February 25, 2016

Good morning, it really has been nice to see the market continue to grow. This has been the first winter where we have consistently had over 15 vendors every week. In years past a dozen vendors was a good showing during the winter. Last summer there were a couple occasions where we had close to 30 vendors. This is exciting stuff. The only duplication of vendor wares was with veggies. This is a good thing!!!! After all our name is Alpine FARMERS Market. It is cool to have several different veggie vendors.

The great thing about multiple veggie vendors is that there are veggies available for most of the market. This is good for the late riser patrons. 

Along with more veggie growers we are also getting vendors with other agriculture products. Everything from dairy, to fruits, eggs, nuts, honey and grass fed beef. I feel as we see more purveyors of agriculture products the attendance of customers to the market will increase too.

It has been almost eleven years that Deb and I have been vendors at the market. The market has moved several times and with each move both the vendors and customers have increased. The days of just a small handful of vendors is still vivid in my mind.

It has been a goal of the market to make it a happy place where folks like to hang, shop, visit, have play dates for kids and last but not least enjoy the day.

I still vision the day where we fill the courtyard and start filling Murphy Street with vendors.

How fun could that be?

Since those chilly teen temperatures of a couple weeks back the following warm weather has put wind ind the sails for the garden. I am sure there will be some cold again down the road but we are getting some very welcome soil warming. A soil thermometer showed 50 degrees at 2 inches and 60 at four. Ah spring is grand! With all kinds of fabric at the ready beans are sprouting and the germinated summer squash are spreading their primary leaves. The first planting of tomatoes are showing growth. And what the hey, I am going to give some germinated okra a whirl. This is the nice thing of saved seed, I really do not have any expense but my time. There is the chance I can buy the farm but there is also a chance my horse will come in first place. Much better odds than the lottery.

I have my mind wrapped around savoring that first ripe tom of the year. Yum!!!

I did plant some various greens since long term predictions was for a cool damp spring. Who knows they may mature before it gets to warm and the aphids devour them. Time will tell.

I can be reached at markdirtfarmer@gmail.com or go to http://redwagonfarm.blogspot.com/ Happy gardening!!!