Thank You All!

We want to thank everyone -- our customers, our vendors, our volunteers -- for coming out in advance of Hurricane Irene this morning. We hope you're well-stocked and prepared for the storm! We also want to send a very special thanks to the Cheverly Department of Public Works for helping us with taking the Market inside for the morning. Thank you all so much for supporting Cheverly Community Market...it means a great deal to all of us to be part of this wonderful community.

Photos will be posted soon...first, we need to batten down the hatches a bit! Please take the precautions you need to be safe.
UPDATE: Photos are up on our flickr page!

At the Market this Week: Shlagel Farm

Shlagel Farms will have all sorts of wonderful produce this Saturday morning. Stop by the Community Center and get fresh Shlagel Farms peaches, grape tomatoes, large tomatoes, collard greens and kale, cucumbers, squash, peppers (green, red and specialty), eggplant, watermelons, canteloupes, and eggs.

Great ingredients for nutritious -- and delicious -- meals this weekend and during the coming week!

At the Market this week: Benny's Market/Rebert Farm

Our farmers and vendors are busy with nature in truly unusual ways! From earthquakes to hurricanes and lots of stuff in between, they've really dealt with everything this week! We're so glad to have Benny's Market/Rebert Farm with us this weekend, and know that you will be, too! Matt Rebert sends us this note:

"Our weather has kept us on edge this week. We have had severe storms including hail. We will be bringing peaches, plums, pluots, cantaloupes, and tomatoes. We are also heading full steam into apple season so we will have a variety of eating apples as well."

Please make sure to stop by this Saturday morning and stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables to get you through the storm and into the coming week. The Reberts have such delicious additions to nutritious breakfasts, great sack lunches, healthy snacks, and wonderful dinners that you'll want to make sure to visit them early!

Who's Coming to the Market This Week: The Hurricane Irene Edition

We are so thankful to our intrepid vendors for coming out this Saturday morning for the Market. Please make sure to show them your appreciation! We'll be inside the Community Center, and we will close early if the weather becomes unsafe. Best bet? Come early, stock up on food before the storms arrive, and stay to enjoy some delicious BBQ, Jamaican treats, or coffee and pastries.We may even have a special surprise in store...you never know!

Vendors
Reberts/Benny's Market
Two Oceans Seafood
LavaPigs Barbeque
Cakes by Ruthann
C & E Farm
Kaylala Organic Apothecary
Shlagel Farm
St. Ambrose Ladies of Charity Common Ground Cafe

Of course, with the unsettled weather and uncertain storm track, changes may occur. Our advice? Come early -- we'll be open at 8am.

See you Saturday morning for what's sure to be a very special Cheverly Community Market!

Market Wather Update: Saturday Morning Is a Go!

After a lot of discussion with vendors, community members and Market personnel, we have decided to move ahead with Cheverly Community Market this Saturday! Please come visit us at the Community Center, 8:00am to noon. We may be inside, but we'll be there waiting for you!

We will have vendor updates and more information throughout the afternoon and evening so that you can stock up on fresh produce and other provisions in case we lose power in Cheverly (it's been known to happen!) With lines at the grocery stores promising to be endless, we'll be happy to offer great fresh food for you this weekend. Make the rest of your preparations, then plan to join us tomorrow morning at Cheverly Community Market!

An important update concerning weather this Saturday and plans for Cheverly Community Market

As everyone in the area knows, Hurricane Irene is pushing our way, and it's path and timing (as of 10:30pm Thursday) is still uncertain. Market Manager Barbara Liston sends this message:

What a crazy week for weather!  We have had some inquiries about the Market for Saturday.  We don't want to put anyone in jeopardy either traveling for the market or the day of the market.
 
The weather predictions seem to be changing hourly.  I can tell you this much:  At the very least, we will hold the market inside due to wind.  We will make a decision by noon tomorrow about holding the market at all.  By then we should have a better idea of the track of Irene.

Our priority is safety for those traveling a few blocks as well as those coming many miles.  

Till tomorrow,  
Barbara

Please make sure to visit the blog or our facebook page tomorrow. We will do our very best to keep everyone informed about our plans in the most timely manner possible. And, as always, many thanks for being an important part of Cheverly Community Market.

At the Market This Week: Waltz Family Farm

Here's some exciting news...the Waltz Family will be taking orders for roaster pigs! Raised free of antibiotics, they'll be available the end of September through November. Pigs will weigh in at about 50 lbs. when we start to sell them. Let us know if you're interested, they'll go fast!

And this weekend, the Waltzes can help you be the envy of the neighborhood with delicous, farm-raised meat products for your grill or smoker. From burgers, steaks, and beef hot dogs ( with jalapenos and cheddar) to pork roasts, hams, and lamb chops they'll have an assortment to please all you chefs and grill masters out there.

Be sure to stop by and visit with the Waltzes this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Photo courtesy of Glynsky and Pete

Note from the Market Manager Regarding Weather This Weekend

We want to keep you apprised of the Market's plans for inclement weather. Market Manager Barbara Liston shares this:

"Don't let the weather scare you away from the market this weekend. If the weather gets dicey, we will be inside the community center. We'll keep you posted."

We have gone ahead with Markets in the past in very heavy storms (including a hurricane, if memory serves!), and this week should be no different! Make sure to keep up with the latest in Market news here on the blog, and on our Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of the State Library and Archives of Florida, via flickr's Commons

New Vendor Spotlight: Lava Pigs BBQ

Did you know that we have award-winning BBQ right here in Cheverly?! Please help us welcome another hyper-local new vendor to the Market: Lava Pigs BBQ!

This Saturday, Brent & Kelly Flaskerud (also known as the Lava Pigs) will dish up the following:

Memphis-style pork ribs (wet or dry): 1/2 rack for $8 and whole rack for $13

Award-winning Chicken Wings: 5 wings for $6

** each order above comes with an order of baked beans**

Smoked Bratwurst from Simply Sausage on a bun: $4

They'll also have sodas, water and lots of napkins available. You're going to need those napkins!

Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Barbeque Society

New Vendor Spotlight: Cakes by Ruthann

We are very excited to welcome Cakes by Ruthann to the Cheverly Community Market! Cheverly resident Andrea Ruth Tavares has been baking gorgeous celebration cakes and Jamaican fruit cake (also known as black rum cake) for over twenty years.

In addition to delicious, decadent cakes, Ruthann makes amazing Jamaican specialties, including sweet potato pudding, cassava pudding, gizzada (a coconut tart), coconut drops, and plantain tarts...we can't wait to try a little of everything!

Please help us to welcome Cakes by Ruthann to Cheverly Community Market this Saturday -- we're very glad to have her with us and we're sure you will be, too!

A Very Different Kind of Market

This Saturday, Cheverly Community Market is very excited to welcome TWO new vendors: Lava Pigs BBQ and Cakes by Ruthann. Competitive BBQ, Jamaican sweets, and other treats? Yes, please!

There are some Cheverly Community Market faces that we won't see this weekend: Arvind & Crystal Lal of Cheverly Breadbasket have commitments to getting their children back to school, Stanley Feder of Simply Sausage will be celebrating his son's wedding, and our house band, Charles & Kelly, play a Grateful Dead show with the full Hot Noodles band at Greenbelt's New Deal Cafe the night before. We're always grateful to our vendors who make their way to Cheverly throughout the season, and to both Cheverly Breadbasket and Charles & Kelly for their years of service at Cheverly Community Market. And, though we'll miss Cheverly Breadbasket, Sinply Sausage, and Charles & Kelly this weekend, we look forward to seeing them again in September.

Cheverly Community Market won't leave you hanging! St. Ambrose Ladies of Charity Common Ground Coffee will be stepping in on the morning pastry front -- in addition to strong coffee, they'll have coffee cakes, cookies and more to satisfy your Saturday morning hunger! Our new BBQ vendor will be cooking with Simply Sausage, and we have people working diligently on the music front, too... We'll keep you up to date on the music front -- as well as on all the other exciting news for this Saturday -- right here on the blog!

In the meantime, please get your Market yard signs out and visit the blog frequently this week. We'll have the latest news on all our vendors and community groups, plus profiles of our two newest vendors, so you can plan your Saturday morning at the Market!

Message from the Market Manager: What's Ahead

We're gearing up for what looks to be a wonderful September...with some great surprises in store. Read Market Manager Barbara Liston's letter here...

Summer may be slipping away...but Cheverly Community Market is just coming into its favorite season. The recent rain has revitalized not only us, but the crops of vegetables and flowers.

We are so pleased to welcome Lava Pigs BBQ to our Market Family. A Cheverly resident, Brent Flaskerund has turned his hobby into an up and coming business. He will be barbecuing chicken, ribs, and sausage, obtained from Waltz Farms and Simply Sausage on the premises for lunch in the park or for takeout. What a nice way to start the fall market season. Two Ocean Seafood will be on hand, as will Eve's Cheese.

0n September 10th we will be offering wine from Elk Run Vineyards. Mystic Water Soap will also be on hand with their organic collection of soaps and cremes. The Master Gardener's Clinic will be held that day to solve your garden mysteries. Rose Fennell will be on hand with her amazing variety of food friendly pottery. It's not too soon to think about holiday gifts!

It is so nice to see fresh apples beginning to arrive at Benny's Market. Schlagels and C & E Farms will have their usual colorful assortment of vegetables and herbs. I've heard that Martha's Jams is working on some new varieties!

Did you ever make a zucchini boat? Well, on September 24th we are planning zucchini boat races. Buy your zucchini, carve it into a boat, and challenge your friend to a boat race! Prizes will be given to the fastest boat in each age group. Check our Blog Site for more details. Mystic Water Soap will be on hand that week as well as Running Hare Vineyards.

Common Ground, our cafe run by the St. Ambrose Ladies of Charity, has truly profited from your patronage this season. Their proceeds are used to provide food, baby supplies, and holiday fixings for the many families in the area stuggling to get by in this economy. They thank you for all your support. We have seen a rise in the number of families coming to the market to use their WIC/FNMP certificates on fruit and vegetables. It is very exciting to know that we are able to reach outside the immediate community to bring such quality to those who need it the most.

We are looking forward to seeing all the vacationers back in town. See you at the Market!

Food Blogs We Love: GoJee

GoJee is another great food blog aggregator...with a twist. Sign up and GoJee will learn your preferences and keep track of your favorite recipes. You can also type in what you're hungry for, what you have on hand, what you like or dislike, and GoJee will come up with recipes suited to your tastes. Pretty cool. We live in a golden age!

Today, I'm thinking about plums. And herbs. And liquor. GoJee searched its database and gave me this great recipe for a Plum Tarragon Smash, courtesy The Year in Foods. Can't wait to try it this afternoon!

Try some of these blogs out -- you're sure to expand your recipe base and pick up some new tricks. Have a food blog that you especially love? Let us know in the comments!

Food Blogs We Love: Smitten Kitchen

Smitten Kitchen is a great blog run by a New York City couple. They have a tiny kitchen and concentrate on recipes that aren't too fussy but are "stepped up" a little bit. They're passionate about food...seems like our kind of people!

Things I love about this blog: great photography, imaginative recipes and smart,witty writing. You can search the recipes in a novel way, too: by season. Try summer -- you'll find all sorts of wonderful, simple recipes, including this one for eggplant salad toasts.

Food Blogs We Love: Tasteologie

Tasteologie is really more of a food blog aggregator than a blog in and of itself, but it highlights some of the most gorgeous food photography and best recipes you'll find anywhere. Every day, new recipes are added -- a great site to visit for inspiration!

Here's a great recipe for Pappa al Pomodoro -- tomato and bread soup -- from bell'alimento -- another food blog I found through Tasteologie. It uses fresh tomatoes and basil, stale crusty bread and a few simple staples you're likely to have in your kitchen.

Food Blogs We Love: Food52

The great Food52 blog has a terrific recipe for Summer Corn Pudding. As temperatures finally climb out of the 100+ range, the water in the pool gets a little chilly, the school busses practice their routes, and the scent of fresh school supplies is in the air, this custardy, delicate pudding is a nice way to slide into the fall. The best part? It uses some of the most delicious fresh summertime ingredients -- corn and basil! Rather have something cold? Try this Corn Salad with Caramelized Onions...yum!

Food Blogs We Love: Grilled Cheese Academy

How many grilled cheese sandwiches have you made? If you have kids, probably a lot. Grilled cheese is one of those foods that seems to have the kid seal of approval for eternity. And it's little wonder -- warm, drippy cheese and toasted bread is an alchemy that defies description. Some things are classics.

Grilled Cheese Academy takes everything a step (or three) farther than your kids' grilled cheese. Figs and ham, barbeque, apples and blue cheese...yum! Though this site highlights Wisconsin cheeses (and they do know what they're doing with cheeses in Wisconsin!), why not translate some of those recipes for Maryland? You could do something with crab...that's a sure bet in Maryland. Or you could take some cooked Simply Sausages, some Eve's Cheese, some fresh greens and peppers from Shlagel Farm... or maybe peaches from Benny's and a little Jam from Martha's Jams, put it all on crusty bread from Cheverly Breadbasket... The possibilites are endless. And why not accompany your grilled creation with a glass of wine from one of our local vineyards? I'm getting hungry!

What we saw at the Market this week...

What a great morning! The weather cooperated...an hour later and we would have been in a deluge of much-needed rain! We saw lots of new faces this week -- welcome! We saw people talking about food -- where it comes from, favorite preparations...lots of great conversations! We saw fruits and vegetables that looks either like there was fire inside (red plums like I've never seen) or part of a gorgeous painting. Amazing. And of course, adults and children alike enjoying ice cream (that lemon custard is a work of art!)

Thanks to all of you -- vendors, customers, and most of all, our volunteers, for getting together for another great Saturday at Cheverly Community Market. Every other Saturday, we're reminded what makes Cheverly a truly special place. We're proud to be part of your community.

Photos will be up on our flickr page very soon (they're uploading right now!) Make sure to visit our blog over the next two weeks -- we have lots of recipes and food for thought in store for you!

Who's Coming to the Market This Week: August 13 Edition

We've got a great lineup this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market! From the best in fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables to delectable artisanal wines, breads, cheeses, meats and seafood to handmade organic soaps to gorgeous pottery to great music, storytime for the kids, tips from expert gardeners, and information from invaluable community groups, we really have it all for you this weekend. And the weather looks great, too -- a sunny morning in the low 80s is forecast...perfect for outdoor shopping and visiting with your neighbors, friends and family.

VENDORS
Shlagel Farms
Rebert Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand
C&E Farm
Simply Sausage
Two Oceans Seafood
Waltz Family Farm
Elk Run Vineyard
Eve's Cheese
Cheverly Breadbasket
St. Ambrose Common Ground Coffee
Martha's Jams
Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe
Mystic Waters Soaps
Rose Fennell Pottery

Community Groups
CPRC storytime (10:00 am)
Friends of Lower Beaverdam
Prince George's County Master Gardeners
CPRC membership

With all this great stuff, great weather, great food, we're looking forward to seeing you Saturday at the Market!

At the Market This Week: CPRC Storytime!

This week's CPRC Storytime will feature a charming poem, Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall. The story, illustrated by Barbara Cooney celebrates the changing seasons in the life of a New Hampshire ox-cart man and his family. This Caldecott award-winning book is sure to charm children and parents alike. Please join us for Storytime at 10:00am on the steps of the Community Center!

To Make: Canteloupe Popsicles & Granita

I have a new recipe over at pricklygirl -- so simple a six-year old can make it, and so good that everyone will want to eat it! I hope you'll try this 3-4 ingredient recipe that makes both popsicles and granita. Add some herbs, change the fruit...there's so much you can do with a simple recipe in the summer!

Our House Band: Charles & Kelly

It's going to be a beautiful morning to hang out at the Market this Saturday...made even better with music from our very own house band, Charles & Kelly of The Hot Noodles. They're busy this summer playing at all sorts of venues, including Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt, and Wonderland Ballroom in DC, so we're feeling especially lucky to have them. Make sure to let them know that you appreciate them, too!

This Week at the Market: Cheverly Breadbasket

Gorgeous breads and pastries from DC's famous Firehook Bakery. The best tortillas and chips from Hyattsville's Moctec. Make sure to get to the Market early this Saturday morning for the very best selection!

At the Market This Week: Benny's Market/Rebert Farm

Don't you love summer fruit? Without fail each winter, I develop a terrible craving for fresh, juicy peaches, plums and nectarines. I'll go to the grocery store and buy something that looks an awful lot like a plum, or a peach, or a nectarine. And, inevitably, I'll be disappointed -- they don't taste like real fruit, they don't smell like real fruit, they have a texture that just isn't right. Every year, the same thing. And every year, I vow to avoid repeating this mistake, and really enjoy these fruits in season.

Here's your chance to bank some real "summer fruit" memories to get you through those long, cold months. The Reberts will have peaches, plums, and nectarines. They'll also have some early eating apples, for those of you who are ready to head into fall (I'm one of you!) Make sure to visit Benny's Fruit Stand and stock up!

At the Market This Week: St. Ambrose Ladies of Charity Common Ground Coffee

Make sure to stop by the St. Ambrose Ladies of Charity Common Ground Coffee tent at the Market this Saturday...see how happy Caroline looks? It's because of the coffee!*

One of the best things about Cheverly Community Market is that you can do your shopping, then grab a delicious pastry and a cup of coffee, sit down at our big tables and listen to our fantastic house band, all while catching up with your friends and neighbors. It's truly a community event! And, in the spirit of community, we want to extend our congratulations to regular Common Ground Coffee servers Jim Kurtz and Laurie Green, whose daughter, Elizabeth, is getting married this weekend!

* Caroline is one of the happier people we know, but we're sure that the coffee helps!

At the Market This Week: Waltz Family Farm

Did you get any of that delicious Waltz Family Farm bacon at the last Market? People are raving about it! That, and everything else that the Waltzes offer at Cheverly Community Market. We've heard great things about their beef, the big, beautiful chickens...what an amazing resource!

This week, in addition to their standard fare, the Waltzes will have all-beef hot dogs with cheddar and jalapeno and beef jerky...yum, yum, yum. It doesn't get any better than this!

This Week at the Market: Eve's Cheese

Kent County's Eve's Cheese is a Cheverly Community Market treasure made with milk from Fawnwood Farm, a third generation Kent County family farm. The cows at Mason’s Fawnwood Farm graze on rich Eastern Shore farmland just minutes west of Chestertown. The farm’s herd is primarily comprised of Jersey cows, Guernsey, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorn are found on the farm. This mixture of cows gives Eve’s Cheese its unique flavor and unsurpassed quality.

We love every style we've had -- they're all delicious. But the BBQ Colby holds a special place in our hearts -- it makes a great omelette or quesadilla! Make sure to pick up your favorite -- or try something new -- this Saturday at the Market!

To Make: Plum & Peach Crisp Recipe

Market Manager Barbara Liston sent this link for a great cobbler recipe, courtesy of 101 Cookbooks. What a great way to use up those fading plums, peaches and nectarines!

Plum and Peach Crisp Recipe
A couple other notes about this recipe: In addition to being very sweet, most crisp/crumble/ cobbler-type toppings are big-time butter bombs - unnecessarily so. I tried to scale back a bit here without sacrificing taste or texture, and used yogurt to keep things moist. You can sweeten the fruit part to taste with whatever sweetener you prefer. Honey might work nicely with all peaches, etc.

Fruit:
1 pound ripe peaches
1 pound ripe plums
1/4 cup natural cane sugar (or brown sugar)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoons arrowroot (or cornstarch)
a scant 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water (opt)

Crisp:
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup white whole wheat flour (all-purpose flour)
1/2 cup natural cane sugar (or brown sugar)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
big pinch of salt
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup yogurt

Special equipment: 8x8 square baking dish or equivalent

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees.
Cut the peaches and plums into bite-sized, 1-inch pieces. I cut relatively chubby slices and then cut them again in quarters or thirds. Place the chopped fruit in a medium-sized bowl.
In a separate small bowl whisk together the 1/4 cup sugar and the arrowroot. Sprinkle over the fruit, toss gently (but well), add the orange blossom water (optional), toss again, and transfer the fruit to an 8-inch square baking dish (or your favorite equivalent-sized, deep-sided, solid-bottomed tart pan).
To make the topping combine the oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Stir in the butter, and then the yogurt and mix until everything comes together in a dough-like texture. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the plum and peach mixture.
Place the baking dish in the oven, middle rack, and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden. Sprinkle a bit more sugar on top as it comes out of the ovens, and if you have a lemon onhand, grate a bit of zest on top (optional). Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

This Week at the Market: Rose Fennell Pottery

We know many of you have been asking when Cheverly resident Rose Fennell will return to the Market...and we're happy to announce that she'll be with us this Saturday!
Rose makes gorgeous, functional pottery at her home studio -- truly local! Whether shopping for yourself or starting to shop for holiday gifts in advance, you're sure to find something unique and lovely.

This Week at the Market: Prince George's County Master Gardeners Plant Clinic

It's the first Cheverly Community Market of the month, and that means that Prince George's County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and give helpful advice about your garden this Saturday. Make sure to stop by their table, and ask Dave, Casey, and the other Master Gardeners anything about nutrient and pest management, plant problems, and other gardening questions. We're so lucky to have experts here in Cheverly!

Food for Thought: Farmer's Markets Growing Economies & Jobs

According to the Farmer's Market Coalition, farmer's markets are good for a lot of things, including the economy...

FARMERS MARKETS GROWING ECONOMIES AND JOBS Farmers Market Coalition Celebrates Farmers Markets as Economic Engines During National Farmers Market Week

While unemployment hovers at record levels this summer, entrepreneurship is thriving in unexpected places. With little fanfare, the nation’s several thousand farmers markets are growing jobs and strengthening local and regional economies.

United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack proclaimed August 7-13, 2011 as National Farmers Market Week. Since 2000, the number of farmers markets has grown 150%, from 2,863 markets in 2000 to 7,175 in 2011. As demand grows for fresh, local food, and shoppers seek relationships with the farms that make such food possible, farmers markets are bolstering local economies in communities large and small.

• Vermont farmers markets yielded $8 million in gross sales to producers in 2010, up 14% from 2009.
• 21 farmers markets in Oklahoma led to an increase of 113 jobs, $5.9 million in direct and indirect economic output, and a $2.2 million increase in income.
• 152 farmers markets in Iowa provided 576 jobs, $59.4 million in economic output, and a $17.8 million increase in income.
• The Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans generated $9.88 million in total economic impact in 2010.
• The Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers' Market in New Jersey has an annual regional economic impact of $2.6 million.
• Twenty-six Mississippi farmers markets created a total economic impact of $1.6 million, 15.88 part-time jobs, $213,720 in wages, and $16,000 in state and local taxes.

Research shows, too, that farmers markets spur spending at neighboring businesses. Studies of the Easton Farmers Market in Pennsylvania, for example, found that 70% of farmers market customers are also shopping at downtown businesses, spending up to an extra $26,000 each week. The Emporia Farmers Market in Emporia, Kansas generated $36,000 in sales tax between 2003 and 2010, supporting the state economy.

A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists notes that “…further expansion of local and regional food systems has the potential to create tens of thousands of additional jobs. For example, modest public funding to support 100 to 500 farmers markets could create as many as 13,500 jobs over a five-year period.”

“Farmers markets are the ultimate green sector of the economy,” says Stacy Miller, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition. “They are stand-out successes in delivering triple bottom line benefits while making entrepreneurship work in towns large and small. During Farmers Market Week, FMC invites everyone to ‘put their money where their mouth is’ by celebrating the power of farmers markets to incubate new businesses and nourish both rural and urban economies.”

Learn more about how farmer's markets serve you and the wider community.

Cheverly Community Market: Still One of Maryland's Top Five?

Way back at the beginning of July, we were very excited to tell you that we'd been voted one of Maryland's Top Five Favorite Farmer's Markets -- not only that, we were sitting pretty at Number Three. This was a big deal for us since we're a little guy (or a boutique market) and the other Maryland markets were all larger.

We noticed a week or two ago that we'd slipped to 4th...and now we're not cracking the Top Five!

Here's how you can help get us back to where we belong: VOTE! Please click on the link below and vote for Cheverly Community Market as your favorite Maryland farmer's market! And thanks!
Another way you can help us get the word out about Cheverly Community Market? Make sure to put out your lawn sign! We have a great Market in store for you this week, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible hear about it!

Cool!

We're thrilled to be included in the Top 100 Photos over at Real Time Farms. Over 15,000 photos were submitted and this Cheverly Community Market photo was selected as a Top 100. There are some amazing markets throughout the United States -- watching the slideshow on Real Time Farms makes me want to take a very long field trip!

Food for Thought: Why Farmer's Markets?

Do you ever stop and think about why you support farmer's markets? It's an interesting question. Among many articles all over the web about this question, Richard Layman has an extremely insightful article on his blog Rebuilding Pace in the Urban Space. There are the obvious reasons: helping local farms stay in business, knowing exactly where your food comes from, getting the freshest possible food...but there are other good reasons, too. Building a sense of community, providing some sort of gathering place in town, fostering opportunities for local organizations and artisans to sell their wares...

Why do you support farmer's markets? If you google "why farmer's markets", you'll come away with about 5,480,000 results. We'd like to hear your reasons!

To Make: Spicy Okra Pickels

I love reading food blogs, and one of my favorites is The Year in Food. It's full of beautiful photography and great recipes, including this one for okra.

SPICY OKRA PICKLES from The Year in Food

1 pound okra, rinsed
2 cups white wine vinegar
1 cup water
4 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon dill seeds
1.5 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds

Bring vinegar, water, salt and spices to a boil. Once boiling, turn off heat.

Thoroughly sanitize and rinse the jar you’ll use and keep it hot for when you pour the brine in. Pack the okra snugly in the jar. Tuck the garlic cloves in. Pour the hot brine over the beans. Let the jar sit, uncovered, until it has cooled, about an hour. Cover and refrigerate. (Because these are quick pickles, they’ll need to be kept refrigerated.)

Did you see the gorgeous okra and herbs at the C&E stand at the Market last weekend? She also had amazing greens -- I know that people were buying huge bags to cook down and freeze for the winter -- this is the perfect time to preserve your favorite summer foods!