You might wonder what strawberries and garlic scapes have in common, but here in Michigan they are a sure sign that summer is definitely here!
This week at Sweetwater:
Another Great Farmer’s Market Contest!
We were sent a link to this contest from a customer and it looks pretty sweet! Sponsored by Local Harvest, the Grand Prize is $5000 – now that will buy a lot of Pop-Up tents! Also, there are prizes for the person who recruits the most friends to vote for the market! Thanks to the 15 friends who voted so far – here’s the link:
http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/11309
Sweetwater Market Going to ROTHBURY Festival Again July 2-5!
In just 6 days we’ll be heading back up to the ROTHBURY Festival, this year with great organic farmers and food producers from all over the state joining us! Check out our weblog at www.sweetwaterlocalfoodsmarketrothbury2009.wordpress.com
Music at the Market! Returning to play more of that great Olde Tyme Music will be The Back Row Pickers & Friends, including Jo Ann, Chris & Ruth, two Bills, Donna & Jim!
This Week’s Vendors
Sweetwater welcomes a new vendor!
Fritz’s Gourmet Garlic & Shallots of Montague
Fritz Korthase studied Horticulture at MSU and has always had a love of plants, and growing his own food using organic methods. Five years ago he started growing and learning about garlic, planting 5-10 lbs more each year. He and his wife Mary do extensive gardening and landscaping around their house, and in addition to the garlic and shallots are now selling the extra perennials they have propagated in their nursery. This week Fritz will bring loads of garlic scapes, rhubarb & raspberry plants and assorted perennial flowers like day lilies & iris.
Fruitful Acres Farm of Manistee County
Week two! Lucious strawberries! Limited quanities, so come early!
Hugh has been certified organic since 1997 and is a partner in the Northern Natural LLC – producers of the cherry juice concentrate sold at the market.
Creswick Farms of Ravenna
Note: For the July 4th market we will be bringing advance orders only. Please email Chris Bedford your July 4th meat order no later than Wednesday, July 1st by noon. Thanks!
This weeks SPECIAL! Round Roast & Chuck Roast $3.50/lb!
Handcrafted Sausages and Specialty Meats
Pork Sausages: Jalapeno Brats, Garlic Kielbasa, Breakfast Link, Chorizo and Jalapeno Cheddar Summer Sausage.
Snack Sticks: Beef & pork ground, spiced & smoked to perfection. 5/pkg.
Chicken Sausages: Apple Chicken & Chicken with Spinach & Feta Cheese.
Lamb Sausages: Moroccan Lamb Sausage links.
Fresh-Aire Pastured Pork.
Hickory Smoked Nitrite-Free Bacon, Boneless Pork Chops, Soup Seasoning Bacon Ends.
Grass-fed Beef
Filet Mignon. Sirloin Steak. Round Roast. Chuck Roast. Ground Beef in 1 lb pkg.
Beef Burgers 3/pkg
New Product! Gourmet Burgers. A tasty combination of grass-fed beef and hickory smoked bacon, perfect for grilling! 3 per pkg.
Pastured Poultry
Whole chicken, chicken wings, leg qtrs, boneless chicken breast & ground chicken in 1# pkg.
Also: Soy-Free Eggs!
Also: Creswick Farms Pet Food. ½# package of ground mixed beef, lamb, & chicken for $2.00! Meat is frozen, uncooked
Pre-Orders: Email Chris Bedford at chrisbedford@charter.net by Monday before the market and he will have it ready for you to pick up on Saturday. For a complete list of products, please see the website: www.CreswickFarms.com .
Earthscape/Full Circle Farm of Hesperia
4th of July Market: Advance orders would be appreciated. If you are interested in ordering something for next week, please email me at pbobier@voyager.net by no later than Wednesday, July 1st at noon. Thanks!
BEEF! We have all our cuts: oxtail, tenderloin, steaks, roasts, short ribs, liver, heart, stew meat, ground beef. These were young Angus heifers, grass-fed their whole lives, and fed home-grown and ground grains for a couple of months before butchering.
NEW VEGGIES THIS WEEK! Snow Peas! Carrots! Beets with lovely greens! Romaine Lettuce! Also: Lettuce Mix at Summer Season prices! Escarole. Head Lettuce. New tender Chard and Kale! Garlic Scapes. Fresh herbs: parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, chives.
I also still have some parsley plants – 2 for $1.
Sale! Organic Olive Oil! Bring in your quart jar and fill it with Catalan Spanish oil for $35. In the famous Rioja wine producing region of Northern Spain, the three Catalan brothers and their proud families produce an exceptional olive oil from their small orchard of Arbequina olives. It is smooth-tasting with a great balance, very good fruit, and the aftertaste is a bit peppery. The unfiltered oil is Certified Organic by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture. It is exceptional with lamb, beef, salad or spicy foods. I will also have Moutere Grove from New Zealand ~ 250 ml $20; 500 ml $30 and bottled Catalan 250 ml $16; 500 ml $24.
HIGHER GROUNDS COFFEE! I’ll be bringing an assortment of 1# bags.
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG! http://www.earthscapefarm.blogspot.com
Harmony Gardens of Montague
Hoophouse greens at the market this week include: Rainbow mix carrots. Parsley. Fresh Dill – think dilled asparagus! Garlic Chives. Mint. Dahlias & Sunflowers.
Grassfields Farm of Coopersville
Certified Organic raw milk cheeses in the Dutch process tradition.
Fait Gras. Pronounced “fay gra”, our newest English style cheese has been selling out fast. It is made with a very high cream content, making it milder than our Lamont Cheddar; very smooth & creamy. We will also have Gouda, Gouda with Dill, Leyden (Gouda with Cumin), Gouda Spice (garlic & onion), Edam, and Lamont Cheddar. Temporarily sold out of the chili cheese.
Learn more about our cheese, and other products at www.grassfieldscheese.com
Ag and Health Alive of Marne
Plenty of chicken eggs.
Lamb! This week at the market: We have individual cuts of lamb in chops, roasts, ground lamb, stew meat and shanks. Also, you can still order a half or whole lamb.
We are an authorized Fertrell Dealer and have a huge list of available organic garden supplies.
From Nantucket Bread Company of Grand Rapids: Chilled Whole Wheat Pizza Dough! Sold in single size bags, just roll out on a pizza tin, let rise a bit and then add your favorite toppings! Also: Whole Wheat Raisin Bread, Whole Wheat Bread, Seven-Grain Sourdough bread, Cranberry Walnut bread and Health Muffins.
Happy Hill Farm of Hart
Pullet Eggs. These are the smaller, first batch of eggs from our newest layers.
Hoophouse Greens! Mixed greens, arugula, beet greens, salad burnet, radish, spinach, parsley, rainbow chard. Rhubarb.
From Rebecca’s Side of the House: Spinach & a Wild n’Tasty Salad Mix.
Turkey Sausage and Ground Turkey . Breakfast, Italian, Brat & Chorizo. Breakfast & Italian in links/andor bulk. Turkeys were fed certified organic feed.
Ducks! Young and tender. The drakes weigh about 6 lbs.; the hens are just over 3 lbs.
Pastured turkey: Fed certified organic grain. We will have frozen packaged thighs, drumsticks, breast roast, sliced breast, and tenderloin.
Pastured chicken: Two options: Frozen chicken fed certified organic grains or chicken fed our own 2nd year transition corn. We have all cuts—whole, cut up, bone-in and boneless skinless breast, drumsticks, thighs, leg quarters and wings, soup stock, feet, liver, hearts and gizzards. All of our meats are raised on pasture with daily moves, and are processed on farm: no stressful transporting.
Stewing Hens. Hens retired from laying eggs make the best chicken soup in the world! Simmer these gals for several hours and you have genuine old-fashioned chicken! Or roast on high in the crockpot with no water for 8-12 hours for scrumptious roasted chicken!
Rabbit. Whole, frozen. Raised by David Filbrun on the farm.
Happy Hill will have Abundant Harvest Bakery goods at their booth, including
Granola Breakfast Cookies and several gluten-free offerings.
Free-Range Eggs: Large. Also, goose eggs.
HandCrafteds
Locally made products good for the body and spirit!
The Grass Menagerie of Whitehall
Lois returns this week with more of her new line of hand-made soaps and felted soap holders.
All-Purpose soap: Hard & plain castile soap lightly scented with Lemongrass.
Head to Toe: Peppermint, horsetail, and rosemary.
Soothing Bath: Hops, lavender & jasmine.
Scrubby. Tea leaves embedded to give a nice scrubby hand soap. Mildly scented with vetiver, geranium, and ylang- ylang.
All soaps are simple castile type with some goats milk. Essential oils only.
Imagination to Creation Jewelry of North Muskegon
Add some sparkle to your summer wardrobe with a dagger drop ankle chain or a quick change bracelet. Also new summer jewelry sets.
Under the Pines of Fruitport
Stop by and find your favorite handcrafted soap. Many special blends to choose from! All of our soaps use essential oils (except Oats and Oils for those who prefer unscented soap) and have 10% shea butter.
Also available; Tub Teas, English Mustard Foot Bath, Body butters, and a great assortment of our customers favorite lip balm (buy 4 lip balms and get one free)! We have hand made laundry washing soda too, with just the things you need for a nice clean wash without the harmful chemicals!
Bee and Botanicals of Spring Lake
Back for the start of summer, my own Moth Away blend sachets for cupboards, closets, clothes storage and knitting baskets. A nice blend of herbs and spices to keep those pesky moths at bay. Also organic lavender dryer bags for field fresh laundry.
Sweet hand embroidered bags with lavender sachets for a unique present or treat for yourself.
Nice selection of hand made cards, gift bags and tags too!
Theresa’s Bags & Blooms of Ravenna
Theresa returns this week with new flowers, bags and produce.
Last but not least: Sweetwater welcomes our newest Friend of the Market, Louis Ward – Thanks, Lou! If you would like to become a Friend of the Market for a suggested donation of $10.00, which entitles you to a free cup of coffee at every market you attend for a full year, please see me at the market this Saturday! We will also have Higher Grounds Coffee by the Cup for a suggested donation of $1.00. Please note: Higher Grounds Coffee 1# bags for sale at Earthscape booth.
Please remember that we are now open every Saturday!