Emigrant farmers market building a community

Market manager Joyce Johnson works hard to nurture the community that revolves around and within the tiny Emigrant farmers market, with an average of 10 vendors and a very big heart.

I wrote about this market during its 2011 season. In some ways it looks the same, but in other ways, it has grown.

"Were seeking to develop a new habitat for a community gathering," Joyce told me today. She deliberately named it the Peoples Market so anyone in the Paradise Valley could participate, even during the early part of the season when produce is still ripening. Shes considering extending the market during winter, wondering if vendors could use the local church hall.

"Were small now," Joyce conceded, "but big-hearted."

I enjoy visiting this market. It feels warm (even in the cold sun of mid-September) and welcoming. Vendors are happy to talk to you about their wares or even about things that interest them.

If you want to learn about yin and yang, ask the woman selling tiny cherry-size "yang" plums from her garden.

If you dont know anything about solar cooking, fireless cooking, or how alive water is, have a chat with Greg, who sells Sunovens and essential oils. The 3 pounds of potatoes in the Sunoven will be done by the time the market closes at 1 pm.

Eighty-year-old Richard will give you his recipe for Dutch oven potatoes if you prefer them cooked traditionally, plus hell add a plug for cultured vegetables, like homemade pickled beets and sauerkraut, that "do good work on your intestines." Handily, he has plenty of homegrown potatoes, beets, and cabbage for sale, along with squash and other good-looking vegetables.

James is a painter, but he comes to market to share the abundance from his garden. Today he had amazing heirloom tomatoes, garlic, kale, and lettuce.

But the prize was the tub of foot-long, tender Tyria cucumbers. Each seed costs $1.20, and so each cucumber sold for $4, but every bite is a delicacy. James handed out samples of dried cucumber, which was a treat in itself.

You can already see what an amazingly abundant market this is, and Ive only mentioned 4 vendors!

Today there were also jewelry, shawls, Native American artifacts, and Yankee Bobs cookies. You can read about Yankee Bob in my 2011 blog post about the market, but now he has extended his selection to include gluten-free and vegan items.

Oh, yes, and some fun wood items.

Stop in soon and get to know these friendly people.

Emigrant Peoples Market

Lawn of St. Johns Episcopal Church, across from Wildflour Bakery

Saturday, 10 am - 1 pm

June 14 - October 25 (weather permitting)

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Baked goods galore at BT farmers market

Under cloudy skies and sheltering from the wind, four vendors offered smiles, baked goods, and award-winning jelly on the opening day of the Big Timber Farmers Market.

"Well have more vendors as the season gets going," promised market manager Shona Wieting.

When the Hutterites start bringing vegetables, beginning next week if the weather is better, more customers will appear as well.

Meanwhile, today there were plenty of freshly baked pies, cinnamon twists, rolls, loaves of bread, doughnuts, lemon bars, and brownies to choose from. I bought a few things to bring home for myself.

You gotta love these ladies who get up at 4:30 a.m. to bring the lucky citizens of Big Timber warm goodies fresh from their ovens.

Be sure to visit them sometime this season. But get there early. On a pleasant summer day, those cinnamon rolls sell out quickly.

Big Timber Farmers Market

West 1st Ave & Hart Street, across from American Bank

June 14 - September 27 (depending on weather)

Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm

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Three Forks farmers market

There was a truckload of corn along with a whole lot of other good stuff at the Three Forks farmers market, now in its second year.

In case youre wondering, Three Forks does not refer to food but was named for the three forks of the Missouri River that take off from here to follow their own paths. The Lewis and Clark expedition lingered in 1805 while they calculated which was the best way to go and while they were at it named the two extra rivers the Madison and the Gallatin.

If you want to spend some time here, right across the street from the farmers market is the famed Sacajawea Hotel, where a weary modern traveler can rock on the porch and enjoy a glass of spa water (icy water infused with lemon) on the house.

Across another street within sight of the market is the visitors center, located in a brightly colored caboose, where you can learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition and the area in general, as well as rest your feet inside while listening to stories of the town told by the friendly volunteer staff and perhaps a visiting resident. Theres nothing like freshly spun gossip to make you feel like youve really gotten to know the town.

Meanwhile, back at the market, a wide selection of goods are sold by the 15 or so vendors who come each week.

There are tasty baked goods.

And lots of wonderful produce.

And other fun things.

As I was leaving, a fiddler showed up and the toe-tapping melodies seemed to be just what was needed to round out the festivities.

Three Forks Farmers Market

Veterans Park, corner of E. Neal St. and N. Main St.

July 10 - October 2

Thursday, 4 pm to 7 pm

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Orchard Homes farmers market

I am always excited to visit a new market. The one in Orchard Homes (Missoula) did not disappoint.

Though small -- about 10 vendors today -- there was a lot of variety, and the produce was impressive. Have you ever seen a freshly picked cauliflower the size of your head? (Think *big* head.)

Other things to choose from included fudge (try the champagne flavor), cinnamon rolls (made from potato dough), lemonade (an Arnold Palmer version is also available), raspberries (delish), and charming bookmarks (made from pressed wildflowers). When you are in Missoula, be sure to stop in at this market.

Orchard Homes Farmers Market

Orchard Homes Country Life Club,

2537 South 3rd St. West (off Reserve), Missoula

June 24 - October 7

Thursday, 4:30 pm - 7 pm

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Livingston farmers market is jumping!

Children are everywhere at this seasons Livingston market. As you walk through the market area, you will dodge many young people, walking, pushing bikes, chatting. An entire section of discounted tables is set aside for young entrepreneurs to sell their creations.

You wont see dogs running around because of health regulations, but I found two vendors who are raising money for the Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston. One is a young gal selling cupcakes, cookies, and items made from duct tape, who is first saving money for an iPod. But she is optimistic it wont take long. After that purchase, the rest of her profits during the summer will go to the shelter.

Shelter volunteers run a lemonade stand at the market. Other fund-raisers during the year include the Bark in the Park event on August 19 and the Fur Ball in May. Check out the shelter website for heart-warming stories of adoptions and ideas for doing your own fund-raiser—like the girl who sold hot chocolate and raised $100!

The best thing about the market today was seeing all the lovely fresh produce.

I love tomatoes, and heirlooms really rock. Here is a basket of green and red zebra striped heirlooms.

I also learned about garlic scapes, which are only available for about two weeks in June. They are the long green stems of garlic plants and smell and taste slightly of garlic. They contain a seed pod and are plucked off to allow the garlic plant to get big for its harvest in July.

You can use the garlic scapes in stir-fries or in any way you would a green onion (scallion). The vendor told me that they make a tasty pesto that can be frozen to use all year round. One woman told her she mixes a thawed ice-cube-size piece into a homemade loaf of bread for extra flavor. To make the pesto, simply substitute garlic scapes for basil in any recipe. Using pecans instead of pine nuts is tasty, too.

Tumblewood Teas offered refreshing samples. The new My Yer Lemony is very nice!

That tea would go with these nice cupcakes. I ate a red velvet one (third from left in this photo).

Or why not grab a bag of kettle corn. This vendor loves his job!

There was a lot more, of course, from friendly bears . . .

. . . to hot ready-made food, like Zs Gyros. Z wasnt here today, no doubt being busy in her new restaurant, Zs Meze, in Bozeman. Be sure to check that out—the Mediterranean and Turkish food is terrific!

It was a lovely hot afternoon. I didnt stay for music, but each week an area musician will entertain on the park stage nearby.

Be sure to stop by!

Livingston Farmers Market

Sacajawea Park bandshell

June 6 - September 26

Wednesday, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm (music 6:30 pm - 9 pm)

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Laurel farmers market pies and peacock feathers

Her husband calls himself Mr. Fix-it, so she decided she would be Mrs. Bake-it. But although she loves to bake, she didnt always do it for farmers market customers.

Once during a visit, her mother-in-law said she should be baking pies to sell. "I only like to bake for family and friends," Mrs. Bake-it protested. But when she arrived home one day to find pie ingredients lined up along the counter, she decided shed give it a try.

During her first day at the Laurel farmers market, her pies sold out. Mrs. Bake-it said, "I like it!" And when customers returned to say things like "it was the most delicious pie Ive eaten," Mrs. Bake-it was hooked. She said she likes to make people happy.

Baking for the market begins at 9 pm Tuesday night, after her family is asleep. She makes pies until 3 am, sleeps until 6 am, then begins a long day that ends with the evening farmers market. "I catch up on my sleep on Thursday and Friday," she explains.

When you bite into a pie, youll know it was made with love.

At another vendor table I found peacock feathers. A neighbor of the vendor raises peacocks "because he likes them." You just never know what youll see at any farmers market.

Elsewhere I found the usual lovely vegetables.

And sunflower seeds as fresh as can be.

Plus an assortment of baked goods. Zucchini bread always seems abundant this time of year.

The cards of one of my favorite card makers, Tris, were on display. Tris has asperger syndrome and avoids contact with the public, so her parents come to the market each week to sell her cards. Tris has a great deal of talent, and I hope you will check out the cards next time you are at the market. They are also sold at the Columbus farmers market and at various craft shows around Laurel and Billings throughout the fall.

Laurel Farmers Market

Town Square, on First Ave.

Wednesday, 4 pm - 6 pm

July 16 - September 24

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