Vashon Island Growers Association

Tofu spreads and flavor-infused tofu from Small Planet Tofu
Cherries, peaches, plums and pluots from Tiny's Organic
Berries, Shelling Peas, Fava Beans, gourmet salad mix with over 20 ingredients, green beans, butterhead lettuce, broccoli, beets, purslane, summer squash and dried stinging nettle from Plum Forest Farm
Green beans, cucumbers, chard, carrots, green onions, potatoes, beets, summer squash, peppers, rhubarb, and salad greens from Pacific Crest Farm
Strawberries, blackberries, three types of potatoes, first pick summer string beans, gourmet and spicy salad mix, kale, chard and seasonal stir fry mix from Sun Island Farm
Salad, spinach, chard, potatoes, beets and more from Greenman Farm
TOMATOES, Cabbage, beets, onions, radicchio, Kale, basil, and salad greens from Hogsback Farm
Orient Express Cucumbers, braising mix, Sprouts, Carrots, snow and shelling peas, red and fingerling potatoes, summer leeks, kale, rainbow chard, and salad mix from Calypso Gardens
Onions, cilantro, carrots, beets and scapes in the Vashon Farm Coop Tent
Farm-fresh Eggs from Happy Apple
Locker and USDA Lamb - raised on Vashon from Wolftown
Grass-fed USDA beef from Sweet Water Beef
Honey including fireweed and fruit creamed from Sweet As Can Bee Honey
Fresh-cut flowers from Calypso Gardens
Wine from Vashon Winery
Wool clothing hand knit, crocheted and woven from Vashon Sheep by Wolftown

From our artisans and crafters:

Drums, Wooden Boxes, stained glass feathers - handmade by KB and Paula
Brooms and baskets - handcrafted from Judd Creek
Etched glass vases and bowls from Mother/Daughter Art
Handbags by Hedy
Knife sharpening by Rex - Bring your knifes
Pure skin and bodycare products from Bliss Organix
Recycled wood furniture from Dragonfli
Slippers from Lazy Jane
Soap from Rainy Day Garden
Stone lamps, chimes and vases from Made in Paradise
Wooden bowls from David Earle
Wood cutting boards from Tahlequah Woodworks
Wooden spoons and kitchen utensils from Treenware

From our Food Vendors:

Bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, soup and croissants from Monkey Tree
Steamed buns, Miso soup and more from Sol Source
A variety of caramels from King Caramels

Join us on Facebook!

03/01/2010

Eggs-Cellent Map

01/20/2010

See you in 2010!!

12/15/2009

Winner Wonderland

12/05/2009

Most of your favorite VIGA artists and craftsmen will be on hand. Join us this Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 12 under the shed AND the big white tent.

Saturday Market November 7, 2009
By Ivan Weiss

11/06/2009

The election is over. The World Series is over. And we hope the rain is over for the weekend, because we have two big events for you.

The Farmers Market will be open as usual from 10 AM to 2 PM, with island grown fruit, nuts, and vegetables (Get those homegrown pumpkins for the pumpkin pie contest November 21), premium quality pork and eggs, and fine Island crafts. Farmers have salad greens, carrots and beets, cooking greens, and fresh dug potatoes. Sol Source will serve calzones, vegetable lasagna, and tasty fruit pies. Sun Island farm will feature tasty seasonal soup.

And don't forget -- the Vashon Island Growers Association's annual meeting and potluck -- did we mention it's a potluck? -- is Sunday, November 8, at 4:30 PM at the Grange Hall, at the top of the upper North End parking lot. We hope to see all friends of VIGA and the market there. We'll elect board members, recap the year's activities, and share our outlook for 2010.

Vashon Farmers Market takes EBT (food stamps), credit and debit cards. Most farmers take WIC (USDA Women, Infants and Children program) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks. For more information go to the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) web site at www.vigavashon.org or call the market manager at 206-463-4647 (land line) or 206-992-2560 (cell). The Market Manager's e-mail is marketmanager@vigavashon.org.

Saturday Farmers Market, September 5, 2009

09/04/2009

Autumn is in the air, but summer's not done yet.

The Saturday Vashon Farmers Market is open September 5 from 10 AM to 2 PM in the Village Green. Farmers will be selling island grown fruit, berries and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, and nursery plants. Think about canning and freezing for the winter.

Tomatoes are still plentiful. Get out your spaghetti sauce and salsa recipes, and start cleaning those jars. Our farm vendors have Asian pears, watermelons (still!), fresh eggs, crisp, fresh-picked string beans, lettuce and cooking greens, cucumbers, squash of all kinds, including winter squash and pumpkins, and freshly dug potatoes and beets. Have you canned pickled beets yet this year? I have.

Sol Source and Sun Island Farm provide a wide range of delectable goodies to eat at the market or take home. The ever-popular John Browne of Judd Creek Nursery will entertain us with his distinctive song styling. This is Labor Day weekend, so ask him for some union songs.

And how about a shout-out to Judd Creek's Vicki Browne, whose handcrafted brooms are featured this week in the New York Times' design blog, at http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/seeing-things-a-clean-sweep/?emc=eta1.

Vashon Farmers Market takes EBT (food stamps), credit and debit cards, and most farmers take WIC (USDA Women, Infants and Children program) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks. For more information go to the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) web site at www.vigavashon.org or call the market manager at 206-992-2560. The Market Manager's e-mail is marketmanager@vigavashon.org.

Tomatoes and SO MUCH MORE!

08/29/2009

Fresh at the Market

08/27/2009

Wednesday Farmers Market, September 23

08/23/2009

Saturday Farmers Market, 8/22/09

08/22/2009

It's only a week till the great Tomato Taste-Off. It's your next-to-last chance to scope out the competition.

The Saturday Vashon Farmers Market is open August 22 from 10 AM to 2 PM in the Village Green. Farmers will be selling island grown fruit, berries and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, and nursery plants.

It's been a great year for tomatoes, and all the farmers have them. If you can't eat all of them fresh, make spaghetti sauce or salsa. Cathy Fulton of Mariposa Gardens will be here to show you how. Our farm vendors have fresh eggs, crisp, fresh-picked string beans, lettuce and cooking greens, cucumbers, squash of all kinds, and freshly dug potatoes.

Sol Source and Sun Island Farm provide a wide range of delectable goodies. Watch for vegetable chowder and grilled corn on the cob. West Seattle song stylist Larry Murante will play for our listening pleasure.

Wednesday Farmers Market, September 9

08/04/2009

Wednesday Farmers Market, September 9

08/04/2009

Island Berries are In!

06/25/2009

The Vashon Farmers Market is open Saturday June 27, from 10-2 in the Village Green.

What's Fresh ?

The very first island raspberries as well as strawberries, pie cherries, new potatoes, red and yellow beets, fava beans, new crop of garlic as well as garlic scapes, snow peas, spring onions, rainbow chard, snap peas, shelling peas, cauliflower, morey? broccoli, spinach, braising mixes, green onions, lettuce, radishes, an amazing variety of salad mixes, fresh eggs, fresh milk, cream, pate, pork, lamb, and more. There will also be some lovely cut flower bouquets and island sweet peas. A total of 14 island farms and nurseries will be represented this week.

Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have Wenatchee area Rainier and Chelan cherries, apriums, Golden Delicious apples, (harvested and cold storaged last Fall), dried fruit, apple butter, and jam.

There will also bey?King caramels hand made by islander Hedy Anderson plus wine and hard cider from Vashon Island Winery. Nursery Plants and Annual Vegetable Starts Still some basil and tomato plants. Through the summer we will still have deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, scented geraniums, trees, and native plants.

Paul Motoyoshi Serves Breakfast and Lunch Delicious Asian Specialties such as his famous miso soup and hum bows, also American foods like fresh pies.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services Outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, jewelry, slippers, bowls, and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, massage, slippers, intuitive readings, handmade wooden boxes, thought bubbles, handbags and cosmetic bags, cutting boards, tiles, and more.

Vashon band The Riptide Ramblers plays traditional Cajun music from 11-1.

Cathy Fulton of Mariposa Gardens will share information about "Processing Chickens for Meat". Shoppers can see Vashon's new Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker (not in action).

Fava beans, onions, meat and dairy
By Joanne Jewell

06/19/2009

This weekend Summer truly begins! The Vashon Farmers Market is open to celebrate this Saturday June 20, from 10-2 in the Village Green.

What's Fresh ?

The very first fava beans, garlic scapes, snow peas, spring onions, rainbow chard, snap peas, shelling peas, cauliflower, more broccoli, spinach, braising mixes, green onions, lettuce, radishes, an amazing variety of salad mixes.? Greenman Farm will be back for the season with fresh eggs and more, and Sea Breeze Farm will be back with their fresh milk, cream, pate, pork, lamb, and more. A total of 13 island farms and nurseries will be represented.

The Swinery will have frozen bacon. Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have Wenatchee area strawberries, apriums, apples, dried fruit and jams and maybe Rainier cherries.

There will also be chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and caramels hand made by islanders as well as wine and hard cider... Nursery Plants and Annual Vegetable Starts

Still some basil, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins. Through the summer we will still have deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, scented geraniums, trees, and native plants.

Paul Motoyoshi Serves Breakfast and Lunch

Delicious Asian Specialties such as his famous miso soup and hum bows, also American foods like fresh pies.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services

Don't forget that Sunday is Father's Day!

Look for a gift made from a local dad at the Farmers Market: Outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, jewelry, slippers, bowls, and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, massage, slippers, intuitive readings, handmade wooden boxes, thought bubbles, handbags and cosmetic bags, cutting boards, tiles, and more.?

Vashon band The Diggers plays music from 11-1.

Farmer and Chef Karen Biondo will show shoppers "How to Cook from Local Farms in June" from 10:30-11:30. Free tastings available.

Your plastic welcome

The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Most Farmers aslo take WIC checks. Go to the Market tent at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

Thank you

The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

Bacon, cauliflower, peas at the market
By Joanne Jewell

06/12/2009

Get ready! The Vashon Farmers Market is open from 10-2 this Saturday in the Village Green. What's Fresh at the Vashon Farmers Market?

For sure, the first snow peas of the year plus cauliflower more new broccoli, spinach, braising mixes, green onions, lettuce, radishes, salad mix, and eggs.? Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have apples, dried fruit and jams and Wenatchee area strawberries. .

Sun Island Farm and Grill from Maury Island will be cooking their own Island-grown egg, green onion, first picked zucchini, and greens frittatas, and be serving a farm fresh braised greens bowl. Coming To the End of Annual Plant Starts

Still some basil, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins. Through the summer we will still have deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, scented geraniums, trees, and native plants.?

Paul Motoyoshi Serves Breakfast and Lunch

Delicious Asian Specialties such as his famous miso soup and hum bows, also American foods like fresh pies.

Bacon at the Market

Gabriel Claycamp of The Swinery is a new Vashon resident. He is a fabulous culinary artist, farmer and cooking instructor. He will be selling and sampling his high quality, artisanal cured bacon from pigs grown in Port Orchard.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services

Outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, jewelry, slippers, bowls, and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, massage, slippers, intuitive readings, handmade wooden boxes, thought bubbles, handbags and cosmetic bags.? Don't forget wine, chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and caramels hand made by islanders.

Vashon singer/songwriter Robyn Landis plays music from 11-1.

King County Master Gardeners will answer your plant questions throughout the day.

Your plastic welcome The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna. We would also like to thank Chad Magnuson Family Medicine for sponsoring this week's market music.

See you at the market! For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Bacon, cauliflower, peas at the market
By Joanne Jewell

06/12/2009

Get ready! The Vashon Farmers Market is open from 10-2 this Saturday in the Village Green. What's Fresh at the Vashon Farmers Market?

Still some basil, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins. Through the summer we will still have deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, scented geraniums, trees, and native plants.?

Paul Motoyoshi Serves Breakfast and Lunch

Delicious Asian Specialties such as his famous miso soup and hum bows, also American foods like fresh pies.

Bacon at the Market

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services

Vashon singer/songwriter Robyn Landis plays music from 11-1.

King County Master Gardeners will answer your plant questions throughout the day.

Your plastic welcome The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

First June Saturday Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

06/05/2009

What's Fresh Possibly the first peas of the year plus more new broccoli, bok choi, spinach, braising mixes, green onions, lettuce, radishes, salad mix, and eggs.y? Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have apples, dried fruit and jams and hopefully strawberries. .

Farmers Joe and Celina Yarkin of Sun Island Farm on Maury-Island will be selling their produce as usual but will also be launching the Sun Island Grill at their market table. They will be cooking their own Island-grown egg, green onion and greens frittatas, and be serving a farm fresh mixed green salad. More Plant Starts Basil, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, trees, native plants. This may be the last week for Pacific Potager at the market so buy her plants in town while you can.

Emily's Good Eats Serves Breakfast and Lunch Look for delicious wraps with organic cheese stuffed with fresh market vegetables.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services Outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, tiles, jewelry, slippers, wooden cutting boards, bowls, and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, massage, slippers, intuitive readings, handmade wooden boxes, thought bubbles, handbags and cosmetic bags. Don't forget wine, chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and caramels hand made by islanders.

Seattle singer/songwriter Larry Murante plays music from 11-1.

Your plastic welcome The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

See you at the market! For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please look further at our web site. Or contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Farmers Market Sunshine on May 30
By Joanne Jewell

05/28/2009

What's Fresh

The first broccoli, bok choi, braising mixes, green onions, lettuce, rhubarb, radishes, salad mix, and more. Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will make their first appearance of the year and will bring Wenatchee area strawberries, as well as apples, dried fruit and jams.. Also wine, chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and caramels in the food department.

Still Lots of Plant Starts

Tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, trees, native plants.

Paul Motoyoshi, Sol Source Serves Breakfast and Lunch-- Look for food in the Asian and American style including fresh pies.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services

Look for new artisans Vashon Woodturners, Bliss Organix body care products, and Lazy Jane Slippers. Also outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, tiles, jewelry, wooden cutting boards, bowls, and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, massage, slippers, intuitive readings, handmade wooden boxes, thought bubbles, handbags and cosmetic bags.

Island Folksinger John Browne plays music from 11-1.

Green Business provides Information Patty Gregorich, lead teacher at the Maravilla School, a small multi-age school for 8-11 year olds, will engage families and children in how to make books. Students at Maravilla are currently designing solar energy systems as part of the curriculum.

Master Gardeners Will Answer Gardening Questions from 10-2

Your plastic welcome The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

Thank you

The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

Music and Poetry at Memorial Weekend Market
By Joanne Jewell

05/21/2009

The musical season at the Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday with opening band the Shy Sundays from 11-1. Shy Sundays plays an upbeat mix of Contemporary, Celtic, Klezmer music and more with rich vocals and harmonies. Shy Sundays is sponsored by Chad Magnuson Family Medicine.

The Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green may also make a guest appearance to share some poetry between 12 and 2.

What's Fresh Incredible salad greens with edible flowers, bok choi, braising mixes, maybe some asparagus, fresh eggs, and more.yy? Also wine, chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, and King caramels in the food department. Still Lots of Plant Starts Tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, deer-resistant herbaceous perennials, trees, native plants, and more.

Emily's Good Eats for Breakfast or Lunch Emily offers delicious wraps stuffed with fresh vegetables, organic cheeses, tangy sauces. Enjoy your lunch on the lawn with friends.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services Outdoor furniture and bird houses, blown glass, garden art, greeting cards, baby clothes, worm bins, chicken tractors, tiles, jewelry, wooden cutting boards and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, ball massage.

Educational Opportunity Cathy Fulton of Mariposa Gardens will demonstrate "Frugal Food Gardening in Containers" between 10am and 2pm.

Your plastic welcome The market will now take your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent right at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna. And this week thanks to Chad Magnuson Family Medicine for sponsoring the music.

Strawberry Plants at May 16 Market
By Joanne Jewell

05/15/2009

The market is open Saturday May 16 in the sun from 10-2 at the Village Green. Remember, no dogs allowed in the Village Green.

Here's What's Fresh Island grown asparagus, lovage, rhubarb, cut flowers, fresh herbs including tarragon, salad mix, leeks, edible flowers, and braising greens.? Also wine, chocolates and King caramels in the food department. Lots of Plant Starts Last week shoppers bought and walked away with lots of tomato plants well-suited to the Pacific Northwest. There are still lots of tomato starts but this week look for the first squash and pumpkin starts. Pacific Potager will have 25 varieties, many heirlooms, all suited to our climate.

Dr. Bob Norton will have strawberry plants for sale.

Colleen James will make her first market appearance with plants she describes as "Deer-Resistant" herbaceous perennials including Corydalis, Persicaria, Alliums, Artemesia, Ajuga, Carex, Iris, Lysimachia, Geranium, Arctic Willow and more.

Lunch is Ready Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will have hot breakfast and lunch foods including Asian and American specialties.

Abundant Artisan Craft and Services Outdoor furniture and bird houses, worm bins, chicken tractors, tiles, jewelry, wooden cutting boards and spoons, lamps, beeswax candles and lanterns, etched glass and bronze casting, soap and natural body care products, garden art, knife sharpening, ball massage, intuitive readings.

Green Business Patty Gregorich lead teacher at the Maravilla School, a small multi-age school for 8-11 year olds, will engage families and children in how to make books.

Your plastic welcome The market will now begin taking your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market tent right at the Vashon Highway entrance for more information on Saturday.

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

See you at the market! For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please go to www.vigavashon.org. Or contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Asparagus for Mother's Day
By Joanne Jewell

05/07/2009

Happy Mother's Day to all.

If you would like to share a gift with your mother consider something produced by another island mom.

May we make a GIFT suggestion? How about island asparagus, fresh caramels or hand made chocolates, island grown flowers, wine, hard cider, island-grown tomato starts, hand made soap, a cosmetic bag, jewelry, or lavender sachets? Or what about a new garden bench? Or sharpen her knives? All of these are available at the Vashon Farmers Market open from 10-2 on Saturdays.

New Food Vendor This Saturday May 9, long time islander and chef Emily Vogt begins the market season with her company Emily's Good Eats at the Vashon Farmers Market. Emily will provide hot lunches including rice, organic tortillas, breakfast roll ups with organic cheeses, all featuring fresh vegetables from island farms and gardens as much as possible. Please welcome Emily at the new food booth location at the west side of the Village Green.

Food Demonstration with samples 11am-12noon Cooking from Local Farms with Chef and Farmer Karen Biondo

What's Fresh??? Tahoma View Farm is back at the market this week with :

Asparagusyy?Fresh, tender, picked on Friday night. Super sweet and tasty!

Lovage-- A celery like herb used in Europe, youyy?ll love the intense flavor for soups, stews or braising.

Leeksyy?Freshly dug and flavorful

Stir fry bouquetyy?A bouquet of fresh kale, bok choi, komatsuna, or raab with chives blossoms for a zesty spring stir fry.

Sweet Cicely yy? An anise flavored herb used in salads.

Also look for: rhubarb fresh eggs cut flowers salad mix spinach braising greens Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

YOUR PLASTIC WELCOME The market will now begin taking your credit and debit card as well as EBT food stamp cards. Go to the Market Managers tent for more information on Saturday.

See you at the market! For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please go to www.vigavashon.org. Or contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Sunny Saturday Market
By Joanne Jewell

04/23/2009

This Saturday, April 25, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

What's Fresh This Week? Succulent Salad Mix, Braising Greens, Tart and Tangy Rhubarb, Flowers, Eggs and more

Grow Your Own Food Garden with Island Grown Plant Starts King County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions.

Dahlia tubers, Herbaceous Perennials, Trees, Native Plants, Scented Geraniums

WIne and Candy

Island Made Art, Furniture, Services and Tools Very popular at this time of year are the mason bee houses. Mason bees are out now and this is the time to provide them a home for next year.

Etched glass and bronze castings

Handmade tiles

Recycled wood furniture, chicken tractors, and worm bins

Brooms

Handmade soaps

Cosmetic bags and hand bags

Knife sharpening

Jewelry

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

See you at the market!

Rhubarb at the Market
By Joanne Jewell

04/16/2009

This Saturday, April 18, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

What's Fresh This Week? Island Grown Produce, Flowers and Eggs

?RHUBARB appears this week. The spring tonic food that is great in sauces, pies, crisps.

?Still lots of EGGS but as the daylight extends beyond 12 hours, the number of eggs actually will go down. Eat fresh island eggs now while they are plentiful in quiches, custards, souffles, German pancakes. Vashon Islanders are lucky that we have so many free range chickens. Note the dark yellow yolks at this time of year.

?Salad mix, braising mix and spinach for your spring greens cravings.

?Kale-Food of the Northwest gods, full of iron, rich and habit-forming.

THE Meal for April: SALAD AS THE MAIN DISH Last week chef /farmer Karen Biondo made a fantastic Spring salad with greens, young kale, lettuce, arugula, parsley, goat cheese, hard boiled egg, and gamasio (toasted sesame seeds, with salt and fine pieces of dried nettle to taste). The dressing had garlic (harvested last summer and stored), and there was pesto (made and frozen last summer) spread on Bill Friese's bread (baked on Vashon and sold at La Boucherie and Thriftway).

Vinaigrette from K-Jo Farm 4 parts oil --extra Virgin olive 1 part Vinegar --Balsamic, white wine, or red in any combination 4 cloves garlic smashed 1 Tbls dijon mustard A few grinds of black pepper

Come see and taste Karen's meals again on May 9.

Grow Your Own Food With Island Grown Plant Starts Mixed packs of lettuce and Asian greens (Grow to harvest in as soon as 4 weeks!) Kale varieties Arugula Herb starts Edible peas and flowering sweet peas Onion and leek starts

Buy and plant now Dahlia tubers, Herbaceous Perennials, Trees, Native Plants, Scented Geraniums from island specialty nurseries Judd Creek, Black Dog Plants, Farm at the Country Store, Farm Candy, and Fieldstone Flowers and Trees.

WIne and Candy Barbaras Chocolates and King Caramels made on Vashon.

Island wine from Vashon Island Winery

Island Made Art, Furniture, and Tools for Gifts or For You Cutting Boards Etched glass and bronze castings Handmade tiles Recycled wood furniture, chicken tractors, and worm bins Brooms Handmade soaps Cosmetic bags and hand bags Mason bee houses Knife sharpening Jewelry

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

See you at the market!

For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please go to www.vigavashon.org. Or contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Easter Eggs, Spinach, Cooking Class
By Joanne Jewell

04/10/2009

This Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 am at the Vashon Farmers Market, Farmer and chef Karen Biondo will teach shoppers How to Cook from Local Farms in April. Karen will shop from the market and then make food shoppers can taste and enjoy.

This is the season for eggs and fresh greens. The market will have a lot of both as well as hand made caramels, and island produced wine for a holiday meal. There will also be lots of plant starts, trees, dahlia tubers and artisan crafts.

Join us in the Village Green, downtown Vashon from 10am-2pm.

Eggs, salad, candy at market
By Joanne Jewell

04/03/2009

This Saturday, April 4, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

What's Fresh This Week? Island Grown Produce, Flowers and Eggs

Lots of Eggs for Passover and Easter Egg Hunts: Natural colors make dying unnecessary but optional. Eat eggs now while they are plentiful in quiches, custards, souffles, German pancakes.

Salad mix and spinach for your spring greens cravings.

Mustard greens-bright green and tender for quick steaming, stir fries or soups

Chard, Kale-Still sweet due to the cold weather. Tasty, soulful local staple food.

Leeks-last of the season being harvested now

Grow Your Own Food With Island Grown Plant Starts

Four varieties of shelling, snow and snap peas. (Also heirloom sweet peas so you'll have flowers)

Onion and leek starts

Mixed packs of lettuce and Asian greens (Grow to harvest in as soon as 4 weeks!)

Kale varieties

Arugula

Herb starts

Confections for Holiday Gifts and Treats

King Caramels made on Vashon.

Barbaras Chocolates is back for the season with molded truffles, chocolate dipped pecan caramel clusters, dipped glaceed apricots, and brownies.

Island wine from Vashon Island Winery

Island Made Art, Furniture, and Tools for Gifts or For You

Cutting Boards

Etched glass and bronze castings

Handmade tiles

Recycled wood furniture, chicken tractors, and worm bins

Brooms

Handmade soaps

Cosmetic bags and hand bags

Mason bee houses

Knife sharpening

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna.

See you at the market!

For more information about the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, or about island farms or market vendors please look around our website. Or contact Joanne Jewell, Market Manager at 206-267-8146.

Fresh Produce, Plants and a Video
By Joanne Jewell

03/26/2009

The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber did a short, sweet video of Opening Day at the Vashon Farmers Market. It is lively and ebullient--complete with the "Free Range"Folk choir, an enthusiastic market manager, vendors, a VIGA Board member, and many of your friends and neighbors shopping and eating soup. Go to www.vashonbeachcomber.com and click on "Farmers Market Springs to Life" and the video icon.

This Saturday, March 28, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open for its second week of the season from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

What's Fresh This Week?

Island Grown Produce, Flowers and Eggs. Many Plant Starts.

salad mix

spinach

mustard greens

chard

beets

kale

leeks

Eggs from Free-Ranging Chickens

Island Grown Plant Starts so you can Grow Your Own Food

Four varieties of shelling, snow and snap peas. (Also heirloom sweet peas so you'll have flowers)

Onion and leek starts

Mixed packs of lettuce and Asian greens (Grow to harvest in as soon as 4 weeks!)

Kale varieties

Arugula

Herb starts

Herbaceous Perennials, Trees, Native Plants, Scented Geraniums from island nurseries

King Caramels made of organic ingredients on Vashon Island

Island Made Art, Furniture, and Tools

Etched glass and bronze castings

Handmade tiles

Recycled wood furniture, chicken tractors, and worm bins

Cosmetic bags and hand bags

Mason bee houses

Thank you The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank our 2009 market sponsors Minglement/the Roasterie and Cafe Luna. Also thanks to John L. Scott Real Estate for the free Opening Day ad they provided us in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber and to the Beachcomber for making the great Opening Day video.

See you at the market!

Vashon Farmers Market Opens for the Season
By Joanne Jewell

03/19/2009

The Vashon Farmers Market is BACK and will open for the season Saturday, March 21 in the Village Green from 10am-2pm, just in time for Spring. Come celebrate the change of season, hear music, see friends, farmers, and artisans, buy fresh produce and plants to start your Spring garden.

Here's what you can expect this Saturday:

THE FRESHEST, ISLAND-GROWN VEGETABLES salad mix carrots spinach mustard greens cabbage chard Brussels Sprouts beets kale leeks

ISLAND-GROWN PLANT STARTS SO YOU CAN GROW YOUR OWN FOOD Four varieties of shelling, snow and snap peas Onion and leek starts Mixed packs of lettuce and Asian greens (Grow to harvest in as soon as 4 weeks!) Kale varieties Arugula Herb starts

HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, NATIVE PLANTS, SCENTED GERANIUMS from island nurseries

ISLAND MADE ART WORKS jewelry beeswax candles etched glass and bronze castings handmade tiles recycled wood furniture, chicken tractors, and worm bins brooms handmade soaps Broad forks for deep digging garden beds (Meadowcreature.com) Mason bee houses

ADVICE FROM FARMERS Off duty Vashon farmers will be on hand from 10-2 to show you how to care for new transplants and get off to a good start with your food garden.

King County Master Gardeners will answer all your gardening questions from 10-2.

Vashon Free Range Folk Choir will sing world music at 12 noon.

For this opening day, the Vashon Farmers Market will be giving away a FREE sweet pea and rainbow chard start to the first 200 families or shoppers, and FREE HOT MISO SOUP made by Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source while it lasts.

Come out and support your local farmers and artisans and have a good time doing it!

THANK YOU The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2009 sponsors Minglement/The Roasterie and Cafe Luna for their support this season. Also thank you to John L.Scott Realty for the beautiful ad in the Vashon Beachcomber this week.

Vashon Farmers Market Opens March 21
By Joanne Jewell

02/06/2009

November Market Rocks
By Joanne Jewell

11/14/2008

The Vashon Saturday Farmers Market is having a great inaugural November. We will be open again this Saturday November 15 from 10-2 in the Village Green, rain or shine, though it looks like shine..

We will be open through December 13 this year, with the exception of November 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Stock up while you can as there are now only FOUR more markets this season.

Also, please read below about our upcoming Pumpkin Pie Contest on November 22 and the Winter Holiday Markets December 6, 13.

Here is What Will Be Fresh This Week and all grown on Vashon-Maury Islands :

Winter Squash: Kubocha, Delicata, Acorn, Buttercup, and more. Bake, or roast and eat. Also make great pies...

Pumpkins: Cinderella, Sweet Pie, Winter Luxury. Choose one for the Pumpkin Pie Contest! (See details below....)

Leeks: Great now in Leek and Potato soup which can be prepared in less than 30 minutes with all Vashon-grown ingredients.

Potatoes, Onions, Shallots, Garlic: To eat now or store for months.

Kale, Chard, Mustards, Cabbages: For cooking or to eat raw.

Salad Mix:?Quantities are reducing, buy it while it lasts...

Brussels Sprouts: Cute and these are a delicacy steamed and eaten with butter and salt.

Rutabagas, Carrots: Parsnips are finished for the season at the market but these other staples remain and they are good.

Beets:? Great roasted, grated raw into salads, steamed, or baked in Chocolate Beet Cake!

Tomatoes?? Yellow Cherries, Cherokee, Roma

Sweet Peppers: May be coming into the last weeks for these.

And more...

Monkey Tree Restaurant will have hot soups, croissants, cinnamon rolls, cookies.

Island artisans and their craft (weather dependent) Garden furniture, bunny hutches, chicken tractors Knife Sharpening Beeswax candles Etched glass and stone sculpture Hand-spun alpaca wool Wooden cutting boards and spoons Handbags and cosmetic bags Hats and scarves

Pumpkin Pie Contest Coming and here are the details... On Saturday November 22 the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) will host its Third Annual Pumpkin Pie Contest at the Vashon Farmers Market. The Pie Contest Winner will receive a beautiful, hand-quilted apron (to wear for a year) made by 2006 winner Rebecca Wittman, a $25 Vashon Farmers Market gift certificate, as well as an etched glass pie pan.?

Pies will be judged by a panel of four islanders including Rob Peterson of Plum Forest Farm, (last year's winner), Daralyn Anderson, Beachcomber publisher, Telly Christanis, Head Cook at Sea Breeze Farm Boucherie, and a regular Farmers Market shopper. Pies will be given extra points if pie makers use island-grown ingredients.?

Pies should be brought to the market at 10am November 22 and VIGA requests that all pie bakers be present for the awards ceremony at 12 noon. Beginning at noon, slices of pie will be sold to market shoppers for $1/slice to benefit the Vashon-Maury Island Food Bank. The Farmers Market will be open as usual from 10am-2pm for all local Thanksgiving dinner shopping needs. For more information go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146.

Holiday Markets, Saturdays, December 6 and 13 Saturdays December 6 and 13 from 10-2 will be the annual Farmers Market Holiday Market. This is the place to buy a wide variety of high quality, island-made crafts and farm produce and gifts. The whole festival will be under a large heated tent to keep you dry and warm. Mark your calendar!

THANK YOU The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

Saturday Market Open in November
By Joanne Jewell

11/07/2008

We are lucky that here in the Pacific Northwest we have a warm Fall and Winter. This means local food grows all year. Saturday November 8 temperatures are predicted to be around 60 degrees F. Contrast this with North Dakota which is sitting under 3 feet of snow this morning.

Rain or shine, and in the balmy warmth, the Farmers Market will be open in the Village Green from 10am-2pm this Saturday, November 8. The Vashon Saturday Farmers Market will be open through December 13 this year, with the exception of November 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.? Stock up while you can as there are only 5 more markets this season.

Here is What Will Be Fresh This Week and all grown on Vashon-Maury Islands :

Fresh herbs: Parsley, cilantro, sage, bay from Hazel Thies.

Winter Squash: Kubocha, Delicata, Acorn, Buttercup, and more. Buy a whole winter's supply now.

Pumpkins: Cinderella, Sweet Pie, Winter Luxury. Choose one for the Pumpkin Pie Contest! (See details below....)

Leeks: Great now in Leek and Potato soup which can be prepared in less than 30 minutes with all Vashon-grown ingredients.

Potatoes, Onions, Shallots, Garlic: To eat now or store for months.

Kale, Chard, Mustards, Cabbages: For cooking or to eat raw.

Salad Mix:?Not as much as earlier in the Fall but still some tasty morsels.

Brussels Sprouts: Cute and these are a delicacy steamed and eaten with butter and salt.

Parsnips, Rutabagas, Carrots: Eat the carrots raw and notice how they are sweetening. Parsnips and rutabagas are fantastic roasted, added to soups, baked with pot roast or other meats.

Beets:? Great roasted, grated raw into salads, steamed, or baked in Chocolate Beet Cake!

Sweet Peppers: May be coming into the last weeks for these. And more...

Look for plants and trees from Black Dog Plants and the Farm at the Country Store

Paul Motoyoshi will serve hot miso soup, and other lunch specialties as well as matcha lattes, Mexican hot chocolate.

Island artisans and their craft (weather dependent) Garden furniture, bunny hutches, chicken tractors Knife Sharpening Beeswax candles Lamps Etched glass and stone sculpture Hand-spun alpaca wool Wooden cutting boards and spoons Handbags and cosmetic bags Hats and scarves

Pies will be judged by a panel of four islanders including Rob Peterson of Plum Forest Farm, (last year's winner), Daralyn Anderson, Beachcomber publisher, Telly Christanis, Head Cook at Sea Breeze Farm Boucherie, and Barbara Wells, a regular Farmers Market shopper. Pies will be given extra points if pie makers use island-grown ingredients.?

Warming Foods at Saturday Market
By Joanne Jewell

10/30/2008

Rain or shine, the Farmers Market will be open in the Village Green from 10am-2pm this Saturday, November 1. We are breaking new ground (so to speak) this Saturday as we have never been open through November before.? Please join us for this amazing "extra month" of fresh island produce.? The Vashon Saturday Farmers Market will be open through December 13 this year, with the exception of November 29, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The island continues to produce beautiful, fresh food at this time of year, some of it flavor-enhanced due to the occasional frosts.? Stock up while you can as there are only 6 more markets this season.

Here is What Will Be Fresh This Week and all grown on Vashon-Maury Islands :

Apples: All varieties are NOT available at the grocery stores.

Quince: A rare and delicately flavored, fragrant fruit that is great for jams and desserts.

Fresh herbs: Parsley, cilantro, sage, bay.

Winter Squash: Kubocha, Delicata, Acorn, Butternut, Buttercup, and more.

Pumpkins: Cinderella, Sweet Pie, Winter Luxury

Leeks: Great now in Leek and Potato soup

Potatoes, Onions, Shallots, Garlic: To eat now or store for months.

Kale, Chard, Mustards, Cabbages: For cooking or to eat raw.

Salad Mix:?So sweet now after the frost. With edible flowers.

Brussels Sprouts: Also sweetened with the frost, these are a delicacy steamed.

Parsnips, Rutabagas, Carrots: Eat the carrots raw and notice how they are sweetening. Parsnips and rutabagas are fantastic roasted, added to soups, baked with pot roast or other meats.

Beets:? Great roasted, grated raw into salads, steamed, or baked in Chocolate Beet Cake!

Sweet Peppers: Lucky to have these continuing so late into the Fall and still tasty.

Tomatoes:? Yes! Can you believe it?

Bok Choi: So good in Asian dishes, soups, stir fries, or just with oil, ginger and garlic.

And more...

Look for plants and trees from Black Dog Plants and Farm at the Country Store Iris tubers from Hazel Thies

Hot Soup, Bread, Croissants and Pastries from the Monkey Tree

Island artisans and their craft Garden furniture, bunny hutches, chicken tractors Knife Sharpening Lamps Etched glass and stone sculpture Hand-spun alpaca wool Wooden cutting boards and spoons Handbags and cosmetic bags Photography, watercolors Hats and scarves

Pies will be judged by a panel of four islanders including Rob Peterson of Plum Forest Farm, (last year's winner), Daralyn Anderson, Beachcomber publisher, Telly Christanis, Head Cook at Sea Breeze Farm Boucherie, and Barbara Wells, a regular Farmers Market shopper. Pies will be given extra points if pie makers use island-grown ingredients.?

The VIGA Annual Meeting will be held Sunday Nov. 2 from 4-7pm at the Grange Building on the north end of the island. There will be an amazing potluck meal, a review of the year's activities, and VIGA will be electing four new Board members. The public is invited, members only will be allowed to vote or run for office. (You can join that night if you wish.) If you have questions or have an interest in learning more about the VIGA Board contact current president Mark Timken at mtimken@comcast.net for more information.

Fresh Bread and Produce at Saturday Market
By Joanne Jewell

10/16/2008

This Saturday October 18 the Vashon Farmers Market will be open with a wide array of island-grown produce, fresh croissants, bread and soup from the Monkey Tree, and music from the new Vashon folk Choir. Please join us from 10-2 in the Village Green.

Here's some of what will be fresh from Vashon farms:

Sun-chokes

Leeks

Tomatoes

Kale

Winter Squash and Pumpkins

Chard

Apples--Jonagold, Baldwin, Melrose and King (none of these can be found at island grocery stores)

Beets

Sweet peppers

Carrots

Potatoes

Onions

Rutabagas

Parsnips

Cilantro

Brussels Sprouts

Salad Mix

Eggs

Island Produced Wine

and more......

WORK from ISLAND ARTISANS ?Rex Morris will be sharpening kitchen knives ?Handmade beeswax candles from Fiddle Home Candles ?Cutting boards from Tahlequah Woods ?Table lamps from Made in Paradise Rock Works ?Garden furniture and chicken tractors from Dragonfli's Woods ?Hats and scarves from Pam Smith ?Mason bee houses from Island Buzz ?Etched glass and sculpture from White Hart Art and Farm Jewelry as weather allows.

MUSIC Come hear Gospel, Slavic, African and other world music sung at the Farmers Market this week by members of Vashon's new folk choir. The Vashon Folk Choir is seeking passionate singers to join them this fall and is providing this free concert to get the word out. Rehearsals start Monday, Oct. 27th. For more information, contact Shane Jewell at 463-0778 or email shanefiddle@gmail.com.

VIGA ANNUAL MEETING The VIGA Annual Meeting will be held Sunday Nov. 2 from 4-7pm at the Grange Building on the north end of the island. There will be an amazing potluck meal, a review of the year's activities, and VIGA will be electing four new Board members. The public is invited, members only will be allowed to vote or run for office. (You can join that night if you wish.) If you have questions or have an interest in learning more about the VIGA Board contact current president Mark Timken at mtimken@comcast.net for more information.

Final WEDNESDAY Farmers Market of 2008
By Joanne Jewell

10/14/2008

Tomorrow, October 15, will be the last Wednesday Farmers Market of 2008. Come join us from 2- 6pm in the Village Green. The Saturday market will continue through December 13.

In gratitude for the great support you have given us all season the Vashon Island Growers Association will be providing a free cup of vegetarian chili to all (while it lasts). The chili will be made by Monique Ward of ABU Hospitality on Vashon.

Plan to Stock Up for Winter!

Here's some of what will be fresh from Vashon farms:

Sweet potatoes -the first and only of the year!

Sun-chokes-also a first for the year.

Leeks

Tomatoes

Kale

Winter Squash and Pumpkins

Chard

Apples--Jonagold, Baldwin, Melrose and King

Sweet Corn

Beets

Sweet peppers

Carrots

Potatoes

Onions

Rutabagas

Parsnips

Cilantro

Brussels Sprouts

Salad Mix

and more......

ARTS Artisan Jeanne Reynen of Fabric Focus will be selling her handmade market bags and more.

MUSIC From 2-4:30 Danielle McCutcheon will play violin and offer students a chance to play and from 4:30-6pm will be joined by musician Mike Woolf on euphonium, to perform polkas and waltzes in addition to some baroque and gypsy favorites.? Mike plays tuba in various groups, including The Smilin' Scandinavians."

The VIGA Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, November 2 from 4-7pm at the Grange Building on the north end of the island. There will be an amazing potluck meal, a review of the year's activities, and VIGA will be electing four new Board members. The public is invited, members only will be allowed to vote or run for office. (You can join that night if you wish.) If you have questions or have an interest in learning more about the VIGA Board contact current president Mark Timken at mtimken@comcast.net for more information.

Pumpkins at October 11 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

10/09/2008

Saturday, October 11 the Vashon Farmers Market will be open from 10-2, rain or shine, in the Village Green. The market will be full to the brim with the Fall harvest including bright orange Cinderella pumpkins and other winter squashes.

Here's some of what's fresh and island grown:

Apples Bramley Seedling, (Dr. Bob Norton says "THE best for pie") Spartan, Empire, King. None of these varieties can be found at island supermarkets.

Carrots

Basil

Sweet Corn

Sweet Peppers, now finally some red ones!

Salad Mix

Tomatoes

Brussel Sprouts

Winter Squashes and Pumpkins

Onions and Onion Braids

Garlic

Wine

Eggs

AND MUCH MORE...

Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Sol Source will be serving up hot soups and other delicious lunch specialties to eat at the market or take home.

Island artisans that brave the weather will also be on hand selling hand made crafts and some services such as knife-sharpening.

Wednesday Market in October
By Joanne Jewell

10/01/2008

During October the Wednesday Farmers Market will be open October 1, 8 and 15. Please join us in the Village Green from 2-6pm.

This week the amazing autumn weather continues to allow farm produce to ripen even more and provide a wide variety of island-grown fruit and vegetables to market shoppers. This week the Wednesday market welcomes Plum Forest Farm, a Wednesday newcomer.

Here's some of What's Fresh October 1:

Raspberries?Red, juicy & with a kiss of fall! Maybe the last week for these.

Italian Prune Plums- European, free stone, yellow amber meat ? Possibly the last week for these too.

APPLES, APPLES APPLES! Akane Apples- Candy red, crisp, crunchy! Liberty Apples- Fire engine red, crisp, a New York apple. Sweet Sixteen- Red striped, aromatic and sweet!

WINTER SQUASH Sweet Mama Kabocha Squash ? perfect baked squash, keeps until March- April

Gold Nugget Winter Squash- orange fleshed, great for baked, good keeper.

Delicatta Squash-the classic green-striped yellow squash, a local favorite.

Winter Luxury Pie Pumpkins-This variety won the Pumpkin Pie contest last year at the pre-Thanksgiving market.

Basil?Lettuce leaf and Genovese

Tomatoes- mixture of Matts, Tigerella, Chelsea, Mattina, lots of cherry tomatoes of all sizes and colors.

Sweet Corn-Still producing! The sweet yellow ears are ready for a boiling pot.

Onions-Large, strong flavored, to eat now or store.

Sweet Peppers- Gypsy variety is light green and sweet, now turning to red.

Salad Mix- A Gourmet blend that is hard to get enough of. Includes edible flowers.

Prepared Food Available! Sun Island Farm will have hot corn on the cob, made from island corn of course, as well as caramel apples made with Maury-island Empire apples, a great tart and sweet combination.

Hard Cider Apples coming soon: Tahoma View Farm will have Hard Cider Apples in a few weeks. These apples are still ripening and will be available for pick up October 18 or by appt. Harry Master Jersey- Bittersweet Dabinette-Bittersharp Foxwhelp (Improved)-Bittersharp Browns-Sharp Yarlington Mill- Bittersweet

CIDER FEST THIS COMING SATURDAY

Saturday October 4 is the Cider Fest at the Vashon Farmers Market, a collaboration between the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the Vashon Fruit Club, Vashon Rotary, and Vashon Schools PTSA. The Farmers Market will be open as usual from 10-2 and you can expect all your favorite farmers and crafts people to be present. There will be a wider variety of farms selling apples both sweet, fresh-eating apples and cider apples. Join in the apple pressing and tasting.

The Vashon Fruit Club's annual Fruit Show and Festival will be going on under a big tent from 10-4 at the Cider Fest. There will be a free class on How to Make Hard Cider from 1-2. From 3-4pm the PTSA will host a Pie contest and Bake Sale. From 3-6pm Vashon Rotary will host a Hard Cider Tasting for those 21 and older after the market is closed.

ANNUAL VIGA MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The VIGA Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, November 2 from 4-7pm at the Grange Building on the north end of the island. There will be an amazing potluck meal, a review of the year's activities, and VIGA will be electing four new Board members. If you have questions or have an interest in learning more about the VIGA Board contact current president Mark Timken at mtimken@comcast.net for more information.

THANK YOU

The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

Sunny Saturday Market
By Joanne Jewell

09/27/2008

Just a reminder that the Vashon Farmers Market is open from 10-2 today, Saturday, September 27, in the Village Green downtown Vashon, for maybe one of the last beautiful Fall days for a while.

Here's some of What's Fresh from Vashon Island farmers:

Apples: Local varieties that are sweet and ripe now and not available at the grocery store. Sun Island Farm will also have caramel apples-sweet caramel around a local Empire apple.

Melons: Crenshaw, watermelon, cantaloupe.

Corn: Maybe the last week for sweet corn. Look for hot corn on the cob at Sun Island Farm around noon.

Salad Mix: Amazing gourmet varieties of lettuces, mustards, edible flowers.

Winter squash: Pumpkins, Delicata, Acorn and Butternut.

Potatoes: Yellow Fin, Fingerlings, Red Lasoda, and more...

Italian Prune Plums: Very sweet and delicious snack for children and adults.

Edamame: Fresh soybeans, bright green and tender when steamed.

Raspberries: Autumn Bliss variety that just keeps going until frost or heavy rain.

Cucumbers: English, Lemon, and Slicers

Sweet and Hot Peppers: Gypsy, a chartreuse, tender sweet pepper,and others...

Tomatoes: Lots of shapes, colors, and sizes. Very ripe and delicious at this time of year.

And much, much more....

HOT LUNCH! Sol Source will have great food for lunch including Japanese Bento lunch boxes topped with salmon, chicken or spicy tofu, Japanese Udon noodle soup, miso soup, Chile Rellenos, hot sandwiches, and probably something more.

ISLAND ARTISANS will be bringing all their beautiful local crafts.

Please join us at the Village Green tomorrow from 10-2.

KING COUNTY FARM TOUR is also going on Saturday September 27th from 10-4:30. Four island farms will be featured on this free tour. Maps should be available at the Farmers Market or go to island farms Greenman Farm (in the Dilworth area) or Plum Forest Farm (Paradise Valley) to get a map and take a free tour!. Refer to the VIGA website for a map of island farms at www.vigavashon.org.

NEXT WEEK Saturday October 4 is the Cider Fest at the Vashon Farmers Market which is a collaboration between the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the Vashon Fruit Club, Vashon Rotary, and Vashon Schools PTSA. The Farmers Market will be open as usual from 10-2 and you can expect all your favorite farmers and crafts people to be present. There will be a wider variety of farms selling apples both sweet, fresh-eating apples and cider apples. Join in the apple pressing and tasting.

ANNUAL VIGA MEMBERSHIP MEETING The VIGA Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, November 2 from 4-7pm at the Grange Building on the north end of the island. There will be an amazing potluck meal, a review of the year's activities, and VIGA will be electing four new Board members. If you have questions or have an interest in learning more about the VIGA Board contact current president Mark Timken at mtimken@comcast.net for more information.

Island Family Harvest
By Joanne Jewell

09/20/2008

Tomorrow, Saturday September 20, is Island Family Harvest at the Farmers Market from 10-2 in the Village Green. This community event is a collaboration between the Vashon Island Growers Association, the Vashon Parks District and Vashon Youth and Family Services. The focus is on children and family events and includes a full day of music, children's activities, a chicken beauty contest and our regular market farm and craft vendors.

Farmers will have a lot of fruit and vegetables. Look for plums, apples, cantaloupe, watermelon, figs, raspberries, strawberries, for fruit. There will also be a lot of tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, onions, garlic, edamame (fresh soybeans), carrots, potatoes, winter squash, summer squash, leeks, and much more. There may also be hot corn on the cob from Sun Island Farm for you to enjoy at the market. Also look for island eggs, wine and fresh cut flowers. Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Sol Source will be cooking up amazing lunches including Japanese Bento lunch boxes topped with salmon, chicken, or spicy tofu, Japanese Udon noodle soup, miso soup, Chile Rellenos, hot sandwiches, Mexican hot chocolate, and almond cookies.

All your favorite artisans will be selling their work including returning vendor Fiddle Home Candles selling handmade beeswax candles, and Jeannie Robinson with cards featuring her amazing photographs from around the world.

Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS) will have several tents set up to the north of the Green. In this area you will find many children's activities hosted by island pre-schools and VYFS. Several students from the high school horticulture department will be frying up garden vegetables for healthy kid snacks. It is here you can also learn about all the great programs VYFS offers for island families.

We hope you will come spend the day and enjoy yourself Saturday as we mark the Autumnal Equinox, which will come around this weekend, marking the end of a mild, but beautiful summer.

Watermelon at Wednesday Market
By Joanne Jewell

09/16/2008

Wednesday September 17, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open in the Village Green from 2-6pm. Here's a glimpse of some of Whats Fresh:

Raspberries?Red, juicy and big! Imperial Epinuese Plums ? sweet, European, free stone, yellow meat. Early Italian Plums- European, free stone, yellow amber meat Akane Apples- Candy red, crisp, crunchy! Gravenstein Apples-A favorite old-fashioned variety great for pies and fresh eating. Green Bartlett Pears- Juicy, sweet. Shinseiki Asian Pears- yellow, crunchy & sweet. Melons-Old fashioned red and yellow watermelon! Sweet Mama Kabocha Squash ? perfect baked squash, keeper Gold Nugget Winter Squash- orange fleshed, great for baked, good keeper. Basil?Lettuce leaf and Genovese Aoshiso?Japanese herb used for stir fry, salads & grilled meats and fish Yellow Finn Potatoes - Just dug! Yellow & Creamy! Edible Amarath - Use in salads, beautiful reds & tasty! Tomatoes- mixture of Matts, Tigerella, Chelsea, Mattina Gourmet salad mix- With edible flowers Sweet corn-Get the pot boiling! Dahlias and Cottage Garden fresh flower bouquets. Hydrangea Bunches & Statice Bouquets- For your dried flower arrangements.

Of course everything at the Wednesday Farmers Market is grown on Vashon-Maury Islands. Come enjoy the harvest!

UPCOMING This coming Saturday September 21, is the Island Family Harvest which is a great collaboration between Vashon Parks District, Vashon Youth and Family Services and the Vashon Island Farmers Market. Expect children's activities, a chicken beauty contest, balloons and a full day of music from the stage. The food market will be open as usual from 10-2 and you can expect all your favorite farmers and crafts people to be present as usual.

Island Fruit at Wednesday Market
By Joanne Jewell

09/09/2008

Tomorrow, Wednesday September 10, the Vashon Farmers Market will be open in the Village Green from 2-6pm. The Wednesday market will be open through October 15 so don't miss out on this incredible high season feast of island-grown food.

Island-grown late Summer and early Fall fruits are coming in now. Carolina Nurik of Tahoma View Farm will have Imperial Epinuese Plums (revelers at the First Friday Opening at the Two Wall Gallery last week ate 20 pounds of these sweet plums in 2 hours), Green Bartlett pears, Akane apples (great for kids lunches), and raspberries. Sun Island Farm and Langley Fine Gardens will have melons (among other things), and Tramp Harbor Produce will have something that looks like teeny tiny watermelons but which are actually Mexican Gerkin cucumbers.

You can also expect tomatoes, peppers, onions, potatoes, leeks, basil, summer squash, winter squash including Gold Nugget ( a beautiful orange colored winter squash) and pumpkins, beans, cucumbers, salad mix, carrots, onions, garlic, golden and purple cauliflower, beets, Red Sea amaranth, (edible form, great to mix into salad), garlic and more. Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

There will also be fresh cut flower bouquets as well as dahlias, and Statice and Strawflowers for drying.

Please join us in the Village Green tomorrow for a beautiful sunny afternoon.

THANK YOU The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, refer elsewhere on the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org

Island melons at WEDS market
By Joanne Jewell

09/02/2008

Even on a cool summer like this one the amazing farmers of Vashon-Maury Islands can grow cantaloupe and watermelon. Congratulations to farmers Joe and Celina Yarkin of Sun Island Farm on Maury for bringing them to market this week. The Wednesday market will be open from 2-6pm in the Village Green.

Other fresh island-grown produce that will be available Wednesday includes corn, tomatoes, basil, summer squash, pumpkins, sweet and hot peppers that are now actually turning red, cucumbers, beans, potatoes, salad mix, golden cauliflower, broccoli, bunching onions, garlic, storage onions and possibly some berries. There will also be cottage garden bouquets and some incredible dahlias for fresh flower lovers.

If the weather is good there will also be crafts and 15 minute massage at the Wednesday market.

This time of year is a fresh food eaters paradise. For lunch today our family had cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread from the Macrina Bakery on the island. On top were slices of island-grown fresh tomato, peppers, home made pickles, cucumbers and salad mix. We ate it with some cool nettle tea. For dessert, a slice of island cantaloupe....

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY ART OPENING On Friday, September 5 during the First Friday Art Walk VIGA will co-host an Opening at the Two Wall Gallery featuring art submitted for the 2008 Vashon Farmers Market poster. Meet artists Allison Trundle, Chelsea Coldeen, Lotus, Ralph Moore, and Suzanne Anderson and enjoy horsdoeuvres prepared with fresh ingredients from the Vashon Farmers Market. Look for a separate announcment describing this event.

THANK YOU The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, look here at the VIGA web site or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146.

Labor Day Weekend at the Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/29/2008

Labor Day weekend if often a big day at the Vashon Farmers Market as all the islanders are back from summer vacations and some visitors are still on the island. The market is a great place to catch up with the friends you have not seen all summer, hear some great music, and buy delicious food for the week ahead.

Here is whats fresh this week: From island farms there will be corn, tomatoes, (heirloom, slicing, cherry), peppers, (sweet and hot), beans of all colors, summer squash, pumpkins (!), 3 kinds of cucumbers, raspberries, basil, salad mix, eggplant, garlic, onions, bunching onions, potatoes, (up to 6 different colors/varieties), carrots, golden cauliflower, broccoli, squash blossoms, kohlrabi. There will also be chicken, lamb, cheese, milk, wine and eggs from island growers, as well as fresh cut flowers, plums, and maybe some apples from Vashon Island. Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have peaches, apples, pluots.

Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be cooking up delicious Spring rolls, Japanese Udon noodle soup, shrimp tapas and sandwiches, miso soup, green and macha teas for lunch.

Island band Geordie's Byre will play incredible Celtic tunes from 11-1.

This summer the market has held a featured an amazing variety of island artisans selling work they have made on the island. This Saturday shoppers will find cards, jewelry, furniture made of recycled wood, wool hats and scarves, hand spun wool, tiles, watercolor paintings, jewelry, wooden cutting boards, essential oils, soap, mason bee houses, blown and etched glass, bronze, casting, knife sharpening, incense. If you bring knives they can be sharpened, you can get a 15 minute massage, get a henna tatoo, or get your face painted.

On Saturday evening, August 30 there will be a special Groove for the Green fundraising concert at Cafe Luna featuring island band Just Fiddlin' Round who have a new CD out. Concert goers have a chance to win a $25 Vashon Farmers Market gift certificate. The $12 cover charge will support the Farmers Market. Hope to see you there.

UPCOMING FIRST FRIDAY ART OPENING On Friday, September 5 during the First Friday Art Walk VIGA will co-host an Opening at the Two Wall Gallery featuring art submitted for the 2008 Vashon Farmers Market poster. Meet the artists and enjoy horsdoeuvres prepared with fresh ingredients from the Vashon Farmers Market.

Corn at Wednesday Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/27/2008

Remember that the Wednesday Farmers Market is open today from 2-6pm in the Village Green. Get the pot boiling because some of the first CORN of the season will be at the market today, sweet and ready to be eaten.

There is also starting to be a good supply of tomatoes and all the rest of the late summer fruits and vegetables: sweet and hot peppers, kohlrabi, carrots, beans, summer squashes, cucumbers, plums, raspberries, blackberries, garlic, onions, lettuce, salad mix, eggplant, potatoes and much more that you need for making a delicious dinner tonight. There will also be cottage bouquets of fresh flowers for your table or office. All farm goods at the Wednesday Farmers Market are grown on Vashon Island.

This is the last day for Vashon Parks District's Tunes at Noon. Come and hear Steve Amsden, an island singer/songwriter and guitarist, who will be playing in the Green between 12 and 3pm. The Vashon Island Growers Association would like to especially thank the Vashon Parks District for supporting the Farmers Market music program this year with funding and the Tunes at Noon program. Its been a great summer of music!

We'd also like to thank our other sponsors: MInglement/the Roasterie, Cafe Luna, Vashon Natural Medicine, Vashon Wilderness Program and the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

See you at the market today !

UPCOMING GROOVE FOR THE GREEN On Saturday, August 30 there will be a special Groove for the Green fundraising concert at Cafe Luna featuring island band Just Fiddlin' Round who have a new CD out. Concert goers have a chance to win a $25 Vashon Farmers Market gift certificate.

FIRST FRIDAY ART OPENING On Friday, September 5 during the First Friday Art Walk VIGA will co-host an Opening at the Two Wall Gallery featuring art submitted for the 2008 Vashon Farmers Market poster. Meet the artists and enjoy horsdoeuvres prepared with fresh ingredients from the Vashon Farmers Market.

Tomato Taste Off at August 23 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/22/2008

This Saturday at the Vashon Farmers Market VIGA will host the annual Tomato Taste Off. The Farmers Market opens at 10am. At 10 VIGA will be accepting tomatoes from anyone who wants to enter the contest. Tomatoes must be island-grown of course, and can be entered in any of four categories: Best Slicer, Best Heirloom, Best Cherry, Weirdest. Bring them in a brown bag with the variety name on the front. If we could get 3 lbs of a variety that would be great!

Shoppers will be invited to taste and rate the tomatoes beginning at 11am. Some of the varieties to taste include Jaune Flame, a large, bright orange heirloom tomato, Stupice, an early red tomato with green shoulders from Eastern Europe, Sungold, a sweet, orange cherry tomato. It has been a cool summer this year so the tomatoes are ripening SLOWLY. We expect there will be fewer tomatoes to taste and the contest may be completed earlier than in previous years.

Meanwhile the Farmers Market will go on as usual ! Island farmers will be bringing blueberries, raspberries, beets, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, bunched carrots, yellow, green, purple, and spotted green beans and Romano beans, summer squash, sweet and hot peppers, potatoes ( 6 varieties at least), pickling cukes, slicing cucumbers, salad mix, basil, tomatoes, chard, kale, onions, bunching onions, garlic, collard greens, kohlrabi, milk, eggs, cheese, wine, meats, fresh cut flowers, herbs. Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington will have Shamrock apples, peaches, possibly the last cherries of the season, and pluots.

The Monkey Tree Resturant will be serving hot soups, fresh baked bread and croissants, tea, and more. Music will be provided by West Seattle singer/ songwriter Larry Murante who will also appear later in the day at the Vashon Winery's Folk Festival.

All your favorite market artisans will be present including new vendor Michael Moe who will be selling and talking about mason bee houses. Marcella will be doing her fantastic henna body art and face painting for children and adults.

Come to the Vashon Farmers Market in the Village Green from 10am-2pm this Saturday.

Tomatoes at the Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/15/2008

After this long week of warm weather farmers will be bringing in tomatoes in larger quantities than seen yet this year so come and get them at the August 16 Saturday Farmers Market 10-2 in the Village Green. Other fresh island-grown food for sale includes cucumbers, summer squashes, basil, garlic, potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, beans, beets, salad mix, chard, eggplant, carrots, kohlrabi and blueberries. There will also be island-grown meats, cheese, milk, eggs, pesto and wine. There will be fresh fruit like peaches and plums from Tiny's Organics of Eastern Washington and many fine crafts.

Sol Source will be serving up amazing lunches and cold drinks including island grown grass-fed lamb burgers, Kobe beef burgers and a BIG island salad. Also exotic cold drinks like papaya lemonade.

Island singer/songwriter Laurie Lyons will play between 11am and 1pm.

Hope to see you there tomorrow....

UPCOMING TOMATO TASTE-OFF On Saturday, August 23 the Farmers Market will host the annual Tomato Taste Off. We would like to invite any tomato growers out there to bring at least one pound of any tomatoes you have grown and would like to enter in our contest to the market that morning at 10 am. Categories are Best Slicer, Best Heirloom, Best Cherry and Weirdest. Market shoppers will determine the winners. Tasting starts at 11. Prizes and acclaim will be awarded.

GROOVE FOR THE GREEN On Saturday, August 30 there will be a special Groove for the Green fundraising concert at Cafe Luna featuring island band Just Fiddlin' Round who have a new CD out. Concert goers have a chance to win a $25 Vashon Farmers Market gift certificate.

FIRST FRIDAY ART OPENING On Friday September 5 during the First Friday Art Walk VIGA will co-host an Opening at the Two Wall Gallery featuring art submitted for the 2008 Vashon Farmers Market poster. Meet the artists and enjoy horsdoeuvres prepared with fresh ingredients from the Vashon Farmers Market.

THANK YOU to Our SPONSORS The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please refer here to the VIGA web site or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146.

Tomatoes at the Market
By Joanne Jewell

Sol Source will be serving up amazing lunches and cold drinks including island grown grass-fed lamb burgers, Kobe beef burgers and a BIG island salad. Also exotic cold drinks like papaya lemonade.

Island singer/songwriter Laurie Lyons will play between 11am and 1pm.

Hope to see you there tomorrow....

Weds. Market Offers Massage
By Joanne Jewell

08/12/2008

Dear Farmers Market Supporter:

Remember that the Vashon Farmers Market will be open tomorrow, Wednesday August 13, from 2-6pm in the Village Green and will be open each Wednesday through October 15. Come early for music from 2-3pm sponsored by Vashon Parks District Tunes at Noon.

As far as What's Fresh, most of the summer vegetables are present in the market now. That means tomatoes, (come early for those), cucumbers, summer squashes, basil, garlic, potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, beans, beets, salad mix, chard, eggplant, carrots, kohlrabi and more. We hope to see blueberries at the market tomorrow too. If you don't know what to make for dinner Wednesday, the market will give you some great ideas.

Artisan Jeanne Reynen will be selling her hand made cloth shopping bags. New this week is the presence of Jennifer Johnson, LMP who will give 15 minute massage on Wednesdays. She has been a regular at the Saturday market all season.

UPCOMING TOMATO TASTE-OFF On Saturday, August 13 the Farmers Market will host the annual Tomato Taste Off. We would like to invite any tomato growers out there to bring at least one pound of any tomatoes you have grown and would like to enter in our contest to the market that morning at 10 am. Categories are Best Slicer, Best Heirloom, Best Cherry and Weirdest. Market shoppers will determine the winners. Tasting starts at 11. Prizes and acclaim will be awarded.

THANK YOU to Our SPONSORS The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please look here at the VIGA web site or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 206-267-8146.

Fabulous Sat 8/9 Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/07/2008

The fabulous Vashon Farmers Market is open again this Saturday from 10-2 in the Village Green, and here's a list of what's fresh this week: From island farmers--green beans, purple beans, yellow beans, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes (if you come early), basil, garlic, lots of varieties of potatoes, salad greens, lettuce, hot peppers, sweet peppers, delicious carrots, chard, kale, kohlrabi, eggplant, fresh cut herbs, beef, chicken, lamb, eggs, milk, cheese, wine and possibly blueberries and marionberries. There will also be fruit from Tiny's Organic of Eastern Washington including an early apple variety, peaches, plums, and cherries. Island farms will also have cut flower bouquets, blooming annuals, some trees and herbaceous perennials. The first group of winter vegetable starts will be available from Shoulder to Shoulder Farm.

The Monkey Tree Restaurant will bring their delicious chocolate croissants, fresh sourdough bread (which is often still warm), and two varieties of soup for lunch.

Jenni Wilke of Books by the Way will tell a children's story and possibly do an art project with children on the lawn from 10:30 -11. Music will be provided by local band Backroads from 11am-1pm. The Food for Thought Library will also be on hand with books and DVDs about local food for you to look at or check out.

Crafts at the Farmers Market are abundant this year as well. It seems impossible to list them all but here is a sample of the many fine handmade, island-produced work available: Garden furniture and chicken tractors made of reused wood, birdhouses and bird feeders, garden art, soap, brooms, etched glass artwork, small bronze casted sculpture, cutting boards, wooden spoons, shopping bags, cards, tiles, lamps, incense, art from stonecutting, hand spun wool, watercolor paintings. There will also be knife sharpening and 15 minute massage available.

Please join us for this tremendous community event each Saturday and find some great food to eat all week. (Or at least until the Wednesday market). By shopping at the market you not only get the freshest , most nutritious food you can buy, you also support island farmers and artists, your friends and neighbors, who may enjoy supporting you in your life and work as well.

UPCOMING TOMATO TASTE-OFF On Saturday August 13 the Farmers Market will host the annual Tomato Taste Off. We would like to invite any tomato growers out there to bring at least one pound of any tomatoes you have grown and would like to enter in our contest to the market that morning at 10 am. Categories are Best Slicer, Best Heirloom, Best Cherry and Weirdest. Market shoppers will determine the winners. Tasting starts at 11. Prizes and acclaim will be awarded.

GROOVE FOR THE GREEN On August 30 there will be a special Groove for the Green fundraising concert at Cafe Luna featuring island band Just Fiddlin' Round who have a new CD out. Concert goers have a chance to win a $25 Vashon Farmers Market gift certificate.

THANK YOU to Our SPONSORS The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146.

Wednesday Market opens at 2pm tomorrow
By Joanne Jewell

08/05/2008

Whats Fresh at the Wednesday Farmers Market ?

Wednesdays 2 - 6pm through October 15

The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) wants you to know that the Wednesday Farmers Market is open now each week this summer through October 15 from 2-6pm in the Village Green.

All produce at the Wednesday market is grown on Vashon Island by island farmers. This week, Wednesday August 6, shoppers can expect to find:

Sweet peppers, hot peppers, new potatoes,

eggplant, salad greens, lettuce heads, garlic, basil,

beets, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cut flowers, berries, and more.

Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

In addition,

y? Anne Gordon will once again be selling her cards with original images of Vashon island. (She also has a show this month at the Hardware Store Restaurant. ) y? Outcall Massage will offer 15 minute massages beginning August 13. y? Vashon Parks Department presents their free Tunes at Noon program on Wednesdays this year from 12-3 to overlap with the market. Last week there was plenty of room on the lawn to eat lunch and listen to the music.

The Vashon Wednesday Farmers Market gives islanders a second chance mid-week to buy the freshest, most nutritious produce. Island farmers travel only a few miles to bring their fresh fruits and vegetables to market, compared to the 1500 miles the average produce travels to the grocery store in the United States. This food has a lot of life in it.

Spread the word to families, friends and co-workers that the Wednesday Farmers Market is open for the season from 2-6 pm in the Village Green! The market is also open Saturdays from 10-2

THANK YOU to Our SPONSORS The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the organization that runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org or call market manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146.

Basil and garlic for pesto!
By Joanne Jewell

08/01/2008

Listening to the rain fall this week I hoped the lavender and hay was all harvested and put away. But I also enjoyed the soaking the rest of the plants and the soil got this late in July.

The tomatoes are a little slow coming into the market but the basil is not. This is THE TIME for basil and time to start making as much pesto as you can pack away in the freezer for winter. The new crop of garlic is also just in and it is very strong and full-flavored. Just perfect to mix with the basil for pesto. In addition to a few tomatoes and lots of basil and garlic, there will be island-grown potatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, eggplant, onions, kohlrabi, broccoli, carrots, loganberries, Cascade berries, raspberries, lettuce, salad greens, green beans, lamb, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, lavender, cottage garden bouquets, fresh cut herbs, and wine. There will also be fruit from Eastern Washington from Tiny's Organics.

Island nurseries still have many lovely plants to sell, including scented geraniums, many in bloom. There are also some trees, potted herbs, and unusual herbaceous perennials. You can also expect a wide range of services and crafts this Saturday including new vendors from Brian Brenno's blown glass studio, Michael Moe with mason bee houses, and Terry Vanderwaal with cut stone artwork. The King County Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions and remind you to pull that Tansy Ragwort blooming around your yard.

Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be selling some new lunch items this Saturday including hot lamb burgers made from Vashon's own Sea Breeze Farm lamb, and Kobe beef burgers. Kobe beef is known for its flavor, tenderness, and significant marbling. Paul's ground beef is from Kobe Beef America, grown in this country though genetically tied to the Wagyu breed in Japan.

From 11-1 the market welcomes young island musicians Lila O'Brien, Emerson Shedenhelm, and Zoey Rice of the Island Troubadors.

Come eat lunch, listen to music, buy some of the best fresh food available, see friends, buy hand made crafts, and join your community at the Vashon Farmers Market this Saturday Aug 2 from 10-2 in the Village Green.

WEDS Market July 23, 2-5pm
By Joanne Jewell

07/21/2008

Don't forget that the Wednesday the Farmers Market is open now each week this summer through October 15 from 2-5pm in the Village Green. For this our second week on July 23, shoppers can expect to find some of the first tomatoes of the season as well as eggplant, sweet peppers, hot peppers, new potatoes, peas, gourmet salad greens, garlic, collards, Royal Ann sweet cherries, pie cherries, raspberries, strawberries, beets, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, potted culinary herbs, cut flowers, lavender, and loganberries. Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Anne Gordon will once again be selling her cards with original images of Vashon island. Outcall Massage and other craft vendors will join later this month. The Vashon Parks Department is presenting their Tunes at Noon program on Wednesdays this year from 12-3 to overlap with the market. Last week there was plenty of room on the lawn for children to dance to the music. After 3pm the Farmers Market will welcome musicians young and old to play for tips.

Spread the word to families, friends and co-workers that the Wednesday Farmers Market is open for the season from 2-5pm in the Village Green!

Eggplant and cukes at July 19 market
By Joanne Jewell

07/17/2008

The summer produce is coming in for sure now. This week add eggplant and even small cucumbers to the What's Fresh list at the Vashon Saturday Farmers Market. The market will be open from 10-2 July 19 in the Village Green. In addition there will be sweet peppers, hot peppers, new potatoes, peas, gourmet salad greens, garlic, collards, Royal Ann sweet cherries, pie cherries, raspberries, loganberries, beets, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, culinary herbs, cut flower bouquets, lavender, milk, eggs, cheese, chicken, lamb, lettuce, and wine. Tiny's of Eastern Washington will bring peaches, apriums, and other fruits not grown on the island. Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

The Saturday market welcomes back farmers Will and Jasper Forrester of Greenman Farm for the season. All our island farmers are now back !

This week I am also listing the many crafts and services that are generally available. There will be hand-spun wool, hand made clothing and bags, garden art and furniture, cutting boards, lavender sachets and goods, hand carved spoons, incense, tiles, jewelry, cards, cartoons, and flower essences. For services you can get knives sharpened while you shop, have an intuitive reading, and with luck get your hair cut and your skin painted or henna-ed.

Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be providing delicious soups, hum bows, rice dishes and more for breakfast and lunch.

Between 11 and 1 the market welcomes island musician Mary Litchfield who is an acoustic singer/songwriter, and self-described spiritual smart aleck. She will be using the new market sound system so she can be heard by all.

Our last Saturday market (July 5, 2008) saw the highest sales in Vashon Farmers Market history at more than $10,500. Thank you Vashon for your support of local farming and local artisans!

Come to the market this Saturday and enjoy some time on the grass at the Village Green.

THANK YOU In addition to island shoppers, the Vashon Farmers Market would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org

--Joanne Jewell Manager, Vashon Farmers Market

Wednesday Market Open July 16, 2-5pm
By Joanne Jewell

07/15/2008

July 16 is OPENING DAY for the Vashon Wednesday Farmers Market from 2-5pm in the Village Green. Shoppers can expect to find sweet peppers, hot peppers, new potatoes, peas, gourmet salad greens, garlic, collards, Royal Ann sweet cherries, pie cherries, raspberries, strawberries, beets, broccoli, zucchini (!), carrots, potted culinary herbs, cut flowers, lavender, and possibly loganberries. At least five farms will be represented at Opening Day including Langley Fine Gardens, Tahoma View Farm, Sun Island Farm, Tramp Harbor Goods (Beth Tuttle) with Good Greens, and Fieldstone Flowers and Trees.

Anne Gordon will be selling her cards and other craft vendors may join her. In addition, the Vashon Parks Department is presenting their Tunes at Noon program on Wednesdays this year to coincide with the Wednesday market. Tunes at Noon will run from 12-3 so will overlap with the market. Come early for music!

The Vashon Wednesday Farmers Market is in its second consecutive year. Run as a successful pilot in 2007, this year the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) is giving the Wednesday market a big push to provide islanders locally-grown produce in the middle of the week. This market also provides farmers a reliable place to sell their fresh, mid-week harvested produce.

In an effort to support marketing and promotion of the Wednesday market, VIGA was awarded a grant in May of this year from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). WSDA agreed that the Vashon Wednesday market was a great opportunity to expand upon the very successful Saturday market, as well as a way to support local agriculture and a sustainable food system on Vashon Island.

Put the Wednesday Farmers market on your TO DO list for the rest of the summer as the market will be open from 2-5 pm each Wednesday in the Village Green through October 15. Spread the word!

THANK YOU In addition to the WSDA, the Vashon Farmers Market would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org

berries, basil, peppers July 5
By Joanne Jewell

07/05/2008

Its exciting to write the What's Fresh report this week. Listen to this--farmers will bring fresh, island-grown loganberries, raspberries, basil, carrots, baby beets, hot peppers, sweet peppers, new potatoes, garlic, garlic scapes, radishes, spring onions, broccoli, salad mix, peas, (snow, shelling and snap), romaine lettuce, milk, eggs, lamb, chicken, cheese, cut flowers, lavender (just one week until the Lavender Festival) herbs and wine. There is surely something more that isn't written here that you could find. The market welcomes back Maury Island farmers Matt and Leda Langley of Langley Fine Gardens for the season. There are still many nursery plants and trees too.

Tiny's Organic from Wenatchee, our only off-island vendor, will bring Rainier and Bing cherries, as well as an incredible kid-favorite fruit, the aprium. This small apricot-looking fruit is actually a cross between a plum and an apricot, and it seems to be exactly the right size and sweetness for many children, as well as adults. Ask for a sample.

The Monkey Tree will serve baked goods, they are getting legendary for their chocolate croissants, and usually they bring some bread and soup as well. And a cool drink if it is sunny out.

Crafters abound this year providing a very wide variety of island-produced art and craft as well as some services. You can have your knives sharpened while you shop (if you bring them), have an intuitive reading, get a 15 minute massage, or have a cartoon drawn especially for you. This week you can also get your hair cut at the market by Roxy Hathaway. Crafts include garden art, jewelry, essential oils, handmade brooms, lavender sachets, cards, incense, cutting boards, tiles, children's clothing, bags, and paintings. And there is even more than that....

For music the Vashon Farmers Market welcomes the Vashon Celtic Players, a whole group of them to keep things lively from 11-1.

The Vashon Farmers Market now has our own reuseable shopping bag. This beautiful bag is forest green and is graced with an amazing block print by island artist and farmer Celina Yarkin of Sun Island Farm. The bag features a woman with vegetables on her head on one side and BUY LOCAL on the other. The bags are available at the market managers table, and at some of the vendors tables, for $2. At the managers table you can also still buy our farmers market poster for $3 which is illustrated with a watercolor print by artist Chelsea Coldeen.

Tell your friends and family to meet you at the Farmers Market this Fourth of July Weekend, Saturday the 5th from 10-2 in the Village Green.

UPCOMING:

PRE-STRAW FEST FARMERS MARKET, FRIDAY JULY 11, 10-2 On Friday July 11 there will be a special Farmers Market preceeding the Strawberry Festival which closes down the street on Saturday July 12, a usual market day. (The Farmers Market will be closed during Strawberry Festival.) Don't miss out on some fresh island food that weekend. Sea Breeze Farm will be there Friday, and some other crafters and farmers on FRIDAY, JULY 11, 10-2. Go to the web site (www.vigavashon.org) for updates.

WEDNESDAY MARKET OPENS 2-5PM on JULY 16 The Wednesday market will open in less than three weeks giving a second chance each week to buy island produced farm goods. This year we will be overlapping with the Tunes at Noon program which will run from 12-3 in the Village Green. Mark your calendar.

The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), the group who runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

Organic cherries at Saturday Market
By Joanne Jewell

06/28/2008

This Saturday at the Vashon Farmers Market expect to see organic cherries from Tiny's Organics of Eastern Washington. Tiny's is our only vendor from off-island and all season they will be providing the fruits that we cannot grow well in the Maritime Northwest. Island growers will be bringing garlic scapes, garlic, carrots, onions, broccoli, peas, kale, chard, salad mix, lettuce, fresh lamb and chicken, milk, eggs, cheese, wine, fresh cut flowers, maybe some strawberries, and probably something else that I forgot. Suffice it to say that summer is here and there is a lot of fresh produce to buy at the market. There are also still many beautiful nursery plants and trees for sale.

At 10:30 am Jenni Wilke of Books by the Way will lead a children's storytime. Music will be provided at 11am by the market's own John Browne of Judd Creek Nursery. John is a folksinger in the grand tradition of Woody Guthrie and he always brings a great vibe to the market. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be serving up delicious soups, hum bows, rice dishes and other lunch (or breakfast) foods.

Island produced crafts are out in force now, along with the summer weather. Rex Morris will be sharpening knives, Jennifer Johnson will be giving 15 minute massages and a new artist, Aimee Cartier will offer intuitive readings that will "empower people to align with their own highest good." There will be hand-made lamps, cards, cutting boards, soaps, essential oils, a chicken tractor, garden furniture from recycled materials, artwork, sand-blasted glass, jewelry, lavendar sachets, shopping bags and a wide variety of interesting and beautiful work.

The King County Master Recycler Composters will be on hand to answer any questions you have and provide information. So will Sustainable Tourism on Vashon and the Community Quilt.

We hope to see you from 10-2 this Saturday in the Village Green.

UPCOMING:

PRE-STRAW FEST FARMERS MARKET, FRIDAY JULY 11, 10-2 On Friday July 11 there will be a special Farmers Market preceeding the Strawberry Festival which closes down the street on Saturday July 12, a usual market day. (The Farmers Market will be closed during Strawberry Festival.) Don't miss out on some fresh island food that weekend. I will provide more infomation next week about the shopping opportunities on FRIDAY, JULY 11, 10-2.

WEDNESDAY MARKET OPENS 2-5PM on JULY 16 The Wednesday market will open in less than three weeks giving a second chance each week to buy island produced produce and farm goods. This year we will be overlapping with the Tunes at Noon program which will run from 12-3 in the Village Green. Mark your calendar.

Wellness Fair June 21
By Joanne Jewell

06/19/2008

This Saturday at the Farmers Market the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) will be hosting our first Nutrition and Wellness Fair. The goal of this event is: 1) to bring in some new shoppers who may not have been to the Vashon Farmers Market before, 2) to make the connection between health and wellness and the fresh local food at the Farmers Market and, 3) to build relationships with health care practitioners on the island. We also hope it will be fun and educational for everyone involved.

The Wellness Fair will be under several tents in the area at the west end of the Village Green where we usually have music. There will be short presentations for small groups throughout the day as well as information tables where you can just stop by and look. In addition, there will be opportunities to taste healthy foods, receive a massage or short therapeutic treatment, or learn about health care opportunities available on Vashon Island.

Below you will find a schedule of the Wellness Fair events on Saturday. Please spread the word in the community by word of mouth or by forwarding this e-mail to friends and family. And I hope you get to participate in some of the Nutrition and Wellness Fair activities yourself.

Farmers, food vendors, and crafters will all still be on hand of course this Saturday as well.

Vashon Farmers Market Nutrition and Wellness Fair Activities Saturday, June 21, 2008, 10-2, The Village Green

10:00-10:30 Raffle for Free Massage Enter to win one of two free 15 min. massages at the market, by Jennifer Johnson, LMP. Drawing at 10:30am. Must be present to win.

10:30 Introduction to Vashon Wellness.com, an online wellness resource Life Coach, Laura Worth, MSW

11:00 Raw Foods from the Farmers Market that children will love, (sampling). Weslie Rogers, Marsha Peirson

12:00 The Healing Benefits of Acupuncture Vashon Healing Arts, Ann Leda Shapiro, LAc

12:30 Yoga, Pranayama on the Green Jenelle Benker, Island Yoga Center. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. 1:00 Health benefits of Flower and Gemstone essences Marisha Auerbach, Queen Bee Flower Essences

1:30 Shoni Shin--a gentle, non-intrusive therapeutic treatment for children based in Oriental medicine Marina Smith LAc, Jessica Boulding, LAc, PRAHM

Throughout the Day Yummy lunches for children containing Vashon Farmers Market foods (sampling) Jennifer Foege, Nutritionist, The Joyful Kitchen

Acupuncture consultation and information Ann Leda Shapiro, LAc

Life Coaching, mini-sessions Laura Worth, MSW. Will share practical life management skills that help people optimize happiness and well-being in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions.

Massage-Fifteen minutes for $15 Jennifer Johnson, LMP

Reiki- Short sessions by donation Jeanne Robinson, Reiki Master

Shoni-shin consultations with children Marina Smith, Jessica Boulding(see description above)

Vashon Community Wellness Project Information available

VashonWellness.com Laura Worth, MSW. View the web site in our tent.

Vashon College: 25% off coupon for the book Plenty at two island bookstores. This book is part of the Vashon Reads program this summer. Tickets to Vashon Feeding Ourselves portion of the Sustainability lecture series. Scholarship available from VIGA.

June 7 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

06/06/2008

Rain or shine, you have to eat this week, right? Why not buy the freshest, most nutritious food you can buy at the Vashon Farmers Market from 10-2 in the Village Green this Saturday June 7? Look for spinach, bok choi ( a crisp Asian vegetable that is great in soups and stir fries), broccoli, salad mix, kale, and fresh cut herbs for cooking. You will also find fresh milk, eggs, cheese, meats, wine, and delicious lunch options from the Monkey Tree. Plant starts are still in abundance, annual vegetables and flowers, herbs, perennials, cut flowers and trees. There will again be a wide variety of your favorite crafts at the market as well.

One of my favorite island musicians is playing this week. Don't miss Sarah Christine who will play from 11-1 at the market. Her soulful, positive music and lyrics will make you feel great and maybe get you dancing.

This week farmer and activist Joel Salatin spoke in Bremerton. Joel is featured in Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and is best known for his ideas about pasturing poultry, (so they can be healthy, eat a lot of bugs and grass, be outside, and taste great later), and for his commitment to rotational grazing and grass fed-beef. In fact you can buy a chicken tractor of your own at the Farmers Market for pasturing your own poultry from vendor Dragonfli's Woods. Did you see the chicken tractor on display last week with chickens and eggs in it?

Joel is also an advocate of local food. He noted that the average American family spends $10/per day/ per person for food. That means that Vashon Islanders spend as a group about $100,000/day on food. Wow. That shows how much potential there is for the local food economy. Of course you can't currently buy your olive oil, rice, flour, salt, etc. here but if we all spent only 25% of our food dollars on food grown on the island, that would be about $25,000/day. That money keeps farmers in business and farm land preserved which maintains the rural character of Vashon Island. That rural character, along with fresh air, birds, open space, is something many of us moved here for or stay here for. Its something to think about.

The Vashon Island Growers Association(VIGA), the group who runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

Thank you for your support of the Vashon Farmers Market. See you there!

Spinach, Baby Beets, Bok Choi!
By Joanne Jewell

05/30/2008

You will find some new produce arrivals on the farmers tables this Saturday at the Vashon Farmers Market from 10-2 in the Village Green this Saturday May 31. Look for spinach, baby beets, bok choi ( a crisp Asian vegetable that is great in soups and stir fries), broccoli, salad mix, kale, and fresh cut herbs for cooking. You will also find fresh milk, eggs, cheese, meats, wine,(look for Ron Irvine's special island-grown Vashon Winery Pinot Noir that was featured in the Beachcomber this week), hand-made chocolates and delicious lunch options from Paul Motoyoshi at Sol Source. Plant starts are in abundance, annual vegetables and flowers, herbs, perennial and trees. There will again be a wide variety of your favorite crafts at the market as well.

From 10:30-11 Jenni Wilke, owner of Books by the Way, will tell stories about trees and plants, plus do an activity, open to children of all ages.

In the second week of music at the Farmers Market we are very excited to welcome singer/songwriter Larry Murante to the market. Larry played last year at the market and his warm, rich voice and lyrical liveliness drew everyone in. Larry will play from 11-1 at the market and you could hear him again Saturday evening at Cafe Luna.

May 31 is a day to celebrate Rachel Carson who was born on May 31, 1907. Rachel was the first scientist and bird watcher to notice in the 1960s that the birds were not returning in the Spring in the numbers they had in the past. She made the link between diminishing birds and the pesticides being used on farms and forests, and made it her life work to bring this information out in the scientific community and to the world at large. This choice made her an enemy of the pesticide industry, an already booming financial giant in the 60's, who tried to discredit her as a hysterical woman and sloppy scientist. Of course, she was proven right, and thanks to her courage and personal conviction the public's awareness about the hazards of pesticides was raised and enlightened people began to search for alternatives. Thank you Rachel Carson. Your work changed us.

One advantage of buying your produce at the Vashon Farmers Market is you can talk directly to the farmers and ask how the food they sell is grown. Get to know your farmers and ask them how they handle pests, how they treat the soil, ask to visit the farm if you like. All our farmers grow their crops on Vashon-Maury island, (with the exception of Tiny's who will bring organic produce from Eastern Washington beginning in late June), and travel an average of about 7 "food miles" from their farm to the market.

The Vashon Island Growers Association(VIGA), the group who runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters, please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

See you at the market!

Music at the Market Memorial Day Weekend
By Joanne Jewell

05/22/2008

Here's what's fresh on the farm tables at the Vashon Farmers Market this Saturday May 24 at the Village Green from 10-2: Salad greens, bok choi, spinach, arugula, kale, lettuce, purple-sprouting broccoli, milk, eggs, cheese, a variety of meats from Sea Breeze Farm. Other food incudes handmade chocolates, wine, popcorn, island-roasted coffee beans from the Roasterie, plus fresh bread, croissants, soup, and other lunch foods from the Monkey Tree Restaurant.

Crops appear to still be about two weeks behind schedule because of the cool Spring. Early season is the time for leaf crops as all the plants are just beginning their growth for the year. It is still a great time to plant your own garden at home. There will be at the market, once again, a wide variety of vegetable starts, trees, annual and perennial flowers, herbs and native plants.

Last week we had 35 vendors at the market (compared to 16 last year at this time) and we expect about the same this week. The farmers market is a very vibrant place these days. Islanders are turning out in great numbers to buy local food and farmers are growing more food to meet the demand. By late June we should have as many as 10 different island food-growing farms represented.

Crafters are already out in force this year. Here's a list of what's available: jewelry, cutting boards, soap, handmade brooms, children's clothing, horseshoe and garden furniture, lamps, incense, island spun wool, paintings, garden art, and cards. Rex Morris sharpens knives each week (remember to bring yours!), and Jennifer Johnson of Outcall Massage gives 15 minute massages at the market.

This weekend is the official beginning of music at the market for the season. Our opening band is the all-Vashon group Be Sides with Rick Vanselow, Kim Thal, Dan Brown and Eric Frith making up the acoustic quartet. Music begins at 11am and always adds to the fun as it provides a venue and a place on the lawn to hang out with the friends you haven't gotten to talk to this week.

The Vashon Island Growers Association(VIGA) who runs the Vashon Farmers Market, would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement/the Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, the Vashon Wilderness Program, and the Vashon Park District. For more information about VIGA, the Farmers Market, or island farms and crafters please go to the VIGA web site at www.vigavashon.org.

See you at the market!

Sun at May 17 Market
By Joanne Jewell

05/15/2008

All of us who work at the Farmers Market are so happy to see a sunny Saturday predicted on May 17. It has been a cold, windy, April and May for all of us (and you!) so far. Come to the market this Saturday at the Village Green 10am-2pm for fresh meats, eggs, milk, cheese, salad mix, arugula, spinach, asparagus, lettuces and maybe some purple-sprouting broccoli in the "what's fresh" department. There will also be fresh cut lilac bouquets and other fresh flowers. There will also be hand-made chocolates, island wine, and island roasted coffee beans for sale. The Monkey Tree will serve delicious soup, croissants, fresh bread, and desserts for breakfast or lunch.

Maybe you finally feel excited to work out in your yard now that the Arctic Spring seems to be over. Farmers will have plenty of plant starts of all kinds. This week Pacific Potager will be adding 20 varieties of squashes and pumpkins to the vegetable assortment, 8 varieties of multi-branching sunflowers, and some new herbs and flowers. There are still up to 20 varieties of tomatoes as well as peppers, onions, shallots, leeks, peas, broccoli, cauliflower from many different farm vendors.

I am continually amazed at the beauty and wide variety of annual and perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees at the market each week. This week there will be as many as eight different farms/nurseries selling plants at the market. All of these growers have small operations and know exactly what they are growing, what the plants require in terms of light, fertilization, water. You cannot find a better place to buy and learn about plants than the Farmers Market. Plant growers include John and Vicki Browne, Peter Ray, Richard O'Dell, Mary Robinson, Vy Beal, CZ Reins and Jamie Froyd, Hazel Thies, Michelle Crawford and Rachel Lydecker.

Crafters will have jewelry, cutting boards, soap, handmade brooms, children's clothing, horseshoe and garden art and furniture, lamps, island spun wool, paintings, and cards. Rex Morris sharpens knives each week (if you remember to bring yours!), and Jennifer Johnson of Outcall Massage gives 15 minute massages at the market.

For more information about island farms and farm stands, the Vashon Farmers Market, or the Vashon Island Grower's Association (VIGA), go to our web site at www.vigavashon.org. VIGA would like to thank our 2008 Vashon Farmers Market Sponsors: Cafe Luna, Minglement/The Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, and the Vashon Wilderness Program.

Asparagus and Tomato Plants May 3
By Joanne Jewell

05/02/2008

This Saturday May 3 food shoppers will find fresh island asparagus, mixed bunches of broccoli raab, chard and kale, fresh beef, pate, cheese, milk, eggs, and salad mix. Also look for the first tomato plants of the season and some cut flower bouquets. There will be island-produced wine, hand-made chocolates, plus hot soup and lunch specialties from Sol Source. The market is open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

Farmer Michelle Crawford reports she will bring the first round of the over 40 varieties of tomato plants she is growing at Pacific Potager near Tahlequah. All of these plants have been "hardened off" for a week which means they could be transplanted outdoors right away.

There will be a wide variety of other plant starts for sale including, annual flowers and vegetables, herbs, perennial flowers and shrubs, native plants and trees. The Country Store and Gardens will have blueberry and strawberry plants, plus an interesting selection of unusual shrubs and perennials including Pink Japanese Poppy, Contorted Filbert and a gorgeous new blue double primrose.

This Saturday we will also be welcoming two farms making their first appearances of the season, Shoulder-to-Shoulder Farm Collective and Farm Candy.

Many crafters will be present. Rex Morris will be sharpening kitchen knives so once again, don't forget to bring your knives! Other crafters will be displaying and selling island-made jewelry, soaps, essential oils, cutting boards, incense, and artwork, cards, giving massage, and selling original art work, functional tables and furniture constructed of horseshoes from "cowboy welder" Clayton Bomber, and a new batch of outdoor furniture made of reused wood from Dragonfli's Woods.

Lamb Curry at April 26th Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

04/24/2008

This Saturday the market will host our first Chef's Demonstration of the season. Tiffany Schira of Island Gourmet will prepare lamb curry using lamb from Sea Breeze Farm and any vegetables and herbs she can find on the farmer tables. Don't miss a chance to see, smell and taste this delicious dish. The demo will start at 11am.

Last week there was island asparagus at the market so keep your fingers crossed for more of that. There will also be salad mix, fresh cut herbs, eggs, milk, fresh beef, chicken, possibly some frost sweetened kale and other produce. Other food groups include wine and specialty chocolates. Also the Monkey Tree will be back with hot soup, fresh baked bread and more for your lunch at the market or to take home.

It is still a great time to plant island grown vegetable starts. At the market you will find mixed packs of lettuces and brassicas for the small home garden that likes variety. Also onions, shallots, and leeks and a wide variety of trees, perennial flowers, native plants and dahlia tubers. There is still plenty of time to get the dahlia tubers in the ground according to dahlia expert Richard O'Dell.

Many crafters will be present. Rex Morris will be sharpening kitchen knives so once again, don't forget to bring your knives! Other crafters will be displaying and selling island-made jewelry, soaps, essential oils, cutting boards, incense, and artwork, cards, chair massage, hand made lamps, children's clothing and toys, and original art work by Vashon Farmers Market poster artist Chelsea Coldeen. The market poster is also for sale for $3 at the market managers booth. We also expect some new work from young crafter Sarah Kai Schwarz, horseshoe art from an island self-described "cowboy welder", and a new batch of outdoor furniture made of reused wood from Dragonfli's Woods.

Spring will definitely come. Come catch a breath of it at the market this Saturday from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

For more information about island farms and farm stands, or the Vashon Island Grower's Association (VIGA), go to our web site at www.vigavashon.org. VIGA would like to thank our 2008 Vashon Farmers Market Sponsors: Cafe Luna, Minglement/The Roasterie, Vashon Natural Medicine, and the Vashon Wilderness Program.

April 19th Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

04/17/2008

This Saturday at the Vashon Farmers Market you can expect a wide variety of plant starts as well as some Spring produce. It is still unseasonably cold, (except last Saturday, a GREAT day at the market), and farmers report that plants are two to three weeks behind in their growth. Even plants that started in the greenhouse may be behind as they can't be '"hardened off" outside yet. Plus it's too cold to put many of them in the ground anyway ! But nevertheless the Spring rolls on and eventually we'll get some heat. Please join us in the Village Green from 10am-2pm.

Black Dog Plants will be back with amazing perennials, many in bloom. There are lots of onion, leek, shallot, and brassica starts (broccoli, cauliflower, bok choi) from The Farm at the Country Store, Fieldstone Flowers and Trees, and Pacific Potager. Look also for starts for annual and perennial flowers from Lisabuela Gardens, a variety of perennials and trees from the Country Store, Pacific Northwest Native Plants from Judd Creek Nursery and Himalayan Honeysuckle among other things from new vendors Ava Lake and Anne Deer of Ancient Paths farm.

For produce look for salad mix, maybe some leeks, great late kale, lettuce. Sea Breeze Farm will have fresh dairy products, pate, meats and wine. There will be hot soup, tea and assorted lunch foods from Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source. There will be hand-made chocolates, and more wine from the Vashon Winery.

Many crafters will be present. Rex Morris will be sharpening kitchen knives so don't forget to bring yours! Other crafters will be displaying and selling island-made jewelry, soaps, essential oils, cutting boards, incense, and artwork, cards, face painting by 9 year old Lily Robinthal, chair massage, hand made lamps from new vendor Made in Paradise Rocks, children's clothing and toys from new vendor Just Horsin' Around, and original art work by Vashon Farmers Market poster artist Chelsea Coldeen. The market poster is also for sale for $3.

We are celebrating Earth Day this weekend on the Village Green along with Sustainable Vashon. Many island non-profits will be present on the north side of the park to share ideas about saving the planet. See the list below. At 1pm there will be a free bike maintenance seminar given by Peter Ray, Wendy van de Sompele and Mike De Blasi.

EARTH DAY participants Wolftown - birds of prey demo, table Rent-A-Rumiant - pen, table Scott Durkee / WVO filtering People for Puget Sound - tabling Preserve Our Islands - table BaaHaus (Great American Meat-out) table The Worm Guy - table, hands-on demo Forest Stewards - Table - hands on - birdhouses Vashon Solar Cooperative - table Vashon Land Trust - table Erin Kenny - Edibles ID - roaming Blue Ridge Solar - solar H2O station Bike Workshop - booth Vashon College - booth Backbone Campaign - giant puppets/table Sustainable Vashon: Green Seed Grant winners- demos Chautauqua Elementary kids - art project Beekeepers - table SEEDS - booth

The Vashon Farmers Market would like to thank our 2008 market sponsors Cafe Luna, Minglement, Vashon Natural Medicine and the Vashon Wilderness Program.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Farmers Market Opening Day '08
By Joanne Jewell

04/04/2008

As I write this it is a beautiful sunny afternoon and I hear someone mowing their lawn, the plum trees are all in bloom and are maybe even getting pollinated, and I actually saw a Spring peeper jumping in my perennial flower bed. Yes, I think it is Spring, even though our thermometer registered 22 degrees F last night.

The Spring Farmers Market is opening this Saturday, April 5 at 10am, and will be open until 2pm. We will open the day with the sounds of a piper to bless the season ahead with high hopes and generous spirits. Throughout the morning we will be serving free hot soup to welcome vendors and customers alike back to the market after a long season away.

Farmers will be selling mostly plant starts as it is the time of year for planting young plants. There's not much produce yet as it is early Spring yet, and we just experienced the coldest March since 1962. Look for Pacific Potager with vegetable starts, Fieldstone Flowers and Trees and Black Dog Plants with trees and perennials, the Country Store and Gardens with a variety of plants, and Lisabeula Gardens with annual and perennial cut flower starts. Hazel Thies will be selling culinary herbs and strawberry plants. Jamie Froyd and CZ Reins will have plants and possibly some produce.

George Page of Sea Breeze Farm has been present every Saturday all winter long and he will be back with meats, eggs, dairy products and wine. Vashon Winery will return after a winter away as will Barbara Stratton Premium Chocolates. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be serving hot teas and hot lunches (we missed you Paul !) throughout the day.

On Saturday you can also expect to meet Chelsea Coldeen, the young artist who designed our market poster this year. She will be there to sign the posters that VIGA will have for sale for $3 each. Chelsea will also be selling some of her other art work.

A wide variety of crafts and other activities will be available. Rex Morris will be sharpening knives, Outcall Massage will offer chair massage with some heat. Sherry Mask of Rainy Day Gardens will be selling soap, lotions and essential oils. Sherry made a special lemon poppyseed soap cake for Opening Day and she will be giving away free slices. Sherry also has a new soap package that is embedded with flower seeds that can be planted in the garden. Cartoonist Ed Frohning will be selling his original drawings and Woodworker Ralph Moore will have his beautiful homemade cutting boards. There will be a wide variety of jewelry from Graceful Beads, Semilla Designs, and Designs by Sheree. Bloodfire Blends will be on hand with specialty incenses. White Hart will have 300 sand blasted "thought bubbles" in a wide variety of colors along with their bronze and aluminum metal work.

I would like to thank our four market sponsors for 2008 who are financially supporting the Vashon Farmers Market this year: Minglement/The Roasterie, Cafe Luna, Vashon Natural Medicine and the Vashon Wilderness Program. For more information go to the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) web site at www.vigavashon.org or call me, Joanne Jewell, the Vashon Farmers Market Manager, at 267-8146.

We all look forward to seeing you again this year at the farmers market!

Early Plant Sale at Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

03/19/2008

Easter is early this year and island growers have trees, vegetable starts and perennials that are ready to be planted. After spending the winter in greenhouses all over Vashon Island the life and energy in the little seedlings is tangible and the trees are ready to leaf out or put on new growth. They are ready to go!

In celebration the Vashon Farmers Market will be holding a pre-season plant sale this weekend, Saturday March 22 and next weekend, Saturday March 29 at the Village Green from 10am-2pm. Islanders are invited to come and buy locally-grown starts for the garden and landscape.

On March 29 the King County Master Gardeners will also be on hand at the market to answer any questions you have about plant varieties, when and how to plant trees or annuals, or how to control plant pests and diseases.

This weekend look for Pacific Potager who specializes in annual vegetable and flower starts, Black Dog Plants who will bring a wide range of plants from groundcovers to trees, and Lisabeula Gardens who specializes in perennial and annual flower starts that will grow into great cut flowers later this summer. Richard O'Dell of Fieldstone Flowers and Trees will be back at the Farmers Market this weekend for his 17th year selling plants on Vashon Island. O'Dell will be bringing lots of trees in 5 gallon sizes and smaller.

In January 2008 the Vashon Farmers Market became technically a "year-round" market as farmer George Page of Sea Breeze Farm has had fresh meat, dairy products and wine to sell all through the winter. Sea Breeze and the Winter Saturday Market continues along with the plant sale described above through March 29.

April 5 is official Opening Day of the Spring Saturday Farmers Market from 10-2 in the Village Green. We will open the spring market at 10am with the blessings of a bagpiper and serve free hot soup all morning. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will also be back Opening Day serving hot lunches and teas.

For more information about the market contact Farmers Market Manager Joanne Jewell at 267-8146 or visit the Vashon Island Growers Association web site at www.vigavashon.org

Greetings Farmers Market Supporters
By Joanne Jewell

02/03/2008

Thank you for an enjoyable and successful Farmers Market in 2007. The Vashon Farmers Market grossed $206, 643 in 2007 with 63% of sales going to farmers and 37% to island crafters. This is up from total sales of $153,560 in 2006 and $131,986 in 2005. Vashon Islanders are showing they support local food and local artisans. Money spent at the Farmers Market is paid directly to island farmers and craftspeople and stays circulating on Vashon Island at least one more time supporting the community at large allowing a more self-sustaining island economy.

Planning is in the works for another great Farmers Market season on Vashon Island. Take a look at what is happening as we prepare for another year .

On Saturday February 2nd, Leda Langley and Brian Lowry shared their insights and experience about growing food for the Vashon Farmers Market at a class for new and old farmers and farmer wannabees. Over 30 people listened as they spokend asked questions about specific crops to grow, timing, season extenders and market presentation. Brian spoke specifically about running a successful CSA and rockin' farm stand. Leda is a sixth generation farmer who has 12 years experience selling at Seattle Farmers Markets and 2 years at the Vashon Market. She and her husband Matt own Langley Fine Gardens in Dockton. Brian Lowry has been farming on Vashon Island for 3 years and manages Hogsback Farm in the Dilworth neighborhood. He has been selling produce at the Vashon Farmers Market and running a CSA on Vashon Island for three years along with farm owner Amy Bogaard.

Another class is coming up that can help you market your farm.

Designing a Web Page for Your Farm
Tuesday, February 12, 7pm, Land Trust Building

Consultant Dan Scheuler will demonstrate how Vashon farmers and craftspeople, once they become a member of the Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA), can design a web page that will attach to the VIGAweb site. Farmers Rob Peterson and Joanne Jewell of Plum Forest Farm will show the site they made with Dan and explain the process. This class is free and only open to VIGA members-membership forms will be available at the class. For more information call Joanne Jewell at 463-3518. No pre-registration is needed.

The 2008 Saturday Farmers Market opens April 5. We look forward to seeing you at one of our winter events before then.

Sincerely, Joanne Jewell Manager, Vashon Farmers Market

The Vashon Farmers Market in December
By Joanne Jewell

12/05/2007

The Winter Holidays offer the opportunity for rest, for peace, for sharing and for celebration. In the spirit of giving yourself and your family a simpler, more meaningful holiday, Island farmers and craftspeople invite you to come experience the Vashon Farmers Market in December. The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA)will be open December 8 in the Village Green from 10 am-2pm for the last Farmers Market of the season.

The December markets are very festive, festooned with lights, and covered by a festival tent to keep everyone warm and dry despite the weather. You will recognize most of the vendors--the farmers and craftspeople are also your friends and neighbors in the community. All the vendors are selling items that they have either grown or produced themselves right on Vashon-Maury Island.

On December 8 Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be serving hot soup, curries, sushi, tea, Mexican hot chocolate, hum bows and desserts. George Page of Sea Breeze Farm and Leda Langley of Langley Fine Gardens will provide many of the ingredients you need for your best holiday meals. Fresh milk, cheese, pates, a wide variety of meat cuts, poultry, eggs, wines, potatoes, carrots, squash, winter greens, and other produce will be available. Carolina Nurik of Tahoma View Farms will have fresh kiwis, Asian pears, and quinces. CZ and Jamie have amazing onions, shallots, garlic, winter greens and wreaths. Lisabuela Gardens will have bright golden bittersweet wreaths among other art pieces. All these farm-fresh goods will travel no further than across the island to the market so they are the freshest, most nutritious food you can get for your family. Many market shoppers enjoy the fact that they can reduce the use of fossil fuels by buying locally since most food travels as much as 1500 miles to our tables.

The holiday markets also bring out a great variety of local artisans who will be selling many different handmade gifts: essential oils, knitted scarves and hats, handmade soaps, cards, mosaic tiles, wooden cutting boards, ceramics, Christmas tree ornaments, hand-spun wool, etched glass, jewelry, and many more items. You will be surprised and pleased by what beautiful work is done right here on the island--shoppers at the holiday markets find some of the most beautifully made gifts and artwork available are locally made. If you didn't have time to make your own gifts this year, this may be the next best thing!

Buying locally for the holidays means you also feel the satisfaction of supporting your neighbors' businesses, reducing your use of gas, and minimizing packaging. When you buy locally-made products you enable more islanders to work on Vashon Island which strengthens and stabilizes our community. And the time you save by shopping at the Farmers Market, (skipping that trip to the big city), is time you gain to relax with your family and friends at home, or indulge in reading a book by the fire.

The Vashon Farmers Market is sponsored by VIGA, a non-profit membership organization that supports Vashon's family farmers and craftspeople by promoting and expanding market opportunities, and by educating the community about local food and farming. For more information go to www.vigavashon.org.

A peaceful holiday season to you from the Vashon Island Growers Association.

December Holiday Market
By Joanne Jewell

11/30/2007

Tomorrow is one of the first of two holiday markets under the big festival tent and the VIGA roof at the Village Green. We welcome you to come out for some of the last fresh produce of the year as the market will close for the season in mid December. We'll be there rain, hail, sleet, or snow tomorrow December 1 and next Saturday December 8, as the produce is still holding out, we have a roof over everyone's heads, and a heater to boot.

Farmers will be bringing salad greens, braising greens, squash, pumpkins, carrots, brussel sprouts, some tomatoes(!), potatoes, shallots, garlic, onions, and maybe something I missed! Sea Breeze Farm will have milk, cheeses, creme fraiche, wine, and a variety of meats for your holiday meals. Paul Motoyoshi will be serving up hot soups and tea and other lunch specialties to keep you warm. Barbara Stratton Premium Chocolates will have several new bittersweet chocolate varieties, holiday flavors in chocolates, and a spectacular holiday gift box. Lisabuela Gardens will have beautiful art and cut flower arrangements to brighten the inside of your home.

Gifts for others and treats for yourself abound at these holiday markets. Many of the summer craftspeople you know will bring specialty items for the holidays. Pam Smith will be selling her warm hats and scarves, Sherri Mask will have scented soaps, massage oils and many other body care products, Ralph Moore will have his beautiful hand-hewn cutting boards, Lisa Betz will have tile mosaic art in functional pieces such as mirrors as well as other forms, Lindsay Hart and Jeff White will bring their sculpted pieces, some small enough for stocking stuffers, Rebecca Medeiros will bring her beautiful hand made soaps infused with either cedar, roses, rosemary or other herbs, Kathy Ray will have scarves and handmade jewelry. Sue Shotridge is new to the market this year and will bring holiday drum ornaments. The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (ALTO) will be bringing cards with photographs from Indonesia taken by islander Steve Caldwell.

Make the market a part of your Saturday plan tomorrow and next week as a satisfying way to enjoy the season, to see friends, and to support your island economy. We are open in the Village Green from 10am-2pm both December 1 and December 8.

May we all provide ourselves and our families a peace-filled and meaningful holiday this year. Thank you for your support of the Farmers Market throughout the market season.

Warmly, Joanne Jewell Manager, Vashon Farmers Market

Hello Farmers Market supporter and possible
By Joanne Jewell

11/10/2007

Next Saturday, November 17, the Vashon Farmers Market will officially reopen to provide islanders with local food and crafts for Thanksgiving. In addition, Vashon Island Grower's Association (VIGA) will be hosting the second annual community pumpkin pie contest at the Village Green that day during the Farmers Market. I AM WRITING TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENTER THE CONTEST or to encourage your baking friends to enter. Islanders are invited to enter their homemade pumpkin pie to win a $25 gift certificate to the Farmers Market and a suitably engraved glass pie pan.

Judges will include Leslie Brown, Beachcomber Editor, Rebecca Wittman, last year's pie contest winner, Emily Vogt of Emily's Catering, and Jessica DeWire, chef and co-owner of Gusto Girls Restaurant. Entries should be brought to the Farmers Market at 10am on November 17 and include a complete list of ingredients. Entrants are advised that judges look more favorably on pies made with local ingredients. Judging will take place between 11am and 12 noon. Slices of pie will be sold between 12 noon and 2pm for $1/slice. Pie sales will benefit the Vashon-Maury Island Kiwanis.

Because the judges "look more favorably" upon pies made with local ingredients I encourage you to check out the unofficial market today, November 10, in town from 10am-2pm, or to go to www.vigavashon.org to find a list of Vashon farmers and farm stands. If you cannot find a particular ingredient and think it might be available on the island you can contact me and I'll see if I can help.

I hope you will choose to either enter the pumppkin pie contest, come watch it, or to eat some pie next week at the market!

Thanksgiving Market Shopping At the November 17 market you will also have the opportunity to buy Thanksgiving Day foods from island sources--look for eggs, milk, cream, meats, pate, cheeses, wines, greens, squash, potatoes, pumpkin, chocolates and more. Shoppers can also take the King County pledge to buy at least one local item for Thanksgiving and win a chance at a heritage turkey. Crafters will be present with locally made products to give as gifts. Sol Source will be serving up hot miso soup, hom bows, chicken and veggie curry with rice, Japanese winter rice soup, teas, and sushi. The Thanksgiving market will take place from 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

More Holiday Markets in December Mark your calendar for our two December holiday Farmers Markets in the Village Green under the big tent. There will be island produce as well as canned, dried or prepared foods that can be used as holiday gifts and stocking stuffers. Also look for meats, cheeses, milk, eggs, cream, and wines for your holiday meals. Island crafters will be out in force selling jewelry, greeting cards, soaps, incense, massage oil, chocolates, cutting boards, warm hats and scarves, aprons, brooms, and many more items. Stay tuned for more information later this month.

Thanks for a great season
By Joanne Jewell

10/30/2007

On behalf of all the farmers and crafters of the Vashon Farmers Market I want to thank you for shopping at the Farmers Market this season. Thanks to you and others like you this year your local Farmers Market has sold more than $175,000 worth of very fresh food and island-produced crafts. And the market still has a few weeks to go.

The Vashon Farmers Market is "officially closed" for the next two weeks but a few vendors will still be present selling food and crafts on November 3 and November 10. Langley Family Farms and Sea Breeze Farm are committed to selling these two weeks so you will find produce, meats, cheese, eggs,dairy products and wine for sure. Some crafters are planning to show up as well so make the most of this opportunity to buy local food while you can.

The full market will be open again November 17, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, in time for your Thanksgiving dinner shopping. At the November 17 market there will be a pumpkin pie contest. The winner will receive a gift certificate to the Farmers Market. To enter, bring your pie to the market at 10am November 17. Judges will choose a winner by 11:30am and extra slices of pie will be sold for $1/ each. For information about King County's "Eat Local for Thanksgiving 2007" campaign log on to www.pugetsoundfresh.org. For a list of Vashon Island farmers and farm stands go to www.vigavashon.org.

On December 1 and 8 the big tent will again appear in the Village Green to house the Holiday Farmers Markets. These two Saturdays will feature island produce, meats, cheeses , eggs and wine as well as a wide range of island crafts.

All the markets mentioned above will be open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green. I will update you with more information about what will be available the week before each of these holiday markets.

Again, thanks for shopping at the Farmers Market and stay tuned for updates about upcoming market days.

Saturday October 20
By Joanne Jewell

10/19/2007

The Farmers Market is treading into new territory this year staying open every Saturday all the way through the month of October. There is still a lot of produce available as many farmers have greenhouses and meat and dairy products are less weather-dependent.

Langley Family Farms will be back this Saturday with a huge variety and quantity of produce. Leda Langley says they have about 50 pounds of heirloom tomatoes to sell as well as cherry tomatoes, sweet red peppers, green and yellow beans, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, carrots, potatoes, carrots, large and small winter squashes, chard, kale, garlic, salad mix, all kinds of pumpkins, and some ornamental gourds. Hogsback Farm will also be on hand with a lot of produce--they have been featuring some beautiful Cinderella pumpkins the last few weeks. Tiny's Organic Farm from Eastern Washington will also be present will more Fall fruits. All of these farms take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition program.

Sea Breeze Farm will have a wide variety of meats, two kinds of cheese, milk, eggs and a wide variety of wines.

Rex Morris will be present to sharpen your knives. Only two more weeks to have him sharpen those knives as you shop! Bring your knives now and get them sharp for all that holiday cooking ahead. Lindsay Hart and Jeff White will be selling their artwork, Pam Smith will be selling her beautiful warm hats and scarves, and if the weather is just right, Barbara Stratton's Fine Chocolates will be on hand with lovely and delicious dessert and gift chocolates.

T. Martino of Wolftown has been adding a beautiful, timeless quality to the market for the past few months as she brings her spinning wheel and spins yarn from Wolftown sheep. This week her mother will be with her, knitting of course, and they will sell the wool and knitted hats.

Please join us, rain or shine, in the Village Green from 10am-2pm this Saturday.

P.S. Next week October 27, is the last day for the regular Saturday market. Join us next Saturday for Customer Appreciation Day. We will be serving free hot miso soup to thank you for your support of the market all year, and you will have a chance to wish your farmer a restful winter, and stock up on storeable vegetables for the long winter ahead.

October 13 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

10/12/2007

Hello Farmers Market supporter: Don't miss tomorrow's Saturday Farmers Market. The market will be open from 10-2 each Saturday through the month of October. Tomorrow we will be sharing the Village Green with the disaster drill emergency team. Come see some of your community volunteers at work for you.

Meanwhile farmers will still be selling the freshest Fall fruits and vegetables. This is the time of year when the greens, carrots, brassicas and ripened apples are very sweet, crisp and full of life. Many farmers have winter squash, potatoes and pumpkins. There will be apples, nectarines and pears and more. Most produce vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

You can also buy a hot lunch. If you have not yet tasted the amazing soups and meals from Sol Source you have only two chances left this Fall. Tomorrow Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will bring his specially requested Japanese Organic Brown Rice soup. The soup has smoked salmon, seasoned daikon, eggplant and nori sprinkles and is a warming soup for cold weather. In addition Sol Source will sell miso soup, (you can even buy a half gallon jar to take home), chicken and vegetable curry with rice, sushi-smoked salmon rolls and surimi, egg custard tarts, hot vietnamese or panini sandwiches, tapas, satay shrimp, teriyaki chicken or grilled tofu, BBQ pork humbows, matcha, matcha or black Irish lattes. All food can be packed to go.

This will be the last Saturday for Richard O'Dell of Fieldstone Flowers and Trees. He will be bringing trees for Fall color including maples, oaks and larches, Katsura, Bald Cypress and other varieties all ready to be planted now, the best time of year to plant trees that will thrive. The Country Store will sell Fall blooming perennials and Lisabeula Gardens will have cut flower bouquets.

Sea Breeze Farm will have lamb rib, loin and sirloin chops, shoulder roasts, leg of lamb and shoulder chops, Poulet Nouveau chickens, stewing hens (great for soups, stews, coq au vin, and long stewing techniques!) Moroccan lamb sausage, pate de Vashon, milk, cr?me fraiche, cream, eggs, red wine vinegar and chicken and meat stocks. They will also have their very popular Vache de Vashon cheese and a NEW CHEESE: Shingle Mill Creek--a five month aged, crumbly, dry grating cow 's milk cheese. It is great for pasta, salads and minestrone and costs just $12/pound. Sea Breeze will also have their full line up of wines.

Look also for handmade chocolates from Barbara Stratton, handmade furniture from Stover, warm, beautiful handmade hats and scarves from Pam Smith and art from Lindsay Hart and Jeff White.

VIGA and the Farmers Market would like to thank artist John Moore for the beautifully carved new market sign facing the road on the farmers roof . The sign is on a slab of Douglas Fir from the Vashon Forest Stewards and was installed by Tim Lafferty and his crew at the Vashon Park District. Thank you also to Ralph Moore for stewarding this project.

See you at the market!

October 6 at the Market
By Joanne Jewell

10/04/2007

Its October and the weather can only be described as unpredictable. This week alone we have had thunder and lightning, hail, dumping rain, full sunshine, clear moonlit nights and overcast rainy nights. The weather in October is a toss-up and will have an impact on what crops are available at the market. For instance if it doesn't rain too hard or frost, there will be raspberries all through the month. I will try to keep you up to date.

The farmers on the island are clearing out some of the summer crops and crop debris, sowing cover crops or watching the young cover crop come up, possibly getting ready to plant garlic that won't be harvested until next July. The last varieties of apples to ripen will be picked this month and stored away along with the winter squashes, potatoes and pumpkins. Wineries are crushing just harvested grapes.

This week at the Farmers Market you will find all of the summer produce mentioned above as well as carrots, summer squash, beets, salad mix, chard, kales, tomatoes, peppers, and more. For fruits look for quince grown on Vashon Island, possibly some Shinko pears and Melrose apples. Tiny's of Eastern Washington will have nectarines, peaches and apples. Most produce vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Sea Breeze Farm will have a wide variety of meat and dairy products. There will be lots of lamb--chops, roasts, leg, shanks--pork chops, pork ribs and roasts plus bacon, pate and sausage, whole chicken or pieces, and meat and bone broths for making soups, stews and braises. Try the delicious Vache de Vashon cheese as well as creme fraiche, cream and milk.

Sea Breeze will also have their newest wine release, a 2004 Merlot. The flavor of the wine is described as "caramelized raspberry-blackberry cobbler. Well-balanced tannins with background notes of toasted oat and smoke. Fills your tongue wtih luscious liquored cherry."

Fieldstone Flowers and Trees will bring small nursery trees for planting now, all decked out with Fall colors. This is the time to choose the deciduous varieties you love the best. See them before they drop their leaves. Country Store will bring Fall perennials srill in bloom.

Crafters will have lovely furniture from reused wood, there will be art, jewelry, soap, incense, handmade hats, mittens and scarves, hand spun wool. Don't forget your kitchen knives this week! Rex Morris will sharpen them while you shop.

The Saturday Farmers Market will be open from 10am-2pm in the Village Green through October 27.

P.S. Saturday, October 6, 2007 - 10 am to 4 pm American Solar Energy Society Tour

This week the Farmers Market is proud to be the starting point for the Vashon-Maury Island Solar Energy Society Tour. Self-guided tour maps as well as enLightenment workshops on solar electric and solar hot water systems will be available at the Village Green. Solar powered and energy efficient Vashon homes will be open for visits by the public from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday October 6,2007.Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills and increasing their energy security. Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts and see how solar technology works, what it costs and why it makes sense. Some sites will also feature alternative fuel, water conservation solutions, aquaponics and natural building techniques. For more information contact: Meg Gluckman, Vashon Solar Tour Coordinator, 463-2916.

Saturday Market September 29
By Joanne Jewell

09/27/2007

Thank you for helping us celebrate the Island Family Harvest last week. The Village Green was full of children and adults enjoying the sunshine, the produce, the food, and the many children's activities. It was a warm afternoon that we can savor through the winter months. I would like to express my appreciation to Vashon Youth and Family Services, Vashon Park District, the Vashon High School Horticulture Program and the Kiwanis of Vashon for helping to create an outstanding and beautiful event. If you didn't make it to the fair last week, you'll be happy to know that the Saturday market will continue through October 27 this year.

This Saturday, September 29, Tahoma View Farm will be bringing the first fragrant quince of the year and Sweet 16 apples. Quinces are perhaps best known for their use in quince jelly and the fresh fruit has a delicate, slightly lemony flavor. They are pale yellow in color and shaped unlike any other fruit! Other Fall fruits to look for include Asian pears, Liberty apples, Tiny's of Eastern Washington will have up to three kinds of nectarines, peaches, and other apple varieties.

There will still be plenty of vegetables including salad greens, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, carrots, garlic, onions, Chinese celery, basil, zucchini, winter squash and maybe a little more corn. Most vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. As long as the rain doesn't come down too hard, Lisabeula Gardens will have bright, flower bouquets of mixed perennials and Richard O'Dell of Fieldstone Flowers and Trees will bring more of his outstanding dahlias.

The cool weather and rain make this a perfect time for planting trees, perennials and native plants. Fieldstone Flowers and Trees, Judd Creek Nursery and the Country Store will all be on hand to help you choose which ones to plant.

There will be island-grown or produced fresh milk, cream, cheese, meats, eggs, and wine. Sea Breeze Farm and Vashon Winery have both been working on their Fall crushes this past week producing wine for future markets. This week Loki Fish will be back with fresh, frozen, dried and canned fish for sale. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be on hand as well, selling hot soups and hot lunches to keep everyone happy, rain or shine.

Island crafters will be sharpening knives while you shop (if you remember to bring them!), selling jewelry, wool hats and scarves, freshly spun wool, garden furniture, bird houses, brooms, soaps, wooden boxes and greeting cards.

Join us in the Village Green, 10am-2pm this Saturday.

Sincerely, Joanne Jewell Manager, Vashon Saturday Farmers Market

Community Soup this Saturday
By Joanne Jewell

09/19/2007

This Saturday, September 22, after the Island Family Harvest at the Farmers Market there will be a free community meal of island-made soup, bread and salad. The "Vashon Spread" meal will take place at the Village Green and is the inspiration of Amy Bogaard who felt it would be a joyful way to celebrate the island harvest, the end of Summer, and the many friends, farmers, children and adults who form this community.

The soup will be prepared by students of the Vashon High School Horticulture class with produce grown in their garden, the bread will be baked and prepared by Bill Friese in his wood-fired brick oven, and the salad will be grown by island farmers. Rumor has it there may also be zucchini bread for dessert. Vashon Youth and Family Services, Vashon Parks District and the Vashon Island Growers Association all provided support for this event.

You are cordially invited to attend! The meal will take place from 3-4pm in the Village Green. There will be musical accompaniment from the Geezers, an island Bluegrass band.

From 4-5pm there will also be a community contra dance right next door with musical accompaniment by Martin Nyberg and Rick May, who will play guitar and fiddle respectively, with Larry Muir calling for all island dancing families.

I hope to see you there.

September 15th Market
By Joanne Jewell

09/13/2007

The fruit varieties continue to expand as Autumn creeps in at the end of next week. Last Saturday at the market we had the first sweet melons of the year that were grown on Vashon. This week Tahoma View Farm will have the first Liberty apples of the year, which are one of my personal favorites. Liberty apples have for me the perfect blend of tartnessand sweetness, are a beautiful color and have great crispness. (Serve them with Sea Breeze Farms' Vache de Vashon cheese and any hearty wine you like, preferably one made on Vashon. ) There will also be more of the crisp, yellow Asian Shinseiki pears and Red Bartletts as well. Probably the last of the Italian Prune Plums will be present at the market and possibly the last of the Fall raspberries, although you never know for sure with those. Tiny's of Eastern Washington will have several varieties of peaches and nectarines as well as pluots. There may be the first sweet island table grapes this week as well.

The vegetable parade continues so look for tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, basil, summer squash, and most other vegetable you can name that can be grown on Vashon Island. Ask Joe or Selina Yarkin of Sun Farm how to cook zucchini in an amazing number of delicious ways. Most produce vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. There will be fresh cut flowers and nursery plants at the market too.

Sea Breeze Farm, our island meat source, will have chicken, goat, pork, italian style pork sausage, green alder smoked bacon, milk, cream, creme fraiche, eggs, pate de foie (liver mousse pate), ricotta, vache de vashon cheese, red wine vinegar, delicious chicken, meat and bone stock, and a full line up of wine. The Fall "crush" at Sea Breeze is happening sometime in the next couple of weeks, and islanders can contact the farm for more information or to get involved. Vashon Island Winery is also looking ahead to the grape harvest sometime soon but will be at the market this Saturday.

Loki Fish of Ballard will sell fresh fish as well as smoked salmon, lox and other specialties. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be back this week with incredible lunch foods ranging from miso soup to sushi, hum bows, curries and teriyaki.

Mark Yelken, "the Worm Guy" will have his bagged worm compost and compost tea. He also sells worm bins so that you can get started composting your own food waste at home thereby producing your own highly nutritious worm castings.

Among the craft booths you will find garden art, furniture, sculpture, tile, mosaics, cards, jewelry, face painting and henna tattoos, handmade cuttingboards, spun wool and spinning demos from Wolftown, and 15 minute chair massage by Jen Johnson, LMP of Outcall Massage. As always there is knife sharpening while you shop. Make a note to yourself "Bring kitchen knives to market!"

John Browne has had to reschedule his musical performance at the market tomorrow and in his place we will have Mary Litchfield. Mary is a Singer/Songwriter who was a member of the band Women, Women and Song, and is a self-described former Rock and Roller. Mary will be performing a combination of original songs and "Tin Pan Alley stuff that I learned from my mother". Mary has lived on the island 30 years or so. Come listen to her between 11 and 1 tomorrow.

Catch John next week at the Island Family Harvest at the Farmers Market. From 1-2pm there will be a special performance by Barbara Gustafson and Stacey Hinden called the Art and Science of Blood. It will include educational hands-on science experiments, fun and simple movement exercises, and a brief dance performance excerpt from Stacy Hinden's new dance/movement work called "Blood".

IN CLOSING, an excerpt from The Omnivore's Dilemma, the Farmers Market Book of the Month for September which you can check out at the market.

"In Joel Salatin's view (Joel is an author and farmer of grass-fed meat) the reformation (of the food system) begins with people going to the trouble of buying directly from farmers they know--'relationship marketing' as he calls it. He believes the only meaningful guarantee of integrity is when buyers and sellers can look one another in the eye..."

Join your friends and neighbors and fellow islanders at the Farmers Market this Saturday in the Village Green, 10am-2pm.

Saturday Market for 9/8
By Joanne Jewell

09/07/2007

This Saturday Langley Fine Gardens will be bringing the first sweet melons of the year. Western Washington grown melons are often smaller than what you'll find in the grocery store but amazingly complex in flavor, sweet, and delicate. Don't miss this treat.

Carolina Nurik of Tahoma View Farm is returning to the market with many tasty Fall fruits from her young orchard.. She will have Shinseiki Asian pears, Green and Red Bartletts, Akane apples, and Italian plums. In addition she is bringing a unique English apple called Foxwhelp. Foxwhelp is grown primarily for hard cider but its bittersweet taste is also very nice with wine and cheese. Remember that Tahoma View and most produce vendors take WIC and Senior checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

The Farmers Market Book of the Month for September is the Omnivore's Dilemma, a popular book which has recently come out in paperback.. This book, by the thoughtful and very engaging writer Michael Pollan, explores the food system in America in a unique way. Starting with the question, "What should we have for dinner?", Pollan then answers it reviewing four different meals. He follows the path of corn in this country, through the feed lot to a fast food meal, looks at "Big Organic", and natural foods groceries, shops for dinner at local Farmers Markets, visits a farm that raises grass-fed animals, and finally tries to hunt and gather for his own meal. Come review the book at the Market Manager's table this Saturday and through the month.

I'd like to point out the great opportunity island omnivores have to buy fresh, humanely-raised meat. Sea Breeze Farm will have an amazing variety of meats available at the market this Saturday. This week you will find chicken, pork, artisan italian-style pork sausage, pork breakfast sausage links, several different pates : Pate de Vashon-Rustic Pork Terrine, Pate de Foie de Volaille--a smooth, pan-simmered chicken liver pate with cognac, garlic and butter, Pate de Foie-a creamy, liver mousse pate, plus meat and chicken stocks to use in any home recipes. In addition to the meats Sea Breeze will have chicken and duck eggs, raw milk, half and half, cream, ricotta, the amazing Vache de Vashon hard cheese and creme fraiche. New to me is their barrel aged red wine vinegar. Sea Breeze will also be bringing as many as nine varieties of island-produced wines.

As the cool, wet weather begins it is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Judd Creek, Fieldstone Flowers and Trees and now the Country Store will all have nursery plants available at the Farmers Market through the Fall.

As crafters have returned to the island from vacations and fairs, market shoppers will find a very wide variety of island-made crafts before the rains set in. There is a lot of beautiful jewelry, garden art and furniture, soap and massage oils, incense, cutting boards, cards, mosaic art and brooms. Pam Smith is new this month with her handmade wool hats and scarves for the upcoming cool weather. T Martino of Wolftown has been at the market the last month selling hand-spun wool and she usually is also carding and spinning wool for all to see and ask questions about. If you missed out on Knife-Sharpening Day last week Rex Morris will still be sharpening knives and some vendors may give out knife-sharpening discount coupons to their best customers.

Musicians this week are island youth of the Island Troubadours. Lila' OBrien, Emerson Shedenhelm, and Zoey Rice are familiar faces to many as they have grown up playing music on the island. Their lively, talented string playing is an inspiration to young violinists and adults alike. The Troubadours will play mostly Celtic music plus some classical pieces between 11 and 1pm.

Come join your island neighbors and friends at the Farmers Market in the Village Green this Saturday from 10am-2pm.

VIGA (Vashon Island Grower's Association) WEB SITE This weekly farmers market update and a map of Vashon Island farms can be found on the recently updated VIGA website at www.vigavashon.org

SPECIAL NOTE: Pick up a copy of the Loop's free newpaper for Friday, September 7. New editor Ed Swan has put together a special edition about agriculture on Vashon that features articles by several Vashon farmers and Ron Irvine of Vashon Island Winery.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE FARMERS MARKET The Saturday Farmers Market will run through October 27 this year and here is a look at upcoming events:

September 15 Musician John Browne

September 22 Island Family Harvest at the Village Green

9am-12 noon Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast adjacent to the Village Green 10-2 Sound Stage open with music and children's entertainment 10-2 Children's activities sponsored by Vashon Youth and Family Services and Vashon Parks District 2-3 Storytelling at the Village Green 3-4 Community Dinner adjacent to the Village Green

October 27 Customer Appreciation Day Last regular Saturday Market for the Year

November 17 Thanksgiving Market

December 1, 8 Special Holiday Markets

What's fresh at 9/1 market?
By Joanne Jewell

08/30/2007

This first Saturday of September is "Knife Sharpening Day" at the Vashon Farmers Market. Don't leave home without your kitchen knives! In honor of the coming Fall and the need for sharp knives to prepare harvest meals, some vendors will be giving out "$1off "coupons for market knife sharpening to customers who buy at least $12 of produce. Rex Morris does knife sharpening, while you shop in most cases, for 50 cents an inch. The coupons can be redeemed through October 27, the last regular market Saturday.

Use your newly sharpened knife to cut into a fresh Asian pear. Mary Robinson of Lisabeula Farm will bring the ripe, yellow, Shinseiki variety for the first time this Saturday. Unlike European pears the Asian pears are picked ripe, and are delicious eaten out of hand, or cut up and layered into a salad. They are as crisp as an apple even dead ripe, yet have the sweet juiciness of a pear. This variety will be available a maximum of two weeks.

The summer produce continues even as we travel into September so look for lots of tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, basil, summer squash, and most other things you can name, all grown on Vashon Island. Tiny's of Eastern Washington may have the Princess Peaches again which sold out in 30 minutes last week, as well as pluots (a cross between an apricot and plum), and some other peach and plum varieties. There will be meat, milk, and eggs from the island, as well as wines. Most produce vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Loki Fish will sell fresh fish as well as smoked salmon, lox and other specialties. Paul Motoyoshi of Sol Source will be present with incredible lunch foods ranging from miso soup to sushi, hum bows, curries and teriyaki.

Among the craft booths you will find garden art, furniture, sculpture, tile mosaics, cards, jewelry, face painting and henna tattoos, handmade cutting boards, spun wool and spiinning demos from Wolftown, and 15 minute chair massages.

The market will also welcome new islander and musician Laurie Lyons to the market. Laurie plays guitar and sings original songs, and some old favorites, in a "melodic, acoustic pop style with a dash of rock and folk".

Spread the word that things are happening, rain or shine of course, at the Saturday Farmers Market in the Village Green from 10am-2pm.

P.S. VIGAmail viewers already saw this but if you are on the market e-mail list you may have missed the tomato taste-off results from last week. Here they are:

Congratulations to the Winners of the Vashon Farmers Market Tomato Taste-Off, 2007

Award Place Farm, Tomato

Best Cherry Tomato 1st Mark and B Timken, Timken Farm Sungold

2nd Mathias Family, Journey School CSA Peacevine

3rd Vashon High School Tigerella Horticulture Program

Best Slicer Tomato 1st Karen Biondo, K-Jo Farm Fantastic

2nd Mark and B Timken, Timken Farm Early Girl

3rd Jasper and Will Forester, Greenman Farm Big Beef

Best Heirloom Tomato 1st Jen Coe, Pacific Crest Farm Rose de Berne

2nd Chris Greenlee unknown?

3rd Mark and B Timken, Timken Farm Green Zebra

Weirdest 1st Mathias Family, Journey School CSA Eyebrowed unicorn

2nd Hogsback Farm Three balls

3rd Mark and B Timken, Timken Farm Nosey

The Best Overall Karen Biondo, K-Jo Farm Fantastic (Most total votes)

The Vashon Farmers Market wishes to thank all competitors and tasters!

As many as 130 votes cast in each category.

Also thank you to Rex Morris Knife Sharpening for three very sharp knives for cutting tomatoes, to Ralph Moore of Tahlequah Woodworks for some great cutting boards and the handmade tomato pendant awards for 1st place winners, to Jasper Forester for ribbons and paperwork, to Sherri Mask for postering the town, and to Taste-Off volunteers Mary Robinson, Merilee Runyan, Karen Kinney, Amy Kitchener and Sara Jones.

August 25 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/24/2007

This Saturday the Farmers Market sponsors the long-awaitedTomato Taste-off. Tomatoes have been pouring into the market for several weeks now and are at their most robust and flavorful. Expect to see more than 20 varieties. Islander farmers and gardeners will be lining up at 10 am with their tomatoes in bags and between 11 and 1 market shoppers will get to taste lots of tomatoes and choose their favorite cherry tomato, slicer, heirloom and biggest/weirdest.

Last year's defending champions the Timken family will be back again this year having won 1st place in both the Best Slicer and Weirdest categories last year as well as sweeping the Best Heirloom category with "Mortgage Lifter", "Green Zebra" and "Black" in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. The Timkens used worm compost from Mark Yelkin, the Worm Guy, on their winning tomato plants and shoppers can pick up some worm compost at the market this week.

Any islander is still welcome to enter the tomato competition at 10 am this Saturday by bringing 2-3 pounds of each tomato variety they would like to enter in a labeled paper bag. Shoppers will taste and rate the tomatoes between 11 and 1 and the winners will be announced between 1:30 and 2.

And the other summer produce will still be available at the farmers tables: ripe sweet peppers, basil, eggplant, potatoes, salad mix, summer squashes, carrots--almost any vegetable you could name! There are ripe peaches from Tiny's of Eastern Washington as well as Shamrock Apples, pluots and plums, and hopefully island blueberries and maybe Fall raspberries. Look for fresh milk and eggs as well as meats, and local wines. Most produce vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Last week the market welcomed new vendors Lindsay Hart and Jeff White of White Hart Art and Farm. As both farmers and crafters White Art will bring some exotic locally grown items such as kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass used in Thai cuisine, as well as wool catnip balls, sand-blasted glass, and bronze sculpture.

Bring your knives to be sharpened by Rex Morris while you shop and beat the rush as September 1 will be Knife-Sharpening Day at the market. Rex sharpens kitchen knives, hunting knives, and camping knives for 50 cents/inch (sorry, I mistakenly stated a higher price last week). A sharp knife is critical for slicing the freshest fruits and vegetables without squishing out the flavorful juices you want in your sauces and meals.

Rebecca Medeiros will be making a rare appearance at the market this Saturday with her beautiful island-made soaps crafted with lavendar, rosemary, oatmeal and other additions. Other island crafts available include incense, cutting boards, jewelry, mosaic art, cards, garden art and furniture, wool from Wolftown, and henna tatoos. Jen Johnson will be giving chair massages too.

Come join us at the market this Saturday from 10-2 in the Village Green. Stop by the market manager's table and learn about the "100 mile diet" as described in Plenty, the Farmers Market Book of the Month for August.

Saturday 8/18 Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/17/2007

This weekend you get your second chance at fresh Vashon Island figs. For some this is a time of great celebration and delight as the figs are in short supply and have a season of only three to four weeks. The plump, green figs can be eaten skin and all and are quite soft and sweet. Greenman Farm will be bringing their Desert King figs and are limiting purchases to 2 pounds per customer. One fig lover told me he ate them sliced up on a plate, drizzled with cognac.

Need I say that we are in the thick of the tomato nirvana season? The market is fairly swimming in fresh tomatoes--more than twenty varieties on any given market day. Take your pick of cherry tomatoes in an assortment of colors, slicing tomatoes for an outstanding sandwich or homemade pizza, and heirloom tomatoes of every size and color. Don't forget that NEXT WEEK, AUGUST 25 the Vashon Market is having a Tomato Taste-Off. All islanders are invited to bring 2-3 pounds of their favorite varieties and enter them at 10 am Saturday, August 25. The tasting will be from 11-1 NEXT WEEK. Come check out the competition this weekend.

All summer produce you could desire is available now: summer squash, hot and sweet peppers, cucumbers, carrots, fresh basil, blueberries, eggplant, potatoes, onions, beans, peaches, apples, plums to name a few. Most vendors take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Loki Fish will be bringing fresh salmon and Sol Source will be serving up sushi plates, hot panini sandwiches, tapas, hum bows, miso soup and more. There will be chocolate and wine along with meats, cheeses, eggs, milk and creme fraiche.

Rex Morris is a regular vendor at the market who specializes in knife sharpening and also sells reconditioned kitchen knives. Tomato season is the time to sharpen those knives so you don't squish the tomato flat and lose all the juice as you try to slice it! (Could anything be more frustrating?) Also don't forget about that Swiss Army knife you are taking backpacking or the hunting knife for the upcoming hunting season. Rex charges just $1 per inch and can often sharpen the knives while you are shopping at the market.

There are a wide variety of vendors selling jewelry, incense, garden furniture, cutting boards, hand-painted shirts, mosaic art, greeting cards, and worm compost. You can get a 15 minute chair massage, a henna tatoo, or some face painting.

T Martino of Wolftown has been selling wool at the market from the Icelandic Sheep she is breeding. During the market day she demonstrates spinning and wool carding as well. She hopes to bring the sheep themselves this week so you can have a look at them. The Emmons Family will bring their 2 year old Black Silky roosters to display and sell. We will have a small zoo.

Finally, between 11 and 1 the market proudly presents musician Larry Murante from Seattle. Larry is well-known around the Seattle area and is described by Victory Music Review as "one of the most highly-regarded songwriters in the Northwest".

Come have your lunch, shop, listen to music and visit with friends. Join us in the Village Green from 10-2 and bring your children, neighbors and summer visitors as well.

Saturday 8/11 Market
By Joanne Jewell

08/10/2007

This week get ready for another unbelievable variety of local food at your Farmers Market. There's nothing like mid-summer to bring out all the fruits, and the Pacific Northwest vegetable varieties. You can expect 20+ kinds of tomatoes, garlic and garlic braids, eggplant, leeks, shallots, Gypsy bell peppers, wild Italian arugula, 12 or more kinds of potatoes, blueberries and much more. Greenman Farms may have some of their first famous figs of the year.

Tiny's Organics from Eastern Washington brought their first apple of the year last week. Called Shamrock, it is a cross between a MacIntosh and a Golden Delicious and is their earliest apple. They also have pluots, Snowkist white flesh peaches, Donut peaches and Santa Rosa Plums. Remember that most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Are you aware of the wide variety of meat and dairy products that Sea Breeze Farm of Vashon Island has been bringing to the market? Last week they had three kinds of pate: liver mousse, chicken liver, and rustic pork. Also for sale was veal, chicken, bacon, creme fraiche, milk, ricotta and their delicious VachedeVashon hard cheese.

The Saturday market is welcoming a new craft vendor this week. Julie King of Willow Street Woodworks is a familiar face to people who went on the Vashon Allied Arts Garden Tour and to Strawberry Festival shoppers. This week she will bring her garden art, furniture and other gardeners goods to the market. Mark Yelken "the Worm Guy" will be back with compost and compost tea. Zoe Adberg will bring her stunning aprons for your favorite cook and T Martino will also be back with her Icelandic sheep wool, spinning wheel and carder and hopefully also her Great Horned Owl. Also look for hand made soap, brooms and cards, mosaic art, jewelry, kitchen knives, and cutting boards. There will be henna tattoos and 15 minute chair massage as well.

The Book of the Month in August is Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. Mackinnon. This book has inspired many people to try the "100 mile diet" as you may have seen in the Seattle PI this week. Plenty is about eating locally--the authors said they felt connected to the people and the places that sustain them for the first time in their lives. Since the book is focused on our climatic region, many of the recipes and food ideas are especially fitting. Check out this book at the Farmers Market at the Market Manager's table.

Last week I had the opportunity to taste a Black Sea tomato at Greenman Farm's stand and I have been dreaming about getting another one ever since. It was fantastic!-- tart, sweet, and dripping with juice like tomatoes are meant to be. Jasper Forrester says she will WIN the Best Slicer category with this tomato at the Tomato Taste Off on August 25. Do you care to take her on? All tomato growers on the island are invited to enter their best tomatoes and let the market shoppers choose their favorites. Categories include: Best Slicer, Best Cherry, Best Heirloom, Weirdest and Biggest. To enter just bring a paper bag with 2-3lbs of each variety you'd like to enter, with the variety name and your name on the bag, to the Farmers Market at 10 am on August 25. The tasting will be from 11am-1pm that day. Prizes will be awarded! If you don't grow tomatoes yourself let your friends and neighbors know about the contest.

Come visit with your friends, neighbors and local farmers and craftspeople at the market! In the Village Green this Saturday, 10am-2pm.

Saturday Market 8/4
By Joanne Jewell

08/04/2007

This week at the Saturday Farmers Market there will be even more tomatoes, but come early if you want some! Langley Family Farms is bringing 20-30 pounds of different colored heirloom tomatoes to be added to your favorite summer dishes. They will also bring the first of their long English cucumbers, red onions, lots of potatoes and much more. The blueberry season continues and there is fresh garlic, basil and shizo.

Now in mid-summer there are many island produce farmers at the market. Along with regulars Langley Family Farms, Green Man, and Hogsback the market has welcomed newcomers the Yarkin Family and Shoulder to Shoulder Farm as well as summer specialty vendors Holly Boyajian with garlic and Merna and Robert Hecht with blueberries. Most produce vendors take WIC coupons as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Lisabeula Gardens and Fieldstone Flowers and Trees are selling fresh flowers and Sea Breeze is a regular vendor selling fresh eggs, meats and cheeses.

This week both of the markets off-island specialty sellers will be present. Loki Fish will be bringing whole and fileted salmon and Tiny's Organic will have ripe Eastern Washington fruits. Paul Motoyoshi is back this week with delicious prepared foods for a Farmers Market lunch and the handmade island crafts are numerous and amazing. Jennifer Johnson, LMP will be continuing to offer a 15 minute chair massage.

This week between 11 and 1 there will be a special "art installation" as part of the King County 4 Culture Performance Network.

Come taste the bounty of the season and see all your friends and neighbors in the Village Green, 10-2, this Saturday August 4. Bring all those off-island friends and visitors with you too..

7/21 Farmers Market
By Joanne Jewell

07/21/2007

Some farmers rejoiced this week with the measurable rainfall. For those with human-powered watering systems it was an absolute miracle. For the lavender growers the unusual July rain was not so welcome. Farmers who had hay drying in the field are sighing about another challenging year for island hay. How did you weather it?

You've waited patiently for this news--island tomatoes are ripe and coming to the market this weekend! Get ready for fresh salsa, gazpacho soup, fresh tomato pasta sauce and really good sandwiches of all kinds made with a slice of real tomato. Look also for the first plums and blueberries. Holly Boyajian of Maury Hill Farm will be bringing her plumpest, most flavorful garlic. The fresh salmon is still coming in and there will be a lot of tender broccoli, along with summer squash and a wider and wider array of summer produce. There continues to be island wines, hand-made chocolates, eggs, meats, flowers, nursery plants and Eastern Washington fruits such as cherries, peaches and apriums from Tiny's Organics. Most farmers take WIC checks as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Several new vendors will be on hand this Saturday including Jennifer Johnson, LMP, who will be offering chair massage to island shoppers. Young "Biz Kid" Zoe Adberg is bringing her new line of aprons, beautiful enough to be claimed by Martha Stewart. There will be henna tattoos and face painting again. Also check out Lisa Stuhley of Bloodfire Blends who creates incense blends--she can even create a unique one just for you based on what you want to experience more of in your life, be it compassion, love, or meaningful work. Lisa Betz will bring her mosaic artwork this week. There will also be handmade wooden cutting boards, knives and knife sharpening, lots of jewelry, photo art cards, and recycled wood furniture.

There will be a glorious melange of youth and adult musicians this Saturday. The musicians were put together by Andrea Walker and guitar instructor Ken Larsen. Performers include:Samantha Biro, Tianna Koenig, Maya Bulow-Krah, Kyle Pringle, the New World Shambolics and the Surf Band. Listen to them between 11 and 1.

At the market manager's table be sure to check out the book of the month: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This book was recommended by several market shoppers. "This is the story of a year in which we made every attempt to find ourselves animals and vegetables whose provenance we really knew...and of how our family was changed by our first year of deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air."

Come experience the market this Saturday, 10am-2pm in the Village Green.

P.S. Don't forget the Wednesday Farmers Market which opens this week in the Village Green for late afternoon shopping from 3-6pm. The Wednesday market will run from July 18-September 26.

Wednesday Farmers Market Opens
By Joanne Jewell

07/18/2007

This Wednesday, July 18, is Opening Day for the Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market on Vashon Island. The market runs from 3-6pm in the Village Green. The Wednesday market will run from July 18-September 26.

The new market will serve two purposes. First, for those of you who can't get to the market on Saturdays, the Wednesday market offers another option. It may even allow you to shop on the way home from work! Second, for farmers, it provides another day in the week to harvest and sell farm produce. Fruits and vegetables on the farm are ripening continually through the week so having a second harvest day mid-week allows farmers to let the produce ripen to perfection rather than having to judge whether to harvest a bit early or late to sell on Saturday.

This Wednesday you can expect fine produce from Langley Fine Gardens, Greenman Farm and from some newcomers to the Farmers Market. Beth Tuttle will be bringing her fantastic salad mix full of a wide variety of succulent specialty greens. There will also be flowers and nursery plants from Fieldstone Flowers and Trees. Several island crafters will also be on hand.

Let your friends and neighbors know about the Wednesday market and come support this new island venture! The freshest produce you can find for your dinner table will be at your Farmers Market every Wednesday through the summer.

For more information contact Richard O'Dell at 218-9508.

Weekend of July 7
By Joanne Jewell

07/07/2007

We have what I'd call a "Full House" this week as the hot weather brings in the produce, the farmers, and the lavendar! The lavendar has finally "popped" as they say, and the Lavendar Sisters will be on hand with the first fragrant, long stemmed cuts of the season. They will also be selling tickets for the farm tours so you can go out and see the fields blooming purple around the island.

As far as produce is concerned look for chinese celery, baby carrots, perilla/shiso, salad greens, edible chrysanthemums(greens), and bouquet garni herbs from Tahoma View Farm. Also likely are broccoli, new potatoes ( a big hit last week), the first raspberries, snap peas, and much, much more. Tiny's Organic was back last week and will be present through the summer. Right now Tiny's has Bing and Rainier Cherries, Yellow Flesh peaches, and apriums. Remember that most island farmers take WIC checks for fresh produce as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Our regional fish seller, Loki Fish, will be bringing fresh salmon again this week, most likely whole and filets. There will be grass fed meats, eggs, flavorful cheese made right here on the island at Sea Breeze Farm, island wines and chocolates.

For lunch you can buy freshly prepared teriyaki chicken from Paul Motoyoshi at Sol Source or just graze on fresh produce.

There are several new crafters this week including Shambala Studios selling jewelry, Rebecca Medeiros who will be selling soap and herbal products, and a henna and face painting artist.

Shakespeare in the Park is going on this weekend each evening at 7pm at the Village Green so you will find the market in a slightly different configuration as we make room for the stage. (Twelth Night was really funny on Thursday night. Check it out.) Island harpists will be playing up on the stage during the Farmers Market from 11am-1pm, all of them students of Leslie McMichael.

It will be a warm, sunny, Summer day at the market. Come see friends, eat lunch, and shop for some of the most delicious food you can buy. We are open from 10-2 Saturday in the Village Green.

Good weather at the Vashon Farmers Market
By Karen Kinney

04/27/2006

Vashon Farmers Market Saturdays 9:00 ? 1:00pm At the Village Green Rain or Shine!

The warm weather is bringing out the best of the little veggies that we have been eagerly awaiting to ripen. We will see the results at the market on Saturday!

Michelle from Pacific Potager reports she?s bringing 40 varieties of tomatoes, including many wonderful heirlooms... large sweet Caspian Pinks, Black Russians of various types, Rose de Berne, Green Zebra and Green Grape, Orange Banana, Speckled Roman Paste, orange and yellow striped Tigerella, Old German which is a luscious yellow with pink streaking in the interior that is so sweet, Thai Pink, the rosy Japanese variety Momotaro, Italian, English, German and French varieties... and on and on... Look for many varieties of flower packs for cutting and pots, fragrant heirloom sweet peas, and beautiful chards and greens of all hues.

People often ask what a potager is, and it?s an ornamental vegetable garden, that includes flowers for your table!

Other growers will have even more varieties of veggie starts ? you?ll be able to travel the world and bring it to your own garden!!

Hogsback Farm returns to the market and will have lots of salad mix, spinach, leeks, purple sprouting broccoli (get there early for this), and early season rhubarb.

With the selection of salad mix from other growers, there should finally be enough for everyone!!

Also expect to find fresh morels, fiddlehead ferns, miners lettuce, nettles, eggs, grass-raised pork, jams, onions, garlic, beautiful flower bouquets and the special surprises I never know about ahead of time.

It?s not too early to start thinking about Mother?s Day (Sunday, May 14). Island crafters have many items that would make a great present ? beautiful handmade cards, jewelry, cutting boards, soaps, hand-tooled pens, and even vintage refurbished knives!

NEXT WEEK AT THE MARKET: Jennifer Foege, RD and Amy Clewel, ND, return (first Saturdays) to provide nutrition information and free blood pressure/glucose screening. Music starts too ? The Primitivos, a favorite from last year returns to kick off warm sunny days at the market with lively surfing music!

About the market: The Vashon Farmers Market is sponsored by VIGA (Vashon Island Growers Association), a non-profit membership organization that is dedicated to supporting Vashon?s family farmers and crafters by supporting efforts to expand market opportunities, reduce the barriers that make it difficult for small farmers to grow, process and sell their products and educate the community about agricultural issues. If you are interested in joining or making a donation, stop by the Market Info Table or check out our NEW website!!! www.vigavashon.org

The Vashon Farmers Market needs your help to get the word out. The market is an important way for island farmers to sell their produce. And it is a great way for shoppers to learn about the food we eat. Please forward this email to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, subscribers and anyone you think should know about the market. If you have any questions about the market or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 206-265-3788 or at karenk@drizzle.com.

Happy Spring! See you at the market,

Saturday Farmers Market, 8/22/09

See you in 2010!!

Wednesday Market Open!