Monday, December 7, 2009

The last market day

That's it folks... well, for me anyway. The market is starting to really slow down. Yesterday we stood in 33* weather all day long. Veggies don't hold up to this type of cold much better than I do. Most stuff is done or for storage now. It was a nice despite the cold though. The customers that came were die hard and wonderful. The ones us vendors know and love and that always bring their own bags. You can almost know what they are going to pick out before they do it. One let my market partner borrow her head wrap for the day because she had forgotten hers and her ears were about to freeze off. We got free hot cider from another vendor and got to step inside the stores every now and again to thaw. It was really cold... but a good last day.

My list this week is not huge, but I got a LOT of stuff. I stocked up on a bunch of stuff and have it in a wire mesh basket tower in the garage to keep it all nice for as long as possible.

My list: Purple, fingerling, and Yukon Gold potatoes, Chippolini and Chopra onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, kale, cilantro, celery, parsnips, rutabaga, Brussel sprouts, arugula, spinach, red cabbage, Delicata and Kabocha squash, and some amazing local hazel nuts.

I try to store as many local things this time of year before we head into the 'hungry months' for this area.

In my pantry area in the garage (where all my canned goods are stored) I have a stack of wire mesh baskets that I put my squash, potatoes, apples, onions, garlic, etc in for storage. It is colder in there (usually about 36*, but does get colder if the weather outside drops below 20* or so) and stores things really nicely.

I am not that thrilled about the season being over. This year was such an abundant year for the local farms and the people who utilized them and I hate the idea of people getting used to going back to the stores and the Californian and Mexican grown foods that are supplied there.

But at the same time, I am so grateful that these places exist. Here in the Pacific NW, from Dec to April are the hardest months to live locally. If you plan (and can!) then you can usually do it most of the way. But I will be very glad to have a back up in our grocery stores and not have to store my entire winter stock like Ma and Pa Ingall's.

(These babies are destined to be dipped in chocolate. It is written on our advent calendar.)

The food storage season is offically over for 2009.

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4 comments

Tan Family said...

Chocolate-dipped chestnuts? Intriguing! Even here in CA, the temperature dipped to the 30's (snow in the valleys...wow!). All of my peppers just died literally overnight. They had a nice, long growing season, and we have enjoyed it!

Unknown said...

Cold here too! Those veggies still look great. I think anything can be dipped in chocolate!lol

Val in the Rose Garden said...

They are hazelnuts my friend. :) And they are WONDERFUL dipped in chocolate. Think 'healthy nutella'. ;)

It is currently 7* out side! CRAZY!

Blessings,

Val

Amber said...

Mmmm, hazelnuts & chocolate! Living in California it never even occurred to me how much more challenging it would be to buy local in winter. Course you get have a root cellar which sounds so romantic & Little House.

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