline for the holiday cookies and some potatoes at the Beaver Farmers' Market last Saturday.  The weather was surprisingly warm for this time of year & kids to grandparents were out enjoying the day.

Beaver Farmers' Market - Festive Holiday Cookies!

There are 2 more markets left for the season - December 8th and December 15th.  There are also fresh wreaths & swags for sale from May-Malone Farm and plenty of winter squash available to create a stash of long keepers for the winter. 


Beaver Farmers' Market - Veggies At Oak Spring Farm

Farming & Deer Damage

Deer Damage on Winter Squash

Among other things, LFLF got a couple of small squashes last weekend ..... You're heard of personal pan pizzas?  These are personal roasting pan squashes!  Anyway, one of the things we also noticed were some of the deer damaged winter squashes at the market. 

Beaver Farmers' Market - More Deer Damage

The veggies are perfectly fine to buy & cook, but you can imagine the disappointment in finding these in the field.  Just one of the many things that can go wrong during the growing season.  The deer don't care about all of the hard work that goes into growing these beauties!   Anyway if it's any consolation, the opening day  of deer season for the majority of hunters in Pennsylvania is Monday the 26th.  Most farmers welcome respectful hunters if you've made yourself known & asked permission before deer season. 

Catching Up - Last Saturday!

Beaver Farmers' Market - Oak Spring Farm Customers

LFLF is finally catching up to cover our visit last Saturday to the Beaver Farmers' Market.   The weather was dry instead of rainy like it had been all week.  We had in the neighborhood of 5 - 6 inches of rain ..... at least it came over 4 or 5 days!

Snapping Up Really Fresh Broccoli From Douds-Floyd Farm

LFLF was in line right behind this customer for a couple of heads of broccoli & then we moved on for some carrots from another farmer.  It's past Halloween and most of the customers were focused on apples. winter squash, cabbages, lettuce, greens, baked goods, & bread.

Purple Cabbage, Turnips, Parsley, Carrots, & Acorn Squash

The only disappointment of the day was that there was no apple cider to be had!  :(
Seems that some of the farms had bad luck with apples this year, so cider apples - usually seconds - were in shorter supply .......

Picking Perfection!

Fall Sunshine At Ambridge Farmers' Market

What a beautiful afternoon at the Ambridge Farmers' Market!  LFLF arrived to find shoppers enjoying the unseasonably warm 86 degree temperatures ...... surely the last of the year for those highs.  We picked up a box of carrots from the group above. 
It seemed that folks had time to search for their own kind of perfection.   LFLF chose a very nice group of large sweet bell peppers for stuffing.  
This gentleman carefully sorted through the Daikon Radishes, examining each one.  Inspired?  Here are some recipes to try from a farm web-site .......


Ambridge Farmers' Market - Buying Daikon Radishes

 We bought a half gallon of the last cider of the season and then moved on to find another customer happily selecting just the right combination of winter squashes!  The squash come in all sizes, colors, & flavors .... perfect for decorating before you eat them.

Douds-Floyd Farm - Boxing The Perfect Collection Of Squashes!

LFLF is holding off for the colder weather before stocking up on our winter squash.  Don't wait too long though ...... the butternut squash has a way of disappearing if you don't get it early!


More Mums!

Brenkle's Fall Mums

LFLF passed by Brenkle's Farms & Greenhouses on the way home from State College on Sunday and found quite a nice selection of mums.  The mums are the way I like them ..... not all fully open & on the down hill slide!  :) 

Rainy Ambridge Farmers' Market

Ambridge Farmers' Market - Arriving In The Rain!

The Ambridge Farmers' Market opens at 3PM for the rest of the season & goes 'til "dusk".  Well, dusk comes early when it's raining!    LFLF got to the market around 5:45 & only a few dedicated shoppers were still coming & going in the rain.   We hopped out and made the rounds ..... a plate of fudge to take to the office tomorrow, a purple cabbage, & some apple cider. 
We got some nice pictures of squashes & pumpkins in between the rain drops ...... we just love the great varieties of winter squashes.  We like to buy them for Halloween & Thanksgiving season decorations & then use them for baking later!

From Douds-Floyd Farm - Fairy Tale, Jarradale, & Green Hubbard

The chard, kohlrabi, kale, & other greens look great misted by the rain with the pumpkins & squash.
Here's an interesting recipe to try for kohlrabi & egg noodles!

Ambridge Farmers' Market - Swiss Chard, Pumpkins, Celebration Squash, & Kohlrabi

Local Oktoberfest Dinner!

McElhaney Family Farm Truck

LFLF made a great Oktoberfest dinner today using local ingredients sourced from the Ambridge Farmers' Market this week.  First we grilled beef Bratwurst from McElhaney Family Farm.
Then we used red cabbage, a medium onion, 2 Cortland apples, & apple cider in our German style sweet & sour cabbage recipe.  It all came from the market!  Our recipe also included brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, & apple cider vinegar .....
The last local part of the meal was a nice dish of steamed edible pod peas ........

Nice Day At Beaver Farmers' Market!

Beaver Farmers' Market - Looking At Kale

It was a little cool this morning, but the sun was shining and it looked like a day to buy comfort foods!   LFLF picked up a pumpkin log for dessert tomorrow and even got a bunch of cut flowers ... they really looked good today & they smelled good too!  There were lemon basil & mint stems in the arrangement.  Apple cider, apples, sweet corn, & broccoli rounded out our purchases ......

Beaver Farmers' Market - Small Pumpkins

More Pumpkins At Market Today

Ambridge Farmers' Market - Pumpkins & Gourds!

What a beautiful fall day for the Ambridge Farmers' Market this afternoon.  LFLF had a chance to get there a bit earlier than usual and got into the flow with the early shoppers.  Our assignment (from home!) today was to pick up apples, so we got some Melrose apples, apple cider, edible pod peas, & purple cabbage.  The purple cabbage was an inspired choice after having some German Sweet and Sour Cabbage last weekend.  Time to look through the recipe cards!

Oak Spring Farm Apples, Cabbage, Peppers, & Squashes

We were also early enough to get some hot stuffed cabbage to bring home for supper.  The caterer is very popular here at dinner time and she sold out of hot sausage sandwiches while LFLF was in line.
That's PJ's Catering with the red checked tablecloth in the picture below ......

Fausti Farm - Tomatoes, Baked Goods, Apple Cider, & Apples

Reminder ---- the Ambridge Farmers' Market runs on Thursdays until Thankgiving week when the last market of the season is on Tuesday! 

Ambridge Farmers' Market Season!

 

Looking At Pumpkins!

Schiefelbein's Farm Market - What's For Sale!

Peppers In The Field Rows

It's been a little while since LFLF reported on Schiefelbein's Farm Market, but we went by on the weekend and stopped for some sweet corn & a head of cauliflower.  Way off in the background between the 2 signs, you can see the sweet corn fields.  We're always amazed at when this family plants the corn so it's fresh & ready for September & October.  I'm sure the casual passerby would think it is planted too late to produce!  Market farmers know how to stagger their planting during the growing season so that they have a constant flow of veggies. 

Schiefelbein's Farm Market - Pick Your Pumpkins!

We walked back along the driveway to look at all of the pumpkins & cornstalks.  They had a very nice selection & they all had a good stem.  No broken off handles here!

Schiefelbein's Farm Market - Baskets of Pie Pumpkins

4-H "Farmers' Market" At Old Economy Village!

Economy 4-H With Fresh Veggies & Baked Goods

LFLF spent some time Saturday afternoon at a local historical site, Old Economy Village, celebrating Erntefest.   This annual 2 day harvest festival features demonstrations such as cider pressing, broom making, outdoor oven bread baking, and candle dipping.   It's a great family event.  As a bonus for us, we heard that there would be a local 4-H group there with a small farmers' market, so we looked them up.

Squash & Beets Going Fast At Erntefest!

 We got some carrots & a spaghetti squash to bring home .... these little carrots are so tender!  As a bonus, we fed the carrot tops to our donkey & she just munched them down.    :)
Here are a couple of pictures that we were able to squeeze in without people walking by ......  

Old Economy Village Vineyards - Note Grapevine Trellis On Building!

Old Economy Village - Grotto Interior

Old Economy Village - Grotto Exterior Detail



More Beaver Farmers' Market Pics!

Looking At Mums Being Unloaded

More pictures from the Beaver Farmers' Market on Saturday ..... LFLF just can't resist showing the public more of this great market day and the customers that fill the parking lot!  I just noticed that the lady in the blue & white stripes is in both pictures here.  The pics have been taken at the exact opposite ends of the market, so this customer didn't miss anything!  :)
The crowd this week probably included some pent up demand left over from last Saturday.  The rain probably kept a few folks from coming out ........

Beaver Farmers' Market Morning Crowd!

Report From Two Markets!

Beaver Farmers' Market Shoppers Picking Out Mums

LFLF didn't have time to put up a post on the Ambridge Farmers' Market Thursday, so we'll just add it in with the pictures from the Beaver Farmers' Market today ......  After a rainy Saturday last weekend, the local shoppers were out in full force this morning!  We saw LOTS of cut flowers and hardy mums being snapped up today. 

Beaver Farmers' Market - Ridgemont Farms Cut Flowers!

We came home with a bag of Cortland apples, but you could have gotten virtually ANY fruit or vegetable today.  We've been seeing fall red raspberries at market lately ..... better get them soon! 
Let's go back to the Ambridge Farmers' Market on Thursday to get a closer look at some of the veggies at the markets now ........

Ambridge Farmers' Market - Oak Spring Farm Variety

 Lots of greens, leeks, garlic, beets, & potatoes .........

Brenckle Organics

 Then we talked to one of the farmers about Marketing 101!  Seems a customer came by looking for a basket of hot peppers, but didn't seem to want to pick them out herself.  After she moved on, our intrepid farmer picked out two baskets of 15 "select peppers" and put her sign on them ...... the shopper came back past the table again and bought one of the baskets of peppers.  Go figure!  Something we've always found is that you need to have more than one of something so folks can have a choice.  :)

One Basket Of "Select Peppers" Remaining - Upper Left

 LFLF of course, couldn't resist these edible pod peas and also picked up some bread to toast for personal pizzas ........

Peppers & Peas

Beaver Market In The Rain!

Rain Tapers Off At The Beaver Farmers' Market Today!

This morning at 5:30AM, LFLF woke to the sound of rain & a thunderstorm ..... Like any farmer or gardener would say, "we need the rain", but we'd hate to see a wash out of the farmers' market. 
The Beaver Farmers' Market opens at 10AM.  When we got to the market around 11AM, everyone was walking around under umbrellas in a gentle sprinkle.   The rain doesn't stop a true farm market buyer!

Smell The Grapes .......

 The wonderful smell drew us to the table of grapes from farmer Janet.  All three varieties were being snapped up by customers today ..... time to make some grape jelly!   We ended up picking out cookies, a coffee crumb cake, fresh basil, squash, apples, and a beautiful lavender hardy mum for our porch.
We also visited with Sister Lyn & Doug Oster at the guest tent today.  They are promoting a Seed - Saving Saturday event on November 3rd that will benefit the Beaver County Community Gardens.   Sounds like a fun event for local gardeners & foodies ...... check it out.

Sister Lyn & Doug Oster Talk About Seed-Saving Saturday!

Event For Beaver Farmers' Market!

Beaver Farmers' Market Garden Q&A This Saturday!

After 2 weeks of going to local fairs on Thursday nights, LFLF stopped at the Ambridge Farmers' Market this afternoon.  We spotted this poster advertising a "Special Appearance"  by Doug Oster & Sister Lyn at the Beaver Farmers' Market coming up this Saturday.  I first met Sister Lyn as she was working on a Community Garden project for the Sisters of St. Joseph Campus (former working farm!) in Baden, PA, back in my Penn State Extension days ........ she is now the Director of Grounds & Eco Projects there.  This should be a fun time to talk with her & Doug Oster of the Post Gazette & the KDKA "The Organic Gardeners" radio talk show.  Bonus - She & Doug are both beekeepers.   The November 3rd Seed - Saving Saturday looks like a great event too! 

Ambridge Farmers' Market - Flowering Kale & Hardy Mums Make An Appearance!

The mums are here, the mums are here!  LFLF will be picking up hardy mums soon.  The secret is picking the ones that aren't in full bloom yet, as far as we're concerned.  We like our mums to be blooming in October with our pumpkin display ....

Cortland Apples

We came home with focaccia bread, Cortland apples, yellow summer squash, & sweet red peppers.  There were plenty of cut flowers, canning tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, pickling cukes, eggplant, zucchini, beets, garlic, carrots, apples, potatoes, onions, etc. tonight! 

Pickling Cukes & Roma Style Sauce/Paste Tomatoes!

A Stop At Rhodes Farm Market!

Rhodes Farm Market - Route 46 - Near Canfield, Ohio

LFLF had a chance to stop at Rhodes Farm Market on Ohio Rt 46 after attending the Canfield Fair on Saturday.  We've stopped here many times before, but that was when they had an older white farm stand right next to the road.   The new building is set back from the road and now has coolers with milk, cheeses, eggs, etc. 

Pickling Cukes, Garlic, Onions, & Dillweed

There were plenty of items to choose from for canning & pickling ..... we left with sweet corn, Ginger Gold apples, watermelon, cantalope, granola, & oatmeal raisin cookies.

Rhodes Farm Market - Winter Squash & Greenbeans

I don't believe there are Sunday sales since this neatly kept market is run by a Mennonite family.

Good Stuff At Sewickley Farmers' Market!

Exchange At The Sewickley Farmers' Market!

LFLF went to the Sewickley Farmers' Market this morning specifically to get some notecards from the Karen Sandorf Gallery.  Her email blast said she'd be there under the green striped umbrella, so mission accomplished.  We picked out some new cards that include native Pawpaw & Sugar Maple illustrations & recipies.   The Sewickley market is known for having an ecclectic collection of goodies and today did not disappoint!  We got some great biscotti & lady locks, then headed around the market picking up produce.

Clarion River Organics Heirloom Tomato Selection

We picked up some red & yellow organic pear tomatoes from Clarion River Organics.   You can just see the beautiful eggplants and squash blossoms with their Heirloom Tomatoes in the picture above.

Ground Cherries & Tomatillos From Clarion River Organics

LFLF came home with some staple veggies - sweet corn, green peppers, cucumbers, & garlic.
Of course, the garlic was a world of it's own too! We came across a wonderful display of garlic varieties from Enon Valley Garlic.
 .

Enon Valley Garlic - 1st Part of Display

Enon Valley Garlic - More Garlic!

When you buy a clove, it's packed in a little paper bag with the variety name written on it. Many customers buy this locally raised garlic to plant in their own gardens.  LFLF selected "Polish" garlic today ........  

Gray Farms Sign Board

Cut Flower Customer - Check Out His Shirt!