Dawn Troutner Toledo Market Master

Market Report for October 9, 2015

Another market has gone. There are only three Toledo Farmers Market’s left before it’s too late to make your fall purchases.

This week Kristi’s table was full of her delicious pies, rolls, breads, cookies, kolaches, rolicky and twisty’s. Lori from Norton’s Greenhouse was at market with lettuce, cabbage, spinach, beets, radishes, tomatoes, onions, and fall kohlrabi. Vernon and Wilma brought eggs to the Toledo Farmers Market. Chuck and Ginger had pies, cookies, breads, kolaches, cabbage, popcorn, apples, taters, winter squash, eggs, hot peppers, sweet taters, gourds, mini pumpkins, egg plant, and okra on their tables. Dawn’s table had plenty of jams and jellies, cucumbers, bars, rosettes, breads, dried and fresh herbs, popcorn, winter squash, tomatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, house plants, Indian corn, hot peppers, along with garden hand soap and fisherman soap. Lois, Marie, Brenda, and Ethan had egg plant, cucumbers, winter squash, and green pepper on their tables.

Joe was at market with winter squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, egg plant, pens and key chains, granola, jams, fall baskets, and gourds. Barb was home recovering from hip surgery. Heal fast Barb we miss you. Karen had her soy candles and soy products on her table this Friday night. Red Earth Gardens had pumpkins, winter squash, hot peppers, taters, and bird house gourds on their tables. Will and Thea was holding up the market with pumpkins, gourds, tomatoes, Aromathea candles, soaps, lotion, body wash, lip gloss. Along with hair bows, and paper albums for the holidays. As you can see we are still going strong. Be sure to come on out and visit the Toledo Farmers Market. Last market is Oct. 30.

It’s that time of year, the cleaning of the gardens. It’s time to start putting everything to sleep until spring. Did you know by leaving arugulas, cabbages, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and radishes they can attract, and then kill off harmful pests? For example the plants attract the nuisance wireworms, but as the plants decompose in the spring they release cyanide compounds that will kill off the worms. Green manure or cover crops build healthy soil, beat back weeds, and serve as aids in pest and disease control. They need to be planted at least four weeks before frost. If you have an area that has hopelessly gone to the weeds, cover it with black plastic and leave it in place over the winter and into the spring to kill sprouting seeds. And if you have outdoor containers and want to keep them from cracking during the winter, store them upside down.

Once the work is done, you will be famished. Try the following recipe to fill that hunger spot.

Sirloin-Vegetable

Soup

One pound ground sirloin, cooked and drained, one cup chopped onion, one cup diced potatoes, one cup sliced carrots, one cup chopped cabbage, four cups tomatoes, peeled and chopped, one fourth cup of rice, three cups water, one teaspoon salt, one fourth teaspoon basil, one fourth teaspoon thyme, one bay leaf.

Add all ingredients together in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for one hour, or until vegetables are done. I have used canned tomatoes and used the liquid drained as part of the three cups water. I have also put in the oven and cooked on 250 for a couple of hours. Or the crock pot works great too. Have some homemade biscuits of fresh baked bread. Yummy.

See you at market.