Farmer's Market!

This morning ( Saturday) was my first experience at a Farmer's Market.  I was very surprised.  I thought it was going to be a few booths all selling the same thing... Boy was I wrong!!!!!!  Ian woke up a little early this morning and I got him ready and packed up and we took off in search of the Oxford Farmer's Market that I had found on line the night before! http://www.oxfordfarmersmarket.com/

I couldn't believe how chilly the morning was.. I had the baby dressed in long pants and a hoodie, and I had a hoodie on myself.. I was very happy to see the man to see the man selling coffee when I first arrived.

After my cup of coffee, Ian needing a new bottle and some Cheerios... we stopped at the first booth. It was a local farmer who had an assortment of veggies. He was not certified organic but practiced organic ways and used no pesticides. Good enough for me! I bought 6 zucchini and moved on to the next booth.. The next booth was owned by an Amish family who raised certified organic chickens. I purchased fresh chicken legs and thighs for 3.49 a pound!  For organic that was a deal!!

My third stop was my favorite table!  I bought a pumpkin!  Our family loves anything pumpkin.. pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins! I am going to steam the pumpkin and mash and freeze!  I also bought fresh garlic and fingerling potatoes.  The fingerling potatoes were super cheep! Half the price of Whole Foods! I actually bought quite a few potatoes.

I passed several booths selling baked goods,breads, and crafts.  I saw a table selling goat cheese, plants, and rain barrels! A few booth's were also selling free range eggs. Most booth's were charging 4.00 per dozen on the eggs and I am getting a couple dozen this week from the co-op for 3.00 per dozen so I passed on the eggs. I did purchase a fresh organic chicken!  The chicken was wonderful slow cooked in the crock pot all day Sunday! It fell right off the bone.

The last booth I shopped out was Reserve Run Farms.  The were selling beef and had samples!  I bought 4 cube steaks ( trying to stick to my monthly budget!) The meat was wonderful! The family grows all of their food for their cattle and practice organic ways. After eating the cube steaks and checking the prices, I will be ordering all of our beef from Reserve Run!  The best part is I can call the week before and tell them what I want and pick it up at the market!  We are considering ordering a quarter cow after the first of the year! The farm's website is http://www.reserverunbeef.com/ 

Before leaving the market I met the man who is in charge renting out the booths.  I was happy to find that they market does a weekly news letter and was able to sign up to be on the mailing list! The market runs 7:30 am-noon every Saturday in September and 8:30 am-noon every Saturday Oct- Thanksgiving.. and the best part is they are even open in the winter! Every third Saturday December-April 8;30am - noon!!

This farmer's market is definitely worth checking out!