Spring is in the air!

the-effect-of-snow-at-argenteuil-1874.jpg!Blog
Early Spring snow. Painting by Alfred Sisley 1874

Sweetwater Local Foods Market

Saturday, March 23rd, 2013, 9:00am to 1:00pm
 Mercy Health Partners/Hackley Health at the Lakes
On 6401 Harvey St. at US31/Pontaluna Rd. Exit. 1st Bldg North of Pontaluna Rd.

We accept Bridge Cards Year Round!

 

Spring is here! (no, really!)

Even though winter persists in hanging around outdoors, inside the hoops the greens think it’s Spring! This week come get some SPINACH!

 

SAVE THE DATE: Next Saturday, March 30 at 10:30am

CHASING SPRING EASTER EGG HUNT!

http://sweetwaterlocalfoodsmarket.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/easter-egg-poster.pdf

 

CSA Info at the Market!

3 of our vendors will have CSA info available, see end of newsletter for details.

 

Attending this week’s market:

Funny Farm of Grant

Spinach & Spring Mix!

 

Maple Moon Farm of Shelby

This week we have SPINACH, fresh picked from the hoop.

Our delicious and versatile Red LaSoda potatoes are still storing well.  Come and get the last of potatoes.

We have our normal spread of herbals; teas, creams, lip balms, and few remaining salves.  Do you want something herbal that we don’t make?  Let us know!

PRE-ORDER ONLY: Sliced bacon and ground breakfast sausage from our pasture raised pigs.  Our pigs forage and have access to non-GMO grain.  Please email orders to maplemoonfarm@gmail.com by Friday evening.

We are seeing sure signs of spring coming, which means more veggies!  Check out our FB page for photos and updates on what is growing on our farm.  Did you see the wee tomato plants poking out of the soil?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maple-Moon-Farm/266858233357042

 

Liberty Family Farm of Hart

Hoop house Offerings

Spinach, Spinach and more Spinach!

Bakery Offerings

New!  Gluten Free Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies… Delicious!

Regular Breakfast Cookie Flavors

Morning Glory, Blueberry and Banana Muffins

Pizzettas, Multigrain Rolls, Ciabatta

New!  Hot Cross Bun Loaf

Butternut Squash Galettes, Spinach and Cheddar Quiche & Turnovers..

Gluten Free Brownies and Sandwich loaves and Quiches!

Hope to See You at the Market!  Timothy is still in Colorado shearing

sheep.  He will be back next market.

 

Earthscape Farm of Hesperia

Cabbage – red, smooth green, and Savoy.  Potatoes ~ Red Norland, White (Kennebec, Russet, Bintje, Augusta).  We have really nice ones and some seconds. Garlic.

Eggs ~ our own, and we will be selling Nic and Carolyn’s (Crow Feather Farm) eggs, too.

The BOBIER BEEF Story ~  Our steers and cows were born on our Farm, as were their great-great-great Grandmothers.  We’ve been doing rotational pastures since the 70’s.  We only buy bulls for breeding, and they come from reputable farmers in Michigan.  Our cows raise their own calves until they are weaned at about 9 months.  We raise our own hay, plus what we buy comes from our own neighborhood so we know how it was grown. Our cattle have access to 3-5 acre yards through the winter, with some barn access, fresh water, bedding straw, and all the hay they can eat.  The steers get minimal amounts of homegrown and ground grain during the colder months (like Dessert!).  We think this makes our beef tasty and tender, with all the benefits of grass-fed beef, too!

We are picking up another pallet of beef today so should have all cuts available! 

At the market this week:

Ground beef  1 lb pkgs, or our ground special below.

PRE-ORDER OUR GROUND BEEF SPECIAL to be sure to get some!  10 packages for $48.

New item! Ground Beef Patties!  1/4 lb each, 2-4 to a package

Ground Sirloin

Bone-In:  Rib, T-Bone and Porterhouse Steaks

Boneless:  Tenderloin – Do a stir-fry with a small package or grill some larger steaks!

We recently found a package of tenderloin from 2009 on the bottom of the home freezer.  Still as delicious, mouth watering, tender.  Vacuum-packing really keeps beef from getting freezer burn.

Boneless:  NY Strip, Sirloin and RibEye Steaks.

Roasts:  Rolled Rump, Arm and Chuck

Stew Meat

Swiss Steak & Round Steak

Short Ribs, also good for meaty soups

Tongue,  Liver and Heart

ORGANIC OLIVE OIL ~ Fair Trade, too!  Imported by Higher Grounds in Traverse City

HIGHER GROUNDS COFFEE in 1# bags.  Certified organic, Fair Trade. Various types, beans or ground, dark or light roast, full caf, half caf or decaf. Try a cup at the Sweetwater Market table!

 

Shady Side Farm of Holland

Mike of Shady Side Farm will be at market again this week with his wool products and certified organic beans. It’s maple syrup season, and so we’ll feature the Jacob’s Cattle Gold Beans as our Special of the Week. This week the 2-lb. bags will be available for $10, regularly $11.50. Jacob’s Cattle Gold Beans are eye-catching heirloom beans that are a stabilized cross between Jacob’s Cattle and Paint Beans. This unique bean is gold in color and has white speckled markings. It soaks up flavors well and holds its shape under long cooking.

Mike will also have along Lona’s handwoven rag rugs this week.

 

Maple Creek Sugars of Fremont

NEW!! We are busy at the farm boiling for 1400 taps! Tate Luchies will be bringing the first of the 2013 Maple Syrup this Saturday, and he will also have order forms on hand if you want to place an order for Grade B Maple Syrup -first come first served.  Grade B is wonderful for health drinks (most of us agree that it contains more minerals), excellent for cooking/baking (richer in flavor, see recipe above), and some people like it better in that it can “go a little further” as most people use less of it due to the slightly richer flavor. We are anticipating a great year!

 

Laughing Tree Brick Oven Bakery of Hart

Our friend Debbie is plumb out of her stock of Walnut Batards so it’s time to include them in the rotation for the week.  We’ll bring them to the Sweetwater Local Foods Market this weekend where you’ll also find currant scones, lots of greens grown by a myriad of local farm types, and beautiful art for daily use.  We love being a part of such a dynamic market scene!  Hope to see you there.

This week’s goodies:

Mountain Crunch Granola (pure vanilla, toasted almonds, and organic coconut oil) and Laughing Tree Peanut Butter Granola (all-natural PB, pure vanilla, and Michigan honey).

Both of these granolas are baked in our wood-fired brick oven after the intense bread-baking heat has dissipated (after several days).  They are baked at a low temperature to ensure that the nutrients in the grains and seeds remain intact!  Please note, these granolas are SWEETENED ONLY WITH MICHIGAN HONEY!  There is absolutely no refined sugar in them.

OUR EIGHT WEEKLY BREAD VARIETIES:     

Homesteader’s Wheat (An extraordinary light wheat bread with a wonderfully chewy crust) $5.00

Oceana Round  ( Rustic Italian country bread) $5.00

Third Coast Three Seed  (Sunnies, Sesames, and Flax in a light wheat) $5.50

The Michigander (made with Michigan-grown whole wheat—dark and soulful) $5.50

Annie’s Raisin Spice (sweet organic raisins, organic cinnamon, and freshly ground cardamon) $6.00

Griff’s 8-Grain (Hearty, hearty! Eight organic grains and a bit of Michigan honey) $6.50

Finn’s Pecan Raisin Pecan (Jam packed with pecans and organic raisins) $8.25

100% whole grain Kamut: Light and moist with a fruity flavor, a great loaf for folks with wheat sensitivities. $6.00

SPECIALTY BREAD BAKE SCHEDULE 

Toasted Walnut Batard: (aromatic toasted walnuts lend a lovely nuttiness and a purple hue to this versatile batard) $6.50

Chile Cheddar   Whoa, pickled jalapeno peppers coupled with mild cheddar cheese makes for great flavor with a little kick.  Fresh or toasted, great as an accompaniment to soup or chili.  $8.00

Pastries available for Saturday:

Cranberry Orange Scones

Truly Ginger Scones

Michigan Cherry Scones

Currant Scones

(All our scones are $2.25 each* and are handmade with our own fresh eggs, organic cream, and organic butter)

Deep Mud Brownies $2.75 each* Our brownies are made with extraordinary Callebaut dark chocolate, our own fresh eggs, and Michigan grown organic barley flour—they are amazing!!

Orange Mud Brownies $2.75 each* Deep Mud brownies infused with dried, candied oranges.

 

Chickadee Creek Farm of Nunica

We will be at market Saturday with more of our Mulefoot pork products for sale.   We will have chops, smoked ham slices, leaf and back fat, sweet Italian sausage, hot Italian sausage, picnic roast, and hopefully much more depending on whether we get our next batch of meat back from the processer in time.   If you haven’t tried our pork yet—you are missing out!

 

Hickory Ridge Family Farm of Ferry

Will be demonstrating how to cook pork chops. Be sure to check our stock of Easter Hams! Weights range from 4 to six pounds. Nitrate-free. Raised on pasture, our pigs get 60% of their diet from foraging. We’ll have all other cuts: bacon, pork steaks, ham roasts, ham slices, ham hocks, ground pork in one pound pkgs, shoulder roasts and our newest product –  Smoked Ham Ends & Pieces! Use for flavoring all your soups, stews and casseroles.

 

Creswick Farms of Ravenna

Pasture Raised, Antibiotic & Hormone Free, Artisanal Meats

Need Eggs? Come early before they are sold out!

Brown and beautiful! Fresh Squeezed Daily!!! The girls are working hard but it’s that short time of year. Please only order what you need so that everyone can get some!

Grassfed Beef Steaks, Roasts, Stew Meat and Ground Beef – we got em!

Sweet Swine O’mine Pastured Pork Chops, Tenderloins, Steaks, Roast – So many choices! Handcrafted Sausages – Bratwurst, Kielbasa, Breakfast links, etc. Carolina Style Pulled Pork

Tired of cooking? Try our pulled pork, just add your favorite BBQ sauce, warm it up and go! We are offering it without sauce so you can tailor to your own taste, also store bought pulled pork has sauce added to lower the price. 1 pound packages. $8.00/lb.

Need Bacon to go with the eggs?   We’ve got that too – Apple & Hickory Smoked, Apple/Cinnamon, Black Pepper & Garlic and Cajun!

For a current price list of our products, please follow this link: http://www.creswickfarms.com/pricelist.html

 

Saving Face Organics of Fruitport

Save $2 on this Saturday’s Special! Typical perfumes contain phthalates and alcohol among other dangerous things. A good resource to read up on about phthalates is www.healthreport.co.uk.  SFO perfume is made with essential oils and witch hazel instead of alcohol. 🙂

Regularly $12 but this week’s Sweetwater special is $10.

About SFO: Less than two years ago Susie Meyers became concerned about all the unknown chemicals in her body care products. She started to make her own, and then give samples away. Reaction was immediate and so overwhelmingly positive she started making cleansers, make-ups, masks, scrubs and lotions. Now she has also added products for men, and children!

 

Bees & Botanicals of Spring Lake 

   Pretty, Practical, Eco-friendly and Organic!

Our soaps are made with organic ingredients, no foaming agents added, only rosemary extract for preservative and only essentials oils used for a nice variety of scents (unscented also available) –  Lavender, Lavender Citrus, Honey, Shea & Oats, Simply Rosemary,Lemongrass Tea, Oats & Spice,Orange,  Vanilla & Oats (Dreamsicle)

By request – Soap Dishs now available in both pine and cedar
Pretty draw Cord embroidered bag with 2 oz. bar available in the Orange, Vanilla & Oats and Lavender (make nice gifts)

Fragrant and versatile Organic Lavender – Organza, embroidered, and hand colored organic Lavender Sachets.  Add natural fragrance to drawers, closets, clothing in storage, travel bags, desk drawers… it smells sweet, clean & fresh but also known to be a natural relaxant and also a moth deterrent.

100% Michigan beeswax candles; natural, bright, clean and long burning.

Tea lights back in stock!

 

Pet Chef Lakeshore of Twin Lake

I will not be at market this week, however PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP.  Dog/cat food pre-orders can be picked up at the market through Amy Oak. Orders can be placed no later than FRIDAY evening by calling Barb at 231-288-9805, or email petcheflakeshore@gmail.com and Amy will have your order available at the market between 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. If you can’t make it to market during that time frame, Barb will personally deliver your order the following week.  Pet Chef Lakeshore will return to market on March 30.

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What is a CSA?

The vendors listed below are all accepting applications for CSA Shares for 2013.

Community Supported Agriculture connects farmers with people who want the freshest, most local produce in-season. It works like a cooperative – you buy a share of the season’s produce and get a variety of vegetables every week of the summer (with extended options for those who want to include fall and spring veggies from hoophouse farmers).  Joining a CSA lets you support a family farm and help them get started early in the spring when capital is most needed. It is by far the most economical way a family can “buy local” and support the movement while getting the freshest, most nutritious produce possible.

 

Five Oaks Farm of Montague

We’re so excited to be offering several different CSA options this season including a Main Season, Peak Season, Extended Season and a Bridge Card Share. Stop by and meet our 2013 Farm Interns, Logan Jancek & Walker Hopkins and get info about our CSA!

 

Funny Farm of Grant

Long time Muskegon area organic farmers Jim and Barb Loe are offering a CSA again this year.

 

CJ Veggies of Zeeland

Charles Johnson will be at the market again this week with info about his CSA.

 

Friends of the Market

If you would like to become a Friend of the Market for a suggested donation of $20.00, which entitles you to a free cup of coffee at every market you attend for a full year, please see me at the market this Saturday! We will also have  Higher Grounds Coffee by the Cup for a suggested donation of $1.00.

 

Diana Jancek
Market Manager

Contact info: (231)292-1152, dijaan1@charter.net

 

We are a BRIDGE CARD marke