Gorgeous fall bouquets!

When late summer and fall collide it’s the BEST time to see the local harvest in farmers markets ..and this weekend, Sept. 29th/30th is the full Harvest Moon..the moon closest to the autumnal equinox…so called as it enabled farmers to work long hours into the night by the light of this gorgeous full moon. The shorter-than-usual time between moonrises around the full Harvest Moon means no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise for days in succession. In the days before tractor lights, the lamp of the Harvest Moon helped farmers to gather their crops, despite the diminishing daylight hours. As the sun’s light fades in the west, the moon soon rises in the east to illuminate the fields throughout the night. It can appear very close and bright orange , especially when rising …be on the lookout during the next few nights!

Leones Farms Pumpkins and Gourds!

And be on the look out at the Market for the fall crops creeping in mixing with the late summer produce for that local bounty. Parsons Farms are  picking Danish and Spaghetti squash, Leones Farm and Rick Steffens Farms have the first pumpkins (with really thick stalks) and gourds…and Profarm (three generations work on this family farm) have the first press of their delicious fresh-tasting apple cider, which is not pasteurized with heat (which can change the taste)  but treated with FDA approved UV rays for safety. Natures Wild Harvest has wild mushrooms, a new crop of honey and huckleberries, and you can even find fabulous local KIWI berries Saturday.  So check out the Market this week and note all the new products coming in…the POP Club kids will be encouraged to find them too, with a  ”fall produce scavenger-hunt”!

Bonnie surrounded by her ‘aliens”….

The Aliens are coming!!!!!!…and just in time for Halloween! All summer long, to help us raise funds for the POP Club,  Bonnie has been making “spooky  aliens and other kinds of friendly monsters” from re-cycled milk jugs and misc. plastic tubs. We will start selling these THIS Saturday…last year we ran out quickly, but we have more this year, even so don’t wait to get one to hang on your porch !

RJ Farms colorful peppers.

Market Pasta is back this week so stock up… Back too is Mickleberry Gardens and …Gram’s Caramels with their seasonal Pumpkin Pie Caramels…nice! And if you want to see some of Jude’s art ,check out this link www.openstudiosofbeavercreek.com . And note: Tippen Tea is having a special…buy 3  packages of tea and get the fourth one free!

Cleaning up the garden? He Sells These Shells and The Underground Worm will be at the Market NEXT week, but meanwhile you can get fall veggie starts to plant RIGHT now from Spring Creek Nursery AND your tools sharpened Saturday with Sir Sharp-A-Lot! Get tips from the Master Gardeners at the Market this weekend and check out their fall classes http://www.cmastergardeners.org/10-Minute%20University/10minuteUniversity.htm

Just-pulled carrots (still with the dirt on) from Green Acres Farms , couldn’t be fresher…roast them in coconut oil with a little garlic…umm

Providence Willamette Falls Hospital is preparing local fruits and making a dessert you can all try…heart-healthy cooking on a budget at 10.30-11.30am…with recipes! Also at the Market this Saturday is Kevin Shay Johnson , playing his guitar from 10-1, hot tamales, crepes, smoothies , coffee, wine by the glass….and good local food by the bag full…and don’t that Harvest Moon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVi0UvFu8Yo