Pembroke Gardens

The South Side Farmer’s Market has closed for the season, and will re-open on April 11, 2009. I’m growing chard and kale in cold frames, so I’ll have a fresh crop of greens for opening day.

As the market season ends, I’d like to say Thanks! to many friends at the market. I’m thankful for my regular customers who purchased greens and herbs each week, and were willing to try new things. I’m thankful to the cooks, who stopped by to get just the right fresh herbs to go with the rest of the produce they had purchased. I’m thankful for all who were willing to try heirloom varieties of tomato and pepper plants, too.

I’m thankful for my stand partner, Colleen, who has the greenest thumb in northeastern Indiana, for her expertise, the variety of her flowers, and the excitement she generated, when customers saw bouquets of fresh cut flowers, came to the stand, and bought some of my herbs or veggies, too.

I’m thankful for the friendships developed with the other producers, Nancy and Russ, Mary and Bill, Lauren and Alicia, and so many more. And, I’m thankful for the producers who successfully grow the things that I cannot, for lack of space. Thank you, Bud and Helena for growing turnips and beets, and leeks and horticultural beans. Thank you, to the orchard growers from Wabash, for your diving apples and pears, and peaches. Thank you, Rev. and Debbie Fishburn, for delightful tomatoes first thing in the spring, for jalapenos, popcorn, and so much more. Special thanks to the teens who participate in the GATE Program (Gaining Agricultural Training through Education), provided by the county extension, for luscious corn on the cob, okra, zucchini, and much more.

Mmmm. All of these thanks are making me hungry!