Today was bittersweet. Nehemiah and I headed off to the farmers market bright and early. We stopped at one of our favorite vendors, Yang’s Organics. This lovely couple has a beautiful family and have been able to provide our family with amazing chemical free goodies all summer long. Yang and his wife became our friends and no matter how many times I would tell them that it’s not necessary, they always send us off with a veggie gift. I was so sad today as Yang told me that this was his last week. His wife will be there next week selling the last of their squash. I made sure to take a picture of Yang with his lovely wife!
There are only two more weeks left of market. We are blessed, however, that there will be one more day in Novemeber and one in December before closing until May of 2010. I’m still sad as I enjoy my weekly venture to the Market. But, our farmers do need their rest!
On the way home from the market, Nehemiah and I did our normal stop at my gardens. Well, the season for me is over as well! We picked the last of the tomatillo’s and brussel sprouts.
As sad as it is to put your garden to rest after an amazing season, the rest is definitely needed. Within the next couple of weeks, I’ll be pulling everything up, laying compost and leaves over my plots and sending them off to sleep for the winter ahead!
I did learn so much from this year and am already looking forward to starting my seedlings in March. Next year, I’ll have an extra plot for my spring garden and completely doing an overhaul on my community plot. I need to add about a couple tons of dirt to avoid flooding in June. I’ll be rotating all of my crops and hopefully we’ll have the heat that we lacked this year. As soon as I tend to my plots and hopefully get to planting garlic here in the next week, I’ll post a whole new spring garden plan for the year to come!
I do have a question I’d like to ask of you. I’d like to make some gifts to give to my favorite farmers market vendors. I am so appreciative of everything that they do, that I’d like to give them something that says Thank You so much for such an amazing season!! They put so much time, energy and passion into growing chemical free and providing my family with nourishing food, that I’d like to make something special just for them. Any ideas?? Keep in mind that I’m a graphic designer. Maybe food related, maybe design related, sewing related?? I don’t know, lol!! Feel free to share!
Have a great weekend!!
Thanks for your lovely comment in my blog today 🙂
Well , I think that mothers are link minded beings 🙂
Have a nice weekend and a wonderful Autumn ! Here we're having Spring time …
God bless your beautiful family 🙂
xoxo
That's a good question…and off the top of my head…nothing. Drawing a blank. But if I have a stroke of genius, I'll get back with you 😀 How bittersweet…the end of a season. But isn't it great to have something to look forward to!
The end of the Farmers' Market is always a little sad. We are lucky in California as there are a few year-round markets, but the selection is of course very limited. But it's still nice to get fresh eggs and some winter veggies…
As far as a thank you gift is concerned, I think that's a wonderful idea. As far as ideas go, unfortunately I don't have any… Sorry…
Have a wonderful Sunday!
You could offer to make a simple website for them – most of them probably don't have the time or knowledge to design a website.
You could also blog about them and tell them about it. I'm sure they would appreciate that.
Hello from Holland.
lovely story!
i would say maybe u could use their produce to bake something for them as a gift. like zucchini bread, carrot cake…
The post is quite sweet. I'm sure the farmers know how much you appreciate their produce and friendship. I have no idea what you can give them, I think this posting is quite sweet, and in itself is a gift!
We recently dug up our garden too. It's always bittersweet. But I enjoy using the winter months to plan for the next spring. We are fortunate here in the middle of CA in that our Farmers' Market is open year round. It's fun to see the transition into fall and winter veggies. And my eggs and raw milk are always there!
For your farmers … perhaps you could gift some spices with a recipe attached. Especially if it's something they could use with an item they grow!
Then you've to start your gardening again soemwhere next year. Such a long wait! Have you clean up the garden already?
I'm just starting up my gardening season. Living in South Florida it is TOO HOT most of the summer for anything other than a few herbs. Today my middle daughter (6) helped me plant basil, cilantro, parsley, cucumber, lettuce, scallions, sugar snap peas, spinach and planting green beans tomorrow. It's exciting as we haven't done a garden in almost 3 years (since we got pg with baby #3). She's 21 months old now so it is going to be good to get back in the groove!!
I've enjoyed your gardening pictures. You had great success!!