"Bits and Bites" August 16, 2014

Greetings Lilburn, Crossfit and Hamilton Mill Market Folks:

The weather has just been fabulous the past few days! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the weekend with family and/or friends! I have lots of information to share, but first read the….

Important Reminders, Other Matters and Pertinent Information

Azure Standard

Order Delivery for August is Tuesday, August 19th at 2:30pm

Order Deadline for next month (September) is Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00pm

Please share this information with friends and family to ensure that we will all have this great resource available to us!

Here’s the scoop:

If you are interested in helping out at the Markets, please contact Market Volunteer Coordinator, Chance Claar-Pressley. Thank you Chance! You can email Chance at chancita@gmail.com .

Heartfelt Gratitude

“Thank You” to Marie Wheeler and Kathy Barnes, who ran the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Although I was there, they have the procedures down pat! I hung out and got to visit which I really enjoy! Also thank you to Keb Barnes who made sure everything got packed up and loaded into my car and who returned Doug’s empty bins!

Both Marie and Kathy also helped with the packaging of Members’ meat orders and the setup of the Crossfit Market on Tuesday! Much appreciated, ladies!

I was lucky enough to be graced with the help of Sara Heath and Sarah Rockey this past week at Hamilton Mill Market! The ladies worked hard to get things carried in and Market set-up in record time! Sara Heath arrived early, just in time to accept delivery from My Daily Bread! Thanks for your help ladies!

Susan Martinson, a Market Member and All Saints Lutheran Church Member is also helping us a Market, setting up the Market display table as well as selling Organic, Free Trade Coffees and Teas. Do try the French Roast if you like a full-bodied yummy morning coffee! All Saints is using this endeavor as a Fund Raiser, so please take a minute and check out the products. The Congregation and Pastor Stover have been wonderful friends to the Market and are very supportive of our efforts! Let’s return the favor!

If you have a couple of hours to spare between 10:00am and Noon on Tuesday, please consider volunteering at the Crossfit O-Zone Lawrenceville Market. This is prep and setup for the Tuesday Market as well as packaging meat orders for all Markets. Please contact Maryanne at 404-432-4337.

Market Growth

Last week, I sent out a challenge to all Members to share information about the Market with 5 friends, neighbors, countrymen, family – whomever! Thank you to those who participated! Lilburn Market saw an 15% increase in sales last week and we added several new Members. I have to congratulate Susan Coker and thank her for her wonderful support. She invited someone who has become a Member and brought a friend to Market when she picked up her order! Layne Maganda also brought a friend to the Hamilton Mill Market and Liz Ingram copied me on an email about the Market she wrote to someone she had just met. Karen Ditmars is sharing with her folks at another Crossfit Location! (If I missed someone, please forgive and remind me this week!) Please know that your support of the Market is appreciated. You can copy the links below to add to your emails to friends this week! (subtle hint!)

and now for the news…

Ok, go take a break, get your favorite beverage and let’s get to “the rest of the story”. (No one asked me about Paul Harvey last week, so either you didn’t read the email OR you are older, OR you are ‘in the know’!

Farmer Updates

Lloyd Rojewski of Greenman’s Garden joined us at the Lilburn Market on Thursday. Lloyd is a veteran Herbalist of 20 years and adheres the the Weston A. Price nutritional guidelines. One of the staples of this healthful way of eating is fermented foods. Lloyd shared Fermented Kimchi, Cabbage, and Okra! Unless you are very new to the Market, you are aware of my rather extreme aversion to Okra. She Who Cooks has made some very enticing recipes with my ‘Veggie Nemesis’, to no avail. I have to admit, I was skeptical when Lloyd told me about the Fermented Okra; but since he was good enough to include it in the tasting, I actually tried it! As much as I hate to admit it, I liked it! Lloyd will be offering his Fermented Goodies very soon, so keep an eye out for further news. He will also be adding some Herbal products to the Market.

Farmer Ricky Brown of Back River Farm is offering Red Cherry Tomatoes and Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes (these are sweet and really good), Okra (admittedly not a fav of mine, but many have said it is tender and delicious), Spaghetti Squash, ‘Flavorburst’ Bell Peppers, Chocolate Bell ‘Flavorburst Peppers,(these are an interesting veggie – (somehow it has a teeny-tiny hit of chocolate in the flavor), Butternut Squash and Oriental Eggplant.

Cedar Seeder I have sung the praises of the Micro (Veggie) Wraps! Have you tried the Bakery Bars. Some folks are becoming seriously addicted! If you haven’t tried them, order one today – great Breakfast or Snack! In addition to their Cedar, handmade planters, you can find their Microgreens for Pets combos for Cats and Dogs and for us humans: Arugula, Basil, Broccoli, Kale, Radish, Sunflower and Wheatgrass! Ready to be snipped and added to smoothies, salads or your favorite juice!

Doug of Doug’s Garden is offering: Whole Garlic, Malabar Spinach, Okra and a combo of Tomatoes and Herbs (with recipe) for making delicious spaghetti sauce. In addition, he has 3 different Produce Boxes to choose from: Basic Seasonal Box, Herb Lovers Box, Root Lovers Box and the new Tomato Lovers Box!

Miss Vicky of Fry Farm is offering: Eggplant both the “Little Finger” and “Violette de Florence”, ‘Italian Torpedo’ Onions, Shallots, Cherry Tomatoes and some really adorable ‘Gold Nugget’ Squash. Check out Miss Vicky’s suggests for cooking these adorable little squash! Sounds yummy! She also told me that these were created as a hybrid in the 60’s as a substitution for Sweet Potatoes! The texture is very similar; so go ahead and order if you are adventurous; recipes will be available at Market! (I got 2 last week and they are on the menu for tomorrow!)

Roger and Reggie Ramos of Grow With The Flow are offering: Arugula, ‘Provider’ Beans, ‘Ripbor’ Kale, Red Potatoes, ‘New Zealand’ Spinach and Tomatoes at the Lilburn Market only.

The Veggie Patch is providing a good selection of wonderful, fresh Summer veggie offerings and have fresh Herbs listed as well! 3 types of Basil, Chives, Mint, Oregano,2 kinds of Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Medicinal Herbs Chamomile and Lavender. Veggies include: Arugula, French Green Beans, Bunching Onions, Heirloom Pole Beans, Purple Beans, Yellow Beans, several types of Kale, Mizuna, a plethora of sweet, hot, and ‘my-mouth-is-on-fire’ peppers, Squash, Tatsoi, Tomatoes plus a BULK BUY of Canning Tomatoes, Zucchini and a Veggie Box.

Be sure and check out the wonderful meat selections available from B&G Farms. From Pork Tenderloin, (which is delicious marinated and grilled) to the many varieties of Sausage, Pork Chops and Longaniza (hot dogs), to any cut of Beef you want, Lynda has us covered! And Chicken too! Try Chicken Wings on the grill! (Note to Bone Broth Makers: Chicken Feet will be available in 2 weeks! Get your Necks and Backs this week while they are on sale; keep them in the freezer until you get your Chicken Feet – what a combo for great Chicken Bone Broth!)

David and Shalley Carrell of Carrell Farms are at our Markets as well as most of the popular Traditional Farmers’ Markets around the area! Check out their offerings from their Bulk Ground Buff to Steaks and Roasts! Try a Brisket smoked! Delicious! Shalley makes a wonderful line of Natural Skin Care Products using the tallow from the Water Buffalo. Her Face Creams are luscious! This week I am going to try the Tallow Foot Butter which has Peppermint Essential Oil in it. Summer and sandals have roughened up these old feet, so I am looking forward to spoiling myself with this!

Both Golden Farms and Rocky Acres offer fresh eggs from pastured chickens fed organic, soy and GMO free feed.

My Daily Bread Bruce and Dabrielle are offering lots of goodies! From Challah to Sourdough Bread, Chocolate Zucchini Bread to Cookies, Dabrielle’s Organic, Fresh Baked Goods are sure to please. Last week, I told you that we had come to the end of the Blackberry and Blueberry Harvest; and then they showed up on the Farmers’ Sale Table. I hope that you were able to stock some in your freezer for the months ahead! There is a remote chance that there will be Blueberries on the Table this week! I do have some good news – Raspberries! The second harvest started coming in last week. If the forecast-ed rain doesn’t do them in on Monday – we will have some on the Farmers’ Sale Table at Market on Tuesday! Wednesday and Thursday Markets are too far to predict at this point; however, I will put a note in your Market Day Reminder email if they will be available!

Please remember that in order for My Daily Bread to deliver from their wonderful Bakery and Farm located in Cleveland, GA, we must meet a minimum, so be sure and get your items ordered today!

Marie Wheeler of Bakery on Brooks is experimenting again, much to the delight of her husband and of course her other ‘favorite tester’ (that would be me!). Oh, my gosh, the mad baker aka The Gluten Free Guru has been at it again! Gluten Free Sandwich Bread is now on the Market! Soft, like the bread we all love to make sandwiches with and full of flavor! Mini’s and Full Size Loaves are now available! Gluten Free folks – rejoice!

Jay and Patti of Dances With Bees have Honey offerings as well as some other great products! The Candles are made of pure beeswax and the Lady Bug is as cute as it can be! I love the rolled beeswax candles also. Patti makes some awesome Personal Care products as well!

Jay has managed to slip a couple of new products in his offerings that I have not tried yet; however, because I am SO intrigued and because I really, really like the flavor of Chipotle, I ordered the BBQ Honey last week and tomorrow’s menu includes wings smothered with this absolutely delicious Honey! Sounds just about perfect to me!

The Happy Cows belonging to Sam Jones of Cedar Rock Dairy continue to produce wonderful milk (for our pets)! The cream line on the jars these last couple of weeks has been impressive! Keep up the good work, ladies! Located in Butler, Georgia, Sam’s cows enjoy grazing on 1200 acres of this Certified Organic Farm and we are fortunate that he is willing to transport this fresh, creamy milk to us. Working together, we need to ensure that we meet a minimum order for each Market so it remains economically viable for deliveries to continue! Share the goodness of Cedar Rock Dairy milk with friends and family!

Remember, you need 3 sets of jars to keep things flowing smoothly. If you order an extra one week, you likely will be missing one the following week. The Market can no longer absorb the cost if you receive your milk in plastic and you will be charged the difference. Your jars need to be ‘sparkling clean’ and completely dry (jar and BOTH lids)!

Rusty Repp of Little Tots Estate offers the sweetest goat milk I have had since I was a child, growing up in Ohio! (Did you know that Rusty is from Ohio? True!) The milk comes from Nigerian Dwarf Goats who are known to have the highest Butterfat of any milking goats! The milk from Little Tots also makes wonderful cheese! It is great for pets with stomach issues, also! To keep The Black Lab, healthy, he enjoys some everyday!

Lizzie’s Pantry provides some wonderful products from Montana Wheat! She also offers a Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Georgia Farmer.

Since I have not heard from Blue Moon Creamery, the Goat Cheese Artisan, I am unsure of his status at this point. As soon as I get information, I will pass it along. I am searching for another source for Goat Cheese. Any suggestions?

Kathy Barnes of So-Koi not only helps out at the Markets, she is also the wonderful lady that makes the great lanyards, aprons, pillowcases and tiny purse bags (for carrying your own sweeteners, salts, etc.) Check out her offerings that are all hand made with love!

Monique from Mo’s Tats and Stitches has some tatted earrings at every Market. These are lovely and so delicate looking, it is hard to believe that she can make these with her own two hands. Intricate designs and beautiful colors! Check out her offerings on the Market!

… this and that …

I continually thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on me in my life (which definitely includes the Market and all of the wonderful folks I have come to know). The next few months will bring significant changes to my life and I know that I am in His hands and He will guide my steps and continue to bless me. I humbly ask for your prayers as I negotiate through it all. I am here to serve you, the Members and the Farmers. If I seem a little ‘out of it’, (ok, more than usual), please be patient and know that I am doing the best I can.

The Black Lab, my ever faithful canine is busy being his lovable self and doing his best to stay out of trouble. For the most part, he has been successful; although there was another tomato that disappeared from the counter! Tomorrow is bath day! He is a Lab! He is a Lab that HATES water – except rain! He LOVES to be out in the rain. Perhaps I should re-think the bath tomorrow and plan on Monday out in the rain; that could work….couldn’t it? I’ll let you know~

I wish you all a happy day and a wonderful week!

Thank you for taking the time to read this long missive…