While I was working like mad last week (and missed the market!) Vanessa Ho wrote "Does Seattle have too many Farmers Markets?" for the Seattle PI.  The article discusses the strain on farmers trying to spend time cultivating and still make it to all the neighborhoods clammoring for a market.  Nearby markets also compete against one another, lowering overall profits and sustainability for the farmers and market organizers.  Here in Lake City there are several markets to choose from - our Thursday night market by the library, the University District on Saturdays, and the Meadowbrook and Lake Forest Park markets on Sundays.

Chatting with market staffers in mid August, I was disappointed to learn that Mt. Townsend Creamery has pulled out of our Thursday market.  They weren't generating enough business to justify the expense of coming.  Lake City wasn't the only market to lose them, they pulled out of several other markets as well.  Wade Bennett with Rockridge Orchards is a new... (more)

The Friends of the Seattle Public Library will be at the Lake City Farmers Market this Thursday. Stop by to pick up a free bookmark and tote bag, and to show support for your neighborhood library.

With the drizzle and cooler temperatures today, I planned a trip to the Lake Forest Park farmers market this morning to pick up some beets.  If you miss the Lake City farmers market on Thursday, or simply eat up all your goodies by the middle of the weekend, head north on Lake City Way to the Lake Forest Park market on Sunday from 11am to 4pm.  The market is staged in the lower parking lot of the Lake Forest Park Town Centre.

The goal for today was to get my most requested canned good, Grandma’s pickled beets, put up before the warm weather returned.  My family would be happy for the rest of the year, and I wouldn’t be sweltering away in the kitchen.  While at the market, I also picked up some giant bunches of basil.  Basil and pesto are also big favorites in my family and are very simple and inexpensive to preserve in season.  While the beets were simmering, I made the following to freeze:

Whirled Basil
1 bunch basil
Pinch of salt
Drizzle of olive oil
1/2 to 1 tablespoon... (more)

Despite the June gloom, bright and sunny strawberries and raspberries have arrived at the Lake City Farmer's Market.  Our cooler tempuratures and persistent rain have kept the fields wet and the soil chilly.  Many crops we usually get in June are delayed this year.  My CSA box is fully of greens, as even the peas, carrots, and beets are delayed.  Starts and seeds planted in May rotted in the wet soil, delaying some crops by weeks and made it necessary for the farmers to replant.  The berries held on, but the conditions have been difficult for them as well.  Lack of sun kept the berries from ripening, excess moisture caused mildew, and the slugs have been abundant.  Still, a lovely bunch of them have made it to the market.  Get them while you can - enjoy them on the way home, as a healthy snack, or add some sugar and they're dessert. 

I do a lot of preserving - pickles, jams, fruit and veggies for the freezer.  I like knowing where my food comes from and... (more)

Here are a few photos from the market yesterday. The sun broke through the clouds just as the market opened giving everyone hope that one day summer will come to stay.

I quickly ran out of cash which limited my shopping spree but I still came home with a pretty good pile of food. For everything I missed, there's always next Thursday.

After spending the day getting ready for a BBQ with friends and pondering a dish for a work potluck later this week, I felt the need to immerse myself in yet more food.  I checked in to see if the 2010 vendor list for the Lake City Farmer's Market had been updated.  It has, check it out here:

http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/vendors/lake-city-farmers-market-vendor-list-2008

Many vendors are returning to our market and there are several new vendors too!  Our market is growing and I'm excited to think about all the tasty food, music, and sunny days in the park.

I'll just have to wait a little longer, but in the mean time I've been enjoying my garden on my condo balcony.  Below is a recipe for a tasty spring salad, inspired by my garden.  Adjust the amount of ingredients based on the size of your family.

Oakleaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite sized pieces
Chives, minced
French radishes, sliced thin
Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Roasted red peppers, diced*
Italian dressing
Parmesan... (more)

No, your eyes are not decieving you, the Lake City Farmers Market sign that resides along the northbound lanes of Lake City Way in front of the Lake City PowerSports store is missing.  Apparently the sign was hit by a vehicle and left along the side of the road - waiting for someone to report it to the City.  On my way home tonight from my bus stop, I noticed the sign lying there cluttering up one of our precious few sidewalks in Lake City.  Crazy lady that I am, I drug the thing home for safekeeping (yes, in the wind).  This is a great way to meet your neighbors.  The Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, who run the Thursday markets in Lake City, have been notified and will work with SDOT to have the sign reinstalled soon.

See you all at the Farmers Market, opening June 3rd.

Farmer's Market please don't go! Oh how jealous I am of Ballard and the U-district with their Farmers Markets that run all year round.

It's been great season of tamales, peaches, banjos, and purple carrots. Not to mention zucchini races and a visit from the infamous Seattle Sketcher. The last week of the farmers market always makes me very sad. So come out on Thursday celebrate/mourn the market. At least then we can all be sad together.

Lake City Farmer's Market - NE 125th and 28th Ave NE Seattle 98125 (next to the library)

Join us for our 5th annual Incredible Feast!

August 23, 5-8pm

This event is truly one of Seattle's most enjoyable and delicious food events, showcasing an astounding variety of gourmet dishes, along with excellent local wines, microbrews, live music, country-fair-style games (with great prizes!) and a dessert auction. 

 Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets and at any of our seven Farmers Market info booths.  We've sold out every year, so be sure to get your tickets in advance!  Prices: $80 per person, or $150 per couple, $10 for kids 13 and under.

An Incredible Feast has received accolades from food writers, chefs, bloggers and the local food community as being one of the best, if not the best food event in Seattle.  Held in a farmers market transformed into one big private outdoor party, guests can sample over 30 unique dishes made from local farm ingredients, enjoy local ( wines and beers, and meet the chefs and farmers behind the food.   ...(more)

Here's another sketch that the Seattle Sketcher did at the Lake City Market. Mmmmm....pizza!

If you didn't have a chance to stop by the Farmers Market yesterday, you missed out. Unfortunately, I didn't have a whole lot of time to spend at the Market - just enough time to eat a tamale and get my groceries. You maybe thinking, "Groceries, how can she afford to by her groceries at the market?!?". Fortunately, Seattle University students have taken it upon themselves to do cost comparisons.  For more details on this study check out this Stranger article Seattle Farmers Markets: Not Actually More Expensive Than QFC.

In other news, the infamous Seattle Sketcher stopped by the Lake City Farmers Market. If you haven't seen his work, make sure to check out his blog. He roams about Seattle sketching charming everyday scenes.

All in all, the first market day only made me more excited for those yet to come.

.

That's right, only 7 days until the Lake City Farmers Market.  I can almost taste the berries, cheese, carrots, and most importantly, Patty Pan's tamales. Just thinking about it makes me hungry. The market runs June 4 through October 29, Thursdays from 3pm-7pm. Here's the full list of this years vendors.

During the summer most of my cooking is inspired by produce from the market. Some days it's all business - I go just to get my shopping done. But I usually go with time to wander - picking at samples and buying strange looking veggies that I've never seen before (hoping allrecipes.com will have a recipe for it). It's next to impossible for me to visit the market with out getting a tamale - they call my name from across the park. With a side of veggies and some fresh salsa you couldn't ask for a better dinner.

So put June 4 on your calendar and head on over to the market.