Rolling with the Organic Punches

Growing up in the Midwest, I know a thing or two about picking a good ear of corn at the market; pull the top of the husk back, if the kernels at the top are in tact you’re good.  When pulling back the husks of an ear at Angelo’s Organic Farms stand at the Wellington Square Farmers Market last Sunday for my post-market BBQ I was surprised by the wiggly critter that popped his head out.  “Oh that’s the worm,” Jose said, “You don’t know about the worm?”  He showed me how all the tops of the corn had been eaten by the worm and many of the other ears had occupants as well.  Then Major (a major character of the community) chimed in.  “It’s all good, if that worm’s alive, then I’m alive!”  True statement, in regard to eating organic corn anyway.  Without the use of pesticides this is bound to occur, but it doesn’t make the corn inedible.  Organic farmers have a lot of other pests to deal with as well, aside from worms and Monsanto.  For example, this farm loses entire rows of kale and chard crops to aphids every season, despite organic strategies to ward them off.   So the next time you doubt your consumption of organic produce because you see a bug on your greens or a worm in your corn, shake it off, literally.  A little bug is a huge sign you’re consuming clean, GMO and pesticide-free produce.  Continue to support organic farming and your insides won’t turn into aliens.  See you Sunday!

-Chelsea Mabel 

Farmers Market will be closed Sunday December 29th, reopens on January 5th.

It's been a whirlwind year at the farmers market (just like the previous three years)!  So sad I won't see you before the end of the year but looking forward to your smiling faces on January 5th.

In spite of losing some funding for the market, our community came out and supported our first ever farmers market fundraiser!  We were able to raise enough funds to keep the market running through 2014.  Thank you so much for your help and support volunteers, party attendees, and neighbors!

We also received support from St. Elmo's Village Artist Colony to keep providing musicians at the market on a weekly basis.  If you aren't familiar with St. Elmo's, it's a beautiful organization located on St. Elmo just west of Rimpau.  They have been offering art classes for children and adolescents for 44 years!

On January 5th, we will host a series of different gourmet food trucks along Washington Blvd, just in front of the farmers market.  Kathy found a "food truck broker" who is happy to find just the right mix of breakfast and lunch trucks to bring some new excitement to our farmers market.

Happy New Year all!

Summer is almost here and the market is in full swing

Summer time is the best time of year for our certified farmers market.  The farmers bounty is plentiful the weather is perfect and the lemonade stands seem to multiply.  We have a few new food vendors that have joined us, making stopping by and enjoying the live music more of a regular Sunday activity.  There's the Mudd Duck Cafe that is serving fresh made corn dogs and funnel cakes and Denise Doodles bringing the best snickerdoodle you've ever had.  As far as fresh produce goes, we now have an organic farmer that has some amazing produce you'll have to stop by to check out.  You can find almost any fruit and vegetable grown in the state of California right now at our farmers market.  You can let your kitchen creativity run wild.  Enjoy your summer!

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We'll be open Easter Sunday, even if it's raining!

The rain is a reminder of our first weeks of having the farmers market 3 years ago this month.  We were so excited to start the farmers market, however I had never done anything that required me to be outside every Sunday from about 7am-2pm setting up, running and tearing down a farmers market.  I was a market mananger novice.  It rained for 13 Sunday's that first year!  We became fast believers in our new plastic pants and raincoats, which ripped within the first few months by the way, we've gotten better pants and better raincoats and wear water-proof boots now. 
Over the last 3 years, we've learned that it's a bit slower for our farmers on rainy days, but they truly appreciate those customers who come out in the rain.  There are these 2 ladies who are from back east and whenever it rains they say, "this isn't rain, this is just a little spit, go back east if you want to see some rain!"
We'll be open "rain or shine" is our motto.  It's spring and it's Easter and I'm cooking dinner! I still look forward to eating and serving the freshest produce I can find to my family.  I never regret bringing this good food to our community, it is truly a labor of love! 

Start off the new year by eating right!

Our Wellington Square Certified Farmers Market is the place to get your fresh locally grown produce.  We've been in the neighborhood for going on 3 years, and I am happy to say, everyone seems happier and healthier!  Keep up the good work!   

We will be open the Sunday after Thanksgiving!

I've been on vacation in Ireland where my enthusiasm for farm fresh produce was restored.  Almost everything we ate in Ireland is grown in Ireland and is grown naturally.  The fish we ate was caught right off their shores and local animals are allowed to roam freely before eaten.  We ate and drank very well and the Irish people are delightful.  But it's always good to come home to the greatest country on earth!  We have a bit of work to do on eating better here in the U.S., but we're getting it right, one farmers market at a time. I'm proud of the farmers we've been able to bring together at the Wellington Square Certified Farmers Market, and we have hopes in the future of being able to sell farm raised chicken and beef.  We've been given the go ahead by our sponsor, Smyrna Church, to sell both chicken and beef.  However we've noticed that food vendors that sell meat at other farmers markets are struggling under this economy and it's been a challenge to bring them over to our small market, but we'll keep trying.  Our market has turned out to be economically steady for our farmers and they tell us all the time that we are their favorite market for many reasons.  Thanks for your continued support, and we hope you have a happy Thanksgiving holiday!


We will be closed the final 2 weeks in December for Christmas and New Years.