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.