It was a welcome sign for all of us that are wanting to get into the garden and start planting a garden! It was also a good sign that our farmers have confidence that spring really IS on the way!
During the winter, many of our farmers start a majority of their crops from seed in their greenhouses. A bunch of them make sure to plant more seedlings than they will need on their farm so that Durhamites eager to get their hands dirty can have high quality vegetable starts for their home gardens.
Are you one of the many people itching for springtime gardening? Here is what you can expect to find at the farmers' market, in terms of seedlings, in the coming weeks:
Lots of greens - lettuce, kale, collards, swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, and fennel.
Strawberry plants
Bare root Raspberry Canes
Herbs - Parsley, Cilantro, Thyme
Then after the threat of frost passes, around the middle of April, summer crops including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, squash, cucumbers, basil, and watermelon will start to become available!
Also, when you shop for seedlings at the Farmers' Market, remember that you are buying plants from serious farming professionals! They have put a lot of time into choosing varieties and caring for the seedlings because they want what you want - healthy plants to harvest and eat this spring. Also, they have all kinds of tips and advice about planting and growing these tiny plants. So, if you have a question, don't hesitate to ask. These folks are masters at growing vegetables!
Upcoming Market Schedule Change
Saturday Summer Hours (8am-Noon) Start April 5th
Wednesday Market (3:30-6:30pm) Opens April 16th
See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
VEGETABLE SPOTLIGHT: CLAYTONIA aka MINER'S LETTUCE
Claytonia is a little known vegetable that only comes to Market occasionally during the winter time. I'm relatively unfamiliar with it so I decided to to a little bit of research to find out what it is. This week several farmers will have it available.
Claytonia is a green, leafy vegetable that this native the mountain and coastal regions of Western North America (Alaska to British Columbia). It prefers cool, damp conditions which is why some of our farmers grow it during the winter time. It can be eaten in salad or steamed like spinach.
Where did it get its name? During the California Gold Rush, miners ate it to help prevent scurvy because it is a good source of Vitamin C. Other names for it include Winter Purslane and Indian Lettuce.
See you at the Market,
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Fresh this Week....
VEGETABLES: Arugula, Asian Greens, Beets, Beet Greens, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Collards, Daikon Radish, Dried Shiitake Mushrooms, Fennel, Fresh & Dried Herbs, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Miners Lettuce (Claytonia), Minutina, Potatoes, Napa Cabbage, Parsnips (possibly), Pea Shoots, Radishes, Salad Mix, Scallions, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Turnip Greens, Winter Squash, and more
MEATS AND EGGS: Pork, Beef, Quail, Lamb & Mutton, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Veal, Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Vegetable Seedlings: Kale, Collards, Broccoli, Cilantro, Lettuce, Spinach. Fruit Plants: Strawberry, Raspberry. House Plants.
FLOWERS: Hyacinth, Anemones, Poppies, Tulips, Stock, Mixed Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: Gluten Free Baked Goods, Raw & Creamed Honey, Pasta, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...
Produce availability depends on weather conditions
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