Walking the llama trail - The North Star Monthly

16 NOVEMBER 2009 THE NORTH STAR MONTHLYMarket Musings with Jane WoodhouseEach year, the vegetable seasonstretches further toward the comingwinter. The challenge, for localgrowers, is to push a few crops into alate fall or early winter productionschedule. Typically it involves a combinationof the latest greenhouse techniquesand good storage practices. Italso involves time and careful planning.A warmer growing environment doesnot ensure mature crops. Daylight hoursplay a role in the steady growth of aplant, so timing is everything. Plantingin late summer when there are stillenough hours for steady growth will getplants going before the loss of lightslows them down.This year, the Caledonia Farmers Marketgoes year-round with a monthly market in St.Johnsbury at the Welcome Center, the old railroaddepot, located at the bottom of the EasternAvenue and Railroad Street. For severalyears, the market has discussed use of theWelcome Center as a market site. MarketManager Elizabeth Everts credits Nat Trippwith the idea and the push to see the marketuse the space.Watching snow fly on Oct. 14 as theDanville market ended its season suggests thatvendors will be happy to find a warmer homethis winter. The outdoor market ended in St.Johnsbury on Oct. 24. It will pick up in theWelcome Center on Nov. 7 and run monthlythe first Saturday of the month. An additionalHoliday market will occur on Nov. 21, theweekend before Thanksgiving, to give shoppersan opportunity to stock up on good localfood for Thanksgiving dinner. Market hourswill be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Space is limited at the Welcome Center,but the market will feature many returningvendors. Anchoring the produce section ofthe market will be manager Elizabeth Everts,Too Little Farm, with root crops, pickles, jam,sheep skins and wool yarn. Bill Half of HarvestHill Farm in Walden will join her withroot crops. Jill Rebillard, Gourmet Gardens,will have pickles, greens from the greenhouse,and wool products to sell. Tom Canton fromBiz A Bee Farm will have apples, fall growngreenhouse tomatoes and Christmas wreaths.Marvin Bailey will bring his pickles and preservedfood.In addition to produce, local meat and fishwill be supplied at the winter market. TamaraMartin of Chandler Farm and Matt Secich,chef at Rabbit Hill Inn, will join to sell rootcrops, chicken, pork, and eggs. Koren Wardenwill have beef, pork, chicken and eggs to sell.Her sausage is excellent. Curt Sjolander, comanagerof the Caledonia Market, will bringroot crops, trout, preserves and pies.Fresh local food will be in abundancethanks to an increase in both season andadded volume from local farmers. Roundingout the selection of fresh food will be preparedfoods and market favorites from thesummer market. Danielle Ekasala of AuntieDee Dee’s will return with her wonderful pastriesbaked with wholesome local ingredients.Cinnamon buns and lemon squares will continueto be available through the wintermonths. Vermont Coffee Roasters will bringbeans and fresh coffee to the market. DerrickSamuels brings his Genuine Jamaican productsincluding hot prepared food, rubs, marinadesand sauces along with his laughter andgood cheer. Deb and David Miller will bringtheir canned salsas and preserves. Muller’sBread will provide bread, muffins and pretzels.Judy and Sharon bring the Market Café tothe Welcome Center to again serve a breakfastand lunch menu to shoppers. Their presenceat markets has enriched the experienceof shoppers who stay to eat, visit and enjoythe market atmosphere. While space is limitedat the Welcome Center, the Market Café willserve snacks and food to take out.Holiday shopping is available at the marketwith the presence of local artists andcraftspeople who bringing their wares. LindaNile, glass artist and long time market vendor,will bring work to Winter Market. Joining herwill be Diane Donovan, painter and creatorof hand dyed silk scarves. Shiana Kuhncomes to market after a break from the summermarket. Shiana is a fiber artist who createsone-of-a kind and functional pieces. She keepsbusy and will have a selection of her work forshoppers. Leo Rogers brings woodworking tomarket in the form of kitchen utensils andbeautiful flutes. His music often fills the marketspace around his table and is a treat to theears.The market is full in its winter home. Itshould provide a welcome opportunity tokeep dollars in the local economy and giveshoppers a richer experience as they connectfarm to plate or the hand of the maker to atreasured work of art or handcrafted gift.While year round markets are the norm inwarmer climates it is through some effort thatwe are seeing them take off in the northeastand especially this northern region of Vermont.It offers the perfect antidote to cabinfever providing yet another opportunity to socializewith those who provide food and othergoods for us.$ave Hundreds!We have a nice selection ofUSED SNOW PLOWSANDUSED SAND SPREADERSCallforMoreInfo!NowBeatis aGreat theTime Fallto Buy!Rush!SOUTH MAIN AUTOSALES and SERVICE448 Main Street • St. Johnsbury, Vermont802-748-3219 • 802-748-9694• www.southmainsalesandservice.com • Wigwam Socks Lacrosse Boots Mens & Womens Carhartt Merrell Ammunition Johnson Woolen Goods Woolrich Duofold Mad BomberCaplan’sSince 19222009BIGGEST BUCKRIFLE & MUZZLE LOADERCONTESTFIRST PRIZE:50% OF POOLfor heaviest VT legal deer.SECOND PRIZE:50% OF POOLAll entries that bag a buck, bring in your weightslip for a second drawing for 2nd prize.Weight slip can be from any legal weigh station.$2.00 per entry.REGISTER BEFORE NOVEMBER 13, 8 P.M. 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