Field Notes: Farm Markets
Hey friends! Welcome back to the farmstead! Here we are with another week down and lots happening on the farmstead. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
First up, I went to the Farmers’ Market in Oak Ridge last Saturday. I have been wanting to go for some time but there always seemed to be something else bright and shiny that caught my attention. So I set my intention last week and I made my way to the market. I first started my day running errands. I actually stopped and got the van cleaned up! I vacuum it and wipe it down here at home, but I have a gift card for a few car washes and keep meaning to stop. Again, I set my intention and made it happen. Then I made my way to Oak Ridge. There was also a thrift store along the way that I put on my agenda for Saturday. I’m glad I went to the market first because I didn’t realize they were a 8AM-12PM market! I cut it close but I got some good shopping in. I took some photos but for the first time in a long time I didn’t like a single photo I took. It just gives me an excuse to go back!
The market is small. It reminds me a lot of the market I used to shop at when I lived in Upstate NY. I bought a dozen ears of corn that I used to make some very yummy corn chowder. I also bought 5 pounds of pig fat. I’ll turn that into lard to use in my soap making. I also bought a gallon of frozen goat’s milk. We had a discussion about cottage laws here in TN. The milk is raw and in order to get around making products using raw milk and selling it to consumers, a lot of people will start herd shares. This means that the consumer will purchase part of the herd for X amount of money. Then the farmer can sell their products or the raw milk to the herd share members. Here in TN raw milk is deemed for animal consumption only so all farmers need to do is to say that and then they can sell their milk to consumers. I have a whole issue with this. The farmer and I discussed this. My issue is that there are no regulations on how those products are made. You could be making those herd share products in your dirty kitchen and no one would ever know! But I bought a gallon of pre-frozen milk from the farmer and went on my merry way. I will make soap and cheese using the milk. I’d like to set the cheese cave fridge back up soon and start cheese production again. I will use the milk for some of that, not to mention some easier to make cheeses.
I also bought some mushroom coffee and a cinnamon roll. I couldn’t wait to eat the cinnamon roll so I ate it on the way to the van! It was good. I will have to get some more and heat them up so they are nice and warm and even more yummy. Then I stopped at that aforementioned thrift store on my way home. It was truly a thrift store. It was filled to the brim with stuff. So much so that it was actually distracting. But. Friends. I found a whole lotta Pfaltzgraff Juniper stoneware dishes. I see that a 40-piece set sells for $350 on Replacments.com. That is no where near what I bought mine for. I paid $25 for 15 plates, 21 salad plates, and 15 bowls plus the tea cups and saucers and 2 serving bowls and 2 serving platters. It also came with the salt and pepper shakers, the gravy boat, and the milk and creamer. They are all so beautiful. I will be using them as my everyday dishes now. I am sure you will see them pop up in my photos from here forward. My research tells me that the pattern is from the 1990’s, which explains my love for them. I have been all about the 90’s lately.
I’ve been cooking A LOT at home. I got out of the habit but now that I am back in my routine I am so happy. I even came home for lunch yesterday and made muffins and some sweet potato and black bean burritos. I made grain bowls earlier this week. I made that corn chowder which I ate over the course of 2 days. It was so good. I will definitely be making it again with my leftover ears of corn. I even used the crockpot to make it. Once I perfect my recipe I will be sure to share it here.
This week was a little tougher than usual. I’ve been in a holding pattern for weeks now waiting for word about the TV show. That anticipation and not knowing what is happening has been really hard. Will they like it and give it the full green light? Will they not like it and not want to move forward with the project? I will let you know when I have more information. I posted earlier on social media that I didn’t think it was moving forward, that’s how long it’s been since I’ve heard anything. I heard back today that it is with the officials that will decide its fate. If you’d like to reach out for support of the show, please let me know and I will put you in contact with the appropriate person.
I got some trail running in this week. It was necessary for my mental health and the anticipation of the TV show’s fate. But also because it just feels damn good to move my body. Anna Lee is always happy for a run too. I’m gearing up for the big yard sale. That will be my main focus next week in my down time-sorting and pricing. I literally have 2 weeks to get. it. done.
I bought some planters at one of those large big box stores that I really don’t like to shop at but when you see nice terra cotta and ceramic planters for virtually 90% off, you gotta do it. I bought 3 pink 10-inch planters, 6 small terra cotta ones with saucers, an ombre colored planter, and really pretty brown one all for $60. I discovered 4 volunteer avocado trees growing in my compost pile and I had already started one, so now I have at least 5 that I am growing. They all need a home so those pink planters will come in handy. I just need to get some more potting mix so I can finish transplanting everything. I even used the porch steps as a place for those planters. Sigh. It all makes me really happy. I used the planter that one of the avocados was in to plant some basil. I have all those amazing herbs and not a single basil plant! Speaking of herbs. Do you remember me bringing the herbs home from the event I did a few weeks ago? They are all doing so well! I tend to them like they are my babies—making sure they are watered and comfortable. Talking to them. Telling them I appreciate them and once they are big and strong I will use them up in my recipes! HAHA.
We’ll end here for this week. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter yet, I suggest you do so. I am getting to revamp it and provide a lot more goodies there. Special behind the scenes, freebies, early releases on things. I have been thrifting a lot lately (that outfit above? The one with the striped JCrew sweatshirt? Completely thrifted) and have been collecting some goodies I am going to start sharing for sale. Newsletter subscribers will get first pick before the items are released to the general public.
Oh. I also got my mammogram last week. I kept thinking that I did something before the farm market! That was it. Go get your mammo ladies! That’s it for this week. Tell me what you’ve been up to lately? Any recipes that I need to know about!? I will be back next week with some more recipes. In the meantime, have you tried the granola yet?
‘til next time
-k
xoxo
