This whole thread has made my mouth water. It amazes me how “farmer’s markets” have just declined and dwindled over the years. Detroit used to have a spectacular market in Eastern Market and now it’s only vibrant at holiday and peak times of the year. And I’ve been to a few cities that have them at random times during a month, but unless you’re “in the know,” you’re SOL.

I’m glad certain farmers can contract to retail grocery stores. I’m also glad I grow my own garden. But it’s sad that the area between mega farm and small, personal garden is disappearing. Maybe people should start having Winter Veggie Sale MArket where they sell their canned veggies. Hmmm… one case of botulism would probably kill that fundraiser, huh?

I know this is really way off the subject and really, really picky. Rinky dink in fact. First I have to say that I am a very big fan of Firedoglake and have recommended it to many people. Buzzflash, Atrios, Talkingpointsmemo, Dailykos (on weekdays Altercation) and FDL occupy between 4 and 5 hours of my day, everyday.

But. No one has a great uncle or for that matter a great aunt. One may have an uncle who is great or an aunt who is great, but, never, ever a great uncle or a great aunt. To have a great uncle, for example, one couldn’t have a grandfather. One would have to have a greatfather. One can have a granduncle and even a great granduncle and of course a great great granduncle, etc. But never a great uncle. The relationship is granduncle, as in the brother of your grandfather. Just as your father’s brother is your uncle.

This resurrection of the farmers markets is part of a local and organic food movement that is the most significant and deeply entrenched legacy of the hippies and the Whole Earth crowd and the foundation for a new economic system that we can build upon.

I have thought for years that one way to start building a solar economy is through the demonstration of simple solar devices at farmers markets around the country. I brought my Solar Survival Show to YearlyKos in order to promote that idea but doubt that I had much effect. Won’t stop me. Just saying.

There’s a lot you can do for promoting democracy by hanging around the farmers markets in your town. It’s an unmediated form of commerce and the market in its purest form.

If you’re interested in the idea of solar at farmers markets, you can see some of my ideas at http://solarray.blogspot.com

PS: I have a community garden plot too and my currants are falling off the bushes. The raspberries are just beginning and the pole beans are beginning to send out runners. Just today, I picked three alpine strawberries from a public planting near a city square. Alpine strawberries, the most flavorful strawberries you’ll ever taste.

Tomatoes: If the flowers don’t set fruit, it might be the weather – tomato flowers don’t like it when it’s hot, over 90 to 100 during the day. Blossom-end rot is something that happens to the fruit; it’s caused by alternateing too much water with too little; usually it’s not a problem when the plants are in the ground, but it’s a pain with containers. (Been there, done that.)

Whatever happened to ‘June gloom’?

The market has been at that location for more than 200 years (with the south market building being built in 1850).

Picked up some great veggies today (last day for asparagus season for the market). The weather was great and not too humid.

We always grow many of our own veggies in the summer – I have vegetable garden that looks toward a sheep farm across the hollow then a small range of mountains. This year: only basics: tomatoes, basil, lettuce, pumpkins and hopefully I’ll get in some beans.

Actually, I’m looking to develop more and more self sufficiency. The woods are rich with voluptuous growth here. My son and I are teaching ourselves about food in the wild. His mission (he’s 11) is to find one edible food in the woods each season (yes, winter too) and collect enough to bring home for part of a meal. We’ve done fiddlehead ferns, dandlelion greens.

My neighbor told me this joke: Why do Vermonters lock their cars at night?

Answer: so people don’t stuff zucchini in them.

A couple of ripe tomatoes, chopped
A handful or so of cooked garbanzo beans (I use canned)
A little minced garlic
Chopped fresh parsley, green onion, and oregano or basil
A drizzle of good olive oil
A glug of red wine vinegar
Pepper

Now stir these things together and let them sit for a while at room temperature so the flavours get acquainted with each other – 20 minutes or so is fine.

When you are ready to eat, stir in some nice Greek feta, chopped up small, and some olives.

A couple zucchini sliced in 1/2 pieces
A couple crook-neck sliced, same
A couple patty-pan (the little light green flying saucer-type squash) sliced
One large onion, chopped
A tomato (optional – I hate them!) chopped
As much garlic as you like, chopped fine (garlic powder works, too)
Grated cheese (Jack, Cheddar, Swiss … you choose – or combine)

Number of servings depend on size of squashes, and how hungry everyone is!

Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a non-stick skillet big enough to hold the ingredients, but make sure you have a lid that fits to cover.

Saute onion on med-high heat until just soft, then add squashes, stir-frying to get some caramelization, but not over-cooking. Season with fresh ground pepper and salt, to taste. Add garlic and tomato, cook an additional minute to warm up tomato.

Spread grated cheese over entire mixture, remove from heat, and put lid on for a minute or so. The cheese will melt over the delicious mixture and make it so good, your kids will eat it up!

And you know, that apple butter would go great with one of my personal favorites, Pork DeLay. (Step 1: Procure one well-fatted Republican…)