Sunday, December 9th: Beautiful Bowls, Sunny Honey, Fresh Rolls, A Real Jerk & More! Happy Chanukah!

Honey & beeswax products from Sunny Honey. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Happy Chanukah, all y’all! Yup, at sundown yesterday, Jews all over Ballard broke out their menorahs for the first night of Chanukah 2012. And hey, look! We’ve turned on the falling snow again here on your Ballard Farmers Market blog for the remainder of the holidaze. Enjoy! For some extra fun, try moving your cursor around on your browser window. You can make the snow change directions like the wind. Now, let’s sweeten up the season with some fresh, local honey from Sunny Honey, from up in Everson. Annie’s bees help pollinate the crops up at Alm Hill Gardens, and then they give us this lovely deliciousness. Sunny Honey has a variety of honey flavors, as well as honeycomb, beeswax, candles and even beeswax lip balm! Plus, they’ve got those irresistible honey sticks for the kids. Stock up for the holiday for yourself, and remember that Sunny Honey products make great stocking stuffers. And if you are traveling by plane for the holidays, they’ve even got little jars that you can carry on the plane with you!

Beautiful, hand-turned wood kitchenware from Vern Tator Woodturner. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Talk about stunning, just take a gander at this stuff! Vern Tator Woodturner is, well, a woodturner. In other words, Vern turns wood and works it with his tools to make these spectacular wood salt & pepper mills, bowls, kitchen utensils, bottle stoppers and more. These are heirloom quality pieces you will be proud to display in your own home, and that anyone on your gift-giving list will remember you always for. In fact, if anyone is shopping for me, I’d love one of those magnificent salad bowls. Just sayin’.

Collard greens from Oxbow Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

It has come to that time of the year that we find ourselves bidding adieu to some of our farmers, particularly those in extremely cold or flood-prone areas of the state. One of those farms about to part for the next few months is Oxbow Farm. This will likely be their last week until spring, so stop by and gather up the last of their fantabulous produce while you can, and wish them a happy and uneventful winter.

Handmade soaps from Karmela Botanica. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

If you are still buying soap at a Big Box store, you are probably torturing your eyes and skin whilst you miss out on some of the beautiful handmade soaps available direct from the producer right here at your Ballard Farmers Market. Soaps like these from Karmela Botanica, for instance. With an interesting variety of natural fragrances, you’re bound to find one to please everyone on your list. And because this soap is made with gentle, natural ingredients, it will leave you clean and refreshed — not with flaky skin and burning eyes. And it bears repeating: soap makes are great stocking stuffer!

Daikon radishes from One Leaf Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Another farm in the flood plains of the Lower Snoqualmie Valley, One Leaf Farm will only be with us for another week or two as well. By now, they’ve been around your Ballard Farmers Market long enough that you have come to count on them for some of the finest quality produce to be found anyone. Take these daikon radishes, for example. Gorgeous, aren’t they? They’ve also still got a few winter luxury pumpkins, celery root, parsnips, dried beans and more. Stop by today and thank them for another great season, and grab one last load of their deliciousness for your home!

Handmade garments from Suzanne de la Torre. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Looking for something special for someone that is bigger than will fit in a stocking, or just looking for something beautiful, cozy and warm for yourself? How’s about one of these lovely hand-knit garments from Suzanne de la Torre. Suzanne tries her best to come to your Ballard Farmers Market as much as she can, but as you know, we favor our farmers with vendor space. But with more and more farmers now taking their winter breaks from the Market, Suzanne is back for the holidays. And good timing that, eh?

Fresh sodas from Soda Jerk Soda. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I try to be positive about the vendors at your Ballard Farmers Market, but I have to be honest about this guy. He’s a real jerk. Seriously. A real jerk. Yup, this guy makes fresh sodas the old fashioned way, just like George Bailey did in It’s A Wonderful Life as a kid working at that drug store and soda shop. This is Soda Jerk Soda Company (brought to you, perhaps, by the Department of Redundancy Department… but I digress), and this jerk… this soda jerk is making fresh syrups from local, seasonal ingredients, and then he is mixing them, with the jerk of his tap handle, with soda water, to make the best, freshest soda you’ve probably ever tasted! Please welcome this jerk to your Ballard Farmers Market today, and thank him for being a real jerk, while you’re at it.

Fresh rolls from Four Sisters Gourmet Chili Sauces. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Did you know that Four Sisters Gourmet Chili Sauces has begun making Vietnamese fresh rolls and spring rolls? And like their chili sauces, these rolls feature plenty of local ingredients from your Ballard Farmers Market farmers, and her shrimp fresh rolls use Gulf prawns from Texas, supporting American fishers while not destroying Mangrove habitats. She sells them regularly, while they last, in small packages, but I bet, if you give her enough notice, and a deposit, she’ll make a bunch of them for your holiday party. What is up!?

Yogurt from Samish Bay Cheese. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Are you missing you some local yogurt? Then you should beeline it to Samish Bay Cheese at your Ballard Farmers Market without delay. They’ve got regular and Greek-style yogurt from cows milk, and they just introduced their Whey Tastier berry yogurt drink (above, right). Of course, they’ve got lots of great cheeses for your holiday celebrations, as well as pork and beef, too!

Seasonal gluten-free deliciousness from d:floured. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I finish off this week’s installment of local deliciousness with seasonal treats from d:floured bakery. These lovely, luscious morsels are, believe it or not, gluten-free! Yuppers. And your palate will not be able to tell the difference, I promise. What you see here are chocolate-pepperment sandwiches resting on top of peppermint brownies alongside of cranberry citrus bars. Boy, howdy! What’s not to love here? Check out their various savory snacks and breads, while you’re at it, and they’ve got a lovely, seasonal pumpkin mini loaf now, too.

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, December 2nd: ‘Tis The Holiday Season At Your Ballard Farmers Market!

Fresh holiday wreathes from Alm Hill Gardens. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Hey kids, it’s December! Allow me to be the 187th person to wish you Happy Holidays! We’re past Thanksgiving already, and the college football season is over. Heck, Chanukah begins next Saturday night at sundown. We are deep in it, folks. Look, it’s been some crazy times over the last year in our community, our nation, our planet. Yet, we’re still here. How’s about we take a step back, do some reflecting, and make this time of year a little extra special this year. I don’t mean go to the mall and buy your sweetie that jewelry or perfume you saw on TV that 1,263,982 other people are going to buy for their sweeties this year. I mean, how friggin’ special a gift is that? Besides, you’ve been carrying on about how Bain Capital or the Obama Administration have been killing American jobs for the last 12 months, right? Well, why don’t you do something about it, while at the same time getting your loved ones something special this year — something unique — which will, of course, make them feel special, too. It’s easy. Just head on down to your Ballard Farmers Market and visit any of our vendors. Everything you’ll find is unique, special, and locally produced by them. That means you’ll be directly supporting good American jobs while getting something special. Pretty cool, huh? Why not start with one of these lovely holiday wreathes from our friends at Alm Hill Gardens. They are made carefully, by hand, from things growing on the farm up in Everson. Good luck getting the guys at the Big Box store to tell you what farm their wreathes and trees came from. Here, you’re getting them directly from the farmers!

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

Nothing says the holidays like luscious holiday breads, right? Their smell, their appearance and their flavor accent the season like few other things. Sometimes, I think we’ve gotten so absorbed in our technology that we forget the power of our senses and our experiences. I look at this gorgeous loaf of gingerbread from Tall Grass Bakery, though, and I can just smell it… and my mind fills with memories and fond associations. That December it snowed so much. A party with friends, candles, a pot of warm glüg, and festive music on a cold, wet, blustery night. Ah. Work can wait until January.

Knitted scarves from Gypsy Beaded Creations. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Like I was saying before, what you will find at your Ballard Farmers Market is produced by the people selling it. Like these beautiful knitted scarves from Gypsy Beaded Creations. In fact, you’ll likely find Corrine knitting her next work of wearable art right at the Market. You won’t get much more unique a gift than this, and it’ll come with an actual, local face behind it — someone you know you supported with your holiday gift-giving dollars. And your loved ones will look fabulous and stay warm and cozy, too!

Canned local albacore tuna in a variety of flavors from Fishing Vessel St. Jude. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

When I was editing photos for this week’s post, it pleased me to find this one. It is so colorful, isn’t it? Like a brilliant string of festive lights or old-fashioned glass ornaments. And yet, what it is is (I think I just had a Bill Clinton flashback) canned local albacore tuna in many flavors from Fishing Vessel St. Jude. Yup, it is time for their monthly visit to your Ballard Farmers Market today. And you’ll want plenty of their tunaliciousness around for the holidays. Not just the canned stuff, but frozen sashimi grade tuna loins, tuna lox, smoked tuna and more! Mmm. I just had some for dinner. And remember, canned tuna makes a great stocking stuffer!

Goat milk soap from Harmony’s Way. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Do you have sensitive skin? Does someone you love? Goat milk soap is incredible gentle on your skin — luxurious, I dare say. It is creamy and mild, and just plain lovely. Lucky us, we actually have a local goat dairy making us these beautiful bars of goat milk soap from the milk of their own goats right here at your Ballard Farmers Market. Harmony’s Way hails from over in Chimacum, on the Olympic Peninsula, just south of Port Townsend. They make their soaps in a variety of scents, shapes and sizes, and you can even get it plain, if you like. If yours is a family that already puts nice soaps in each others stockings, why not get some made locally, direct not only from the soap maker, but from the soap farmer!

Piñata apples from ACMA Mission Orchards. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

You know, some folks even put apples in each others stockings. Funny that. But hey, don’t you associate apples with the holidays? You bake them, sauce them, make pies and crisps with them. And why not? They are our dominant local fruit this time of year. Still, when it comes to festive, you really can’t ask for an apple that just sounds more like a party waiting to happen than these piñata apples from ACMA Mission Orchards. Just don’t go hanging them from a low-hanging branch and swinging a big stick at them blindfolded. Instead of a shower of candy, you’re gonna get covered with little, moist bits of apple pulp.

Ornamental gourds from Boistfort Valley Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Okay, ornamental gourds from Boistfort Valley Farm do not make good stocking stuffers, regardless of the fact that they will fit nicely into most stockings. Still, they do make for a lovely, decorative addition to your holiday decking of the halls. Just don’t try to eat them. Unlike their winter squash cousins, this gourds ain’t for eating, and you’ll probably break your knife or cut off a finger trying to cut them open anyway. Instead, surround some candles with them on your dinner table, add them to your mantle, or arrange them with some other fun decorations on an end or coffee table.

Seasoned salts from Rockridge Orchards. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Here’s a great stocking stuffer for the foodie in your life, and if you are shopping at your Ballard Farmers Market, you are bound to have a foodie or three in your life. These are seasoned salts from Rockridge Orchards. They’ve got them seasoned with all different sorts of things, from herbs and spices to local applewood smoke. Of course, we won’t tell anyone if you realize that the foodie in your life is actually you, and you just buy them for yourself. Heck, take them home, wrap them up and put them in your own stocking, and then watch how confused it will make the rest of the family!

Cirrus Wood from Coal-Free Washington. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Cirrus Wood from Coal-Free Washington created a photo essay at your Ballard Farmers Market last week of vendors against huge coal trains coming through Ballard and local farmlands carrying coal from Montana and Wyoming to coastal ports for shipping to China. You can see his photo essay, and learn more about the issue, on their Facebook page.

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, November 25th: Happy Buy Local, Direct From The Producer At Your Ballard Farmers Market Sunday!

Sunshine rings from Itali Lambertini. Photo courtesy Itali Lambertini.

It is now officially the Holiday Season, and folks are in a frenzy of gift buying and partying around Ballard. We love that yesterday, when it came time for the talking heads on the TV news to talk about Small Business Saturday, they brought their cameras here to Ballard. Why? Because our entire neighborhood is full of great, locally-owned small shops and boutiques full unique gifts. And it is no coincidence that these merchants surround your Ballard Farmers Market. Many of them set up shop here because of Ballard Farmers Market. After all, where else in Seattle would they find thousands of people like you and I who are committed to buying local flocking to one neighborhood — indeed, one block — religiously, every week? (BTW, check out this stunning ring set from Itali Lambertini at your Ballard Farmers Market. They make their heirloom-quality jewelry from recycled gold, so not only is it magnificent, it is also better for the environment, and it reduces the need for more destructive gold mines, like the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska.)

Carrots from Gaia’s Natural Goods. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Today is what we have deemed, Buy Local, Direct From The Producer At Ballard Farmers Market Sunday, and that means you can make the local economic impact of your holiday shopping go even further. You see, when you spend your dollars at a locally-owned store, they recirculate in our local economy with about three times the impact of dollars spent at some national or international chain. But when you spend your dollars buying something locally-made directly from the producer of that product, that impact doubles to about six times. Plus, you get the satisfaction of being able to meet and support the producer, and thus directly support good, local jobs. (Besides great gifts, we still have plenty of local deliciousness available now, too, like these beautiful, sweet carrots from Gaia’s Natural Goods. They are extra sweet this time of year, after they’ve been kissed by just a little frost!)

Non-toxic scented candles from Ascents Candles. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Your Ballard Farmers Market, with your support, continues to incubate new, local businesses. One we are quite proud of is Ascents Candles, which is dedicated to making non-toxic candles scented with natural essential oils. This time of year, when it’s cold and damp outside, it is difficult enough to keep the air inside your home clean without adding to the indoor air quality problems by lighting some nasty, imported candle made with petroleum products. Why not make the mood even more romantic with a beautiful, fragrant candle that won’t shorten your mate’s life?! And they’ve got gorgeous, scent-free candles for use at dinnertime, too!

Savoy cabbage from Nash’s Organic Produce. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Stunning fall crops, like this Savoy cabbage from Nash’s Organic Farm, are still abundant at your Ballard Farmers Market, and frankly, they are at their peak of quality and flavor now, too! Local fall crops thrive on lots of rain, cold nights and minimal daylight, and they are sweeter and tastier, and even more nutritious, for it. Remember, your Ballard Farmers Market is your year-round, locally-grown grocery store. And what you get here is so fresh that it is often fresher come the following Saturday, after sitting in your fridge since the previous Sunday, than what you can get at the Big Box stores. So comfortably stock up for the entire week. Plus, many fall storage crops can be held simply in a cool, dark storage room, or your garage, meaning you don’t need to have a huge fridge to hold it all for the week.

Color-accented cups from Daily Bird Pottery. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

These color-aceented clay cups from Port Townsend’s Daily Bird Pottery are more than just a beautiful way to enjoy your morning cup of joe or your evening tea. The unglazed cups actually reduce the bitterness in the flavor of your beverages. It is a type of chemical reaction between the clay itself and whatever you put in the cup, and it is a form of culinary technology that people from India to Mexico have been using for centuries. These cups are fired very hot, and they are as strong and durable as any pottery you’ve encountered — perhaps stronger. And these particular cups are extra cool in that the lovely, colorful accent of glaze around the rim also provides a more pleasant mouth-feel as you drink out of them. Swing by and pick up a couple of cups to try out this week. You’ll be amazed by them! And once you are, you’ll want to get them for everyone on your list.

Porchetta from Sea Breeze Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

I find that I often make George, Liz, Rose and the gang at Sea Breeze Farm blush when I comment on what a beautiful piece of meat they are, err, I mean have. Exhibit A: this spectacular porchetta from last Sunday’s Market. I took home about a pound of it and ate it for dinner a couple of nights. And they, err, I mean it is as delicious as it is beautiful. Best of all, it is not just cooked on Vashon Island, but the pigs are forest-raised on Vashon Island, just up the hill from the Fauntleroy Ferry dock. Of course, what they’ve got in their refer case varies from week-to-week, based on what they harvested that week, so stop by today to check out their sexy meat selection for this week!

Shaving kit from Brown Butterfly. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Dad’s are difficult to shop for, right? They don’t want lots of shiny things, unless it’s a new sports car, and unless you live in Medina, you probably have neither the money nor the space under the tree for giving dad a new sports car for Christmas, as much as Lexus would like you to believe everyone is giving $50,000+ cars as gifts this year. One thing Gillette won’t let you forget this holiday season, however, is that dad’s shave, and that you can buy dad shaving gear. But how personal and special is a can of Foamy and a Mach III razor from Bartell’s, eh? Why not get dad one of these lovely shaving kits from Brown Butterfly that will make dad feel like the real man that he is! Let him reconnect with his Wild West cowboy roots, shaving with a brush, mug and soap with a nice sharp razor. Brown Butterfly’s shaving soap will leave his face smooth and soft, like a baby’s bum, it smells nice and manly, and it comes with the added benefit of not coming out of an aerosol can that cannot be easily recycled, too!

Salad mix from Colinwood Farms. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

After this past week of overindulgent eating, you just really want a nice salad, am I right? Well, this spicy salad mix from Colinwood Farms makes it a breeze! Just fill up your bowl, add some of those Gaia’s carrots… maybe some radishes — Colinwood has some nice daikon radishes still — dress, and you’re done. Your body will thank you, and it will reward you with the loss of the 2-3 pounds you put on this past week in short order. Seriously.

Hemp fabric clothing from Texture. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Texture, from Bellingham, makes gorgeous, comfortable, durable and fashionable clothing from hemp fabric, with pieces to suit your every mood and situation. From formal and office to out on the town, you will look fabulous in Texture’s garments, and you’ll know you are wearing unique, local creations, direct from the designer, and made with environmentally-responsible fabrics. And talk about a gift that will be appreciated every time she’s wears it!

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, May 13th: Happy Mother’s Day! Treat Mom Right With Local Flavors & Beauty With Soul!

A stunning bouquet of fresh flowers from Children’s Garden. Photo copyright 2012 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 plans to pick up flowers today from one of our six flower farmers at your Ballard Farmers Market. My advice is to arrive early for the best selection 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 better than it has been for years. 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.

Clockwise, from left, is red king salmon, rockfish, marbled king salmon and halibut, from Wilson Fish. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

And for everyone who has ever come home and yelled, “mom, what’s for dinner?!?”, how’s about you do the cooking for mom this evening? It is perfect weather for a picnic or backyard barbecue, and your Ballard Farmers Market has got everything you need to make your meal perfect. How about some fresh Washington halibut, king salmon or rockfish from Wilson Fish, for instance? Easy to fix, super fresh and delicious, and mom will dig it, maybe with a nice loaf of bread from Tall Grass or Grateful Bread, some grilled asparagus, and some salad mix from Colinwood Farms. And don’t forget the cheese from one of our six cheese makers. But again, get here early, as the fish will sell out fast, too!

Delicious purple sprouting broccoli from Oxbow Farm. Photo copyright 2012 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Our buddies at Oxbow Farm returned last Sunday with all sorts of goodies, including an amazing selection of heirloom tomato plants. They’ve also got this beautiful, and yummy, purple sprouting broccoli. This stuff is a real spring treat, so enjoy it while you can!

Magnificent heads of lettuce from Summer Run Farm. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Returning this week is Summer Run Farm, from just up the road from Oxbow. Summer Run is famous for their huge, crisp and refreshing heads of lettuce, but usually this time of year, they’ve also got tatsoi, baby bok choi, dwarf sunflowers and more!

Spa Day Gift Box from Brown Butterfly. Photo courtesy Brown Butterfly.

Brown Butterfly bath, body and skin care products is offering a 10% discount on all gift boxes for Mother’s Day, including their Spa Day At Home (above) and Gardeners gift boxes. If you are still buying your soap and skin care products at the Big Box stores, you must give this stuff a try. I shave with their shaving soap, and my face is smooth as a baby’s bottom. So treat mom. Heck, surveys say the number one preferred Mother’s Day gift for American moms is a spa day. Why not bring the spa to her!

Strawberry plants from Red Barn Farm. Photo copyright 2010 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Is your mom a gardener? Then your Ballard Farmers Market is nothing short of paradise for her! We’ve got plants everywhere you look right now, from more than a dozen farms! You’ll find fruit and veggie starts, bulbs, ornamentals, you name it. Just take a gander at these gorgeous strawberry plants from Red Barn Farm.

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

And speaking of fragrant flowers, how about a little of the “stinking rose,” a.k.a., garlic? This is green garlic from Alvarez Organic Farms, and it is one of my absolute favorite things about spring! See, as the farmers thin their garlic fields to give the remaining plants enough space to grow nice, big bulbs, they bring the young, green, scallion-like garlic to market with them. This stuff is sweet and tender, and I use that entire thing, from the root hairs to the tips of their green leaves, save for the part right where the root hairs attach to the bulb, since that’s where the dirt hides, no matter how hard you try to wash it out. Toss green garlic with your asparagus as you roast it, or use it in place of cured mature garlic with your sauteed greens. If you have never used green garlic before, treat yourself. Once you try it, you will spend every winter waiting for it to arrive come spring!

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

It’s gonna top 80 degrees today, and that might mean mom won’t be in a wine mood. Some nice, chilled hard cider from Finnriver Farm & Cidery is just the ticket. It will refresh her whilst its bubbles tickle her tongue, and she will be thrilled you thought outside of the box, without coming home with a half rack or gin!

Kiss The Pig mini cupcakes from Cupcake Luv. Photo copyright 2011 by Zachary D. Lyons.

Your Ballard Farmers Market has dessert covered, too! From pies to cookies to rhubarb just ready for being crisped, we’ve got the sweets for your sweet mommy! And if cupcakes are her thing, you can’t go wrong with, well, anything from Cupcake Luv, all made with local flour. From these savory Kiss The Pig mini-cupcakes that are like little BLTs, to their sweet cupcakes, including red velvet and carrot cake, to their whoopie pies, you are bound to find something to meet mom’s fancy. In fact, why not just get a variety pack, to be sure you get it right. Just remember to give mom the first choice!

Hey, there is plenty of 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.