The first of many, I hope

This past Sunday was Frosty! (Nov. 15th) The market started off slow but eventually picked up and finished good.  This blog is a new departure for me.  Many folks have suggested it and I never thought I had anything to say.  Well, I thought about it and it can be an open forum and link between vendor and customers as well as a place for me to communicate with both parties.  Pass updates.  Farmers and vendors can post dates they will be absent from the market or when they will be in the market.

11/15/09-We welcomed back the crafters to the Walnut Creek market.  The official start of the holiday gift shopping season. We will be rotating our crafters each week so you should something new each week. We have so many applications from crafters over the year that we could start a separate Crafts Market (opps an idea), but we are a Farmers' Market organization after all so we only have Very Select crafters and artists come to our market.  The main criterion for inclusion is "handmade" or products from the heart.   I did a little digging once and there is a history of arts & crafts in farmers' markets.  While traveling in Lancaster County Pennsylvania some years back I noticed that along with the Amish farmers coming to market with their crops, their families were there too selling the item they made for use on the farm for themselves.  Quilts, Candles, Soaps, Linens, Toys and Tools among many other things. I love working with creative people and I feel there is no more creative person than a farmer.  A farmer can create food from dirt and next to them are folks who can create items to make life better, healthier, brighter and more sustainable, our select Artisans and Crafters.  Chose a handmade gift this year from one of our crafters and give a gift from the heart made with love. 

Over the next few months I will be enlisting the farmers and vendors to contribute to this blog and I want you to help too.  You can post your comments, who you love at the market, favorite sellers, recipes and such.  You can do them as a post or email them to me and I can include them in a blog post.  All I ask is you keep it real and be respectful.

This Saturday, the 21st, The Orinda Farmers' Market will close for the season.  The Pleasant Hill and Martinez markets have already closed and will reopen in May.

Speaking of May, Lafayette will have its' own Farmers' Market in 2010, opening in May.  Thursday evenings 4-8 pm in the Plaza square.  More about that later.

Thing to look for next Sunday, the 22nd of November.  Calvin Acres, Fine Nuts and possibly the best pecans in California, Winters Chestnuts, a new addition to the market.  Stop by and see what Chestnuts are all about.  Nuffeld Farms, Dried Fruits.  Get your fruit fix here, I have had their dried fruits and they are the best I have had in a long time.