I don’t have a garden. I’ve tried in the past with limited success. The soil in our backyard is very rocky and the best location space-wise gets a lot of direct sunlight. I am also not very attentive to the needs of a garden and forget to water and weed. I have accepted the fact that I am not cut out to grow vegetables, but I am perfectly happy to pay those who are.
That’s why I love the farmers markets. I look forward to perusing the stalls for seasonal inspiration. I await the first crop of white peaches or blueberries, to savor a goodness that is only available a short time each summer. I load up on zucchini and red peppers for a fraction of the grocery store cost. The farmers market can’t be beat for eating clean and doing it on a budget.
Unfortunately in my part of the world, our growing seasons are somewhat limited. We finally have a year round market (Farmers Market of the Ozarks) but the selection can’t match places like the Maui swap meet or the market at Ferry Plaza. My training schedule also makes Saturday morning trips a challenge, so I often attend the “original” market, the Greater Springfield Farmers Market, on Tuesday mornings when the vendor attendance is much smaller. But I don’t let either of these things stop me from enjoying the seasonal bounty that is about to unfold in the Ozarks.
My first farmers market trip of the season last week proved to be less fruitful than I had hoped. It was a Tuesday morning trip to the Greater Springfield Farmers Market that kicked off my regular trips this year. I had hoped to find some mixed greens, asparagus and green onions (which are in season here right now) but I found none of them. What I did find were beautiful hanging baskets and bedding plants. The farmers market can be a great place to get what you need for spring landscaping as well as preparing your vegetable garden. I briefly thought about a hanging basket for our front porch, but remembered the fate of other plants before them and thought better of it.
What you could also find at the market that day was meats, eggs, nuts, jams and, oddly, cucumbers. I had no need for cucumbers currently but I was tempted to get a few as a reason to ask Brian to make hummus. Cucumber slices make excellent hummus dippers instead of pita bread.
According the Farmers Market of the Ozarks Facebook page, you can find greens like kale and spinach, carrots and green onions at their market. I hope to make it there this week to check it out.
Now that winter is behind us and the growing season is gearing up, my goal is bring you farmers market finds for Southwest Missouri every month as well as what to do with them. Even if you live elsewhere you might get some seasonal inspiration or motivation to check out your local market.
Do you love the farmer’s market? What do you look forward to each year?
