Meet your neighbors and have a grand time at the Friday Farmer’s Market

By JOY KINGSBURY/The Herald — Getting “pickled” at the Friday afternoon Farmer’s Market in Oakridge was fun!

Dan Ernst, the Earnest Pickler, was giving demonstrations and tastes of his easy pickling ways. Dan makes a brine, which he gives out the recipe for, cuts up veggies and fruits of all kinds and soaks them in the brine.

They are delicious. He has a grape-sized tomatillo called a pineapple tomatillo that is particularly tasty. He is going to give lessons at the market, so watch for his dates.

I bought the largest red-leaf lettuce ever for $3 and will have enough for salads all week. Erik, from Fat Cat Farms, won’t let you down.  His produce is picture perfect, organic, colorful and nutritious – just what we all need to keep up our energy in this fast-paced world.

There was singing and visiting and oohing and aahing over the items in the booths.  Everyone there was happy and smiling.  It’s a great place to visit and meet your neighbors and friends, select wholesome foods and fun foods and get innovative new ideas.

By the way, I baked a plum pie. I had never heard of a plum pie, but it was delicious.  I am now making raisins from the bazillion grapes from friends’ gardens. It’s catching, this business of home-doing things.

Visit the market on Friday afternoons and join in the fun!