Sweetwater ‘Almost Spring’ Market Saturday March 14

iStock_000005755277XSmall
First of Early Spring Spinach Greens this Saturday!
Sweetwater Local Foods Market
Saturday, March 14th, 2015, 9:00am to 12:00 noon
Mercy Health Lakes Campus
On 6401 Harvey St. at US31/Pontaluna Rd. Exit. 1st Bldg North of Pontaluna Rd.
We are a Bridge Card Market!
NOW OPEN EVERY SATURDAY from 9 to 12!

Tortilla Demo!
Interested in learning to make corn tortilla using local organic corn?  Come to market between 10a-11a for a free ongoing demo.  Amanda (from Maple Moon Farm) will be showing you how to make traditional corn masa.  Use masa to make fresh tortillas, tamales, cornbread and more.  You will have an opportunity to press you own tortilla and eat it!  We’ll be using corn from Shady Side Farm.

Maple Syrup Demo!
Travel to the Olson Farm of Shelby this weekend to watch sap gathered & turned into maple syrup!
Jim Olson is busy boiling this year’s batch of Taste of Spring Syrup and is inviting anyone who wants to come out! Jim says he will have a fire for people to roast hot dogs & join him in the sugar shack in the woods on the farm. His cell phone for people to call is 231-301-2278.

Attending this week’s market:

New Vendor!
The Roaring Mouse of Hart
Titus Vandezande, owner of The Roaring Mouse, lives near
Hart, MI with his wife Ashley and 3 young children. He began roasting coffee
a  year ago and has now become obsessed with the process.
In his own words: ‘I believe that a great cup of coffee should be an experience, instead
of just a caffeine delivery system. I start with the best organically
grown coffees from around the world. I make sure they are purchased by
my suppliers at a price which is fair to the farmer. My single origin
coffees are typically roasted to a light or medium level, since their
individual character will be best tasted in a lighter roast.’
Here at The Roaring Mouse, we believe freshness is a very important
factor in making a great cup of coffee. Coffee tastes the best brewed
within 2 weeks of roasting. We will be providing whole bean coffee
only, which will be roasted fresh every week. All coffees are
available by the ounce, so you can get the perfect amount to last all
week.
This week we will be roasting:
•       Bolivia Fair Trade Organic – a sweet rich cup with chocolate notes.
Very good with dessert.
•       Ethiopia Sidama Fair Trade Organic – a complex cup with berry notes
and a sweet finish. This is one of our favorites!
•       Mexico Terruño Nayarita Organic – a bright, rich cup with caramel
notes and a sweet finish. This is another great cup from a group of
small farmers in Mexico. It is claimed to be the best coffee in
Mexico, and the farmers get a high price for the quality.
•       Decaffinated Peru Fair Trade Organic – rich and sweet, with
chocolate and caramel notes. A very delicious decaf! This coffee was
decaffeinated using the Mountain Water Process. It is a natural,
chemical free process which allows the bean to retain much of its
unique flavor.

Come taste the fresh difference! Brewed samples will be available for
all coffees!

For questions or to place a pre-order please contact me at:

phone: (231)742-0229
email: titus@theroaringmouse.com
FB: www.facebook.com/theroaringmousecoffee

Liberty Family Farm of hart
Pork, lamb and chicken and we will also have the usual baked goods.

Maple Moon Farm of Shelby
This week we’ll be bringing
*EARLY SPRING SPINACH (limited amounts this week, lots more coming next week)
*CARROTS
*POTATOES
*GARLIC (organic/biodynamic grown by our friends at Earthkeeper)
*BROTH BAGS
*DRIED HERBS;
*BASIL
*OREGANO
*ROSEMARY
*CELERY LEAF
*FRENCH TARRAGON
*WHOLE CAYENNE AND GEORGIA FLAME
*CRUSHED RED PEPPER
*LEEK POWDER
*DRIED SLICED LEEKS
*EGGS
*HERBAL TEAS
*LIP BALM
*HERBAL SALVES AND CREAMS

**BOTANICAL EGG DYES**
We have put together 100% plant material dyes for eggs.(organic and fair trade botanicals) Beautiful, rich colors.  One kit comes with 9 dye packets capable of making all the colors of the rainbow.  Safe for you, the environment, and all the hands that touch your colored eggs.
$10 per kit
Maple Moon Farm
1224 S.144th Ave
Shelby, MI 49455
(231)861-2535
Check us out on Facebook

Funny Farm of Grant
Jim has been busy in his woodworking  shop, assembling lots of new projects. Come see his cutting boards and small boxes made  from locally sourced hardwoods and highlighted with beautiful exotic  woods.
Every piece is unique and individual. New projects nearly every day.
We will have
Eggs from our mixed flock
Dried shiitake mushrooms
Dried onions
Dried sweet peppers
Pink Himalayan Sea salt
Black Hawaiian finishing salt
Asst dried herbs
Barb has been busy in her workshop, too.
Come see the new designs at  Baubles by Barb.
Have something you’d like to have restrung or remade  into a new piece?
Custom pieces using your beads, etc is available.

Shady Side Farm of Holland
This week I’ll be at market with our certified organic beans, all harvested last fall, in the following varieties:
Black Turtle – Common black bean with a thick skin and a meaty texture.
Black Valentine – Taste like kidney beans, great for salads, soups and dips.
Hidatsa Red – (Almost gone–get them now!) Slight nutty taste, use in chili or red beans and rice.
Hutterite Soup – Comfort food, cook fast, creamy soup, baby food.
Jacob’s Cattle – Big and meaty, taste & texture of new potatoes, traditional baked beans, chili.
Jacob’s Cattle Gold – Hold shape w/ long cooking, soak up other flavors well, soups and stews.
October – (Almost gone–get them now!) Creamy, velvety smooth texture, nutty, sweet flavor, thin skin, soups or chili.
Painted Lady – Slightly sweet bean, smooth, creamy texture, good in everything.
Pinto – Earthy flavor, great in Mexican cooking, falls apart under long cooking.

Please let me know ahead of time if you’d like to order 5# bags of any one variety, so that I can pre-bag those and bring them along.

In addition, I’ll have Grassfield Farms raw aged cheeses along in the following flavors:
Aged Cheddar – You asked, and we listened! A sharp cheddar, aged a year. Award-winning!
Chili – Gouda with Red Chili flakes, this mild and creamy cheese has delightful spice without being too hot.
Country Dill – A house favorite, the dill herb in Gouda well represents the fresh grass that dominates the cows’ diet.
Crofters (NEW!) – This delicious cheese is aged 1 year with a medium sharp taste. The texture is dry and crumbly. Very similar to Parmesan.
Edam – A variety of Gouda made with skim milk: Elastic, yet firm, this flawless low fat cheese is our best melter, improving any dish.
Garlic & Onion – The most aromatic of herbs. Don’t be the only one in the room to eat this spiced Gouda or you soon will be.
Gouda – A traditional handmade cheese in keeping with West Michigan’s (and our family’s) Dutch culture.
Lamont Cheddar – A rare, natural rind English cheese, named for the Grand River’s first settlement near our farm.
Leyden – Originally from the Rhine Valley, now the Grand River Valley; cumin perfectly compliments this aged Dutch cheese.
Also, if there is anything woolly that you are interested in, it doesn’t hurt to shoot me an email. I can’t take everything along every week, so let me know what you’d like me to focus on. Hope to see you Saturday!

Lona

Laughing Tree Bakery of Hart
Greetings from Laughing Tree Brick Oven Bakery—
Well our garden seeds have arrived!  I haven’t actually opened the box yet because that would mean it’s time to think about starting seeds and I’ve still got to finish cleaning out the basement before spring hits!  So much to do, so little time… I keep imagining that this dynamic somehow changes but all of my older friends assure me that THIS IS AN ILLUSION!  Yikes!  We are truly grateful to have such a full life with so many worthwhile tasks to attend to each day—the bakery among them.  This summer will mark our fifth full year of baking here at Laughing Tree.  How can this be?!  We are so grateful for your continued support and for the opportunity to bake for you, for those you love, and for those we love.
If you pre-order this week (or any time) please include your PHONE NUMBER.  Thanks!!
OUR TEN WEEKLY VARIETIES
Homesteader’s Wheat (An extraordinary light wheat bread with a wonderfully chewy crust) $5.50
 Oceana Round  ( Rustic Italian country bread) $5.00
 Third Coast Three Seed  (Sunnies, Sesames, and Flax in a light wheat) $6.00
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 cardamom) $6.50
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) $8.75
100% whole grain Kamut: Light and moist with a fruity flavor, a great loaf for folks with wheat sensitivities. $6.50
Elbridge Parmesan Olive (Sumptuous parmesan and Kalamata black olives) $8.00
Pilgrim Rye: A German-style rye made with cracked rye berries and OG Spelt Flour.  (No wheat flour).  Slice it thin to enjoy this dark and hearty loaf.  $6.50 a loaf.
SPECIALTY BREAD BAKE SCHEDULE
Cheddar Peppercorn (Smooth Vermont Cheddar accompanied by tongue tingling black pepper).  Price $8.00
Pumpernickel Rye (A new twist on an old Eastern European standard.  Cracked Rye and Caraway seed in a dark, chewy loaf) $6.00
PASTRIES AVAILABLE FOR SATURDAY 
Deep Mud Brownies Our brownies are made with extraordinary Callebaut dark chocolate, our own fresh eggs, and Michigan grown organic barley flour—they are amazing!! $3.25 each
Pecan Maple Oaties $2.50 each- Made with Real Michigan Maple Syrup, Pecans, and organic raisins
 Hilltopper Cookies– Molasses Ginger cookies…A 4oz cookie sweetened with golden molasses and bits of candied ginger)  $2.50 each
Blueberry Scones
Cranberry Orange Scones
Truly Ginger Scones
Michigan Cherry Scones
Pecan Date Scones
Our delicious scones are $2.50
They are all made with organic butter, organic cream, and fresh local eggs!
MOUNTAIN CRUNCH GRANOLA (Local Honey, almonds, OG oats, OG coconut oil, OG sunflower seeds, OG coconut, safflower oil, sea salt)  $8.00/pound
LAUGHING TREE PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA (OG oats, OG sunflower seeds, OG coconut, all-natural Peanut butter, OG coconut oil, sea salt)  $8.00/pound

Provision Family Farm
Get ready for your Easter celebration with our Grass-fed Lamb!  For anyone who wants to guarantee specific items, email us at provisonfamilyfarms@gmail.com or call 231-689-0457 to RESERVE your cuts of meat. We will prepackage them for you and deliver them at market.
Beef
·            Hamburger                                                                                         $5.75/lb
·            Hamburger Bulk 10+ lbs                                                               $5.25/lb
·            Liver, Heart, Short Ribs, Kidney                                                        $4.00/lb
·            1/3lb Hamburger Patties (4 pack)                                                      $8.00/ea
·            Brisket, Stew, Chuck Roast, English Roast, Cube Steak, Shank       $6.50/lb
·            Chuck Eye, Rib Steak, Kabobs, T-bone, Rolled Rump                  $8.00/lb
Flat Iron (out of stock), Skirt, Flank, Sirloin                                      $11.00/lb
·            Porterhouse Steak, Tenderloin, Top Sirloin/NY strip                        $13.00/lb
Pork
·            Lard                                                                                                     $5.00/lb
·            Sausage (Italian, Breakfast)                                                               $6.00/lb
·            Bulk Sausage 10+ lbs                                                                        $5.50/lb
·            Ground Pork                                                                                   $6.00/lb
·            Spare Ribs                                                                                       $6.00/lb
·            Baby Back                                                                                     $9.00/lb
·            Tenderloin (out of stock)                                                                   $10.00/lb
·            Liver, Heart                                                                                     $4.00/lb
Lamb
·            Liver, Heart                                                                                            $6.00/lb
·            Shank                                                                                                $9.00/lb
·            Leg Roast                                                                                      $13.00/lb
·            Boneless Leg                                                                                   $14.00/lb
·            Steaks, Spare Ribs                                                                       $11.00/lb
·            Chops                                                                                            $13.00/lb
·            Rack                                                                                               $15.00/lb
Stew Meats
·            Lamb Bones, Beef Bones                                                         $2.00/lb
·            Pork Bones, Head                                                                         $2.00/lb
·            Chicken Backs                                                                                   $2.00/lb
·            Stewing Hens                                                                                     $2.75/lb
·            Beef Stew Meat                                                                                  $6.50/lb
·            Lamb Stew Meat                                                                       $10.00/lb
Chicken
·            Gizzards, Liver, Heart (out of stock)                                                     $2.00/lb
·            Stewing Chickens                                                                              $2.75/lb
·            Boneless Skinless Breasts (out of stock)                                         $9.00/lb
Eggs                                                                                                   $4.00/doz
Duck
·            Whole                                                                                            $6.00/lb
Turkey
·           Whole                                                                                            $4.75/lb

Earthscape Farm of Hesperia
Happy Spring!  We will be back at the Market on March 21st.
We have 2 quarters of beef for sale.  If you commit to it this week, it will be cut and wrapped to your specification next week.  Email earthscapefarm@gmail.com if you are interested.