Hi, friends and happy Tuesday! Now, I know some of you are staring out the window and wondering a bit about my sanity. I’ll admit it is a bit wet. But I had a silent discussion with the weather gods and mentioned that if they didn’t rain on our markets, I wouldn’t think ugly things about them. Looking at the forecast for this week, it looks like Margaret, Bob, and Carl are safe. So we will be blessed with sunshine tomorrow, which is great since we will be equally blessed with great food and great music. Hot, steamy, and delicious soup, smoky pulled pork (with all the fixins’), pan seared salmon salad with green papaya noodles, traditional Roma meatballs and homemade pasta, and lots of other goodies await; all we need is you.
Before you know it, Saturday will dawn and tents will pop up like flowers in a spring garden. Daniele Spadavecchia’s lovely voice will serenade us from the gazebo. Columbia Street Natural Foods will set up in the demo tent to share several fine and healthy selections from their menu. That reminds me that it’s been quite a while since we’ve hosted a Wellness Day at the Market. We’ll have to do something to remedy that.
Since we seem to be getting a glimpse of sunshine, it’s probably a good time to get your Spring Garden ready. Alton and Sandra will have more starter plants this week and along with their aromatic herbs, they have merliton, spinach, red sails and buttercrunch lettuces. They may even have Swiss chard. I’m planning to get my garden started with some herbs – lemon thyme and orange mint and maybe a little parsley – which seem to thrive in my garden. Herbs seem to be hardy enough to survive my lack of gardening skills. Heidi (Grammy’s Eggs) will have her famous chicken poop tea – why buy those unnatural fertilizers? Oh, and she’ll have eggs, too.
Don’t forget to check out Sam’s Sprouts. This weekend he had sprouted almond butter and should have his sprouted peanut butter for Saturday. And, I heard on the wind (now you’re really questioning my sanity) that he soon will have chocolate hazelnut butter. He will have sprouts – radish, red clover, and legume – and pine pollen tincture. You’ll have to ask him about the tincture, my hands couldn’t write it all down.
Norma Jean’s Cuisine is doing well with that luscious walnut paté she makes, as well as her seaweed salad. Now she’s offering a Muffaletta Salad with all your favorite muff veggies marinating in a special sauce. Delisioso! (Collins, that one was for you!) Heart healthy, skin healthy, garden happy, tummy lovin’, and just all around fun…the Covington Farmers’ Market has it all. If it’s sunny, we’ll be here. If it’s rainy, we’ll be here. If it’s snowing, I’ll probably find me a tropical island, but otherwise you’ll see our smiling faces! Make plans to join us.
Lots of love,
Charlene LeJeune
Abundant Life Kitchen
The Covington Farmers’ Market is open each Wednesday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire and every Saturday from 8a.m. to 12p.m. on the side lawn of the Covington Police Station, 609 N. Columbia St. Call (985) 892-1873 for information or visit www.covingtonfarmersmarket.org
