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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper July 2015 Page 31
Photo by Chris O’Connor
by Chris O’Connor
mountain talk
Farm to Table at Local
Farmers Market
My journey on the road to the into individual pots and gave each
farmer’s market with my wares in a splash of water-soluble fertilizer.
tow began not as a mad dash, but With some searching, I found some Willow Valley Farm Market of Fairield, Pennsylvania, was represented at the
more like a casual meander. bubble wrap to stuff in between Emmitsburg Farmer’s Market by Stacey Crum and her daughter Ashley.
The first issue to confront was the what would be jars of water to hold
most mundane: I had nothing to sell fresh cut herbs. But the quest for Fairfield, Pennsylvania. She had The beauty of local farmer’s
but for seedlings I’d started for my the small cooler that I usually use eggs from her free-roaming chickens markets is that the consumer can
own garden. to keep my drinking water below for sale, along with skeins of rich- express their interest in different
Procrastination—the enemy of the 80 degrees proved to be a futile colored yarn spun from her sheep varieties of products they’d like
most well-intentioned gardener—is exercise. herd of Romney, Leicester, and to see from growers that they
even worse if one is too much an Market day dawned as so many Jacob breeds. themselves may not have the time,
inveterate dreamer. Being identified recently, with a hint of a promise to One farmer has been selling space, or expertise to grow.
as a dreamer isn’t a compliment, but stay nice, but the angry remnants vegetables and melons since he Supporting a farmer’s market is a
rather implies one isn’t a “doer.” It of Tropical Storm Bill loomed as a was a teenager in Owings Mills, grand way to sustain members of the
was sort of disheartening to be called threat on the distant horizon. Maryland; but since buying a farm community who work protracted
a dreamer when I was a child, until After loading up my trusty in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, he has hours preparing the earth, planting,
Mom helped me re-frame the word truck with my meager offerings, I joined the Emmitsburg Farmer’s and maintaining crops until
and told me to consider myself an optimistically left the mountain for Market, still traveling to Owings harvest—not to mention dealing
idea person. town. Despite carefully compiling Mills where he maintains his with the vagaries of weather and
The dreamer in me has long been a lengthy checklist of necessities, I original vegetable stand. battling a diverse cast of winged and
intrigued with the notion of selling forgot a table, so I spread a blanket Willow Valley Farm Market four-legged creatures that also enjoy
something—anything—at a farmer’s on the tailgate upon which I laid of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, was fresh produce.
market, a place with no walls and my potted flowers and water-filled represented by Stacey Crum and her My offerings may not sell, but
the only ceiling, the ever-changing mason jars containing long stems daughter Ashley who sold a variety this isn’t a big deal since I grow
sky above. Short of becoming of fresh herbs. Thankfully the heat of fresh cut herbs and plants and herbs my family members enjoy, and
growers themselves, where else can and humidity was tolerable with a handmade scented soaps, along with freeze the rest either solo or in pesto.
professional chefs or imaginative refreshing breeze off the mountain. other gifts. They also have a market at Flowers are always cheering
home cooks obtain the tastiest Once set up, I chatted with their farm on Pecher Road in Fairfield, to the spirit. I grow flowers
vegetables and herbs for their dishes vendors who have been selling their where one can find a number of to help sustain ruby-throated
or the freshest flowers for their products at the Farmer’s Market products that they, and other family hummingbirds, birds, and
tables? for years, such as Pete and Ann members, fabricate and grow. butterflies. And when winter closes
Recently, I heard that there Puntigan. Among other vegetables, Of course, the availability of in, flower seed heads feed the birds
were still vendor spaces available their display consisted of snow vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers of winter yet longer.
at a local market. Better yet, there peas, sweet peas, cherry tomatoes, will change as different varieties Stroll through Emmitsburg and
was no charge for a space. It was a zucchini, and one of my personal come to maturity as the growing Thurmont’s farmers markets on
no-brainer for me to follow one of favorites, “Candy” onions (a sweet season progresses. Still, cooks can Friday afternoon and Saturday
my dreams—except for the pesky onion variety similar to a Vidalia). enjoy the farm-to-table fare without morning, respectively.
problem that I had no marketable Marcella Waterman and her the middleman, which, by nature, is While you are there, introduce
product. daughter Anna of Stoneyridge Farm, a time-consuming step during which yourself to the growers, for it’s said
My internal GPS startled me long-time supporters of the local produce can diminish in flavor and that a stranger is a friend one has
when it piped up, “Recalibrating!” farm markets, had an assortment nutrients. yet to meet.
and I was off to the races. The first of baked goods, heirloom tomato
order of business was to contact plants, herbs, vegetables, and pint
someone to secure a space before the containers of sour cherries. They
market’s opening. I started with the also raise dairy goats and show
Emmitsburg Town Office. chickens at their farm.
With a space available for me, Newcomer Emily Hoponick of
I hastily transplanted some of my Copper Star Farm raises registered
flower seedlings from market packs miniature donkeys at her farm in
4 of July Fun Facts
th
The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of
independence was 45. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at age
70, and Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26.
Photo by Chris O’Connor
by Chris O’Connor
mountain talk
Farm to Table at Local
Farmers Market
My journey on the road to the into individual pots and gave each
farmer’s market with my wares in a splash of water-soluble fertilizer.
tow began not as a mad dash, but With some searching, I found some Willow Valley Farm Market of Fairield, Pennsylvania, was represented at the
more like a casual meander. bubble wrap to stuff in between Emmitsburg Farmer’s Market by Stacey Crum and her daughter Ashley.
The first issue to confront was the what would be jars of water to hold
most mundane: I had nothing to sell fresh cut herbs. But the quest for Fairfield, Pennsylvania. She had The beauty of local farmer’s
but for seedlings I’d started for my the small cooler that I usually use eggs from her free-roaming chickens markets is that the consumer can
own garden. to keep my drinking water below for sale, along with skeins of rich- express their interest in different
Procrastination—the enemy of the 80 degrees proved to be a futile colored yarn spun from her sheep varieties of products they’d like
most well-intentioned gardener—is exercise. herd of Romney, Leicester, and to see from growers that they
even worse if one is too much an Market day dawned as so many Jacob breeds. themselves may not have the time,
inveterate dreamer. Being identified recently, with a hint of a promise to One farmer has been selling space, or expertise to grow.
as a dreamer isn’t a compliment, but stay nice, but the angry remnants vegetables and melons since he Supporting a farmer’s market is a
rather implies one isn’t a “doer.” It of Tropical Storm Bill loomed as a was a teenager in Owings Mills, grand way to sustain members of the
was sort of disheartening to be called threat on the distant horizon. Maryland; but since buying a farm community who work protracted
a dreamer when I was a child, until After loading up my trusty in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, he has hours preparing the earth, planting,
Mom helped me re-frame the word truck with my meager offerings, I joined the Emmitsburg Farmer’s and maintaining crops until
and told me to consider myself an optimistically left the mountain for Market, still traveling to Owings harvest—not to mention dealing
idea person. town. Despite carefully compiling Mills where he maintains his with the vagaries of weather and
The dreamer in me has long been a lengthy checklist of necessities, I original vegetable stand. battling a diverse cast of winged and
intrigued with the notion of selling forgot a table, so I spread a blanket Willow Valley Farm Market four-legged creatures that also enjoy
something—anything—at a farmer’s on the tailgate upon which I laid of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, was fresh produce.
market, a place with no walls and my potted flowers and water-filled represented by Stacey Crum and her My offerings may not sell, but
the only ceiling, the ever-changing mason jars containing long stems daughter Ashley who sold a variety this isn’t a big deal since I grow
sky above. Short of becoming of fresh herbs. Thankfully the heat of fresh cut herbs and plants and herbs my family members enjoy, and
growers themselves, where else can and humidity was tolerable with a handmade scented soaps, along with freeze the rest either solo or in pesto.
professional chefs or imaginative refreshing breeze off the mountain. other gifts. They also have a market at Flowers are always cheering
home cooks obtain the tastiest Once set up, I chatted with their farm on Pecher Road in Fairfield, to the spirit. I grow flowers
vegetables and herbs for their dishes vendors who have been selling their where one can find a number of to help sustain ruby-throated
or the freshest flowers for their products at the Farmer’s Market products that they, and other family hummingbirds, birds, and
tables? for years, such as Pete and Ann members, fabricate and grow. butterflies. And when winter closes
Recently, I heard that there Puntigan. Among other vegetables, Of course, the availability of in, flower seed heads feed the birds
were still vendor spaces available their display consisted of snow vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers of winter yet longer.
at a local market. Better yet, there peas, sweet peas, cherry tomatoes, will change as different varieties Stroll through Emmitsburg and
was no charge for a space. It was a zucchini, and one of my personal come to maturity as the growing Thurmont’s farmers markets on
no-brainer for me to follow one of favorites, “Candy” onions (a sweet season progresses. Still, cooks can Friday afternoon and Saturday
my dreams—except for the pesky onion variety similar to a Vidalia). enjoy the farm-to-table fare without morning, respectively.
problem that I had no marketable Marcella Waterman and her the middleman, which, by nature, is While you are there, introduce
product. daughter Anna of Stoneyridge Farm, a time-consuming step during which yourself to the growers, for it’s said
My internal GPS startled me long-time supporters of the local produce can diminish in flavor and that a stranger is a friend one has
when it piped up, “Recalibrating!” farm markets, had an assortment nutrients. yet to meet.
and I was off to the races. The first of baked goods, heirloom tomato
order of business was to contact plants, herbs, vegetables, and pint
someone to secure a space before the containers of sour cherries. They
market’s opening. I started with the also raise dairy goats and show
Emmitsburg Town Office. chickens at their farm.
With a space available for me, Newcomer Emily Hoponick of
I hastily transplanted some of my Copper Star Farm raises registered
flower seedlings from market packs miniature donkeys at her farm in
4 of July Fun Facts
th
The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of
independence was 45. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at age
70, and Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26.
