Showing posts with label farmers markets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farmers markets. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Farmers' Market Lovefest

Saturday’s farmers market was a blow out, literally. High winds kept us gripping our sunshade for the first half of the market. We then peeled off the fabric as we could no longer take all the tent gripping we were doing – can’t grip the sunshade and serve customers at the same time. Some sunshades were damaged – mostly bent legs. Feel sorry for the folks who now have to replace the sunshade. We really can’t be without them as there’s no shade and constant exposure to sun wilts produce in a hurry.

And the best part of the day was selling out – well, almost selling out. It was truly incredible. One Hmong lady stopped by and purchased all our 6 year-old asparagus roots! She wants to grow asparagus and sell at the market next year. All the garlic is gone and only three or four raspberry plants remain. One chap on a bike purchased raspberry plants, and shoved them in his backpack. He spent quite some time trying to figure out how to get a 3 ft. tall tomato plant home on the bike, and decided to return next week better equipped to transport a tall tomato. Off he pedaled, all happy with his farmers market purchases packed into his backpack – he was grinning from ear to ear.

About 15 minutes later, a guy arrived in a car, which he parked right in front of us (we sell in a community park, and our stand is right on the sidewalk next to the street; so people can park right in front of us). He came right over to us, with a big grin on his face. I thought he was bike guy sans baseball cap, especially when he headed for those same tomatoes that bike guy was coveting. Not so – not bike guy, totally different guy, equally interested in tomatoes. The sale is quickly completed, and off he goes with tomato just as the market is closing. We’ll have to wait for next week to see bike guy and how he plans to transport tomatoes on his bike. I think we’re gonna have some cardboard boxes and twine at the market that can be used to make a temporary bike transport device for those folks have found so many good things at the farmers market.

All excited to have local honey for the next market. And cds from our friend Becky, who just cut her first cd. Is that the right way to put it – cut a cd? Anyway Becky will be performing at our booth one of these Saturdays. She has an incredible voice, and is so positive and friendly. I love being around her.

And I’m busy sewing market bags from reclaimed, upcycled fabrics and findings. Today saw two pretty yellow and green kitchen towels – the cotton kind with the design printed on – become really cute market bags. One has green handles cut from a Thai skirt; the other has handles made from yellow ribbon with white polka dots. Both look so good – makes me want to run to the nearest farmers market and fill them up with the freshest veggies I can find.

The newest sewing trick is adjusting the size of the market bag and making it a bike bag. It has long handles on is so one can carry it through the market or grocery. A couple buttons and fabric loops allow the bag to be attached to bike handlebars. Got the idea from a Copenhagen bike blog I read each day. I’m thinking these will sell at the farmers market, as we note more and more bike traffic each week.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Our next gathering


Urban Garden Gang* Update

We'll be gathering on Wednesdays, June 4 & June 18 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Stumpjack Coffee Co., 1606 Washington Street, Two Rivers. The format for these two gatherings will be a 15 minute presentation, followed by conversation, question and answers, sharing photos, etc. Come when you can, stay as long as you can.

We know you are busy with your gardens, but we want to stay in touch during the gardening season. Our goal is to support urban gardening in it's many forms. Besides, it's just fun to sit down with fellow gardeners, have a great coffee drink, and talk gardening! Bring your friends along - let people know about us.

Do you have photos of your urban garden? Do you have questions or comments about urban gardening? Post here or send us an email (see addy below).

We've taken vendor space at the Two Rivers Farmers' and Artisans Market on Saturdays. Stop down and see us - the market is open from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays. You'll find us near the band stand - look for the Urban Garden Gang sign.

We are currently selling fresh produce and bedding plants from Soozee's urban garden, rain barrels, Maria's market bags and other items made from repurposed fabrics. We also carry other local items (more items added each week):

Maple syrup
Six-year old asparagus roots and sprouted garlic cloves from an organic garden
Rhubarb from an urban gardener

We're looking for other locally raised or produced items - especially those with a sustainable theme or feature. Do you have something that you might want to offer through our booth? We'd be happy to work with you to make that happen, just send us an email.


*Where did that name come from - Urban Garden Gang
?
We were having a coffee at Stumpjack Coffee Company and tossing out names for the urban garden group. We didn't want to use the word "group" or "club", so we were coming up with some unique suggestions - mostly we were struggling with the name. David, primo barrista that he is, looked at us over the screen of his laptop and said, "Why don't you call yourselves the Urban Garden Gang?" - and there it is, our new name. David chuckled as he noted that our acronym would be UGG. Thank you, David.


Friday, May 16, 2008

Where you can find us this weekend

Well, we've taken the plunge. You can find us in a vendor stall at the farmers' market. Yep, we'll have urban gardening info and urban garden "stuff" for sale. And.........fresh, fresh, fresh plants and produce. So excited................

And you'll be able to find us hanging out at Stumpjack Coffee Company on some Wednesday evenings chatting about urban gardening with all our new garden friends - information exchange. We'll get more information posted as the plans are firmed up.

And one final plug for the Art & About Spring Gallery Tour on Friday and Saturday. Hope to see you there. Really cool art by really cool artisans.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

List of cool sites to visit for info on urban gardens and eating local

BLOGS AND WEB SITES TO VISIT

URBAN GARDENING, LOCAL EATING AND WHAT HAVE YOU

urbangardengathering.blogspot.com/ - Urban Garden Gathering – information on the urban garden and local eating scene in and around Two Rivers, WI

drsooz.blogspot.com/ - photo documentary of an urban backyard garden

garden.manty.us/ - Community gardens in the city of Manitowoc

uwmantygogreen.blogspot.com/ - UW Manitowoc green blog

www.manitowoc.org/comm_farm_home.html - Manitowoc Farmers’ Market

www.trmainstreet.org/events/fcmkt/farmmkt.html - Two Rivers Farmers’ & Artisans Market

wisconsinlocalfood.wetpaint.com/ - Wisconsin local food network

www.arts4all.com/elca/ - container gardening

cityfarmer.org – City Farming (urban gardening in Canada)

homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/comiclife/ - City Farmer Comics

foodnotlawns.com - just what it says: grow food instead of lawns - really cool site

www.squarefootgardening.com/ - Square foot gardening

www.ehow.com/video_1745_create-seed-starting.html - how to make newspaper seed starting pots

www.greentreks.org/allprograms/roughterrain/urbangardening/index.asp - urban gardens

www.sacgardens.org/ - urban gardens

www.urbangardeninghelp.com/ - urban garden help, tips

adventuresinmyurbangarden.blogspot.com/ - blog from an east coast urban gardener

www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.html - 10 steps to becoming a locavore

www.eatlocalchallenge.com/ - tips on eating local

www.milwaukeeurbangardens.org/ - urban gardens in Milwaukee


Let us know if you have other sites we might add to this list.