Back in the game again

Hello! I have finally been able to get back in to Blogger after having some more 'technical issues'. I decided to write a little bit about my recent experiences with my local farmers market.

First off, I love the farmers market! In Vancouver we have one that begins in the early spring and ends in early fall, giving us plenty of opportunities to support local agriculture and crafts vendors. Being 'green' isn't all about just going organic and recycling; it is also about supporting local economy by buying from the 'little guys' whenever you have a chance. There is also a great dietary benefit from shopping locally. You get to eat fresher foods, and a greater variety than you would find in the grocery store. There will be varieties of peppers, eggplant, zuccini, apples, tomatoes that you have never seen. Buy some and try them out! You never know what you will enjoy until you try it!

Here are some tips for shopping an outdoor market:

• Take cash. Most of these guys don't accept plastic, so you will need to stop by an ATM on the way over.


• Leave your purse at home or in your trunk. Take as little with you as possible ( so just your ID, cell phone, keys and cash) because you have to haul all of your purchases out.


• Come hungry! There are always a lot of samples to try and yummy food vendors.


• Get to know the vendors/farmers who are set up. Are they there every week? Are they just 'seasonal'? What crops/items will they have in the future? This will not only allow you to make a new friend, but gives you insight into what you can expect from this person down the road. I found a farmer last year who didn't have much to offer in the spring, but told me that his summer and early fall crops were his biggest and best. I kept on going back and sure enough - he had the best peaches, berries and apples of all the market!


• Talk to people along the way! Step out of your comfort zone and meet some new people. Word of mouth is the best advertising!


• My dog Maggie loves the market. If you have a four legged friend who is well behaved and walks well on a leash, take them with you! They will have fun eating scraps of food off the street and making friends of their own.

Here is a little sampling of what I got last week at the market:

Hydroponic, organic tomatoes, rhubarb, chinese broccoli, sweet onion, organic asparagus, and the hugest carrot I have ever seen : )

I hope you will look in your community for opportunities to visit a farmer's market. Have fun shopping and trying new things!