Sunday, May 12th: Happy Mother’s Day!

KaYing, The Old Farmer, arranging one of her beautiful bouquets of flowers. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Mother’s Day is not a Hallmark holiday. It has far cooler, and more important, roots than that. In fact, Julia Ward Howe proclaimed the first Mother’s Day in 1870 as an anti-war holiday in response to the U.S. Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. She was tired of mothers having to bury their sons. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated worldwide at many different times of year in different countries to honor the important role of mothers in our lives and societies. Heck, looking at the list of international dates, one could reasonably say that every day is Mother’s Day somewhere! Now, we know that round about all of you within the sound of my keystrokes plan to pick up flowers today from one of our seven flower farmers at your Ballard Farmers Market, like KaYing, a.k.a., The Old Farmer. I suspect she will be channeling the spirit of Julia Ward Howe today, given what she’s seen in her time on earth.

My advice to you is to arrive early today for the best selection of flowers, and to pack some patience with you, as there will be lines. But given our beautiful weather lately, the flower selection this year for Mother’s Day is wonderful. So get mom some flowers that mean something. Get local flowers with a face behind them. She will appreciate what that means. After all, she gets that whole nurturing thing. Oh, and peace be with you!

Sparkling ciders from Finnriver Farm & Cidery. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, we celebrate the return of Finnriver Farm & Cidery to your Ballard Farmers Market! They produce a wonderful selection of artisan hard ciders and fruit dessert wines on their farm over in Chimacum in Jefferson County. They’ve been busy bottling ciders of 2012 vintage in recent weeks, and now it is time for you to treat mom with some… and yourself!

Red Leaf Lettuce from Summer Run Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Today also marks the glorious return of Carnation’s Summer Run Farm for the 2013 season. Summer Run is famous for their beautiful and ginormous heads of lettuce, like this red leaf lettuce. Tired of living without great, local lettuce, or of eating that so-called “lettuce” from the Big Box stores all winter that seem devoid of flavor? Your long, dark winter is over! And doesn’t mom deserve a nice salad made by you tonight for dinner?

Fresh, wild, Washington king salmon from Wilson Fish. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Speaking of great dinners for mom, how’s about some wild Washington king salmon, caught just off of the Washington Coast by Wilson Fish? They like to say, “It’s so fresh, it’s from the future!” And frankly, that’s not far from the truth. If you’ve never had this king salmon, and you are thinking of holding out for Copper River salmon at almost twice the price, you need to forget the TV hype and give this a try. Once you’ve tried it, you won’t go back to that over-priced stuff from Alaska with all the frequent flyer miles!

Asparagus from Alm Hill Gardens. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

You know what goes great with king salmon? Asparagus, of course. And Alm Hill Gardens grows some of the sweetest, most tender and delicious asparagus anywhere right up on the Canadian border in Whatcom County. Grill your mom some of that salmon, and side it with some of this asparagus, and you will be golden for the rest of the year!

It’s green garlic season at Alvarez Organic Farms! Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And you know what goes great with asparagus? Green garlic! Every spring about this time, farmers like Alvarez Organic Farms thin their garlic fields. They bring the thinned out baby garlic, know as green or spring garlic, to Market for us to enjoy. It is sweet, mildly garlicky, and you can eat the whole thing, from root to tip! Think of it like a green onion. You can grill them or sauté them, but I tend to like them best tossed in a big glass baking dish with olive oil, salt & pepper, some spring sweet onions, asparagus and wild morel mushrooms…

Wild porcini mushrooms from Foraged & Found Edibles. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Or wild porcini mushrooms, if you like. Foraged & Found Edibles has them both today! In fact, the forests and coastline are providing us will all manner of deliciousness for mom’s day today, including wild watercress, goose tongue (that’s a plant, BTW), sea beans and more! So, stop by Foraged & Found, and grab some indigenous local goodness!

Strawberry plants from Red Barn Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Today seems like as good a day as any to get that strawberry patch started for mom. And Red Barn Farm has these beautiful strawberry plants for it! They also have raspberry plants, cabbage starts and plenty of other great things for your garden.

Tomato plants from Stoney Plains Organic Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And if tomatoes, ripe from the vine in your yard or on your deck or porch, are the stuff of your dreams, check in with Stoney Plains Organic Farm. They have tomato plants in an amazing selection of varieties from which to choose, as well as racks and racks of other goodies for the planting!

Olive fougasse from Tall Grass Bakery. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Don’t forget bread for mom’s dinner! And it is now olive fougasse season at Tall Grass Bakery. This stuff is so good, I can eat a whole loaf in a single sitting. Just don’t dillydally getting to Market today if you want any. This stuff, like many of today’s featured items, will sell out early, and you really don’t want to have to explain to mom that you don’t have any because you slept in, do you?

A variety of pies from Deborah’s Homemade Pies. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Finally, let us not forget dessert! Bring mom one of the best pies on earth from Deborah’s Homemade Pies. Made with local flour and lots of other local ingredients, there are many flavors from which to choose, as long as you get here early enough!

There is plenty more local deliciousness waiting for you today at your Ballard Farmers Market. Just check What’s Fresh Now! for a more complete accounting of what is in season right now.

Please remember bring your own bags every Sunday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Ballard Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Sunday, March 31st: Happy Easter! Get Your Ham, Wine, Flowers, Greens & Even Hot Crossed Buns!

Freshly smoked hams from Sea Breeze Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Happy Easter! What? You didn’t get your ham yet? Never fear! George tells me he’ll have plenty of these lovely, delicious, freshly smoked hams from Sea Breeze Farm today at your Ballard Farmers Market. No thawing required. And even if you’re not hosting the Easter feast, you should get you some of this ham. Just look at the way it mesmerizes the public in this photo. And it tastes even better than it looks!

Brent Charnley, winemaker at Lopez Island Vineyards, hold the new release of his Wave Crest White table wine. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And let’s just say you’re going to someone else’s feast this afternoon or evening. Don’t show up empty handed! Be an instant hero with a bottle of wine from Lopez Island Vineyards & Winery, made by this guy — Brent Charnley. He holds in his hands his latest release, Wave Crest White Puget Sound Table Wine, and he has a nice selection of award-winning whites and reds running the flavor spectrum. Enjoy!

Tulips from Ia’s Garden. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Don’t you dare show up at Grandma’s house today without some fresh flowers. Your Ballard Farmers Market is awash in spring flowers right now, like these gorgeous tulips from Ia’s Garden. And with all six of our regular flower farmers in now, plus the spring arrival of Choice Bulb Farm, there is no excuse not to celebrate the holiday, or just the fact that it’s spring, sunny and in the 60s, with some beautiful blooms.

Cabbage greens from Stoney Plains Organic Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

How about some spring greens for your Sunday dinner? These cabbage greens from Stoney Plains Organic Farm are a spring treat. See, as the over-wintered cabbage plants start to bolt, they throw out these sweet and tender little leaves. I enjoyed some last night, simply sautéed in olive oil — not even any garlic. Just a little salt to taste. They are just plain lovely.

Spicy salad mix from Colinwood Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Speaking of easy, if you are expected to make the salad for tonight’s feast, or any night really, I recommend you grab some of this spicy salad mix from Colinwood Farms. It is a wonderful mixture of mustard greens, mizuna, arugula, kale and a whole bunch of other stuff. It’ll make your body and mouth happy, and everyone will compliment you on the awesome salad you worked so hard to assemble!

Easter fun from Olsen Farms. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

It’s time for the Easter Spud Bunnies at Olsen Farms to bring you a rainbow of potatoes for your holiday table. It’s an annual tradition at Olsen to make these fun displays at Easter. This one’s from last year. Olsen also has freshly smoked hams ready to go today, too.

Hot Cross Buns for Easter from Grateful Bread Bakery. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Hot Cross Buns anyone? These are from Grateful Bread Bakery, and Tall Grass Bakery should have some today, too. They are a traditional European Easter treat — a brioche dough filled with dried berries and such, and capped with the sugary sign of the Cross in honor of the Big Guy. Look for other traditional Easter baked goods at both bakeries, too!

Goat eating pant leg at Twin Oaks Creamery. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Or perhaps you would prefer some pants for dinner. Apparently, this goat at Twin Oaks Creamery thought mine would make a nice snack. You can enjoy the product of this goat’s hard work (when she’s not eating my trouser leg) producing delicious milk in the form of bottled goats milk, goat cheese and goat yogurt, all available right here at your Ballard Farmers Market from Twin Oaks.

Molasses ginger caramels from Jonboy Caramels. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

How about some sweets for the sweet on this spectabulous spring day? Jonboy Caramels are as good as they get, are made right here in Ballard, and are made using many local ingredients! Above are their molasses ginger caramels. Sorry. I know that just made you drool on yourself. It happens. But get down here on the double before you look like a Newfoundland on a hot summer’s day!

Dark Chocolate Torte by House Of The Sun. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And for dessert, how’s about a raw, vegan dark chocolate torte from House of the Sun? Raw? Vegan? How do they do that? How can it be good? Stop asking so many questions and try one… or three. They are really good! Have I ever lied to you? (Okay, this time last year, my entire post was lies for April Fool’s Day, but today, I speak the truth!) Oh, and grabs you some kale chips while you are there. Bam! You can thank me later.

Tacos from Los Chilangos. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Finally, today we welcome our newest vendor, Los Chilangos. This mobile taqueria is the first new prepared food vendor at your Ballard Farmers Market in years. They will offer breakfast and lunch tacos, burritos, tortas and huaraches, made fresh with many ingredients from local farmers. Come check them out today!

Please remember bring your own bags every Sunday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Ballard Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

There is plenty more local deliciousness waiting for you today at your Ballard Farmers Market. Just check What’s Fresh Now! for a more complete accounting of what is in season right now.

Sunday, March 24th: Spring Has Sprung, Bringing Fiddleheads, Easter Hams, Plants For Your Garden & More!

Easter hams from Olsen Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Easter is in one week, and churches all over are handing out palm fronds today. Time to get you a ham! Olsen Farms has plenty of freshly smoked hams for your holiday feast at your Ballard Farmers Market today. But if a beef or lamb roast is more your speed, they’ve got those waiting for you, too. But do pick it up today, so you are ready to go next Sunday, eh? And it’s not too late to pick up some lamb or a nice brisket for Passover, too, though you’ll want to start it thawing as soon as you get home today. After all, Passover begins at sundown Monday.

Ladyfern Fiddleheads from Foraged & Found Edibles. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I know I’ve been talking about signs of spring for weeks now, but this past Wednesday, spring actually finally arrived. If the 12 hours of daylight didn’t give it away, certainly the snow showers and wind storms should have. Ah, March in the Pacific Northwet. Well, as if to formally pronounce the arrival spring, Foraged & Found Edibles brings the first Ladyfern fiddleheads to your Ballard Farmers Market today. Woohoo! And if that weren’t enough, they’ve got wood sorrel and stinging nettles today, too!

Blueberry plants from Cascadian Edible Landscapes. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

April approacheth, the sun is out, and it is time to get back into the garden! And Cascadian Edible Landscapes has returned to help us in that endeavor. They’ve got a tremendous selection of vegetable starts and berry plants. Like these beautiful blueberry plants. Imagine stepping out your backdoor to enjoy blueberries from your very own blueberry bush for years to come. Sounds pretty nice, eh? Well, get ‘em now, and get ‘em in the ground, while it is still the rainy season. That way, they’ll get their roots established before things dry out this summer.

Red Vein Sorrel from Stoney Plains Organic Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Stoney Plains Organic Farm has sorrel of the domesticated variety this week. This is Red Vein sorrel, though they also have regular sorrel, too. This regenerative, herbaceous leafy green is just what the doctor ordered, perhaps literally, for spring. Stoney Plains also has plenty of garden plants, too, including strawberry plants. Get them in the ground now, and enjoy your own berries come June!

Tulips from Pa Garden. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Did you notice how full the Market was last week? We had five farms return last week, including all of our Hmong flower farms. And if that ain’t an harbinger of spring, I don’t know what is! Of course, this week, they were probably harvesting flowers in the snow in the Lower Snoqualmie Valley. Stop by today, and grab some of these lovely tulips from Pa Garden. Fresh from the field, they are ready to burst open in brilliant color in a vase on your table!

Kale Raabs from Nash’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

The start of spring also signals the approaching end of kale season. Yeah, I know. Around here, it is always kale season. But the fact is, this time of year, kale wants to reproduce, just like any other healthy species. So, the kale plants in the field, as well as the collards, cabbages and many roots, start to bolt, sending out their flowers in pursuit of procreation. The result is raab. Yes, this time of year, we get to enjoy any number of different kinds of raabs as these plants reach the end of their lifecycle and get on with the job of producing the next. Raabs, those tender, flowery tops of these plants, are lovely simply sautéed with some garlic, and they can be great grilled, too. And Nash’s Organic Produce has a whole bunch of them right now!

Gil holds ducklings at Stokesberry Sustainable Farm. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Here is this week’s installment of This Photo Is Almost Disturbingly Cute. This is our own Gilbert holding three adorable, fluffy ducklings at Stokesberry Sustainable Farm during our visit there a few weeks ago. I suppose the cuteness factor may trouble some folks, but for those who enjoy duck, know that these little guys will enjoy a happy, healthy and loved life before they come to Market. That’s just the way the Stokesberry’s roll.

Dandelion greens from Children’s Garden. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Speaking of regenerative greens for a spring tonic, how’s about some of these tasty dandelion greens from Children’s Garden? These quite bitter greens may make you pucker a bit, but dress them with some anchovies, olive oil and some of that Twin Oaks goat feta, and maybe a drizzle of some balsamic vinegar, and you’ve got one delicious, nutritious salad. Or you can make soup, tea, or even juice them, and grilling them is not out of the question. Your liver will thank you!

Succulents from Phocas Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Don’t forget the ornamental side of your garden. And if you’re lazy, like me, these succulents from Phocas Farms are for you! Get them in the ground now, and let them get their roots well established while it’s still rainy, and they will reward you all summer long by being draught tolerant… and gorgeous! Just look at all these colors. Phocas Farms propagates more than 200 varieties of them. So get a whole bunch of them, and make for a colorful summer without all that watering.

Red mustard greens from Colinwood Farms. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

More scrumptious greens for spring — these being red mustard greens from Colinwood Farms. These are great lightly wilted with olive oil and garlic, or raw in a nice, spicy salad, as they are very tender. Colinwood has lots of other greens now, too, as well as new carrots. Enjoy!

Fresh eggs from Growing Things Farm. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

With Passover and Easter looming ahead this week, you need eggs! Lots of eggs!!! For your seder plate or your Easter egg hunt, for your famous deviled eggs to bring to the Easter gathering at Grandma’s house, or for that extraordinary brunch you’ll be cooking up next weekend. We’ve got an abundance of eggs in your Ballard Farmers Market right now, and these are the best eggs you’ve ever tasted. Seriously. The eggs above, for instance, are from Growing Things Farm, and the farm is renowned for their amazing eggs. They have hard shells and big, beautiful, richly yellow yolks, and they are laid by happy chickens that get to run around outdoors and hang out with roasters. I know. I’ve seen them. So, stock up!

Please remember bring your own bags every Sunday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Ballard Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

There is plenty more local deliciousness waiting for you today at your Ballard Farmers Market. Just check What’s Fresh Now! for a more complete accounting of what is in season right now.

Sunday, March 3rd: Goat Yogurt, Winter Broccoli, Tasty Tamales, Pretty Pussy Willow & Sexy Spinach!

Baby spinach from Colinwood Farms. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Last week, we featured hearty winter spinach from Nash’s. This week, we feature tender spring spinach, from the greenhouses of Colinwood Farms in Port Townsend. Jessie assured me that this beautiful, young spinach was due in this week at your Ballard Farmers Market, just waiting for you to turn into amazing salads, to toss into pasta dishes, to stuff into pastries, or to quickly wilt and put alongside your protein of choice. Yep, it’s time again to get your Popeye on and nutrient up with delicious, fresh spinach!

Fromage blanc & smoked salmon spread from Twin Oaks Creamery. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Mmm. I enjoyed some of this amazing smoked salmon & fromage blanc spread from Twin Oaks Creamery this past week on a bagel or two, and it made my New York ex-pat heart swell! Why don’t you pick some up this week, along with some bagels from Grateful Bread Bakery, and you’ll be good to go for dinner tonight, breakfast Monday, or perhaps just a nice, post-Market snack. Heck, bring a spoon with you, and eat it here, while you walk around! Oh, and you know, that Colinwood spinach would absolutely rock dressed with some of Twin Oaks’ goat feta crumbled over it. But here’s the really big news: Twin Oaks has goat yogurt this week! Woohoo!

Broccoli from Alm Hill Gardens. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

More exciting news! Alm Hill Gardens (a.k.a., Growing Washington) has some of their amazing over-wintered purple broccoli today, too! Yes, we have indeed turned the corner toward spring. It is March now, and we have months of constantly changing, local deliciousness ahead of us. Over-wintered broccoli, for instance, is especially wonderful. It is sweet and densely nutritious, having weathered the coldest months of the year. Treat yourself. You can thank me later.

Fresh-cut pussy willow from Children’s Garden. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I probably have the largest pussy willow tree on earth in my backyard. It is 30-40 feet tall, with a canopy that is a good 40-50 feet across, and every winter, I get to enjoy looking out my back window at it in spectacular bloom, as it is right now. But perhaps you are not so fortunate to have your own pussy willow in your yard — and hey, they ain’t easy to deal with either. Lucky for you, though, Children’s Garden has freshly-cut pussy willow blooms for you to take home and enjoy right now. And they dry beautifully, allowing you to enjoy them for months to come!

Daikon radish greens from Nash’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Looking for something a little different? How’s about some daikon radish greens from Nash’s Organic Produce? They take to a nice sauté, or you can salad them, too. Nash’s has all manner of goodness for you now, from the tail end of Brussels sprouts season to arugula raab, to turnips, rutabagas and sunchokes. They are stocked to the gills with winter yummies!

Local albacore tuna loins from Fishing Vessel St. Jude. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

It is the first Sunday of the month, and that means we enjoy our monthly visit from Fishing Vessel St. Jude, with all things local albacore tuna, from frozen loins to canned tuna to smoked. This is adolescent albacore they intercept as it swims south out of its North Pacific spawning grounds toward tropical waters to spend adulthood. As a result, it is high in beneficial omega-fatty acids and low in mercury and other heavy metals, and it is, quite simply, the finest tuna you have ever tasted! Stock up today, cuz they won’t be back for five more weeks!

Honey crisp apples from Collins Family Orchards. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

There’s still time to enjoy some of these honey crisp apples from Collins Family Orchards. Harvested this past fall at the peak of flavor, they’ve kept them stored all winter in what the apple industry calls, “controlled atmosphere.” There’s a lot of science involved, but basically, they suck all the air out of the storage room, replace it with an inert gas, and lower the temperature, so the apples stay super fresh for months, allowing us to keep the doctor away all winter long!

Brokale from Gaia’s Natural Goods. Photo copyright 2013 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Brokale is a cross between broccoli and kale, favoring broccoli in flavor. Only one farm — Gaia’s Natural Goods — brings it to your Ballard Farmers Market, and generally, only this time of year, as it likes cool, damp weather. It is nutrient-dense, delicious and easy to work with. I just give it a quick sauté with garlic and olive oil. Or use it as you would normally broccoli.

Roasted root vegetable with queso fresco tamales from Patty Pan Grill. Photo courtesy Patty Pan Grill.

Patty Pan Grill introduces its newest “tamale of the month” this first Market of March. This month, they feature a roasted root vegetable with queso fresco tamale that features Nash’s veggies, and cheese from Samish Bay Cheese. Stop by for a hot one at the Market, or grab some to take home for later!

Please remember bring your own bags every Sunday, as Seattle’s single-use plastic bag ban is now in effect. Also, please take note of our new green composting and blue recycling waste receptacles throughout your Ballard Farmers Market, and please make an effort to use them correctly. Each container has what’s okay to put in it pictured right on the lid. Please do not put the wrong materials in, because that drives up the cost of recycling and composting, and it can result in the entire container being sent instead to a landfill. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

There is plenty more local deliciousness waiting for you today at your Ballard Farmers Market. Just check What’s Fresh Now! for a more complete accounting of what is in season right now.