Oh, My! If you have any doubts that one can eat local year round in NH, you would not, if you went to the first 2009 Winter Market hosted by Wentworth Greenhouse and coordinated by the amazing Seacoast Eat Local Group!
The location was fabulous! Being in the greenhouse was lovely, with the daylight shining in, and while today was not cold, it will get cold and being inside, with the sunlight will be fabulous! The greenhouses were beautiful. Mom and I wandered around looking at herbs and lemon trees...I really want a lemon tree, and they had one with full fruit on it. So cool. They had one whole section decorated for Christmas, which has me excited to get started with that, myself! The location was perfect, the vendors totally outdid themselves, and the experience was delightful in every way!
My haul, and believe me I left a lot behind...
Carrots, Beets, Cauliflower and Broccoli from Farmer Dave's (Dracut MA, and I think might be the farm my friend Ellen frequents from her home near Nashua!)
Cream Yay!! The market being in Rollinsford, allows Brookford Farm to sell their raw milk products! I got some cream to make some Maple Ice Cream for Mini, who has been requesting some lately. Husband already stocked up on our normal milk, yogurt purchases at the farm on Wednesday.
Fingerling Potatoes and Midnight Black Turtle Beans from the lovely Josh and Jean at Meadow's Mirth. They are selling Black Beans on a pre-order basis, so if you want some, contact them before the next market to see what they have available...oh and tell them I sent you, just because that would be cool.
Sweet Potatoes from Ramsbotham Riverview Farm.
Sweet Italian Elk Sausage from Velvet Pastures in Lee.
Sausage, Hot Dogs and Bacon from Popper's Sausage Kitchen. All handmade in Dover, and contain local ingredients!
Garlic seeds from Stone Wall Farm/Osprey Cove Organic Farm
Salad Greens and Parsley from Back River Farm
Baby Spinach Greens Touching Earth Farm
Rosemary from Wake Robin Farm
Apple Cider Syrup from Apple Annie, a low spray apple orchard in Brentwood. The syrup is highly concentrated cider that can be used instead of syrup on breakfast items, or in recipes.
Maple Butter and Maple Walnuts from SugarMomma
The Seacoast Eat Local group had a table to bring some local regional items that aren't available at the market. Most of the items were from Maine, including the Sunflower oil that was grown AND cold pressed in Maine, Smoked Apple Salt from the Maine Salt Company, and some Apple Cider Vinegar, also from Maine. They had several great books for sale, which, I will check out a bit more next market. I'm not in hibernation/reading mode yet, but the time is soon!
Then there was a little on site snacking of a Chai from White Heron Tea and a fabulous cinnamon roll from 45 Street Market and Bakery.
The last of the cider apples have found there way into the press. Mom, Dad and I finished them off tonight, which started with cider pressing at dusk, and turned into cider pressing in dark, but it was fun, went smoothly, and I now have another 2 gallons of fabulous cider to drink.
With all that great food, I must share with you what we had for dinner. Cod from our CSF pick up yesterday, that was simply broiled with a little of the smoky apple salt and pepper. Fingerling potatoes, pan fried in butter, with fresh rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic. Steamed Broccoli and some very fresh apple cider. Yes, it was delicious!
A knitting update forthcoming...tomorrow.
The market was definitely terrific, I agree - I'm already looking forward to the next one!! :)
Posted by: Colleen | November 22, 2009 at 08:59 PM
Amazing day for everyone involved as well! Do check out Borealis Breads next time at Wentworth — selling Maine-grown & milled whole wheat flour and rolled oats!
Posted by: Debra | November 23, 2009 at 08:42 AM
I've enjoyed reading your blog and following some of your links, thank you. I am particularly interested to know about the CSF you belong to. I am desperately seeking one here...would you let me know? thanks, desperately seeking CSF Susan
Posted by: Susan Johnson | November 28, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Thank you Susan! I'm glad you like my ramblings. I pick up the fish at Lasting Legacy Farm in Barrington (http://llfarm.net/), and it comes from Eastman Fish Market (http://eastmansfish.com/). They are also one of the great Vendors at the Seacoast Eat Local Markets. Fish is seasonal, and the CSF runs until the end of December, at which point, I've heard talk of a shellfish CSF for late winter, early spring.
Posted by: Amy Ouellette | November 28, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Oh! Wow, local flour and oats, I'm there. Thank you for the heads up!
Posted by: Amy Ouellette | November 28, 2009 at 10:32 AM