Purcellville Community Market
yes, it was cold!
It was cold and a bit rainy for our first week outdoors, but neither our vendors nor our customers were deterred! The Burtones showed up until their instruments started to get wet; at least they made enough in tips to go get themselves some lunch. Then it had the nerve to actually HAIL on Fiona and I during our egg carton exchange after market was over. That’s the nature of Spring, I guess. The nature of Change…which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Elizabeth Lesser: “How strange that the nature of life is change, yet the nature of human beings is to resist change? And how ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be.” Whoa…them’s some words to contemplate! Sometimes it’s best to give Change a welcoming embrace and make the best of it rather than live in fear of it. As far as the Spring weather goes, as in life, be prepared for some high winds that might blow your tent away, ….like last week!
Why Purcellville Community Market?
by Anne Alba
When I buy food from the grocery store, it’s easy – it’s normal. I buy what I need and sometimes what I don’t. I don’t savor it — often I don’t even taste it. And even though I buy mostly organic products, I don’t think about where they came from, or who planted or made them. And I don’t care (too much) if any of it is wasted. It’s a very “utilitarian” process.
But when I buy food from the Purcellville Community Market, I feel (silly as it sounds) connected to it. I actually know the person who grew it or made it – or at least I know that the person who’s selling it at the Market knows the person who grew it or made it. Sometimes, it is more expensive, yes, but it is also more valuable. And I treat it that way. I look forward to eating it. I savor it. I talk about it. I share it. And I never, never waste it. It’s an uplifting process that fosters relationship – with the food and where it came from.
That about says it all, doesn’t it! Every vendor has something special to offer our customers. And what a great group they are. From our fantastic meats (best around) to our fabulous greens (best around), from our awesome artisan baker (best around) to our epic cheeses (best around). See a recurring theme here? Chips, herbal teas, pickles, beets, baked goods, you name it, our products are not average, they are top-notch. And it is the vendors in our market and the care they take in making these products that make it so special..
And don’t forget Fiddler on the Roof at Harmony Intermediate School…there are tickets still left for the Saturday 2:00 matinee performnce…It is unbelievably good!!! Learn more at the Fiddler facebook page..
Not long before our new Breakfast Burrito vendor starts…
Chef Chris’ posted a couple of wonderful Spring poems on his blog…check them out below. Here’s who is at the market this week.
Lothar’s Gourmet Sausages is back this week…here’s their message to you….
Dear Valued Customers and Friends of Good Taste,
Gonzales Produce will be back again with potted plants: basil, oregano, thyme, chives, cilantro, parsley, catnip, rosemary, sage, tarragon, mint, rue, all in four inch pots,very healthy,and are pesticide free. Fed with organic plant food, no chemicals, not certified but they are still as good as organic. Strawberry pots and hanging baskets, as well some potted tomato plants, swiss chard, and ornamentals.
Micaela, of Millstone Bakers will have a beautiful, tasty selection of artisan breads this week.
Herban Avenues, will be back with their incredible teas and lotions. They will have their CLEANSE TEA for spring “cleaning” of urinary tract, kidney, and digestive (includes dandelion, licorice, nettles & peppermint). Also COLD CARE tea takes care of sinus congestion. They also made their popular Bread Dip Seasoning Mix again which goes great with Micaela’s baguettes.
Joey, of Cornerstone Bakery, has a message:
I will have donuts at the market this week. They are baked cake donuts and the flavors include plain chocolate, plain vanilla, cinnamon sugar, chocolate covered vanilla, chocolate glazed and chocolate chocolate.
We will have our all-natural sugar free Doggie Delicious Cookies and Pupcakes at the market this week. I have a lot of repeat customers on my dog treats. I think the dogs really love the taste of something that has real good ingredients.
The Beauteous Betty, of Betty’s Salsa, will have her to-die-for corn chips, bean dip, and salsa. Betty is working on expanding her business and adding more products….I, for one, am very happy to hear it! Bring back the enchiladas…
The Magnolia Girls are taking a break this week…good thing I bought ahead and put some cookies in the freezer. Can’t live without the Ginger cookie!
Rob, the cutie farmer, (as the ladies call him) of Community Gardens, will be back this week. He will also be expanding his product line this spring. I can’t wait to see what he has to offer. I hope he does more salad dressings.
Our pasture-raised chickens are raised on fresh grass and non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) feed. Fresh grass is extremely good for the chickens and contribute to a good taste and nutrition to the consumer.
Free range eggs are very healthy for you as they create the “perfect food”, providing a perfect balance of Omega 3 and 6. Our chickens are enjoying the Springtime grass.
Our organic whole wheat products include: freshly ground whole wheat bread, pizza crusts, apple cinnamon bread, cinnamon raisin bread and chocolate chip cookies. We also provide apple cinnamon, cinnamon rolls and granola. Our product provides a couple of characteristics that are beneficial to you: organic and freshly ground. Organic wheat can’t have pesticides used on them or in the ground where they grow. The benefit to you is that you don’t have chemicals going into your organs which is obviously not good for you. We freshly ground our wheat before we bake–thus preserving the best nutrition for you. Any type of flour found in packages in stores have been robbed of 25 to 30 vitamins/minerals in order to allow the flour to last for a very long time. This is good for the flour business but is extremely bad for you.
Visit our website at www.LibertyHillFarmVA.com to get more information about our products or to place orders for market pickup. See you at the market!
The Matich Family: Ken, Andrea, Samuel, Treasure
Liz Handcrafted Soaps will be here this week. Come and get pure and beautiful soaps that treat your skin like it deserves. You really owe your skin….it protects you from so many things! Here’s a message from Judy:We hope you stop by North Gate Vineyard’s beautiful new tasting room. Check out their facebook page to see the pics of their new, LEED Certified tasting room and their sweet, dedicated staff. Thelovely Fiona will be at the market with their selection of great Virginia wines.
The Stifler Family of What’s for Dinner Now will be bringing their delicous, all-natural, pasture-raised, grain-finished beef (www.whatsfordinnernow.com). I had their skirt steak the other day, I turned the oven to 350. I covered the steak with olive oil and salt and pepper, seared both sides in a cast-iron frying pan on the stove top on medium high and then slid it into the oven until the thermometer showed medium rare. Took it out of the frying pan and let it rest, covered with foil, on a cutting board for 10 minutes. MAN WAS IT GOOD!!! Here’s a message from Joyce:
Our angus beef is farm raised and is never fed growth hormones or antibiotics. Natural beef is not only a healthy choice, but its oh so flavorful. Thank you for your business! Mitch & Joyce Stifler
Chris Carey, of HarvestMarket, will be at the market this week. Here are two excellent poems about Spring he posted on his blog this week.
When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;
When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath,
Quickened again, in every holt and heath,
The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun
Into the Ram one half his course has run,
And many little birds make melody
That sleep through all the night with open eye
(So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)-
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage
-G. Chaucer “Prologue”
Menu:
Moroccan carrot salad with harissa vinaigrette(vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)
Shaved sunchoke salad with celery, Nicoise olives, and orange(vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)
Portabello, Stilton blue cheese, and caramelized onion tart(vegetarian)
Parsnip-potato gallette with walnuts and herbs(vegan, vegetarian)
Rhutabaga soup with bacon and garlic(meat)
Glazed rhutabaga with serrano chilies, fennel seed, and roasted garlic(vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)
Check out his weekly cooking story on his new food blog, www.harvestmarketdc.blogspot.com. He’s also on Facebook: HarvestMarketDC, and Twitter: HarvestMarketDC/Twitter.
Samantha, of Holy Cow Delivery, will be selling her cousin’s (South Mountain Creamery) whole, cream top, 2%, skim, and chocolate milk, fantastic yogurt and yogurt drinks, to die-for cream cheeses, regular butter and honey butter. Here’s a message from Samantha:
Holy Cow!!! We have lambchops, lamb stew meat, and lamb burger. In addition to our fantastic lamb, we have some awesome dairy products. Our chocolate milk makes the best hot cocoa!!! You gotta try it!
TOATS, is a wheat, egg, and dairy-free cookie made right here in Loudoun County! They have 0 trans fats and even the box is organic. Marisol won’t be here this week but will be back again next week (www.toatsorganic.com).
Everona Dairy, will be NOT be at the market this week. Hopefully next week….Here’s a video they posted of some day old lambs on facebook…lamb video.
If you’re jonesin’ for one of The Smoothie Guy’s (Mike Schreiber) fresh fruit smoothies, don’t forget he’s at the Purcellville Sports Pavilion in his Smoothie Hut. I’m not kidding, it looks like an Island hut. Just walk in, even if you’re not a member, and order one of those fantastic smoothies…he’ll be back at the Best Little Market in Loudoun when the weather gets warmer..
Linna the Locavore**************************************
DON’T FORGET WE ARE OUTDOORS NOW. Since the weather isn’t going to be so warm, we’ll have a fire going in the fire pit so you can warm yourselves!
We really appreciate your support and hope that we have been a positive influence in your lives beyond providing great, healthy food for you and your families. Check out our website at www.purcellvillecommunitymarket.com, our info on www.loudounfarms.org and on facebook, where we post pictures of happy customers and vendors almost every week! Check the market table for all kinds of info, cookbooks, recipes, community events, local businesses, and health information.
Don’t forget to try to remember to bring your Purcellville Green and Buy Fresh, Buy Local shopping bags…
So come out on Saturday, try all of our samples, purchase some GREAT, HEALTHY, LOCAL foods, have a chat with your faithful vendors, happy neighbors, and enlightened folks from other communities and sip some fresh coffee and have a bite to eat. We will be there from 10 am to 1 pm at the Town Hall parking lot in beautiful, downtown Purcellville. We’re right across from the gunshop. Just look for the Howitzer…it’s pointin’ right at us!
Enjoy!
Juanita Tool
703.967.0431
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