More Gardens Please!

Here are the men-folk building a couple new beds. We asked our landlord if we could turn the front yard into a big garden.....he said he'd have to think about it, we haven't heard back. They're pretty specific about lawn mowing, edging, etc. So we're building a few raised beds in the front. We'll put our real pretty stuff like flowers and tomatoes out there. These should be inoffensive.
Sometimes it seems like people are becoming generally more aware and concerned about environmental issues. But then we encounter folks without the slightest awareness of waste or impact and feel like our baby steps are being undone constantly.
We'll just keep planting the Victory Garden and serving good food from good farms...

We love Lake Forest Park!

Mother's Day was the opener for LFP and it was fun! So far, this was our best market! I mean best overall experience. The people were very receptive, glad to see us, enjoyed our food. Not having to off-load our van and drag heavy equipment is a huge bonus! The health department finally came to inspect us; we nailed it, 100% Yeah baby!
No real direct competition for us here. We love our friends at Patty Pan, Growing WA, Anita's, but oh the joy of an unsaturated market!
We're thinking we will drop U-district and pick up Juanita Beach on Friday nights. Summer Sunsets on Lake Washington while serving good food to the people sounds great! Then, our Saturdays will be free for picking up private events, or having Family day at Carkeek park.

Columbia City Opener

Our first day at Columbia City was great fun! This used to be our neighborhood, and this was the first Farmer's Market we ever shopped. It was here that I started my quesadillas in the park ritual, which led to being a market groupie, and led to... well...living the f***ing dream, baby!

What to serve?

Lots of lovely spring greens coming. But what's good for a hearty sauce for polenta cakes? Peas and asparagus would be nice, but they're still from California, and quite expensive organic. I guess maybe one more round of Caballero cake. A burger sounds good for Columbia City. hmmm Can we afford to sell an organic burger for $8, and will people buy it for that price? Let's try and see. Local, 100% grass-fed, certified Organic beef from Skagit River Ranch anyone?

Tender lettuces survive

Our tender seedlings were just sprouting when last week's hail battered us. But simple fabric saved our new Nasturtiums, lettuce and cilantro. We are so excited to use edible flowers and herbs grown organically ourselves!

Snow, sleet, hail, fun at the market!

Our second market day was unseasonably cold for April, but we had more customers than the previous week. We were concerned for our new plantings in the garden.

Cypress gets to shop for foodservice supplies

As we scramble to assemble the last necessary hotel pans and stock pots, I find myself (a petite woman) juggling my 3 year old, shopping lists, and a cart full of aluminum and stainless steel commercial equipment. My son Cypress is always a good trooper, he's always happy to contribute his picks to the cart......tongs, lots of tongs, many colored, every size, big funnels, small funnels, ice scoopers, pot lids...... It's proven a great exercise in patience and restraint.
I'm sorry to Wade at Rockridge Orchards who's always so patient, despite Cypress trying to double dip in the honey sample, then knocking the cup of sample sticks over. I guess he's just made himself too much "at home" at the Farmer's Markets.