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This post expired on June 02, 2023.

Greetings All:

Market pickup this past Thursday was busy and fun! Since Mary was in Chicago for her niece’s graduation, Amanda Drisdell, Mary’s daughter and a friend, Emily Gaines went above and beyond the call of duty to help out. Wow! Those young ladies are awesome! We were set-up and ready to go in no time at all! Their organizational skills are amazing! Thank you ladies! I appreciate you both and your great help!

Not surprisingly, the produce from Fry Farm and Doug’s Garden and the Bakery items from My Daily Bread sold out quickly! Dances With Bees, Master Bee Keeper, Jay Parsons and his wife Patti who makes natural personal care items from — yes, you guessed it — from the bee products, were at Market as Farmers of the Week! Folks picked up Honey and other products, got to meet Jay and Patti and talk about the Bees! I picked up some Honey and some Cooling Mint Spray! Thank you all for spending time with us and for offering your excellent products!

Now – If you want to skip reading the rest of my musings, which do include Market News, Weekly Specials, Farmer of the Week information for this Thursday, news about upcoming Events and Classes, little known facts and tidbits about ‘this and that’ and links to interesting Blogs and/or articles, and a personal note from me then click Take me to the Market.

You can access this and other Newsletters/Blog postings by clicking on the Weblog tab on the website!

Still here? Great! Grab a large glass/cup of your preferred beverage and let’s get to it!

I love Market pickup! It is made especially enjoyable by seeing the reactions of folks when you see your orders and let us know how happy you are with the items! The ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ over the gorgeous produce that is coming in from our great Produce Growers lets us know that you are happy campers! We are truly blessed to have Farmers/Growers and Artisans who are passionate and dedicated to providing the community with such healthful, beautiful, fresh, local and tasty items! Just keeping up with our Garden is a job — and I cannot imagine providing for an entire community! Vicky and Steve of Fry Farm, Doug of Doug’s Garden Ricky of Back River Farm and Brennan and Gwendolyn of Phoenix Gardens, please know that we are grateful to you for your hard work and for being a part of the Heirloom Living Market Family!

I went to the The Snellville Farmers’ Market yesterday to check our their offerings! One of our vendors, Ricky Brown from Back River Farm was there so I had the opportunity to visit with him for a few minutes! There were some other good products and I took my time checking out everyone’s offerings. Shalley Carrell of Carrell Farms was at the Market and we made arrangements for Mary and I to visit the Farm and talk about adding them as Farmers for our Market! She and her husband David Carrell raise Water Buffalos and Alpacas! Since the meat I purchased last week, (ground meat and Brats) was so flavorful and fabulous, I purchased some ground Water Buffalo meat, for Sloppy Joes (or “Neat Henrys” as my Mother used to call them!), some Kielbasa for the grill and some Bones to make Bone Broth! I am excited to go to the Farm! Shalley and I talked about having a tasting prior to the meat going on the Market so you can try some, meet the Farmers and find out more! We are hoping that Carrell Farms will be able to offer fiber and other Alpaca products, also! Look for an update later this week!

I know that last week I told you I would be going to the Grayson Farmers’ Market on Wednesday evening held at the little park in downtown Grayson, and the Lilburn Farmers’ Market on Friday night (in the parking lot across from the Police Station in Lilburn), but ALAS, I had the dates wrong! They open this coming week! So, I will be off to check them out and let you know what I find!

We love for you to shop with us; but you probably shop Publix for some items, Kroger for others, Whole Foods for still others! So it makes sense that you shop the Traditional Farmers’ Markets! Why encourage you to do so? Because we believe in supporting local businesses! When you see one of our Farmers at another Market, stop and say hello and let them know you are part of Heirloom Living Market! Buy local!

Education

CheeseMaking 101 is scheduled for June 22nd – Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. There are still a couple of spaces left. Make your reservation today and join Mary for a FUN and informative class. Take home 3 different cheeses that you will prepare in class. Learn the basics so you can join in the Intermediate and Advanced Classes to be offered later this summer!

Updates and New Offerings

Duck Egg Update I spoke with Lisa of Bo and Lisa’s Lil Patch and the Ducks are adjusting to their new environment and have just started to nest! They just do NOT like change – they are creatures of habit! Lisa said she and Bo are going to try and see if they can’t encourage them by building some “nests” of straw out in their new pasture and see if the Ducks will compete for the ‘biggest nest’! She says they are emotional creatures and very family oriented! Disturbing their ‘happy home’ does not sit well with them and they take their time adjusting! Lisa says: “You haven’t lived until you have been told off by a duck that’s for sure!” So, be patient and we will soon be enjoying great Organic Duck eggs! In the meantime, be sure and pick up your Organic Chicken eggs from Golden Farm!

Fry Farm, Back River Farm, Doug’s Garden and Phoenix Gardens have a plethora of gorgeous and tasty produce for us this week! There are Artichokes, Cabbage Heads, Rainbow Carrots, Collards, Lettuce Mixes and whole Lettuce Plants, Kale, 2 kinds of yellow Squash, 2 varieties of Zucchini, Sugar Snap Peas, Parsnips, 3 types of Beets, Radishes, Turnips, Young Spinach, Fresh Herbs, New Potatoes and Swiss Chard! Tomatoes and Peppers will be joining the offerings very soon!

The Produce Box offered by Doug’s Garden has a great variety of Veggies! Swiss Chard, Turnips, Kale, White Radishes, Red Radishes, Lettuce and Green Onions are still available! Other goodies that have just entered the race are: Cauliflower, Pearl Onions, Carrots, Beets and Broccoli and soon Yellow Squash, Green Beans, Cucumbers and Tomatoes will make an appearance! Doug will include vegetables that are ready for harvest Thursday morning! The produce boxes are bountiful and the veggies beautiful, freshly harvested and delicious! Order one today! Look for individual Veggie offerings too! And please check in with Mary at pickup for recipes to help you make delicious meals using everything in your Produce Box!

Note: All of your produce is picked on the day that it is delivered to Market! Talk about fresh! Everything is ‘field washed’, meaning the dirt is mostly gone, so you do need to wash your produce before storing!

Raspberry Alert Doug of Doug’s Garden, has Raspberries again this week. The supply is limited, so order quickly if you want to be enjoying this delicious fruit later in the week. He says they should be available for the next several weeks! Doug picks daily, so your Raspberries go from bush – to Market pickup in a matter of hours!

Speaking of Fruit … Blackberries, Blueberries and more Raspberries will be added as soon as they are ready to be harvested. We will have several Farmers/Growers offering these items — Availability will be announced in the Newsletter and on the Market page!

I am checking into getting some peaches from Pearson Farms which is about 75 miles from us! Although they are not “Organic”, I have been assured that the FRUIT is not sprayed and they ONLY spray if a tree develops a problem that cannot be handled any other way. I will be speaking with them again tomorrow and this item will be a “Bulk Buy” – not available as a Market item! Peaches will only be available IF you respond via email. Any extra or unclaimed fruit will be available at Market pickup! If you are interested, please email us at heirloomlivingmarket@gmail.com. Put “Peaches” in the subject line and put your name and the approximate number of pounds you would like to purchase. I will send the particulars as soon as I get the pricing from Pearson. Your response will indicate INTEREST only and after pricing is obtained, I will take orders. It is necessary to get the approximate number of pounds needed to get the best price!

Weekly Specials

Rusty has once again blessed us with the Buy One – Get One Free deal for Goat Milk from Little Tots Estate! (All Goat Milk is labeled for ‘Pet Consumption’ as required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and is the only way raw milk can legally be sold in the state of Georgia.)

Please Note: In the state of Georgia, the only way that Raw Milk (cow or goat) can legally be sold is with a label that says: “Raw (Cow or Goat) Milk for Pets” and with the Warning “Not for Human Consumption…” In some states you can walk into a grocery and purchase Raw Milk! Not so in Georgia; however the Farmers who milk the cows, who produce the milk we receive at Market are licensed dairies and their sanitation practices, flawless. So, purchase Raw Milk with the knowledge that you are doing so legally … if your “pets” decide to share the bounty…you reap the benefits of all of the good enzymes and vitamins of milk that has not been processed in any way!

And the weekly update on The Black Lab and Goat Milk – I am happy to report Dudley is still on his best behavior as far as stealing helping himself to my milk. He does sit by the fridge if I forget to pour some in his bowl after Breakfast and Dinner! He enjoys his daily ration and loves his goat milk kefir!

Patchwork Pastures has continued the GREAT deal this week on Laundry Detergent! I have to admit I was skeptical when Mary gave me some to try, but WOW, it REALLY works and smells good too! The refill is also available at a discount!

Graduation celebrations are coming to a close! It is not too late to choose a Graduate Gift Bag from Good Shepherd Herbals which contains many herbal items (3 goat milk soaps in yummy scents, a jar of Beulah Balm and a bag of Wise Woman Tea) – a $37 value for $30! This is a perfect gift for that special graduate embarking on a new adventure (and perhaps getting her own apartment!).

My Daily Bread has a Bakery Basket which would make a great graduation gift! What a great idea for a Hostess Gift if you are visiting friends! Dabrielle will help you customize it! You can be sure you your recipient will have their favorites!

Bo and Lisa’s Lil Patch still has Free DE (Diatomaceous Earth) with the purchase of the Pest Pistol this week. This is a natural way to kill fleas and other pesky critters!

Find the above items under Weekly Specials on the Market Page!

Farmer of the Week

Both Mary and I are very excited to welcome Mary Beth Sellers of Joyful Noise Acres Farm as our Farmer of the Week! She will be educating people on the many reasons to feed your family ‘pastured, free-range chicken’ and pastured pork and can answer any questions that you may have! Mary Beth will also have products for sale – quantities may be limited so order what you need online for grilling, roasting and Bone Broth and pick up extras at the Market! Be sure and stop by and say hello even if you are not picking up! We offer the opportunity for you to meet the people who are producing your food, so you can get to know them, their practices and develop a trusting relationship with YOUR Farmer!

…this and that…

As always there will be items to purchase from the Farmers’ Sale Table! Pickup some extra fresh Veggies from Fry Farm or Doug’s Garden or wonderful Breads or Bakery Treats from My Daily Bread! Don’t take the chance that your favorite will be there – Place your order today! Last week, all items on the Farmers’ Sale Table sold out within the first hour of Market pickup opening! Gwinnett Gymnastics will be starting their classes again this week and the parents always stop by and purchase from the Farmers’ Sale Table!

The Farm Tour of Little Tots Estate is scheduled for Saturday, June 15th. We will have a sign-up sheet at Market pickup with all of the particulars! This is a chance for you to meet Rusty and Lucy, tour the Farm, check our the Nigerian Dwarf Does that give us such splendid milk and play with the ‘kids’! A family friendly outing that promises to be a enjoyable adventure!

Let us know what Farm you would like to visit and we will plan it! What fun!

We are working with Vicky and Steve to do a “Farmer for the Day” Event at Fry Farm sometime in late June! If this time frame does not work out for them, we will move it to the Fall. This event will include ‘playing in the dirt’ for a couple of hours, a tour of the Farm and a lunch! Meet the Farmer, see the Farm, get to know other members of the Heirloom Living Market Family …and a good time will be had by all! Of course children will be welcome – what better way for them to get to know how food is grown and comes to them!

A Final Thought…A Personal Note…

Mary and I both work hard to keep you up to date on offerings from our Farmer/Growers and Artisans. If there is a customer service issue, we work with you and the Farmer to come to a resolution. Technically, you are buying directly from the Farmer and we are simply the conduit that offers a pickup location; however, we truly believe in the integrity of our Farmers and offer our help if there is an issue. We will forward your email to the Farmer and speak with him/her to come to a satisfactory/pleasing outcome and communicate the result to you. If it takes a few days for us to get back to you, please be patient – an answer is in the works!

I have given you the news, The Black Lab update for the week, told you about Updates and Offerings, Weekly Specials, Classes, Farmers of the Week and my own personal thoughts… It is time, once again to say – thank you for taking the time to read this missive and…

Again, please know that we appreciate your support of our dedicated, LOCAL Farmers/Growers and Artisans and the local economy! Please “Like” us on Facebook and continue to share the Market with family and friends!

We will see you Thursday at Gwinnett Gymnastics Center between 4:30pm and 7:30pm!

Mary will be back from Chicago for Market pickup this week! As always, she will have a couple of recipes featuring products she has purchased from the Market! If you have missed any of her recipes, we will have them all at the Market for you on Thursday!

Have a wonderful week! All of the offerings with pretty pictures are out on the website, so I am not attaching the product list to this email! So, now, pop on over to the Market and check out all of the delicious offerings! Happy shopping!
Take me to the Market with Pretty Pictures.

Joyful thoughts and bountiful blessings!

~Maryanne and Mary
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