Bluegrass Farmers Market

I sat down this morning and started to type out the usual “what everyone will have” thingie and decided against a list. Instead, I am going to tell you about all of the wonderful things that we enjoyed from the market last week and the things we hope to try this Saturday.

The very first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful hanging basket full of colorful flowers. And, I loved the price too! You know that I just had to have at least one of them to hang near my front door. Then a sign caught my eye, it was for broccoli! Oh my gosh, I have been waiting for fresh broccoli and believe me I was not disappointed. We had broccoli with three meals this week! I guess we should have saved room for the sugar snap peas that are soon to be history for the summer. Not to worry, I froze a bunch! It's so easy to do. I trim, wash and pat dry then put them on a cookie sheet in the freezer. That way I can just load individual peas into a freezer bag and take out only what I want each time. :) Better hurry and get your supply before they run out!

Unfortunately, it's about the same way with the Kentucky strawberry crop...it's about nearing the end for the year. :( We'll still have some available so get your winter “strawberry fix” now. They freeze beautifully too! Or, you could make your own jams and jellies but why bother when our farmers are experts in doing it for you. I learned a long time ago that some things are best left to others and while my freezer jam is good theirs is much better.

We had friends over for a big breakfast during the holiday weekend and I have to tell you that we received raves about the farm fresh eggs. It just doesn't get any better than an omelet made with fresh eggs, spring onions, spinach and a slice of zucchini bread...oops, forgot the ripe tomato slice that added all of the color to our plates!

So, what do you need to put on your market list for this Saturday? Sugar snap peas, strawberries, asparagus and lettuce are going to be in short supply soon so enjoy them while you can. The good thing is you can add some new things to your list, like squash, new potatoes, green beans, leeks, cabbage and the start of the tomato season! The great part about being a 100% homegrown market is that you never have time to get bored with any one veggie! It's true, we're about “lettuce saladed” out and now we have broccoli and tomatoes to enjoy! Heck, corn will be here before we know it...I am not holding my breath but it won't be long.

I believe that it is time for me to get myself busy getting ready for the Saturday market just like the rest of our farmers. Don't forget that you can always find the Kentucky Proud value added items such as baked goods, soaps, herb seasoning and honey. We'll even have some good stuff for you to sample this Saturday at the market!

Shopping at the Bluegrass Farmers' Market is purely a local experience and one that everyone should enjoy. Our farmers work hard each week so that you can take home nothing but homegrown goodness to share with your family and friends...that's what local is all about! Having said that, we sure would appreciate your vote in a contest for America's Favorite Farmers Market. We could win all sorts of goodies that we get to share with our customers. So, please help us by going to http://www.farmland.org/vote and vote for the Blue Grass Farmers Market. Our farmers will be thrilled to know that you all appreciate the fact that they grow, bake, raise or produce everything that they sell...100% guaranteed!

2010 Market Information

When

Saturday 9-2

Tuesday 3-6:30

Where

3450 Richmond Rd. in the Fast Signs and Pedal the Planet parking lot, right next to the Glenn Auto Mall.

Parking is always FREE and we are stroller and wheelchair friendly!

Why

Because we think everyone who shops at a farmers market deserves to be talking to the farmer who grew, baked, made or created what they are selling!

We are Lexington's only 100% homegrown/produced farmers market!

~*~ NOW ACCEPTING EBT/DEBIT CARDS ~*~

Yup, that's right...the Bluegrass Farmers' Market is now open on Tuesday too! Hopefully Mother Nature will be a bit kinder than she was last Saturday. Our loyal farmers showed up in the pouring rain and so did our great customers. Thank you so much for your continued support even though many of you had to walk through “Lake Bluegrass” to reach us! If it ever happens again we can promise that there will be market ducks swimming in the lake just so we can all smile a little bit.

Okay, now for what you'll be able to find at the opening of the Tuesday market, it's going to be a plant lovers dream come true!

Tomato guy, Roger will be there was an assortment of heirloom tomato plants, Alpine strawberry plants, pepper plants and even some herb plants!

Ed, the banana tree fellow, will be bringing quite a mix of plants including...daylilies, hot pepper, canning tomato, various veggies, tropicals including giant elephant ears and of course...a few banana trees!

Our newest market member, Jonathon, is coming all the way from Maysville loaded down with hanging flower baskets, bedding plants, ferns, Wave petunias, mixed planters and tomato plants in containers and even hanging baskets for those of you who don't have a yard to plant in!

Like I said...it's gonna be the place for plant lovers to be on Tuesday! The great part is, they are all locally grown by our members so you can ask all sorts of questions about the planting and care of your purchase. They grew them so they know their plants!!!

Hope to see everyone at the opening of our Tuesday market! The hours are 3:00 until 6:30 and as always we will be set up in the beautiful tree lined parking lot of Fast Signs and Pedal the Planet next to the Glenn Auto Mall on Richmond Road just outside Man O War! Parking is always free and very convenient!

Saturday's market is sure to make you smile! Let's start with the sweet stuff first. How about some pumpkin cookies, zucchini bread, chocolate zucchini cake or plenty of homemade jams and jellies. Our farmers have been busy in the kitchen!

How about the sweet goodies fresh from our gardens? We'll have wonderful blueberries and maybe even some black raspberries. Can you drizzle honey on berries? Why not and we'll have plenty of local honey too!

Now for the “good for you” veggies! Fire up your grills and serve some tasty onions, new potatoes and squash. Don't forget the wonderful sugar snap peas, turnips and the crisp lettuce. One of our farmers will even have some fresh garlic! Pair that with a pot of kale, Swiss chard and mustard greens and you've got a pot full of goodness!

Don't forget those fresh cut herbs like basil, oregano and mint! Did you know that you can dry them easily for use during the winter months? Just wash them, pat them dry and then place them on 2 sheets of paper towel and cover with 2 more sheets of toweling. Microwave at 50% power for about 3 minutes and you should have beautiful dried herbs! Make sure you store them in an airtight container and keep them away from the sun and heat. You'll be glad you had them when winter soup time comes along! Of course, if you don't want to spend the time drying your own herbs we've got hand blended herb seasoning available too!

Treat dad on his special day to a steak or burger with some of our locally raised beef! And, don't forget to decorate the table with some beautiful Lisianthus or other fresh cut flower...we'll have plenty of bouquets available! Maybe you could give him a surprise and plant some beautiful lilies or gorgeous bedding plants in the garden. Or, treat him to his own banana tree!!! Or, perhaps a good soak in a hot tub with some wonderful handmade soaps!

As you can tell, our farmers are busy working to make sure that you have the very best in 100% homegrown or produced good stuff! We guarantee that you won't find anything that was trucked in to our market. We do it all!!!

Hope to see you all on Saturday at the market! We're located at 3450 Richmond Rd. in the Fast Sign and Pedal the Planet tree lined parking lot. It's right next to the Glenn Auto Mall and we have plenty of convenient parking available. Heck, we're even stroller and wheelchair friendly! And, rumor has it that dogs get a treat from one of our farmers, so bring “Fido” too!

Market hours: Tuesday 3:00 until 6:30 and Saturday from 9 until 2!

Remember, we are the ONLY 100% HOMEGROWN or PRODUCED FARMERS MARKET in LEXINGTON! And, all of our farmers are certified KENTUCKY PROUD!

The sun will be shining and the farmers will be smiling this Saturday at the Bluegrass Farmers Market!

That's because they'll be bringing the freshest and the very best that the area has to offer to our market location at 3450 Richmond Rd. The trucks will be unloaded and the tents will be set up and ready for business at 9am!

Make plans to come and visit with us especially if you are looking for beautiful red, ripe strawberries! Or maybe you're looking for something green like sugar snap peas, snow peas, crisp lettuce, mixed greens, asparagus, rhubarb or broccoli. Perhaps something in a brownish tint like the wonderful new potatoes or farm fresh eggs. Don't forget the beautiful golden yellow color of honey, beeswax candles, lip balm, home baked breads and Amish cheese. It could be that you are looking for something white and you can be sure to find plenty of spring onions too. Who said eating fresh food wasn't colorful!!!

Speaking of color, how about making your outdoors as beautiful as your plate. Our farmers will be bringing plenty of vegetable plants, bedding plants, hanging baskets, herb plants and even some tropical plants like banana trees!

Now that you have the color in your home covered how about some wonderful scents! Can you smell that kettle of homemade bean soup cooking? Or the wonderful scents of the herb seasonings while you're cooking on the grill. Maybe you just want to relax in a tub of warm water with a beautiful bar of scented soap. And, finish the day off with a bite out of a fabulous cookie or jam cake!

You'll be able to find all of this and much more this Saturday at the Bluegrass Farmers Market! Don't forget that if you see it at our market, you'll also see the farmer that grew it, baked it, raised it, made it or created it! We are 100% homegrown or produced...guaranteed!!!

You can find us in the tree lined parking lot of Fast Signs and Pedal the Planet just next door to the Glenn Auto Mall on Richmond Rd. We'll be there from 9 until 2 and sure hope you'll come visit Lexington's only 100% grower/producer market!

Yes, it's hard work but all you have to do is look at the smiling faces of our farmers and know that the members of the Bluegrass Farmers Market love what they do! They grow, they create, they bake, they raise and they come together each Tuesday from 3 until 6:30 and every Saturday from 9 until 2 to share all of their hard work with you. Smiles are free!

This Saturday you'll be able to find wonderful strawberries, crisp lettuce and garden greens, crunchy spring green onions, bright green spinach and broccoli, snappy peas, rhubarb for that pie and fresh cut herbs! No tomatoes or corn because we only sell what we grow and they just aren't in season in Kentucky yet. But hang in there, they're coming soon!

Want to grow your own fruits and veggies? We'll have berry plants and loads of tomato and pepper plants...even heirlooms! Think maybe you need to dress up your yard, deck or planters with some color? You'll be able to find a great variety of beautiful plants, hanging baskets and even some tropicals!

Maybe you're looking for a great loaf of home baked bread, or jams and jelly. How about some golden honey? Or maybe some herb seasoning. Beautiful dried beans ready for the soup kettle. Or maybe just some homemade soap. Heck, we even have Llama poo! Don't laugh, it's a great fertilizer for your garden. And you should see what can be created with the Llama wool!!!

The best part is we are all Kentucky Proud and we take it seriously! So plan to make a stop at Lexington's only 100% homegrown/produced farmers market this week. You'll leave smiling cause the farmer that grew that veggie or made that bread will be smiling at you the whole time. In case you haven't noticed, we love what we do and we love to talk about it. So a visit to the Bluegrass Farmers Market is also an educational trip!

Hope to see you at our Saturday market located in the tree lined parking lot of Fast Signs and Pedal the Planet, next to Glenn Auto Mall on Richmond Rd. There's plenty of parking available. I'll update and let you know what you'll find at the Tuesday market as soon as I find out what my farmer friends will be bringing.

Happy 100% local...guaranteed!