You know it's summertime when...

• You see baskets overflowing with fresh, plump blueberries at the farmers market.


• You spend more time working on the outside of your house than cleaning the inside!


• You smell freshly cut grass as you drive through your neighborhood.


• Waking up early on a Saturday morning is ok...you've got to get to the market before all the good produce is gone!


• The TV has gone an entire day without being turned on.


• You skip work to go to the zoo.


• CORN ON THE COB!!


• You use your grill more than your stove.


• Every weekend there is a different festival or event happening around town.


• You remember what a REAL tomato, fresh from the farm, tastes like!


• Your shower curtain has been replaced by wet bathing suits and beach towels.


• The radio keeps playing the Beach Boys.


• Your kids realize that they like green beans when they haven't been canned or frozen!


• Dessert doesn't have to be covered in chocolate or whipped cream -- fresh berries are just as sweet!

Enjoy summer while it's here!

Fun Summer Recipe!

Summer Green Bruschetta

Delicious as an appetizer or a light meal!

1/4 cup unbleached almonds3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup thinly sliced onion or shallot
1 pound assorted young leafy summer greens (Visit Salash Farm, Red Wagon Farm, Cherry Knoll Farm, Snake Hill Farm and many others for a great selection!)
Coarse salt and ground pepper 1 garlic clove, minced to a paste (or use garlic scapes from the market!)
8 slices rustic bread toasted (1/2-inch thick and 4 inches across) (Visit one of the bakers at the market for the freshest bread!)
2 ounces of goat cheese (Visit Mackenzie Creamery at all our weekend markets!)
2 teaspoons sherry or balsamic vinegar

1. Sautee almonds in a large skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally until fragrant and crisp (about 7 minutes). Remove from heat. Once cooled, chop in a food processor until finely ground; set aside.
2. In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook, stirring constantly until tender. Working in batches, add greens, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Cover for 1 minute to steam, then add remaining greens. Uncover and cook 1 to 2 minutes until greens are tender and water has evaporated. If water remains in pan, drain, and cool greens to room temperature.
3. In a small bowl, combine ground almonds, garlic, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper.
4. Spread a teaspoon or so of almond mixture on each slice of bread. Top with cheese. Toss greens with vinegar and place on top of the cheese.

Exciting Stuff at the Markets!!

This is shaping up to be a great weekend at both our Shaker Square and Crocker Park Markets.

Are you a West Sider? Bring the kids to Crocker Park to see the Alpacas! If you missed opening day and didn't get to meet these gentle, herd animals, make sure to stop by Alpaca Meadows' stand!

It's official, summer in Ohio is on it's way! Red Wagon Farm will be at both Crocker Park and Shaker Square this week, and Walnut Drive Gardens will begin it's season next Saturday, June 6th. Each week more and more local produce is making it's way to our farmers market's by way of our favorite farms!

Shaker Square Market will also have Polter's Berry Farm this week with the first of this seasons Strawberries!!

Great American Lamb Co. will also be at Shaker Square for the first time with their great selection of Lamb. If you want an idea for a recipe try these Lamb Chops with a Mint Jelly Crust http://www.recipezaar.com/Lamb-Chops-With-Mint-Jelly-Crust-133020. Substitute traditional mint jelly with garden.vineyard.grove's amazing Sauvignon Blanc Mint Jelly for that extra wow factor!

See you at the Market!

News Herald 5/28/09

Here is a nice article about our market at the Cleveland Clinic! http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/05/28/life/nh948442.txt

Tiffany's Shopping List for the Crocker Park Farmers Market, Saturday May 23, 2009

This week, I'm stocking up on "grill-ables" for picnics with family and friends!


Memorial Day Picnic:
Garden Brats -- Bluebird Meadows
Italian Sausage -- Sirna's Farm
Hamburger Patties -- Bluebird Meadows
Bison Patties (for my Grandpa who likes to eat healthy!) -- Heads and Tails Bison Ranch
Chicken Breasts -- Plum Creek Poultry
Shitake Mushrooms to top burgers -- Killbuck Valley Mushrooms
Lettuce (to make a nice salad) -- Nature's Garden Produce
Sweet Horseradish Pickles to top burgers -- Sirna's Farm
Assorted Mustards to top EVERYTHING -- garden.vineyard.grove.ltd
A couple of pies -- Gray House Pies (in case I'm too busy to bake!)


Bruschetta for a get-together I'm having this week (a light, easy appetizer):
Demi-Baguette -- Breadsmith of Lakewood
Feta Cheese -- Ohio Farm Direct
Pasta Sauce -- A Friend who Cooks (delicious with anything!)


Baking Day (my day off):
Apples for pie -- Woolf Farm
Rhubarb -- Covered Bridge
Rolled Oats -- A&D Cottage Foods


Also need to get:
Basil, Lavender, Oregano, Sage, and Thyme to start my herb baskets -- Hansen's Greenhouse
Hanging Basket as a "thank you" gift for my aunt -- Uncle John's Plant Farm
"Green" cleaning products -- Green Clean

Visit our two Saturday Markets at Shaker Square 8am to Noon and Crocker Park 9am to 1pm.

Get up-to-date info on what’s happening at the market and what’s in season: Follow North Union Farmers Market on Twitter!

This week at Crocker Park, Hansen’s Greenhouse will bring their BIG TRUCK full of seedlings for your garden and landscaping! Heirloom varieties, herbs, and much more will be available. Ohio Farm Direct will be bringing organic ice cream—perfect for a sunny Saturday afternoon!
Planning a picnic for the holiday weekend? You’ll find the perfect ingredients at the market! Pasta for salads, beef and chicken for grilling, pork for bbq’ing, and much more. Visit Tea Hill Farm and Plum Creek at Shaker Square for chicken and Millgate Farm for beef. Hamper Homestead at Shaker Square will have pork as well!

Vendors at Crocker Park
Bring your knives! The knife-sharpener returns!

Bluebird Meadows, Cherry Knoll Farm, Hansen’s Greenhouse, Heads and Tails Bison Ranch, Jorgensen’s Apiary, Killbuck Valley Mushrooms, Nature’s Garden Produce, Ohio Farm Direct, Sirna’s Farm, Tansy Farm, Uncle John’s Plant Farm, Weaver’s Truck Patch, Woolf Farm, Breadsmith of Lakewood, A Friend who Cooks, garden.vineyard.grove, ltd., The Grateful Dog Bakery, Gray House Pies, Homemade Delights, Judy’s Oasis, Lucy’s Sweet Surrender, Ohio City Pasta, pZazz Hot Sauces, Sweetie Pie Bakery, Zoss, the Swiss Baker, Ana Banana Jewelry, Green Clean, Hummingbird Creations, Sue Santiago, Sunshine Couture, Supplements Etc, Trish Supples, Master Gardeners

Vendors at Shaker Square

Blissful Acres, Bowen Farm Garden, Cormack’s Market Garden, Country Gristmill, Covered Bridge Gardens, Deer Run Farm, Firefly Farm, Gingerich Farm, Goodell Family Farm, Hamper Homestead Farm, Heritage Lane Farm, Killbuck Valley Mushrooms, Middle Ridge Gardens, Millgate Farm, Morning Song Garden, Muddy Fork Farm, Oasis Acres, Ohio Farm Direct, Ohio Honey Company, Plum Creek Farm, Rootstown Organic Farm, Rosa’s Front Porch, Salash Farm, Scales to Tails, Sleeping Dragon Botanicals, Snake Hill Farm, Tea Hills Farm, Woolf Farm, Carol’s Eatable Art, Chooch & Pootan, Conchy’s Cabana Cubana, Dewey’s Coffee, A Friend Who Cooks, Gray House Pies, Hillfarm Feast, Homemade Delights, Jenny’s Sweets, Judy’s Oasis, Lucy’s Sweet Surrender, Ohio City Pasta, The Olive Tap, Reilly’s, Spice of Life Catering, Zoss the Swiss Baker, Ellen Schmidt Jewelry, Esperanza Threads, Exquisite Soaps, Designs by Arielle and Pamela, Intuition by Leah, JohnE’s Massage Works, Lake Erie Artist Gallery, Lise Anderson Jewelry, MZ Beads, Rapunzel’s Cottage, Scarlett O, Virescent Designs, The Artists Archive of the Western Reserve, Master Gardeners, South Euclid Humane Society

Focus on Health:

Visit Heritage Lane Farm at Shaker Square and Heads and Tails Bison Ranch at Crocker Park this weekend for bison! Bison at your holiday picnic is a healthy alternative to beef. Bison is higher in protein, iron, and Vitamin B-12 and lower in fat, cholesterol and calories!

Emma's Shopping List for Shaker Square, Saturday May 16th

I like to arrange my shopping list by meals so I have a plan of attack:

Pasta Night:
Mushroom Pesto - Killbuck Valley Mushrooms
Heavy Cream - Country Gristmill
Spinach Pasta - Ohio City Pasta
Butter Garlic Chicken Patties - Tea Hills Poultry

Nachos and Wings for the Basketball Games with Friends(Go Cavs!!):
Grassfed Ground Beef - Millgate Farm
Cilantro - Salash Farms/Rootstown Organic/Firefly Farm
Cheese - Ohio Farm Direct
Chicken Wings - Plum Creek Poultry

Sunday AM Pancake Breakfast
Butter, Milk, Stutzman's Flour - Country Gristmill
Eggs - Hamper Homestead/Snake Hill Farm
Bacon - Hamper Homestead
Maple Syrup - Snake Hill Farm/Goodell

Extras(side dishes etc.):
Asparagus - Schultz Family Farms
Radishes (roasted are my favorites!) - Covered Bridge Gardens
Lettuce - Oasis Acres
Greens - Salash Family Farms and Cormack's Market Garden
Cheese for salads - Ohio Farm Direct
Honey(for my tea and yogurt) - Ohio Honey
Fresh Flowers - Morning Song Gardens/Bowen Farm Gardens/Rosa's Front Porch

Must Remember:
Gift for Samantha's B-day - potted plant from Middle Ridge for her new apartment/jewelry from an artist??
Wedding Gift for Rachel - The Clubhouse, handmade wooden bowl