Eating Locally

Delores Reimer of Sunshine Honey

Honey is probably the most local of our foods. Almost every town has several local beekeepers and their honey can often be found in the supermarkets as well as at farmers' markets. Buying local honey means supporting local farmers, but it also means that the consumer has a much better idea of the conditions under which the honey is gathered.

A few years ago there was a great scandal in the USA because chinese honey, with unacceptable levels of banned pesticide and herbicide  residues, was being routed through Argentina to disguise its country of origin. Even now, some of the national brands of honey available in grocery stores admit on their labels that they are a blend of domestic and foreign honeys. And you can be sure that if they are going to confess to being a blend, it is probably a blend heavily weighted to cheaper imported honey.

It's nice to know where your honey comes from.

Getting Ready for Opening  on February 2

Farmers' Market Vendors Looking Forward to 2013 opening February 2.

In between shoveling snow, the Tatamagouche Farmers’ Market vendors are already preparing for the February 2, 2013 opening.  The co-op is working to ensure a variety of local offerings are available.  Knoydart Cheese will be there to help get us off to a good start, as will Brenna with their Malagash grown apples.  (Slices of apple and cheese together for a snack-Yummy!)  Wayne is starting his greens and shoots, and will have fresh sprouts.  A new vendor will be offering gluten free baked goods.  All this in addition to the regular hot breakfasts, coffee, preserves and craft items.

And this is just the start to what the Market Members are planning for the year ahead!  There will be presentations on preparing local fresh veggies, with farmer ‘talks’ on differences between varieties of each veg.  The artisanal craft vendors will have demonstration events, some with opportunities for the public to participate.  Watch for notices about upcoming happenings at the Market.  

Just in case you were in doubt about what you can eat fresh and local this time of year, here are some ideas from local amazing cook (and gardener) Deb Plestid.  As Deb points out, the recipes are more guidelines since you need to be open to what is available.

Apple & Carrot Salad

Grate peeled carrots into a bowl.

Add about an equal amount of diced apple (peel on or off)

Toss with a vinegar and oil dressing, better with a little splash of maple syrup.

Serve!

Deb suggests you can add some raisins, and she likes a little diced onion for zip.

Glory Bowl (a recipe she brought back from a friend in BC)

Use a large bowl to make the final tossing easier and less messy!

Bottom layer-  Cold cooked rice, grains scattered 2-3” deep over bottom of large bowl.

Next layer-  grated root vegetables, any or all of the following; carrot, turnip, beet (diced purple onion or green onions for zip!)

Next layer-  Greens; sprouts, shoots, baby greens 

Top--  Sprinkle the combination you like best; toasted cashews or sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, feta cheese, olives...

*A vinaigrette style dressing goes well, add maple syrup, dash soya sauce and some tahini to thicken it.  Or try the following recipe:

Dressing:  Shake together and toss with salad

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup oil

Juice and peel of 1 lemon

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon sesame oil

4 tablespoons soya sauce

2 tablespoons maple syrup

A Flash Mob at the Market

An Unexpected "Hallelujah Chorus"

Without any warning about thirty members of the Tatamagouche Area Singers wandered casually into our market on December 16 and then burst into a full-throated rendition of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.  It turns out that the last rehearsal for their annual Christmas concert had been that morning, and to mark the occasion they came down to our market and gave us all a preview.

It was a delight for all of the market folk, vendors and customers alike. We're not sure who enjoyed it more, the singers or the listeners. Our thanks to all of the group for this lovely treat!

A Visit from Father Christmas

 It is a bit of a tradition that Father Christmas visits the Market every year just before Christmas. You can usually tell that he is in the building from the sound of the bells on his staff, and by looking at the faces of the children who somehow aren't quite sure what to make of him. Father Christmas likes to point out that his nephew, Santa Claus, is much more well known, although the young fellow is a little "flashy" for his taste.

 But it's not just children that get good wishes and a bit of candy - the adults get a blessing too, and perhaps a bit of an admonition to be a little "nicer" next year. Something we can all aspire to . . .

The view from our back deck in late October.