I don’t like formal gardens. I like wild nature. It’s jut the wilderness instinct in me, I guss.
Walt Disney
It’s kind of a funny thing — I love gardens, but I detest gardening. When I was a little girl, I loved to play in the garden. The smell of tomato plants with their sharp, pungent aroma splicing the air was a favorite. Dad taught me how to make itty-bitty boats out of pea shells to float down the water between the rows in the garden, and I delighted in eating vegetables straight from the garden — but that was decades ago.
Even as an adult, gardening is not my happy place. Kelly was definitely the one in our relationship who liked to garden. I went along with it to support him in his goals to teach the children to work via caring for a garden, but truth be told, I never really enjoyed it. In fact, I haven’t had a garden since he died. I can’t even keep up with my yard! I can barely keep the grass alive — I can grow magnificent dandelions, though). I have, however, come up with a solution to loving fresh-garden veggies but detesting gardening.
I have discovred farmers markets — all the fun of a garden without the constant care. My kind of setup. Today, I’m sharing a few tips for shopping at a farmers market. Whether you’ve never been to a farmers market before or you are a regular, reading our tips can help ensure you get the most out of your trip.
Look first.
Before you purchase anything, take a wander through the market to see what’s there. Even though you may have found lavender honey at the first stall, the one around the corner may have the same thing for a lower price. Make a mental note of the places you want to return to.
Be prepared.
Your preparations may vary, but at the very least take a cooler to store your produce while in transit, especially if you have additional errands to run before you head back home. Bring your own bags and containers, as you won’t be able to count on every vendor having them.
Ask questions & try something new.
One of the perks of going to a farmer’s market is the opportunity to try something new. Vendors often have samples available, and if they don’t, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Ask the vendor about their products — most vendors love to talk about their growing practices, what pesticides were used (if any), and how to cook the produce.
Choose the best time.
Whether you get there early to get the freshest produce with the most choices or at the end of the day when you can find great bargains is completely up to you. However, simply being aware of what typically happens when can be a factor in planning your trip. Plan enough time to be able to explore the whole market.
Take advantage of buying in bulk.
A pint of strawberries versus a flat of strawberries won’t break the bank, but chances are you can quickly freeze the berries for later use in smoothies or to make freezer jam at a fraction of what it would cost you to buy it from the grocery store. You may even get a price break for buying in bulk, too.
What is your favorite part of going to a farmers market? Let me know in the comments. In the meantime, I think I’ll head over to my neighbors garden to eat tomatos straight off the vine.
KyneWynn's Chronicles 