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Open-air farmers’ market on First Street brings fresh and local to Oakridge

by George Custer | Jul 18, 2023 | Front Page

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Joy Kingsbury photo

Each week of the farmers’ market brings more and more people to this popular event

By JOY KINGSBURY/for The Herald  —  The Friday Farmers Market is a happening place.  Many people milling around, visiting, checking out and buying goodies that were for sale. Also, they  listened to the live music, and generally enjoying the afternoon of shopping and camaraderie.

More than just a few veggie stands, much more!

Tom Harberts was there offering his blends of rice and lentils with special ayurvedic style spices. Tom also had fruit flavored apple cider vinegar made with local apples, other blended fruity flavors, aged in a Jack Daniels barrel for the special woody flavor Tom has developed.

Jan Christenson, with her lovely home baked goods, including Dutch Oven sourdough bread. Gluten-free specially blended granolas were also available. She had a display of fourteen varieties of gluten-free crackers. I sampled one of her sweet knot rolls….Yummmm! Delicious in the extreme!

There was an impromptu Yoga demonstration.  I wasn’t able to catch up with the individual who did the demo. It was a fun place to be with many familiar faces and lots of new ones as well.

A great turnout every Friday is a good indication that this is a welcome event.

Farmers Market takes place each Friday afternoon, so plan on dropping in for food, fun, and fellowship with a lot of happy bread and veggie lovers, and discerning meat lovers, as well.  Have a sweet roll or other goodie to keep you company while you wander from booth to booth and take bites between words with friends and neighbors.

Activities for the kids are available at the market

Three young ladies: Brynlee, 9, Aubree, 10, and McKenzie, 9, were creating with colors at an art booth.  McKenzie was proud to tell me that her Aunt Melody was making the music.  Melody aptly named, I would say.  She has a lovely voice.

Aaron, from A&M Family Farms at Pleasant Hill, was featuring chocolate sourdough bread, an interesting concept to put chocolate in sourdough bread. I will try it next time he is there and report back. Aaron was also selling delectable looking gluten-free cookies. He also had pumpkin bread along with their “Humble Bee Honey”. An imaginative play on words. Aaron also brings specialty farm grown meats, grass fed, and hormone-free beef, lamb, and pork.

OSU Extension Service provided lots of useful tips

Dee Schmidt from OSU Extension Service was on hand to advise us about plant pests, composting, and gardening for youth.  She had the equipment to test pressure canner gauges, so canning can remain safe for you.  Dee says they sometimes need to be recalibrated, and she can do that.

I needed her when I had a pressure cooker full of beans hissing and spitting on the kitchen stove while I was in the living room enjoying a coffee. BLAM!  The thing blew. Beans on the ceiling, on the walls, injected into the double glass door microwave above the oven. What a mess! The beans were still embedded in the microwave glass door when I sold that house. Where was Dee?

Circle H Farms were there with the most beautiful cabbages that were tight leaved and a lovely sea green color. There were also blueberries that were large, deep purple, and luscious.  The Hucka family, with their Circle H Farm, specializes in perennial veggies, berries, and heavenly aromatic herbs.

Double Up Food Bucks doubles the dollars

Kai Botak anchored the information booth and was debuting the Double UP Food Bucks program for WOLFH (Westfir Oakridge Local Food Hub.)  Those with Snap cards presented their cards and received tokens worth double the amount.

Deanna Hadley, giving the crowd a demonstration on spinning yarn in support of the Museum quilt raffle. She was offering tickets for the beautifully worked quilt on display. In the meantime, we learned how to spin while she pedaled and stretched the yarn to prepare it for that winter hat and sweater set.

Eric Dietz from Dexter was at his booth in the market with a plethora of Fat Cat Farms grown organic vegetables.  A colorful variety fresh from the field, packed with nutrition.

You are missing out if you don’t catch a Friday afternoon at The Farmers Market.  I know I will be there often.  It’s right next door to the Oakridge Methodist Church on East First Street in the vacant lot.

Let’s have healthy, nutritious food, fun, and meet with friends and neighbors on Friday afternoons’ Farmers Market!

Joy Kingsbury photo

Joy Kingsbury is an Oakridge resident and regular contributor to The Herald.

 

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George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.

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Written by George Custer

July 18, 2023

Alpine Stream Construction Highway 58 Oakridge Oregon

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