Thursday, July 22, 2004

The HFM Grapevine
The Official Newsletter of the Hillsdale Farmers' Market Vol. 3 Issue 6
"All the news that's fresh, we print"

It's Flapjack Time!
Come and get it! On Sunday, the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association hosts its 28th Annual Pancake Breakfast in the Mucho Grande parking lot. Breakfast is served from 8:30 AM until noon. And remember: The market will also open at 8:30 and continue until the usual closing time, 2:00 p.m. So come early with a full wallet and an empty belly, chow down on some flapjacks and visit your favorite market vendors. The market layout will also be a little different this week so if you're not sure where to find a particular vendor, just ask at the information booth and one of our friendly volunteers will assist you.

Vendor Profile: Deep Roots Farm
For the vast majority of our readers, this week's profile will seem almost superfluous. The good folks of Deep Roots Farm have become so integrated into our market community that many of us have come to regard them as family. Nonetheless, to satisfy my neurotic obsession for inclusiveness, I pestered them to provide me with a few words of introduction. Being the tolerant, big-hearted souls they are, Aaron and Kimberley humored me with the following, which I reproduce verbatim:

Deep Roots Farm, operated by Aaron Bolster and Kimberly Moore, began in 1998 as a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm, providing over fifty families with a weekly supply of fresh, organic produce during our 22-week season. Originally farming only 3 acres, Deep Roots has expanded to over sixty acres and supplies produce to customers at seven farmers' markets each week, as well as many local restaurants, and independent retailers. Keeping true to our roots, we have remained focused on local direct marketing and are now surrounded by a supportive community who cares not only about the environment, and how their food is produced, but also about the family who produces it.

Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley between Corvallis and Albany, Deep Roots Farm produces a wide variety of high-quality produce. Our stunning array of fruits and vegetables includes many rare and unusual heirloom varieties from our own seed collections as well as traditional field crops. Our goal is clean food. We wouldn't want our family to ingest produce contaminated with chemical residues, nor would we ask you to. We are conscientious of the impact both conventional and organic pesticides have had on the environment. We strive to create a production system that is less dependent on off-farm inputs and more reliant on natural processes for fertility and pest control.

We are also aware of the impact plastic use in organic and conventional farming systems has on our environment, and thus, strive to minimize its use on our farm. We are proud of our agricultural landscape of wide-open spaces, shrub-land, and small woodlands, which provide essential habitat for a wide variety of creatures, most importantly, our two children. With over seventeen years of combined experience in organic agriculture, we are committed to raising our produce in the most ecological manner˜working hard to ensure the sustainability of our operation and the health of our community.

We think we are unique in our community orientation, and our commitment to a family operation that is simultaneously sustainable for the environment, ourselves, and for our employees. We are committed to moving beyond "organic"-and the USDA's prescription of corporate organic practices- to a system that truly undertakes an examination of its consequences. Through scientific data, ecological accounting, community integration, and good ol' fashioned common sense, we feel we are legitimately making progress towards production that can truly be sustainable.

Eamon Corner
By Eamon Molloy, Market Manager

The season continues to grace us with its startling precocity. Following the early arrivals of strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and cherries, apples (yes, apples!) make their 2004 HFM debut this Sunday. What better way to show your crisp appreciation for this "august" occasion by welcoming back our very own appelmaestra, Rachel Stephens of Stephens Orchard who returns to Hillsdale this weekend. Stop by, say hello and pick a peck of her gorgeous Gravensteins and wonderful Williams Pride apples.

Speaking of appreciation: It's once again time for a tip o' the ol' straw hat to our volunteers. Our market absolutely would not function without the wonderful volunteers who pitch in every week... From Norm Goldstein, scribe and editor of The Grapevine, to Joan Quinn, our tireless volunteer coordinator, many important roles are filled by volunteers. Setting up and breaking down the market, staffing the information table, helping vendors unload and load their trucks... We are always on the lookout for more volunteers willing to perform some of these essential and often enjoyable tasks. If you can help out for just a few hours each month, ask for Joan at the information table.

Sue's Recipe o' the Week
In what may rank as the most astounding display of victual versatility ever in a farmers' market newsletter, we take you from pancakes... to apples... to...

Pickled Eggs & Beets
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. whole cloves
1 t. whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
7 medium beets, untrimmed and unpeeled
2 small onions, sliced l/4 inch thick
9 large eggs, hard-boiled and peeled

1) Combine the sugar, vinegar, water, salt, and spices in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
2) Wash the beets and trim the stems, leaving about 1 inch of stem. Place in a pot, cover with water, and boil for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the beets are just tender. Drain, cool, and peel.
3) Place the beets, onions, and eggs in a large jar and pour the sugar-vinegar mixture over them. Cover tightly, allow to cool and store in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Yields about 1/2 gallon

What's Fresh for July 25
Once again, it's time to get your pencil, paper and cookbooks handy and start planning those menus for the week ahead. Here's what you can expect to find, fresh, at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market on Sunday.

Aklavik Mushrooms, Portland (St. John's):
Herbs & Spices: Basil.
Mushrooms (Cultivated): Maitake, Shiitake.
Mushrooms (Wild): Chanterelles, Morel.
Other: Nopales (Cactus, similar to Prickly Pear)

Ayers Creek Farm, Gaston:
Beans & Peas: Pole beans.
Berries/Fruit: Boysenberries, Blackberries (Chester, Loch Ness, Triple Crown), Charentais Melons.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Garlic, New Potatoes (Dug day before market), Shallots.
Herbs: Dill, Tarragon.
Leafy Greens: Beet greens, Chard, Lettuce.
Other: Immature Grains (grüenkern and firkeh), Middle Eastern Cukes, Zucchini.
Coming Soon: Galia & Ogen Melons.

Baird Family Orchards, Dayton:
Berries/Fruit: Nectarines, Peaches.Bear Creek Floral, Tillamook:
Other: Artichokes.

Deep Roots Farm, Albany:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Elephant Garlic, Garlic, Potatoes, Turnips, Sweet Onions.
Leafy Greens: Arugula, Chard, Collard Greens, Escarole, Kale, Lettuce, Mizuna, Spinach.
Other: Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Coming Soon: Melons!

Earthshine Gardens, Sherwood:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Dill.
Leafy Greens: Arugula, Cabbage, Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard Greens.
Other: Broccoli, Cukes, Salad Mix, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Flamingo Ridge Farm, Gaston:
Other: Cucumbers, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes.

Gee Creek Farm, Ridgefield, WA:
Beans & Peas: Fillet Beans, Green Beans, Wax Beans.
Bulb/ Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Cilantro, Italian Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage (Green & Red), Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Mesclun.
Other: Baby Squash, Broccoli, Middle Eastern Cukes.

Happy Harvest Farm, Mt. Angel:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Indy Gold Beans, Purple Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries/Fruit: Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Peaches.
Other: Cucumbers, Eggplant, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Liepold Farm, Boring:
Berries/Fruit: Apricots, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Marionberries, Raspberries.

Lone Elder Farm, Canby:
Beans & Peas: Fava Beans, Green Beans, Roma Beans, Sugar Snap Peas.
Berries/ Fruit: Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries, Nectarines, Peaches.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Green Onions, Kohlrabi, Potatoes (Red, Yukon Gold), Radishes, Red Onions, Sweet Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Cilantro, Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage, Chard, Lettuce (7 varieties), Spinach.
Other: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Peppers, Rhubarb, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Packer Orchard, Hood River:
Berries/Fruit: Cherries, Peaches.

Salmon Creek Farm:
Other: Tomatoes (Hydroponic)

Rick Steffen Farm, Silverton:
Berries/Fruit: Blueberries, Cherries, Peaches, Raspberries, Shiro Plums, Strawberries.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Sweet Onions.
Other: Asparagus, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cukes, Okra, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Stephens Farm (Dayton):
Berries/ Fruit: Apples (Williams Pride, Gravenstein), Yellow Plums
Other: Summer Squash.

Unger Farms, Cornelius:
Berries/Fruit: Blueberries, Strawberries (Selva).

Upcoming Market Guests & Events

Musical Guests
July 25: 9 am - ENUF
11:30 am - Hawks View Band (bluegrass)
August 1: Talisman (Celtic Folk)
August 8: BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Greg Clarke (Bluegrass)

Guest Organizations
July 25: Red Cross - Neighborhood Emergency Team program

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