Buchanan Farmers' Market

Tips For Shopping A Farmers Market From www.TasteOfHome.com

2011-08-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

More Farmers Market Shopping Tips

Expect an Experience
You'll be buying produce that's been off the vine just a few hours. But be aware that you won't find everything on your list at bargain prices.

Talk to Farmers
Most vendors are happy to discuss their products and how they raised them, so you can ask them about:

growing practices, including soil care and chemical use.
when an item was picked, how to tell if it's ripe and how to properly store it.
ways to use the food in cooking. Some farmers may have recipes to share.
estimated time of arrival of a regional favorite, such as sweet cherries, and how its quality looks this year.

Include the Kids
Show them what potatoes and tomatoes look like before becoming French fries and ketchup. It's never too early to reinforce the importance of healthy food.

Try Something New
Many vendors offer samples, and it's fun to experiment with a fruit or vegetable you've never tasted.

Connect
Introduce yourself and get to know your vendors. Some offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) options and can tell you how to get their product when the market is closed. They might even invite you to the farm!

Insider Tips From Executive Chef Tory Millers

Test for freshness. If something is harvested too early or late, you can usually tell by looking at it. But to me, it's all about tasting and sampling.
For best prices, become a regular. I also buy in large quantities and pay with cash. That lets farmers know every time they see me, I'm going to be buying something. And if I don't, they might be more inclined to lower prices.
Ask questions. Where is their farm? How long have they been farming? Do they use sprays or pesticides? If so, for how long and what kind?
It's ok to buy too much. You can pickle or can pretty much anything. I freeze a lot of things, as well as drying and curing.

Taken from
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Seasonal-Recipes/Garden-Recipes/Tips-for-Shopping-a-Farmers-Market

Featured Vendors - Episode V - Union Coffee House

2011-06-01T19:57:00.001-07:00

This week's featured vendor is Union Coffee House.

The Union Coffee House is a homegrown cafe located in downtown Buchanan at the corner of Front and Main Street. We strive to use fresh, local ingredients and supplies in our products we offer to the community. The Union Coffee House will have brewed coffee for sale at the market, as well as whole beans. Other items will include deli sandwiches and our signature salads and snack items, such as broccoli salad and hummus and tabouli. We will also offer used coffee grounds for the avid gardeners use on, near, or around the garden. Discover what we have to offer at the Buchanan Farmers' Market and then visit us for great food, great regional music concerts, and local artists. Union Coffee House is...Fresh Brewed Bliss.

- Union Coffee House

Featured Vendors - Part 4

2011-05-24T21:27:00.001-07:00

This weeks featured vendor is Ginger's Cookie Jar

My name is Annette Christy. I own Ginger’s Cookie Jar. I have been making dog treats for about 12 years. My dog’s name is Ginger. She was rescued with her mom and 8 of her brothers and sisters about 8 years ago. Like our first dog, Ginger can’t have store bought treats. Something in them makes her itch and bite at herself. I started making treats that she could have. I use ingredients that you would have in your kitchen, such as whole wheat flour, honey, cornmeal and cinnamon. Some of the cookies have peanuts and carob (a safe chocolate for dogs). Get a free sample for your furry friend when they come and visit.
-Annette Christy

Featured Vendors - Part 3

2011-05-19T19:39:00.003-07:00

This week's featured vendor is Leland and Kati Payne.

On December 11th, 2006 I had a son, Leland Jeffery Payne. I searched for a hobby that we could do together while he was growing up. Walking through the toy department at Wal-Mart one day, the Hot Wheel section got his attention. Since that day we have collected, sorted, organized and played with Hot Wheels.

During the course of collecting, we always seem to have duplicates. We now sell the duplicates to finance future Hot Wheel adventures.

On June 18th, 2008 I had another son, Preston Thomas Payne. Looking for something to do together, we started gardening. In the spring of 2009 we planted our first full garden together. As with most things we do, we planted way to much. With a lot of extra produce going to waste, the Farmer's Market was suggested to us.

It was a very good suggestion. While Mom and Dad manned the booth (with the boys helping from time to time), the boys would visit other vendors, making friends and meeting people they never would have, and in the process were able to make some money to plant even more in our garden.
- Leland and Kati Payne

Featured Vendors Part 2

2011-05-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2011 Featured Vendors. Each week we will pick 2 vendors and give a little more detail on who and what they do. In our second installment we will be looking at Papyrus Charm and Grand Daddy's Kettle Korn.

Papyrus Charm

My name is Sharon Flores, and my business name is Papyrus Charm. I started scrapbooking in 1998. It was my first foray into any "artsy" thing I had ever done, and I absolutely fell in love with it. A few years later, through mutual friends, I was invited to a card class and found a new way to express my creativity. Making cards opened up a whole new world for me. I do not work outside my home and eventually decided to start my own business. I have conducted classes in my home and participated in many of the local craft shows. As I have expanded my business and customers, I have also explored contacts on the internet which have connected me to many other serious crafters and helped me to continuously expand my artistic horizons.

I am a member of the Buchanan Art Center, and I am proud to have some of my personalized items in their gift shop. I also have some items for sale in the Up North Gift Shop in Bitely, Michigan. The beauty of a handmade item is its personalization. I have created baby announcements, graduation invitations, and thank you notes, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cards for several individuals. My cards are all handmade and affordable.

I get my inspiration for many of my designs from the world around me. I just never know when I will see something that says, "make a card like me." I use some Stampin' Up! products as well as items from the many craft stores in my area. I also make some 3-D items such as matchboxes, tile coasters, gift card tins, and clipboards that can be very special and very personalized.

With all of the technology in today's world, the art of written communication has almost been lost. A personal, handwritten note on a beautiful handmade card makes an individual statement of regard and love for the recipient from the sender.
- Sharon Flores

Grand Daddy’s Kettle Corn

In 2005, Tom and Marie Van Order started the Grand Daddy’s Kettle Corn business with a booth at the Farmer’s Market in Holland, Michigan. Their initial purpose was to help a single mom earn additional income by selling Kettle Corn. They also wanted to teach their grandchildren the values of giving, working and saving, as well as encourage them to hone their people skills and learn about business.

In 2010, brother-in-law and sister, Jim and Bonnie Brohman, helped expand the business by bringing Grand Daddy’s Kettle Corn to the Buchanan Farmer’s Market.

As you visit our stand, our hope is that you fully enjoy the Kettle Corn and know how much we appreciate your business. We always strive to produce the best possible Kettle Corn and look forward to meeting all of you. Again, thank you for your business.
-Jim and Bonnie Brohman

2011 Featured Vendors

2011-05-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2011 Featured Vendors. Each week we will pick 2 vendors and give a little more detail on who and what they do. In our first installment we will be looking at Jacobson's Ranch and Fernwood.

Jacobson's Ranch is a small family owned and ran farm. They started in 2006 with 2 cows and 1 pig. They now have 7+ cows, 3+ pigs, 5+ lambs, 40+ goats, 70+ chickens, turkeys and ducks.

They get their feed corn from other local farmers and store it at the local feed mill. The mill works with them to custom mix all natural feeds for each breed of animal. They add NO steroids, hormones, or other unnatural chemicals. They feed this mostly in the winter and when mommy animals are producing milk.
In 2009 they started selling their own pre-packaged meat by a USDA processing plant. They did this so everyone can afford to have all natural meats without having to buy half a hog or a quarter of a cow. You can still buy in bulk, but most of their customers do not have large-deep freezers.

Jacobson's Ranch looks forward to meeting you and supplying you with all your meat needs. They also sell to restaurants and are looking to add goat meat to local grocery stores.
Jacobson's Ranch - Michelle & Shaun.

Fernwood is situated on the St. Joseph River near Buchanan, Michigan, only minutes north of South Bend and Notre Dame. Fernwood comprises 105 acres of gardens and natural areas. Visitors may enjoy woodlands, a prairie, cultivated gardens, an arboretum, springs, nature center, fern conservatory, art gallery, library, cafe, garden, and gift shops. The garden features an herb garden, rock garden, boxwood garden, fern and hosta collections, railway garden, English cottage border, Japanese Garden, and more.

Adult programs include classes, workshops, lectures, culinary classes, trips and tours, and a spring symposium. Fernwood partners with local NPR and PBS stations for summer concerts and other special summer and fall events. Fernwood also hosts plant sales, a holiday market, gallery openings, and is a festive venue for the whole family and 4,000 students each year, both on-site and in the classroom. Weddings, business and private retreats, and dinners may be held at Fernwood and are catered by Chef Tim Carrigan.

Adult Fee $7
Student Fee $4
Call for other admission fees.

Summer Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6:00 p.m.
Closed Monday

13988 Range Line Road, Niles, MI 49120

Phone 269.695.6491
www.fernwoodbotanical.org
info@fernwoodbotanical.org

Opening Day May 7th!

2011-04-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars. Opening day for the Buchanan Farmers' Market 2011 season is May 7th!