Tremont Farmers' Market

Power to the people. That’s you.  And me.  Let’s take control of our food economy, food security and our health.  Join the conversation, join the movement.  Grow your own, buy direct from the producer.  I get a special joy from cooking, thinking about the individuals who grow/bake/make/pick the fantastic ingredients that go into my meals.  TFM nurtures me, let it nurture you.

The Very Very Vivacious Vendors:
Blaze Gourmet, The Bonbon Bake Shop, Foodgazi Farms, Gaelic Imports, Hickory Acres Meats of Oberlin, Lucky Penny Creamery, Morningside Farm, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, Noon Sharpening, Plant Kingdom Bakery, Por-Bar Farms, Posh Pierogies, The Spicehound, t. by Sarah, Woolf Farms and new this week: My Best Friends Treats.

Available at the market: lettuce, turnips, ramps, scallions, radishes, beans, peas, greens, maybe zucchini, apples and more.  Bread, granola, baked goods (vegan and non-vegan);  eggs, hot sauces & salsas; Chevre & Feta, beef, pork and lamb; grass-fed, organic cheeses; handmade pierogies;  a vast array of Celtic foods; all kinds of spices; teas, tinctures and bath salts. And dog biscuits.  And whatever surprises this market brings…..

A great selection of veg starts: Foodgazi Farms and Morningside Farm have produced the most beautiful plants, just waiting to get their roots into your garden!  No synthetic chemicals, thank you very much.

Bring your knives to be sharpened. I forgot mine last week, and Kevin Noon took every opportunity to jibe me about it, but the worst part is every time I cook, I curse at my dull knives.  I’m tying a string around my finger right now.

*Remember that these folks need to make a living and you need to eat good food, even when it rains.  We especially need your support on bad weather days.  Make it an adventure!

Chef Demo: It seems that every time I turn on the radio, Doug Katz, the owner of and inspiration fueling Fire Food & Drink is on NPR.  Which is cool, because he has a lot of important things to say, and we have an opportunity to listen to him at TFM!  Fire folks are dedicated to supporting local producers and serve “only the best seasonal produce and finest meats, fish and specialty goods available”.  Come out for a taste of his wisdom!  

Music:  Alan Madej is a market regular with a thing for shoes….watch  Wonderful Shoes, recorded right in Lincoln Park!  He sounds a bit like John Lennon, no?

Look for this guy on Tuesday:  Greg Tomasi is a certified Reiki Level II practitioner, and received his training at the International Center for Reiki Training.  He will be handing out information about Reiki, and explaining its benefits and many uses.  In addition, Greg will be giving free 5-10 minute Reiki treatments.  He welcomes you to stop by and learn more about this simple, natural and safe method of healing and improvement that anyone can use.

We proudly accept WIC, Senior’s Coupons and EBT (food stamps).

“I like walking because it is slow, and I suspect the mind, like the feet, works at about three miles an hour.  If this is so, then modern life is moving faster than the speed of thought, or thoughtfulness”.

Wanderlust:  A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit

Peace,

Jody Lathwell, Market Manager

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Greetings, TFM Groupies! Spring has arrived once more, and with it the dreams and prospects of the perfect market season.  It’s a comfort to know that we remain in the cycle, afforded an opportunity to do it all again, able to check our lists from last year, make this one a better one.  Not to mention the pleasure and nourishment of sustainably grown, high-quality food that is sold at the market.  Oh, yeah!  That’s what it’s all about.

Opening Day:  May 4. A significant date for many reasons.

Election Day.  Do not forget to vote!

This May 4 marks the 40^th Anniversary of the Kent State Shootings.

For information on Commemoration activities, go to:  http://www.kent.edu/about/may4commemoration/index.cfm

*Note our slight time change:  2010 Market hours are 4-7PM

But let me step back, and take a moment to thank all of you who came out to the Winter Thaw Party and all the support you have offered.  We raised a total of $1700, which goes a long way for us.  Those dollars enabled us to hire Christian Santiago as our 2010 Market Assistant.  Christian spent three years gardening with TUFS (Tremont Urban Food System), and we are pleased to have him working with the market.  Our continuing gratitude goes out to Ricardo Sandoval and the folks who put together and worked to make the Winter Thaw Party such a success.  They made it very easy and a pleasure.

Furthermore, we continue to grow our community support through volunteers.  I’d like to announce four fantastic folks who have stepped forward to take on leadership roles with the market.  Sue Carrara and Katie Maurer are organizing and running the Market Chef Demonstrations this year.  Because of these two, I know the program is going to flourish, which is not only a thrill to me, but will strengthen the market in many ways.

Wendy Howell and John Briggs are now running the Music Program; their collective experiences and love of local music are a fantastic boon to the market.

I’d also like to give out a shout of thanks to the other volunteers:  Trent Boerner, who is assisting with organizing our marketing plan and more; Barb Sper who has helped with grant writing, and who plans to be at the market this year helping with various market activities; Camille George, who will be organizing activities for kidlets and more, as well as being our Raffle Queen; Suzanne Kohring Reich and Sarah Hurt will be vending at the market, but also helping with marketing and various and sundry other market activities.  These folks also help out at the drop of a hat when needed, and my gratitude immeasurable.

A special pre-season tip of the hat goes out to my Market Cohort, Kristen Trolio.  Kristen’s calm support and willingness to let me chase down some of my crazy ideas has been wonderful.  She also has the “pleasure” of wading through a considerable amount of bureaucracy that is required to run TFM.

If you have any interest in being further involved with the market, please contact me.  We always have room for more!

And now, for the stars of the show, the vendors! Our preliminary list includes:

Blaze Gourmet, Foodgazi Farms, Gaelic Imports, Hickory Acres Meats of Oberlin, Noon Sharpening, Loop Coffee, Lucky Penny Farm, No-Wey Chocolates, Ohio Farm Direct, Plant Kingdom Bakery, Por-Bar Farms, Pranzo Forno, Red Basket Farm, Suzannie Handknits, The Herban Pioneer, t by Sarah, TUFS, Wonder City Farm, Wood Ridge Farm and Woolf Farms.

Stay tuned as we continue to grow!

TFM proudly accepts WIC, Senior’s Coupons and EBT (Ohio Direction Card).

See you on the fourth!

Peace,

Jody Lathwell, Market Manager

The Winter Thaw Party!

Upstairs @ Lava Lounge

Friday, March 12, 2010

6pm to midnight

Want to have a good time AND support the Tremont Farmers’ Market?

Break the ice and break bread with your friendly market folks to help usher in Spring!

Ricardo Sandoval and Lava Lounge are teaming up with TFM to create a fantastic fun evening, and the proceeds go directly toward funding the market.

Here’s how it works:

Purchase tickets from Joel Reynolds or Kristen Trolio at TWDC. 216-575-0920

$25 advance price,

$30 at the door.

Included will be two drinks and vittles as well as fun times.

Here’s what you do:

Show up at Lava Lounge

1307 Auburn Ave,

Cleveland, OH 44113

216-589-9112

The menu will include:

-empanadas: potato, pea, curry, tomato jam
-crispy spring roll: pork, cabbage, carrot, sweet and sour sauce
-hummus: olive puree, virgin oil, toasted pita
-Korean spiced barbecue ribs with curry Cole slaw
-chicken croquettes with peanut sauce
-deviled “farm fresh” eggs
-mini black bean burger: avocado mousse, house pickle

and some last minute surprise items!

Great food, great times, all to support a great organization!

Win a Photo Raffle: Have your photo taken with Councilman Joe Cimperman and receive an autographed copy!

More raffles TBA.

For more info contact Jody Lathwell:   tremontmarket@yahoo.com 216-403-9436

For an application or questions, please contact:

Market Manager, Jody Lathwell at tremontmarket@yahoo.com, phone number: 216-403-9436

or Kristen Trolio at kristentrolio@twdc.org, phone number: 216-575-0920

Tremont Farmers’ Market has another year under its belt and the season certainly was exciting.  With relatively few hitches, we made the permanent move to Lincoln Park after getting our feet wet last fall.  Our little village has been transplanted, and we are taking root.  Like the trees that provide us shelter in the park, we are getting grounded and strong, spreading our branches to provide sustenance for Tremont and beyond.  Mother Nature certainly did not fail to remind us who is really in charge, as we dodged branches, rain, hail, tents and lightening this year; fortunately no serious injuries!  Thankfully, the season closed with the weather that makes us love fall.

I’d like to once again pay homage to all the vendors who sold at the market.  They put in countless hours of preparation year round to sell at markets, and mange to be cheerful and excited about their work after arising in the wee hours to harvest, pack, drive and unload and setup.

And we would be nowhere without the customers, the folks willing to come out, no matter the weather.  It’s wonderful to have faces become familiar from week to week, and a pleasure to welcome newcomers.

In addition to the vendors and shoppers, I feel blessed to have the help and support of many folks in the community.  Some extraordinary folks.   First of all, a special, personal thanks to Kristen Trolio for handling market bureaucracy with good cheer.  And for, well, everything.  Ricardo Sandoval has supported the market in so many ways this year.  He provided storage space for market stuff; had two sandwhich boards built; did a few cooking demos at the market; hung market posters.  AND, on several occasions, has helped set up the market!  Now that is dedication!  Owner of three local restaurants (Fat Cats, Lava Lounge and Felice’s Urban Café), Ricardo also regularly supplies his kitchens with produce from TFM.  More thanks go to my neighbor, Nancy Thompson has given me free range with her truck to haul market tents, tables, etc.  Without her generosity, getting our stuff to market would be extremely difficult.  Helen Bauman created the design for our bright and cheery postcards and fliers, and developed an official logo!  Jenita McGowan helped with organizational details and also organized some dance performances at the market which were a big treat for all of us!  Trish Supples communicated with and scheduled the folks who participated in the new Environmental Space.  Camille George started a Kid’s Corner, where each week she had some form of creative enterprise to entertain the younger crowd.  And the whole gang of folks that helped in numerous ways including getting postcards and fliers out there, brainstorming, internet advice, market setup and tear down, moral support:  John Briggs, Trent Boerner, Nicole McGee, Marc Dorsey and Hope Schultz.  Thanks to Sister Corita and the guys from St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church for allowing us to use their bathrooms and generally keeping an eye out for us!  Muchas gracias to Jerry Guffey, Kate Sopko and all others at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ who helped us with the screening of Polycultures: Food Where We Live.  In addition, a big tip of the hat to Tom Kondilas and David Pearl, first for creating the movie and then bringing it forth to the community with such eagerness.  Thanks to Susan Conover and Willie from WIC who helped us register more farmers and helped bring more folks to the market.  Financially, our 2009 funding came from grants from Neighborhood Connections, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Joe Cimperman.  And many, many thanks to my husband, Jim Richards who helped with internet/computer glitches, helped gather stuff when I needed it, and generally put up with a zoned out wife when I entered into “market mode”.

This year we also branched out and held two holiday markets in November and December to test the waters and further our commitment to local food.  The markets, held at Pilgrim Church were cozy and cheerful, and very encouraging for the future.

We are now preparing for 2010.  The market will be opening our tents a bit earlier this year, our first market to be held on May 4 in response to both vendors and customers to expand our season.  I miss my market family, and am looking forward Tuesdays in Lincoln Park!

TFM: We don’t claim to feed the whole world, but we can certainly help to nourish and sustain our little corner.  Food for the community, food grown and produced by folks with faces and names, not a corporate logo.

Peace and Happy New Year,

Jody Lathwell, Market Manager

Time has fulfilled its promise and the seasons have zipped by, with winter peeking around the corner.  As the days turn in their familiar pattern, I find my words drearily repetitious, and thus, I looked to my initial eblast of the year for inspiration.  Glancing back, and looking forward.  For June, I wrote about strawberries and spinach; we have progressed to winter squash, potatoes and parsnips.  How wondrous these tastes are when following a local, seasonal diet, knowing that now is the time to eat as many brussel sprouts as possible, then to freeze the rest for a time when they are not available directly from the fields.  And that is what we present to you, the opportunity to purchase fresh, beautifully grown vegetables mindfully nurtured by the farmers.  Produce grown with love and care; nourishment for the body, the soul and the environment.  And, magically, this applies to all the other food sold at the market, and the artwork as well.  With pleasure we offer you a room full of honest food, groove and creativity.

Available this Tueday: Winter squash (acorn and butternut), onions, potatoes (red-skinned and white), collards and mustard greens, lettuce, arugula, carrots, and sprouts; (maybe even brussel sprouts and parsnips!).  Pasture raised beef and chickens, and eggs from happy hens.  Fresh roasted coffee and beans; tea and tea related gift baskets; whole grain breads, waffles, granolas, pies and yummy vegan food to eat on the spot.  Cheese made from content grass-fed cows; vegan and hemp based baked goods; honey and maple syrup; awesome Irish soda breads and scrumptious Gaelic food; salsas and hot sauces with related gift baskets, and a vast array of spices.  AND, knitted goods, jewelry made from silverware, artwork crafted out of found materials and stoneware pottery.  Remember to bring your knives or other dull objects to be sharpened!

The honorable vendors: Blaze Gourmet, Gaelic Imports, Hickory Acres Meats, KC Coffee, Kevin Noon, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, Ohio Farm Direct, Plant Kingdom Bakery, Red Basket Farm, Redozo Farm, SuzannieHandknits, t. by Sarah, Unforkettable Jewelry, Second Time Design, The Spicehound, and Trish Supples.   Joining us for the first time: J&M Apiaries and Bette Drake. Dan Roman will be available with “I Buy Neo” cards—more encouragement to support locally owned, independent enterprises.

***Special Note: 10AM on Monday, Dec 14:  TFM will be discussed on TV show Good Company, WKYC, Channel 3.  Tune in!

Music: We proudly welcome back two accomplished musicians, Janice Fields and Michelle George!  Lively music that shows how much fun they are having!

EBT (Ohio Direction Card) accepted at the market.

Consume what you believe, and believe in what you consume.

Peace,

Jody Lathwell, market manager

Greetings and a hally-o-hoo!

See you at Pilgrim Church (2592 W.14^th Street)

From 4-7PM

Some fantastic additions to the market!

*Wonder City Farm checked their fields and have lots available:

mustard greens, broccoli raab, radishes, carrots, kale, mesclun mix, lettuce, arugula, parsley, garlic, broccoli and honey.

*Kevin “The Spicehound” Scheuring will be joining us for the first time!

Affordable packages of all kinds of spices, including pepper, unusual salts, cinnamon sticks, sesame seeds, nutmeg, turmeric and much, much more.  Kevin is also an accomplished cook, and can give recommendations on how to use all what he sells, from the ordinary to the more exotic.

*Unforkettable Jewelry sells unique jewelry made from second hand silverware.  Great gift material!

*Ms. Julie’s Kitchen was listed in the previous email, but Julie and Marlin have decided to bring their food truck!  Look for it in the parking lot with yummy warm possibilities for dinner.  Julie hopes to bring stuffed cabbage, waffle sandwhiches; mostly vegan specialties that are great tasting and healthy.  She also uses ingredients from both Red Basket Farm and Wonder City Farm!

The following is a quick list of the other vendors (they were detailed in the last email, and this info can be found on the market website)

*Hickory Acre Meats, KC Coffee, Ohio Farm Direct, Gaelic Imports, Red Basket Farm, Second Time Design, Trish Supples, Plant Kingdom Bakery, SuzannieHandknits, t. by Sarah, Blaze Gourmet, Redozo Farm and Kevin Noon the Knife Sharpener.

Come prepared to hang out and listen to Xe La!  Dinner options are available from both Gaelic Imports and Ms. Julie’s Kitchen.

Get the freshest of ingredients for your Thanksgiving meal, and stock up on food for the following weeks!  Things like squash and onions will last in cold storage for quite a long time.  Other produce can be frozen, as can cheese, meat and pies!

Be Local in a Big Way!

EBT accepted at the market.

Questions: call 216-575-0920

Or email: tremontmarket@yahoo.com

“Winter.  Nights are long.  Snow blankets the landscape.  The sun can only warm us around the edges.  The naked trees groan as they bend in the frozen wind.  Woodchucks, who in summer devastated the garden, now burrow in for a long winter nap.  Winter invites us to reflect upon the food we purchase and eat in light of the dreams and values we pursue throughout the year.”

Taken from Simply in Season.  Recipes that celebrate fresh, local food in the spirit of More-with-Less, by Mary Beth Lind and Cathleen Hockman-Wert

Peace,

Jody Lathwell, market manager

Tremont Farmers’ Market is pleased to announce our debut winter/indoor market!

Welcome in the holiday season with this great group of vendors!

The folks at Pilgrim Church have welcomed the market, and we are very thankful!

Pilgrim Church is located at 2592 W.14th Street.

Market will run from 4-7PM on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009.

Here is some of what you will find at the market:

MUSICAL GUEST! Xe La, winner of the 2009 Kent State Folk Festival Talent Contest!  After seeing Xe La perform on the Kent State, I’m thrilled he’ll be playing his music for us!

Red Basket Farm:

…is still rockin’ and rollin’ with the veggies!  Floyd Davis will be bringing potatoes, onions, winter squashes (such as acorn and butternut), celery, leaf lettuce, mustard and collard greens, romaine lettuces, endives and escarole, brussel sprouts and maple syrup!  Very likely he will also have radishes, spinach, and carrots.

Hickory Acres:

Will be bringing chicken, beef and pork items from animals raised on grass, as well as eggs from free-range chickens.  By special order they have geese available; contact Bettie and Steve Walter at order@hickoryacres.net

KC Coffee:

Home-roasted beans!  From their kitchen to yours, KC Coffee offers a wonderful assortment of coffee bean blends.  More info on their website: www.kccoffeeco.com

Ms. Julie’s Kitchen:

Julie will have a great selection of baked goods to choose from:

Sweet Potatoes Pies, Blueberry and Apple Cinnamon Waffles; Zucchini, Pumpkin and Apple Cinnamon Breads; 7-Grain Bread, Cranberry Walnut Bread; Maple Nut Granola; Caramel Nut Pretzels and Garden Hemp Flax Crackers

Blaze Gourmet:

From Cowboy George: “The rebranding effort of pZazz! to Blaze gourmet has begun!

Therefore, as Blaze Gourmet, I will be bringing Affordable Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes loaded with delicious Hot Sauces, Spicy Salsas, Fruit Salsa, Dry Rubs and Wood Grilling Chips.  Patrons will also be able to enter a drawing for a Free Holiday gift basket.”

Kevin Noon:

Knife sharpener extraordinaire will be at your service for all your sharpening needs.  Never a dull moment!

Redozo Farm:

Will have sprouts, greens and a selection of baked goods.

SuzannieHandknits:

Suzanne’s fingers have been working hard!  She’ll bring lots of great gift items including her beaded jewelry and a great selection of knitted goods, ranging from under $5 and up!

Second Time Design:

Nicole McGee can turn trash into art!  She finds stuff that other folks don’t find useful, and viola! magic, there’s a beautiful piece of artwork.

Trish Supples:

Trish Supples works with found objects and recycled materials to create a variety of wall art, photo frames and other decorative objects (including those with a holiday theme).

Gaelic Imports:

New to TFM! but they’ve been making great food for some time now.  Here’s a list of possible dinner items for you!

Sheperd pies, both individual and family size, Scottish meat pies, breakfast pies, sausage rolls, vegetable pasties, chicken pasties, roast beef pasties, Irish soda bread, Irish soda bread scones, shortbread, fern cakes and bakewell tarts.

Ohio Farm Direct:

Stock up on your favorite cheeses!  OFD makes its cheeses from happy cows, grass raised and organic!  The wonderful taste speaks for itself.

t. by Sarah:

Sarah will be bringing her wonderful teas, as well as a selection of tea themed gift baskets!

Plant Kingdom Bakery:

From Jeremy:  “Bakery items – no dairy or trans fat, all vegan. Show you care with a breakfast for the week bag!, Let the yule tide warm the soul!

Pumpkin spiced currant muffins with hemp and walnuts, choclate chip pecan scones, Ohio Spelt cinnamon raisin cookies, Ohio Jam Cookies, and fair trade cocoa mint cookies.  Hemp energy/protein Bars – all nourishing goodness to draw our strength!

Carob Nutty goodness, nut buttery Berry bars with Ohio jam, and Nutty Apple Maple cinamon bars with Organic Ohio maple syrup. Gluten free seed crackers and fruity seed bars.  Full ingredients list at ww.plantkingfombakery.com

Mom’s Gourmet:

Sally and Mom will be bringing their rubs and sauces, made with love and creativity that add that wonderful flare to a meal!   More info: www.momsgourmet.net

We proudly accept EBT cards.

Limited parking lot spaces available.  There’s a lot across the street from the church and lots of on street parking.

I wish you a very peaceful holiday season.  Please take a moment to appreciate all the good people we have in our lives.

Jody Lathwell, market manager