Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 9th Market Report

It's Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville! Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N.State and E. Home Streets. 

Today's Market Wedndesday weather forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, temps in the low 80s, around 50% humidity, and a sustained 10 mph breeze. And, it's back in the forecast - there is a 51% chance of a thunderstorm between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Accuweather says 51%, NOAA says 18% - we're focusing on the NOAA prediction because it's better!!)

Here is the July 9th Market Wednesday confirmed vendor line-up: Swainway Urban Farm, Z Blueberry, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Roger's Honey, Flying J Farm, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Ohio Farm Direct, Annabelle's Blooms, Blue Jacket Dairy, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Pleiades Maple Products.

We expect to see, and are awaiting confirmation from Bridgman Farm, Dana Lee's, and Dan the Baker.

This week's community partner is Westerville Police Division.  Stop by to visit Crime Prevention Specialists, Pierre La Rose and Preston Tarte.

The parking lot east of the market is being prepped for paving, so allow time to park and walk from other parking lots and spaces throughout Uptown.

The first of the season's tomatoes from Bird's Haven Farms.

 

Mini Honey Bears from Roger's Honey.

Onions from Bird's Haven Farms.

Maple Syrup from Pleiades Maple Products.

Fresh turnips from Bird's Haven Farms.

Sweet Thing Gourmet!!

Zucchini from Bridgman Farm.

Certified Organic Mushrooms from Swainway Urban Farm.

Kale from Doran's Family Farm.

Barbecue sauces and marinades from 

Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas.

Microgreens from Swainway Urban Farm.

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N.State and E. Home Streets in Uptown Westerville!

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Surface Tension!

Plan ahead today to park elsewhere Uptown and walk to visit Market Wednesday. 

While it should look fabulous next week, this week, the parking lots east of the market space are bare to the earth, downright muddy, and being prepped for paving.

The lot on the south side of E. Home St. is not effected and, as usual, you can park in the public lots behind the buildings on the west side of State St. 

First, take care of yourself and your vehicle - do not pull into the parking lot at all! If you see an orange cone - do not go there! Do not drive through any open space between any orange cones! 
 

If you park on-street, we remind you that we do business at the edge of a residential neighborhood, so be aware of children, animals, driveways, pedestrians, and parking regulations - if you park as if you're in your own neighborhood, you'll be fine.

We also ask that you not double park (we guarantee you will not just be a minute); we have a dedicated disability parking space between Bird's Haven Farms and Roger's Honey. 

Thank you for the extra effort and your continued business!

We look forward to the end result!!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Let Freedom Ring

Each year, we proudly display our favorite description of the Independence Day holiday from Erma Bombeck:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. 

Westerville knows how to celebrate Independence Day! Here's the basic 411 on the 07.04 courtesy of the City of Westerville:

Rotary July 4th 5K Run/Walk 
8 a.m. (5K begins)
Alum Creek Park North
221 W. Main St.
Register online at www.premierraces.com. 

Parade: Let Freedom Ring in 2014 
1 p.m.
The parade steps off at Heatherdown and South State Street and travel north along South
State Street to St. Paul Parish.
 
ROAD CLOSURE: 12:45-4:30 p.m. (State Street)
-State Street closed from County Line to Huber/Heatherdown
-Detour from Cleveland, Otterbein or Spring to County Line
-Cleveland Avenue remains open 

Sounds of Freedom Concert 
8 p.m.
Westerville Sports Complex
325 N. Cleveland Ave. 

Fireworks 
Dusk
Fireworks are launched from Alum Creek Park South near Park Meadow Road and Schrock Road and can be seen from multiple, convenient locations around the City. For timing and weather-related updates, please follow the City of Westerville Twitter account: @tellwesterville.

From the Market Wednesday management team and vendors, we wish you a safe, happy, fun Independence Day Weekend. Happy Birthday, America!!

 

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: July 2nd Market Report

Wow, this year is flying by and here we are welcoming the month of July and looking forward to the Independence Day weekend!

The Market Wednesday forecast includes mostly sunny skies, temperatures in low 80s, an 11 mph breeze, lower humidity, and an ever-so-slight chance of precipitation. Sounds like a good day to pick up a little farm fresh!

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home in Uptown Westerville.

The July 2nd confirmed vendor line-up: Swainway Urban Farm, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, new vendor Roger's Honey, Flying J Farm, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Dana Lee's, Blue Jacket Dairy, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Dan the Baker, Pleiades Maple Products.

This week's community partner is Westerville Senior Center.

We will not see Sugar B Bakery this week. Angela has some family activities today.

Annabelle's Blooms is patiently waiting to begin her 2014 season in Westerville, the flowers are taking their time to bloom. We're sure it will be worth the wait!

We are starting to see our early summer produce varieties: summer squash (yellow, zucchini, zephyr, patty pan), garlic scapes, cucumbers, a few sugar snap peas, carrots, kohlrabi, turnips, some broccoli, and kale.
 
See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Bee's Knees!

This week we welcome Roger and Marlene Miller

 of Roger's Honey to Market Wednesday!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Thanks Bildsten Landscape!

Bildsten Landscape has now completed their 2014 market season.

Thanks to Mark and Karin Bildsten for a colorful season open!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Blendon Township Farmers' and Craft Market Looking for Vendors

A shout out to local farmers interested in attending a weekday Westerville area farmers' market this season - Blendon Township Market, in southeast greater Westerville @ 6350 S. Hempstead, is now open each Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Market manager, Ruth Brown, is looking for produce vendors. (The market currently has no produce vendors.) 

The market features raised and artisan foods and hand-craft/retail vendors. Space fee for the season is $30. The season runs through October 16th.

For more information, contact Ruth Brown via email: ruth.drb@gmail.com or by phone: 614.859.2405. 

Basic 411 and a link to the market application (pdf) is available by visiting the Blendon Township website - click or tap the here.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: The June 25th Market Meme

Bread is the king of the table, and all else is merely the court that surrounds the king. The countries are the soup, the meat, the vegetables, the salad, but bread is king. - Louis Bromfield.

This week's meme features a beautiful loaf of bread from Dan the Baker and a quote from Ohio's own, Louis Bromfield, author and founder of Malabar Farm.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 25th Market Report

It's Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville!

This week's weather forecast includes afternoon sunny skies, temperatures in the high 70s, slightly elevated humidity, and a sustained breeze. Sounds like an awesome day to shop until we come upon the guest who never knows when to leave - the forecast for a 51%* chance of a thunderstorm between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. (We are also paying attention to NOAA's rain prediction since it's at 37%!)

Bittersweet news indeed: This will probably be the last week for strawberries. My, what a sweet season it's been! Michele Doran of Doran's Family Farm tells us they'll have strawberries today but not at the same level of the past two weeks.

This week's confirmed market line-up: Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Bildsten Landscape, Blue Jacket Dairy, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Dan the Baker, Pleiades Maple Products, Swainway Urban Farm, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Doran's Family Farm.

We have a firm hope-so from Dana Lee's and Ohio Farm Direct. (Ohio Farm Direct may not be able to even leave the farm due to high water!)

This week we have two community partners, Westerville Public Library and Westerville Police Division (making up for a schedule conflict earlier this month).

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio!

Have a great Market Wednesday! See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 18th Market Report

It's Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville! While calendar summer hasn't arrived, nature tells us summer's already here! Weatherwise, the forecast calls for sunny skies, with a few clouds, a sustained breeze, medium-range to high humidity, and feels like temperatures in the 90s.

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is open for business @ N. State and E. Home Streets, from 3 p.m to 6 p.m., each Wednesday, through October 29th.

Today's confirmed market line-up: Sweet Thing Gourmet, Dan the Baker, Swainway Urban Farm, Bildsten Landscape, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farm, Flying J Farm, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Dana Lee's, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Salsas and Sauces.

We expect to see and are awaiting confirmation from Blue Jacket Dairy.

They've got the power! Westerville Electric Division is today's community partner.

Pleiades Maple Products will be out this week, Eddlie Lou Meimer is attending a farming conference.

Meza @ 48 N. State, just south of the market space, features a specially-priced drink during market hours. Today, Meza is serving two special cocktails - red sangria and peach bellinis.

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: A Garden Riddle

What did the carrot say to the wheat? 

Lettuce rest, I'm feeling beet. - Shel Silverstein

Carrots from Swainway Urban Farm.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Happy Father's Day!

My father gave me the greatest gift

anyone could give another person; 

he believed in me. - Jim Valvano

Happy Father's Day!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 11th Market Report

 

It's Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville! Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home Streets (through October 29th)!

Today's Weather Update: The market "mantra" is Life Happens. Farming Happens. Nature Happens. And, to borrow from baseball's Master of Words & Phrases, Yogi Berra, today's weather is a touch of deja vu all over again. Temperatures in the 70s (remember these days in August!), a breeze, clouds, and... D'oh... a 52% chance of a thunderstorm between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. (so over that!!).

Long-term forecasts do indicate a positive change in the weather pattern for Wednesday afternoons – yes, please!!!! We very much appreciate your sense of humor, patience, and continued weekly visits to Market Wednesday in spite of the weather!!

This week's confirmed Vendor line-up:

Sweet Thing Gourmet, Dan the Baker, Pleiades Maple Products, Swainway Urban Farm, Bildsten Landscape, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm, Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Dana Lee's, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas.

We expect to see, but don't have a confirmation yet from Blue Jacket Dairy.

This week's community partner is Westerville Police Division. (We will see WPD Crime Prevention Specalists Pierre La Rose and Preston Tarte around 3:30 or so this afternoon.)

Each Wednesday, Meza @ 48 N. State (just steps south from the market space), features a specially-priced Market Wednesday cocktail. Today's feature is: a Blackberry, Mint and Moscato Refresher! $5. served during the market hours. We appreciate Meza's continued support each week and encourage you to visit Meza, a great resource for wine pairing ideas that complement your market fare choices!

See you at the market!!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: The Nature of Fresh Ingredients

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat

match the beat of the universe to match

your nature with nature. - Joseph Campbell

Strawberries from Doran's Family Farm.

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated

masterpieces - just good food

from fresh ingredients. - Julia Child

Potted basil from Bildsten Landscape.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Green Acres

Get a taste of urban agriculture this Sunday, June 8th, Joseph Swain of Swainway Urban Farm is hosting an Open House from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Clintonville @ 285 Canyon Dr., Columbus 43214.

To learn more about Market Wednesday vendor Swainway Urban Farm, click or touch here. 

Click or touch here for Google Maps.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: June 4th Market Report

This is the first Market Wednesday in June!

Home grown. Home made. All Ohio. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home Streets in Uptown Westerville.

When it comes to the weather, we're all just along for the ride! So, here we go, five weeks in a row with a 51% chance of a thunderstorm between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. 

(We are not going to mess with a winning streak by mentioning that we have dodged all storms so far this season. You never heard that from us!) 

Rain we dance in - storms are another story. Here's the low down - there is a storm moving our way that should arrive around lunchtime, but that will help us during market hours. According to weather forecasts - that lunchtime storm will dissipate the building energy and, along with the cloud cover, discourage formation of storms during market hours. Southern Franklin County and southern Ohio are expected to see any storm activity. So, we'll be here - even if we see you long enough to shop and dash. Thank you for weathering the weather right along with us!

Otherwise - high 70s, a nice breeze, and low humidity are in the forecast for market hours this afternoon. 

This week's Market Wednesday confirmed line-up:  Doran's Family Farm, Hartzler Family Dairy, Bridgman Farm, Ohio Farm Direct, Sugar B Bakery, Chuck Evans' Montezuma Brand Sauces and Salsas, Sweet Thing Gourmet, Dan the Baker, Pleiades Maple Products, Swainway Urban Farm, Bildsten Landscape, Fox Hollow Farm, Bird's Haven Farms, Flying J Farm.

We expect to see, but are waiting on confirmation from Dana Lee's.

And, Blue Jacket Dairy will be letting us know around noon if they are attending today's market.

This week's community partner is Westerville Senior Center. 

See you at the market!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: First of the Season

The color.   The aroma.  The flavor.  That first taste of the season.

Doran's Family Farm is bringing strawberries to market this week.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Piece of Cake

Blog contributor, Laura Nethers, shares a cake recipe with a sweet, crisp, cool twist:

Watermelon Cake Recipe 

I recently discovered this recipe on Facebook and decided to make it for our Memorial Day cookout. 

The cake was a huge success with my family and friends, and is a very delicious and healthy option perfect for picnics, cookouts, family gatherings or any hot summer day. 

Despite how it looks, it's very easy to assemble and takes very little time. I made it in less than a half hour, including prep time, and keeping in mind this was the first time I made it.

Ingredients:

Medium size seedless watermelon (try to find one that is shaped well for the size cake you want, and is free of dents)
1 container of whipped cream
Assortment of fresh berries and/or your choice of fruit (I used sliced strawberries,
blueberries, and raspberries)
Sliced almonds (or any nut of your choosing)

Directions:

Rinse and dry your choice of berries or fruit toppings. Set aside.

Cut the small ends of the watermelon off so that it's level.

Cut the rind off around the sides of the watermelon.

Make sure the size fits in your cake container and trim off any excess.

Dry the outside of the watermelon with paper towels so the whip cream will stick.

Slather on a layer of whip cream thick enough to completely cover the watermelon.

Arrange berries on the top of the watermelon, as well as around the bottom edge if you like.

Sprinkle the sides with sliced almonds.

Tips:

The assembled cake is easily cut with a sharp chopping knife, perhaps the same knife you used to cut the rind off of the watermelon.

Refrigerate the watermelon beforehand for a chilled cake.

Lasts in the fridge, potentially for up to a week, but it's best when eaten fresh.

Thanks, Laura!

While, it's early yet, in Central Ohio, for watermelon, locally grown is the sweetest - look for watermelon this summer on Market Wednesday!

For more information:

Cancer Truth timeline photos on facebook.


Photos courtesy of Laura Nethers and Cancer Truth.