Camas Farmers' Market Opening Day - TOMORROW!

The much anticipated Opening Day of Market is here! Come down tomorrow, Wednesday the 26th for an opening ceremony, fresh produce (yes we will have produce despite our wacky weather), beautiful flowers, veggie starts, herbs, foraged mushrooms, ice cream, lamb, hummus, jams, cheesecake, artisan breads, tamales, gyros, jumbo, coffee beans, farm fresh eggs, handcrafted cheese, yogurt and so much more!

The market opens at 3:00pm on NE 4th Avenue between NE Everett and NE Franklin in front of the Camas Public Library. The market will be closing at 7:30pm this year, giving you a little bit more time for after work shopping and enjoying dinner with the family.

Join us as we welcome back our returning vendors and build relationships with new farmers and producers!

Did you know when you use reusable shopping bags at Whole Foods you can donate your bag refund to the Market. Those 10 cent donations add up quickly to help grow your market.

Congratulations to Raya Klein, the winner of the market basket drawing at the Camas Health Fair.

Looking for a unique gift for your child's teachers? Gift them tokens to be used at the Market. Purchase the tokens at the information booth and support local farmers, producers and your local economy!

We are excited to welcome back returning vendors and to get to know our new vendors! The following farmers, producers and concessioners will be with us on opening day, with more to come as the season develops (Meadowglenn, Autumn Moon, Berry Fresh).

Alicia's Nursery - ornamentals, bedding plants, perennials
Boones Ferry Berry Farm - strawberries
Camas Roots - veggie starts grown by Skyridge Middle School students
Dan Dee Farm Naturals - radishes, premuium mixed salad greens, and "adventure" salad greens
Fifty Licks - ice cream
Grandma Candy's Jams - jams and jellies
Gumbo Goddess - jambalaya, gumbo, po' boys
Hill Tree Farm - flowers

Lacamas Lavender Farm - veggie and herb starts, lavender plants, farm fresh eggs, honey and lavender
Mac's Garden -
culinary herbs, mixed lettuce, various plants
Nature's Choice - mushrooms, jams, syrups and honey
Nutz-R-Us - cinnamon roasted almonds, pecans and walnuts
Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters - artisan roasted specialty coffee
beans
"Pop-a-Bak" Baklava - baklava, gyros
ProFarm Produce - asparagus and strawberries
Reister Farms - chicken eggs, hopefully duck eggs, variety of
fresh/frozen lamb cuts, artisan lamb sausages, special of the week: lamb burger $6.99/lb., save a dollar off normal price of $7.99/lb,
in honor of opening day.
Rosemattel's CSA - baby head lettuce, radishes and herbs
Russell's Breads - breads, cookies, pastries
Svitoch European Bakery - Russian style pastires and breads
Sweet Asylum Bakery - petite cheesecakes: New York, green tea
death by chocolate, strawberry rhubarb (seasonal special)
cheesecake shooters: bailey's Irish creme, tiramisu, butterscotch
The Garlic Lady - olives, pickled foods, sauces, all natural, locally made cocktail mixes
The Hummus Stop - hummus, tabouli, pita chips
Truly Scrumptious - mini pies, cupcakes, cookies, garden bread, cake bon-bons, gluten free brownies, southwest beer bread, gluten free snack mix and more. Free cookies for TS facebook fans!
Twin Brooks - herbs and veggie starts
Willapa Hills Farmstead Cheese - fresh sheep milk cheese, a variety of blue cheese, aged cow milk table cheese and yogurt
Xiong Farms - tulips, purple queens, sweet walliams, greens, and hopefully strawberries
Zabor Mexican Grill - homemade tamales, tacos, burritos and quesadillas

Please be courteous to our vendors as they set-up for the start of market at 3:00pm. For safety reasons it is best to stay on the sidewalks until opening.

Upcoming Cheese Making Classes at Kookoolan Farm

Here's the scoop from Farmer Chrissie:

Two great cheesemaking classes coming up soon:

Mozzarella 201 teaches the traditional, slow method for mozzarella (a significant step up from 30-minute Mozzarella), offered Saturday, June 5.
Advanced Cheese Theory is a brand new, all-day class, Sunday June 6. To sign up for any of our classes, you can call Farmer Chrissie at 503-730-7535.

Dog Days

Whew! Looks like we're in for one of our mini heat waves for the next few days. Time to think about getting more planting done in your garden and get some of those warmer season veggies like peppers, eggplants and tomatoes out into the warm sunshine. It's also time to explore some of the great dog day refreshers available at various dining establishments around town. Here are a few of my favorite West Side joints to start things off...

Maple Bacon or Birthday Cake gelato at Dolce Gelato.

How about a doppio, a teeny-tiny tasty biscotti and a glass of cool sparkling water at Paradise Kafe on Main St.? Best midday pick-me-up ever and it'll only set you back a couple of Sacajaweas.

Woody's Tacos has a small but nice beer selection, the BEST happy hour menu in town (I guarantee!) cold agua frescas and spicy salsas.

A cold, craft brew at the very popular Brickhouse Bar & Grill. No one can match their beer list on the North Bank. beer list.

And if you're looking to fire up the grill and need some brews to go, please visit my good friends Dave & Arlene at By the Bottle down on Evergreen. Last time I was in they were stocking over 500 different brews in their coolers...sweeeeet...

And while you're in the neighborhood, take the kiddos over to the water feature at Esther Short Park for a splash.

Stay cool!

Dee Creek Farm Connect Locavore Delivery - 5.13.2010

The conference last weekend was great, and the presentation went well. Thanks all for being so flexible so I could go! And thanks, too, for those that offered to help with rain barrel movin' tomorrow before class - you guys never cease to offer help when it's needed!

We had baby Mallard ducklings hatch on Saturday. We've a few available, if anyone would like them for $5/each. No vaccines. Mom and Dad live here as 'pets', free roaming, eating along the way.

Check out the Portland Farmers Market blog where Reister's Farm was the Featured Ag vendor to tout about - check it out and meet your lamb farmers (you'll spot Rachel, Jake, or Phil at weekly deliveries in Salmon Creek)! We're glad to know you, and I'm certain everyone that has tried your lamb is lovin' it!

Check out the sale on soap. Let's get it moving so we can make room for more. We also have more laundry kits available, too - yay!

Don't forget - the stuffed mushroom contest (and your chance to win over $25 in food!) ends tomorrow. ~S

Here's this week's delivery offerings:

*****

Eggs, $5/dozen, ($2.50/half-dozen - limited supply)
We have plenty of eggs this week from Dee Creek Farm and Creative Outlet (certified naturally grown). Order fast for first dibs. DCF eggs are generally sold out to our "Egg CSA-ers". We also share our eggs at the Portland & Vancouver Farmers Markets. Please bring cartons back for reuse, if decent!

Dee Creek Farm Dairy Deliciousnesses
Frozen Chevre, $4/each - Pasteurized, soft, spreadable goat cheese.
Frozen: Garlic & Chive, Original, Provence, Black Pepper, Garlic & Chive
Feta, $5/each - Fresh, Pasteurized, block or crumbles 4oz.
Vanilla Cajeta, $5/each - Creamy vanilla caramel - made with goat milk!
In coffee, ice cream topping, dipping apples... Mmm! Includes organic cane sugar.
Chester, $7-$8.50 - Young washed rind Muenster-like, semi-firm, full of flavor. Soft and creamy.
Capraphilly, $6-$8 - One of our more popular semi-firm cheeses last Fall, this one's back!
From start to finish, you'll find Dee Creek Farm's cheese in compostable containers, and hard cheese in vacuum sealed wedges. For more info on our dairy, check out our website: www.deecreekfarm.com

Local Lamb - from Reister Farms
$7/lb. lamb burger
$8/lb. italian ground sausage
$8 mint & feta brats (4 to a pkg)
$30 - Individual size includes the following:
1lb. kabob meat, 2 shoulder steaks, 1lb burger, 1 pkg garlic feta or italian brats
$65 - Small family size ( 2 to 3 people) includes the following:
1 boneless shoulder roast, 4 shoulder steaks, 1 lbs burger, 2 shanks 2 pkg garlic/feta brats or italian
$100 - Large family size includes the following:
1 boneless leg roast, 6 shoulder steaks, 2lb. burger, 2lb. shanks, 2 pkgs garlic feta brats or italian
This is from Reister Farms in Washougal, and includes USDA processing and packaging.

Grassfed Beef - from Cascade Grassfed Beef
$4.00 Ground beef, by the pound
$4.50 Four Beef Hamburger Patties
$60 Ten Pound Roast Combo
$98 Ten Pound Steak Combo
This is from Cascade Grassfed Beef in Aurora, who uses a USDA processing facility, making it possible to sell by the package (rather than by the quarter, half, or whole).

Wild & Naturally Preserved Eats - from Nature's Choice
Mushrooms, Fresh (1/4# bags)
Shiitake $3.00
Maitake $4.00
Oyster $4.00
Wild Morels $6.50 - this is the last of them for a while!
Berries & Nuts
Frozen Huckleberries $9.00 per pound
Frozen Elderberries $6.00 per pound
Dried, Peeled, Cleaned Chestnuts $3.50 per 1/4# bag
Check out www.natureswildharvest.com for more info on these great wild gatherers, and how to use their products!

Natural Soap - $3/each - SPECIAL for this week!
These are great soap bars made out of natural ingredients by one of our customers, Kathy. Choose from: Oatmeal/Tea Tree, Peppermint, and/or Lavender

Unscented Laundry Soap Kit - $5/each
The kit will make 3 gallons of liquid laundry soap, made by Kathy. All ingredients & instructions included to make your very own. You just need a pot, a bucket, a wooden spoon - and essential oils, if desired!

*****

To order, click here and specify what you would like.
Pay by cash. If necessary, checks can be made to "Dee Creek Farm"
**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**
We fill pre-orders first, then it’s first come, first served!
We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style.
Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Summer & Spark
Email
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)
Blog: http://summersperspective.wordpress.com

Urban Farm Magazine Now Online

Check it out!

Urban Farm Magazine

D-Nick Gettin' Real About Food And Nutrition!

Food For Your Four Legged Friend

When I was much younger, I remember the commercials for Gaines Burger dog food. It really looked like something my dog should be eating. It even had "real" cheese in it. My dog liked cheese burgers when he snuck one from the family table, so why shouldn't we just serve him cheese burgers all of the time. Made perfect sense.

When I was attending Texas A&M I had a dog and had gained a minute amount of wisdom and good sense over the previous 15 years, so I talked to the vet and opted for a "premium" brand pet food. You know which ones I'm talking about. The ingredients aren't much different than the more pedestrian brands, but they make claims like:

"Preferred by champion breeders." and "Recommended by more veterinarians..." Blah,blah,blah...

Upon leaving college, I spent the next few years re-learning all about life from experience, rather than textbooks and the learned knowledge being spewed forth by others. And through a combination of logic, reading and conversations with other passionate pet owners I decided that raw food was the only way to go if I really cared about my furry buddy. Wolves, wild dogs, coyotes and other carnivores at raw meat, so why the heck shouldn't my dog? It was a bit messy, I occasionally made my own and it required a significant amount of freezer/fridge space. But the results were apparent almost immediately. My dogs lost any hint of that typical American doggy flab, their coats were radiant, their teeth were outstanding, they ate less and (an unforeseen benefit) they pooped exponentially less than their can & crunchy eating counterparts.

Over the past decade there have been numerous investigative reports revealing that not only the bargain brand food manufacturers, but the premium people as well, were feeding our animals downer livestock, roadkill, all manners of chemicals and additives that neither dogs nor people should EVER consume. You can read all about the various pros and cons regarding pet food by searching the Internet or talking to folks like I did...OR...you can now find just about everything worth knowing on the subject in a wonderful book recently published by good food champion, Dr. Marion Nestle. The book is called Feed Your Pet Right and is available from Amazon.com and fine book dealers everywhere. You can read more about the book and all sorts of enlightening human food related topics at Dr. Nestle's blog, Food Politics.

Even if you don't purchase the book, PLEASE consider changing your pet's diet if you're feeding them the type of food you purchase at the supermarket, warehouse store or discount megamart. And if you can swing it, consider the raw diet for your four-legged friend. My best buddy is sixteen years old this past March and I contribute his amazing health and longevity in large part to his raw diet.

Start A Movement In Less Than 3 Minutes

Radical Relocalization

A big thanks to Andrew over at Radical Relocalization for these powerful words!

A Relocalizer's Manifesto!

I declare it's obvious as hell
we can take care of our ourselves,
we the neighbors, we the friends,
we the face-to-face people.

We can grow our own food
and enough for others too
- if we work our asses off.
We can make our foolery and finery
- make our own bedevilment and divinery.

We can work close by and make the neighborhood ring.

There's no army to shoot us when we don't buy a car,
no knock on the door if we plant a cabbage
where the driveway was.
No tax on the burgeoning compost pile.
Most every one will like the fruit trees
and the fish in the fresh dug pool.

Because it is so
I declare our collective smarts
brighter than our solitary darks.
I acknowledge our collective intelligence
past the laments
and the governments.
The road's not far,
and we'll be glad we went.

Don't need our country uber alles
and mine's not strong or free.
But we can take care of it
pretty much locally.

Wild Food Expert John Kallas Appearing In Ridgefield - 5.9.2010

Picking Dinner

Expert on foraging for wild plants to speak in Ridgefield on Sunday

By Erin Middlewood
Columbian staff writer

John Kallas, who will speak in Ridgefield on Sunday about wild foods, gives out recipes reluctantly.

Kallas, director of Wild Food Adventures in Portland, wants people to forage for new foods and explore ways of preparing them, not lean on recipes.

Nonetheless, his forthcoming book, “Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate,” does include some recipes, as well as nutrition information — if only to show people that it is possible to prepare wild foods and benefit from them.

Read the entire article at the Columbian website.

La Center Farmers' Market Opening June 3rd

Just an FYI for you folks not up to date with the latest Clark County farmers' market news:


Hello Folks,

I wanted to let you know about a new opportunity for selling your products this market season. If I've sent you some info already, consider this a reminder. :)

The La Center Farmers Market will open June 3 and run through September 9, on Thursday evenings from 4-8pm. The market will be located on Aspen Street, between 4th and 5th Streets, in the heart of downtown La Center. We are planning a fun season with music, special
events and, of course, high quality vendors.

I would love to have you join us this season. To apply, please find the La Center Farmers Market at www.managemymarket.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email, or call me at 360-904-0115. Also, if you know of anyone else that might be interested in this info, please pass it on.

Thanks so much for your time, I hope to see you this season.

Sincerely,
Melissa Steckel
Market Master
La Center Farmers Market