I have some survey questions up at "Survey Monkey". I am trying to gather information to make The Westminster Farmers' Market an even greater experience for you.

  If you are a customer at our market, please take a minute to answer our survey (only six questions). You don't have to register to take it, just click here.

  If I get enough responses I can report the results at the Westminster Agricultural Commission Meeting Wednesday night (07-14-10).

                                                                 Thank You,

                                                                 Dean Johnson

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

More Ketchup Trials Give Me Better BBQ Sauce and Simple Catalina Dressing

Vegetables, Goat Cheese, Cheddars and Goudas, Beef, Pork, Artisan Breads (including Gluten-Free), free-range eggs, herbs, crafts and everything you could hope to find at a farmers’ market.  We are in full swing and the market is as busy as it ever gets.  Stop by for an iced coffee and a donut as you wander through the booths.  Talk to our local farmers about their production methods.  Watch the children run and play and blow bubbles (or bring your own to do the same).  Take in a puppet show or a blacksmithing demonstration.  I don’t think there is a better, or less expensive way to entertain yourself on a Friday afternoon!

Entertainment this week at Westminster Farmers' Market…
Entertainment by Gayle Craig who is a singer/songwriter from Ashburnham. She is also a member a Westboro based band called Fine by Friday! We also welcome the musical talent of Kevin Jones!

Stop by for another delightful puppet show at 6:00 from Button Box Theatre!

And don't forget to visit Robert Phillips for another informative blacksmithing demonstration.

  The time to support local food against federal government sprawl is now. If we don't take action, they will legislate local food right off your plate. 

 Please read this excellent blog piece, by Pat Stewart, one of our grower/venders. :

Hello,

This is a scary time for those of us who value locally raised food, raising livestock and promoting sustainable agriculture. While the National Animal Identification
System is being retooled, its successor
has yet to be seen. But while we wait
for that word, and while groups and individuals work with the developers to
craft this new program, a larger specter looms on the horizon.

   Here is the rest of it.

    Wired.com has a list of seven disruptive foods that could change the way we eat.   

  OK. So, I know about GMOs, but, organic pancake batter in a can, and nano-bots in your body, carrying energy to your cells? How about non-sentient lab meat? No thanks. Call me old-fashioned.

  You can read about it here:

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/04/seven-disruptive-foods-changing-the-way-we-eat/all/1

You Are Making a Difference…

The Westminster Farmers’ Market will be opening on Friday, May 7^th! Watch this space and our website for information about a free give-away in the month of May. We already have 20 vendors signed up and I have heard rumors that we will have plenty of asparagus very early in the season! In addition, you will find local meats, cheeses, eggs, artisan breads, and confections. Stop by for a cup of locally roasted coffee and catch up with your friends and neighbors while shopping for the healthiest food available. Try THAT at your big box grocery store!

Dean and Debbie Johnson, along with Ann Patsis, set up a Farmers’ Market table at the Young Children’s Festival a few weeks ago. You can read about it here on our blog!

You may have seen us at the Mount Wachusett Community College Health and Fitness Fair, also a few weeks ago! The fair was well attended and our Farmers’ Market table did attract a lot of attention. I can tell EVERYONE is hungry for fresh garden products this year!

You Are Making a Difference…

.

  Last week one of our local parent-teacher organizations, PTO ran their annual "bunny breakfast", in the cafeteria of the middle school. At the same time in the lobby and mezzanine The Young Children's Festival  (sort of a mini trade show for kids) was set up.

 My wife, Debbie and I, along with Anne Patsis set up a table at The Young Children's Festival. We were representing The Westminster Farmers' Market, Mass Local Food, and The Westminster AgComm.

 The festival was well attended by young families. They showed a lot of interest in locally grown food and asked good questions.

  In the first hour we gave away 100 helium filled balloons monogrammed with “I love eggs". When we ran out of monogrammed balloons, Debbie went out and picked up some generic balloons and we gave away another 30 balloons before the helium ran out. We also gave away "I love Eggs" stickers, children’s activity books, and "Kids in the Kitchen" recipes from The American Egg Board. We had information sheets on The Westminster Farmers' Market and Mass Local Food. Sheryl Vaillette provided us with a sign up sheet for people to receive the MLF newsletter.

  There were a lot of comments that people can't wait for The Westminster Farmers' Market to open. (Neither can we.)

  This function was well worth attending. We got a lot of information out to the local community, and had a good time doing it. We look forward to attending The Young Children's Festival again next year.

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Take up your Forks! You Can Now Begin Eating Seasonally in the Wachusett Region!

Seasonal Maple Syrup: Your Vote Counts! Vote for Local!

Our maple syrup producers are in full production! Look around you: taps are set everywhere, blue tubing running from tree to tree, metal pails hanging on the sides of trees; on my street alone (West Princeton) we have three syrup operations! Driving a bit further on Worcester Road, I see another! Forget those robins; this is really our first sign of spring! So vote local by committing to our own Wachusett Region Maple Syrup! Visit www.WachusettLocal.com where I will attempt to keep an updated list of local food producers. There, you will find the Maple producers that I know about in this area.

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Farm Fresh Food for the Holidays and Beyond!

This week is the last regular season farmers’ market for 2009, but don’t worry, I have the answer to your fresh food needs for the Holiday season and beyond!  Our market is looking for an indoor location for a pre-Thanksgiving (November 20^th) and a pre-Christmas (December 11^th)  market.  And Mass Local Food will be open all year, providing delivery once per month (next delivery November 6^th – check the website for the soon-to-be-determined Westminster delivery Location – or Berlin or Sterling for that matter).

Massachusetts Local Food…

Orders are closing for Massachusetts Local Food on Monday so don’t forget to place your order.  Membership fees are refundable through the end of this year if you decide this program is not for you, so you can try it risk free!  All products are locally produced and offered directly from the producer – just like at the farmers’ market.  We are adding more eggs this month and we hope to have pastured veal and organic yogurt online soon.  Go online and read about each producer and consider your food needs for the winter.  Orders close on Monday and Delivery day is Friday November 6^th -- after our farmers market has closed for the season.

What’s in the market…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

This Friday we are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the opening of the Farmers’ Market with a Birthday Celebration!  We are lucky enough to have some Irish Step Dancers performing at 5:00 and Sue Nickerson and her husband Steve will be on fiddle and guitar!  Stop by for a piece of Birthday Cake and enjoy the festivities!

We now have 71 votes for Favorite Farmers’ Market on Local Harvest.  I think that is pretty impressive so far.  We are about 50 votes away from getting onto the top 100 list.  Now, if you have been to our farmers’ market, I think you will agree it is top notch and deserves your vote.  Just the top 100 is all I’m asking.  So please vote at www.localHarvest.org.  It takes me between 2 and 4 hours to write this report each week (admittedly not my specialty).  It will take you about 2 minutes to vote.  Please vote!

 Did you see the Sentinel and Enterprise on Sunday!  We had a wonderful article written about our market – taking up almost the entire front page

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Massachusetts Local Food Update (www.MassFoodCoop.org): Delivery day worked out well last Friday.  Producers are working on updating products now and we are hoping to have a few new producers for next month, especially eggs and milk.  Orders open again on June 23^rd for the next delivery day which will be July 10^th.

 Last week we had about 11 vendors at the market with loads of products including our June staples of asparagus and rhubarb and vegetable plants and perennials.  This week, although the weather is threatening AGAIN, the day should clear and we are hoping to have good attendance so our existing producers still want to set up. 

 This week, we are expecting beef, pork, eggs, rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp, salad greens, herbs, breads (you may want to try Ann Patsis’s Olive Onion Loaf, it is delicious with cream cheese!), asparagus, rhubarb, jam, Smith’s country cheese…

 In addition we expect perennials, soaps and locations, hand creams, incense, hand painted tin pieces including Mailboxes and antique reproductions, ornaments, quilted items, tote bags, jewelry…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved. 

Showers are expected this week and remember, rain or shine, you still have to eat this week and you deserve great food.  If the market doesn’t have much for fresh vegetables this week (though it may), it won’t be long before peas and lettuce are available in abundance.  Strawberries are ripening too, though ours are not completely red yet – perhaps next week…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm 

 Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

 Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved.