Friday, October 30, 2009

10-31-09 Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter



Written by Amber Southerland Polk and edited by the CFCM Board
Final Week of 2009 Season

Email claytonmarket@earthlink.net with any questions, comments, article contributions or to get your own weekly copy delivered to your inbox. The Clayton Market is located at the Clayton Town Square at the corner of Main and O’Neil Street in Downtown Clayton. We are open every Saturday, April-October 31 8am-1pm.

Thank you: I would like to extend a local thank you to everyone who helped make this first season of the Clayton Farm and Community Market a success. Thanks to all the vendors, board members, financial contributors and customers we have learned so much this season, and I look forward to all the possibilities that next season holds. Our email account will remain open and checked often throughout the winter so contact us with any questions you may have. THANK YOU!

Toad Song Farm- Mary will bring lavender heat packs, dried lavender, lavender baskets, lavender wands and lots of other lavender stuff! All of these items make wonderful Christmas gifts. Toad Song Farm is also taking orders for poinsettias for Christmas. Red, white and dark pink/burgundy are available. Each plant is foil wrapped with a bow and Mary even offers free delivery within 25 miles of the farm for orders of 10 or more. So this year buy your poinsettias local!

Stock up for Christmas on Nancy’s Candles: In addition to her usual candles, Nancy has developed several new scents for Christmas. Stop by and smell her sweet cranberries, fraser fir, mulberry and holly berry candles. Nancy will be running a special promotion on all her scents, large $12 candles will only be $10 for Clayton Market customers. So let this year be the year you actually start that holiday shopping early.

Mushroom Man at the Market: David the Mushroom Man will bring his shiitake mushrooms to the market this week. He has both dried and fresh for winter soups. Daivd says it is time to plant your garlic for next year, and he can set you up with garlic bulbs or “acorns” so you can grow your own. However, if you are better at making winter sauces and stews then you are growing a garden, he also has fresh garlic ready for use today.

Heart Felt by Keiko- My favorite product from Keiko is a soft and squishy ball that has a little bell buried inside. Keiko said she learned with her son that a lot of the baby products out there were so loud they drove her crazy! That is why she developed this ball for newborns with just a little bell. Much better for baby and mommy! Come out Saturday to see all Keiko’s baby and mommy products and be the envy of the baby shower.

Costume Contest for Dogs and Children- At 10:00 CFCM will be hosting a costume contest for dogs of all sizes. Prizes will be given out including homemade dog treats from Shamrock’s Buzzy Bees. The children’s costume contest will begin at 11:00. Prizes will be awarded to the winners and everyone who enters will get an early start on their candy collecting. Bring your own pre-carved or decorated pumpkin to display at noon for our 2009 final market celebration!

2010 Johnston Local Fresh Food Fair: Mark your calendars now, friends! The CFCM Board will host the first ever Johnston Local Fresh Food Fair at the Clayton Center on February 27, 2010. We'll be showing FRESH, the Movie (www.freshthemovie.com), but the main feature of the evening will be our local farmers and ranchers. Many will be present for you to talk to and get to know. Come find out who your local farmers are, where they are, what they grow and how they grow it. If you'd love to be involved in the planning or promotion of this event, we'd love to have you on board. Send me an email and let me know you are interested in helping out with this market fundraiser.

About the movie:
FRESH, the Movie celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.
Among several main characters, FRESH features urban sustainable farmer, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; rural sustainable rancher, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and independent supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

Upcoming Events:
Johnston Local Fresh Food Fair at the Clayton Center on February 27, 2010

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