Tag: Farmers Markets

The Bloomingdale Blog has the long description of all the old and new vendors coming to my favorite little stretch of R St NW this Sunday. I’m excited. Aren’t you?

I don’t care that it isn’t in the TC. Nor do I care that it isn’t in my single member district or whatever political or government designated boundary. All I know is that a 5 minute walk from the house brings me to a small collection of tents where I meet neighborhood friends and see familiar faces.
But you know what I really love about the market? The vibe. It is a vibe that everyone contributes to. The vendors give samples and talk about their produce and it isn’t always busy so they can take the time. There are the visiting and occasional vendors mixed with the vendors that are there every week. There aren’t that many vendors, and the market succeeds despite or because of it. At one point this year there may have been just 4 vendors, yesterday there ware about seven. The vendors, what they sell, where they sell, that can be planned.
What can’t be planned is the turn out. That’s you and me. People come from near by, from way over from central Shaw (in my lazy moments I consider 9th St far away), they bring pooches, or leave the can’t play well with other pooches home, and kids. The toddlers aged kids are really entertaining. It’s amazing how the 5 second rule gets applied with them.
In all this people come together. Dog owners chat with other dog owners. Maybe they’ve seen each other walking around but this is their first time to actually introduce themselves and say hi. Parents, sort of the same. I overheard some parents talking about pre-K and the process, one set was telling about their experience while the other set asked questions. The non-crowded-ness of the market allows the kids a little bit more free reign. Freer than what I’ve witnessed at Dupont, where a kid can easily be temporarily lost.
All this, and the adjacent Big Bear Cafe, contributes to a wonderful casual vibe.

Addendum- I couldn’t figure where to put this above, but I need to mention a failed market in Eckington/Bloomingdale. Back in 2003 there was the short lived North Capital Farmers Market that operated at North Capitol St and Florida Ave in the unpaved dusty parking lot. There were like 2 vendors and the produce was sad and pitiful looking like something left in the refrigerator too long. It wasn’t welcoming as I remember it. We learn from failure as well as success, and we need to remember that farmer’s markets can fail too.

Scenic Artisan has it up on the Bloomingdale Blog, but this Sunday…. rain or shine, cheese comes to the BFM. I’m so happy. What makes me even more happy? It’s Keswick Creamery. I love-luv-love their cheese. When at the super crowded Dupont Circle Market, I would buy their yogurts and sometime the bovre. Love the bovre. Especially the bovre with herbs. I’m so happy I may burst. No, I’ll just squeal in delight like an oversugared 2 year old.
Also coming will be humanely raised veal, some beef, ‘shrooms, and eggs.

This is just too good to throw on the announcements page (from the BFM organizers):

I am VERY excited to tell you that we are adding a NEW vegetable
farmer to Bloomingdale Farmers Market starting THIS Sunday. I just came back from a farm visit where I saw all their fields including these tomatoes plants that are growing healthy and tall ( field -ripened tomatoes coming soon!)

Their Virginia fields are in a warm, sunny microclimate so their crops ripen early — and they will add a LOT of variety to the market. (think sweet corn in late June)

This Sunday they will bring: quarts of mixed baby squash (zucchini, one ball, 8 ball, sunburst, pattypan, Kousa), mixed summer squash, squash blossoms, broccoli, baby new potatoes (red Pontiac and Yukon Gold), asparagus, vidalia-style sweet onions, spring onions, english peas (shelled and unshelled), sugar snaps, purple top turnips, Choggia beets, red beets, swiss Chard…..and the first raspberries
of the season (come early, they will go fast)

And Flowers,too. They will bring their field- grown flowers (lilies, yarrow, zinnia) and their beautiful hanging baskets on Sunday. (They will also have bedding plants and flowers.)

Please stop by and welcome Garner to the Bloomingdale Farmers Market.
They are very excited about becoming part of BFM!

Robin and Ted

I ran into Timor Sunday after getting a few things at the Bloomingdale Farmer’s market because the line for the bacon was too long. Oh, and there weren’t any eggs at the market. Too long, as in it was raining, and the line at the salad/ pork products tent was a little past the canopy. So it was just easier to walk over to Timor. While I was there I noticed Kim has some cleaning and other products from Seventh Generation.
Anyway, the market was good to have back. I don’t know what’s going on with the seasons but the only fruit in abundance I saw were apples. I’ve noticed the same problem at the Penn Quarter market. The 7th Street Garden had one little pint of strawberries that got bought up while I was wandering around. I thought May was strawberry season. Well I’ll wait for the cherries and berries that make the markets a joy.

Are you excited?
I’m excited.
This is the message from Ted from the other side of Florida Ave:

This Sunday May 18th the second season of the Bloomingdale Farmers Market will start at 10am on R street NW between First street NW and Florida Ave. (same location as last year)

The market will run from 10am till 2pm each Sunday rain or shine, May 18th through November 23rd.

We welcome Senior and WIC GET FRESH checks.

Our theme this year is act Green, lets try to have a plastic bag free market. Please bring reusable bags or recycled store bags to haul the bounty of the Good Earth home. Buying locally grown or raised foods will help to reduce your annual carbon footprint by 11%. Using your own bags will reduce that amount even further. Ask about the new line of compostable single use cups and plates that the Big Bear Cafe plans to use. We are going to start a demonstration composting project at Emery Elementary school using the post consumer waste from the Big Bear.
Reid will have herb plants for sale
Truck Patch will have free range Pork and great spring salad greens
Bread Line -Fresh baked breads

See you all there.

RED ALERT! According to the Eckington Listserv there is some opposition from residents of the little section of the 100 block of R St to the market so, it is not a given for next year. I can’t begin to describe the range of emotions I feel. This market is such a part of my week and a part of my life now. It’s where I run into my neighbors, it’s where I get my seasonal fruit and salad and eggs. The market make the Mari(e) happy, and my heart sinks at the idea of it not coming back in the Spring.
ANC commish Kris Hammond made the comment, “Naturally, residents adversely affected should be heeded; we should be open to alternatives that minimize the negatives.” So people of Bloomingdale and Truxton I know we have the brain power to think of solutions to affected resident’s parking woes. Please don’t let the market be a one hit wonder.

Correction: Not 200 Blk but 100 blk.