Category Archives: farmer’s markets

Foraging, 7/19/08

Today’s forage was a solo effort. I packed up the cooler, camera, and a notebook. And coffee. Can’t forget the coffee. (Yes, I’m the kind of locavore that consumes things that don’t or won’t grow here.)

The first stop was the Bethel Farmer’s Market. The season opening was last week, but I missed that one. As you can see from the photo, the place was humming. Since I belong to a CSA, I really don’t need much more food, but I like to see what’s available and you never know, someone could be growing something that my farmer isn’t. I scored:
– arugula from Newtown Cedar Hill Farm (Hi Frank!)
– blueberries from East Windsor and eggs from Arno’s Farm in Kent, both from Maple Bank‘s tent.

Goatboy soaps (with the kids) and Vaszauskas Farm from Middlebury, CT were also there.

Additionally, there were some tents with locally produced handcrafts. I generally go to these looking for food, but locally crafted merchandise certainly fits in with the basic idea.

Then it was off to New Morning in Woodbury to get my raw milk and a few other sundries. I really like their dried organic mangoes better than anyone else’s (even Trader Joe’s). Theirs actually taste like mangoes. No, they’re not local and I suspect mangoes will never be (well, as long as the climate in zone 6 doesn’t change).

Patchouli is in!

Apparently, there was a run on patchouli Goatboy soap and they were out of it a few weeks ago. Goatboy’s patchouli is an excellent implementation of this earthy fragrance. Not all patchoulis are good like this. I’ve been using the Lavender Oat soap in the meanwhile, which I’ve been calling “methadone for patchouli lovers” and it’s pleasant enough, but it’s not patchouli.

Lisa Agee, the goat boy’s mom, said she’d let me know when it’s in. Well, it’s in! Patchouli is now available and you can get it at the Goatboy booth at the Fairfield Winter Market.

Lisa, if you’re reading this, PLEASE save some for me!

Fairfield Winter Market

The Fairfield Winter Market (a new venture of the Westport Farmers Market) opened last week. It’s indoors at the Fairfield Theatre Company at 70 Sanford Street, Fairfield, CT.

I finally got there today and as one who has done outdoors in New Haven, I am sure grateful for an indoor market! Of course, today it was unseasonably mild–a gentle 48 degrees. Sigh.

Some of my favorite vendors from New Haven were there: Two Guys from Woodbridge, Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm, and Beltane Farm.

Some of my favorites from other venues were there: Wave Hill Bread (Yeah!) and Goatboy Soaps.

A new vendor I met for the first time today was Ox Hollow Farm. I got some pork chops and a ham. They also have chicken (yipee!).

Westport Aquaculture had clams on the half shell and oysters. Two bakeries had delectabilities one expects from bakeries. I’m still dieting, so I tried to keep a respectable distance. One bakery, from Ridgefield (very sorry I did not get the name) had these wonderful oatmeal breakfast cookies that did not contain added sugar. All the sweetness came from apple sauce and fruit juice. Very nice.

A good time was had by all.