Stop and Smell the Flowers | February 18, 2019

Fresh & Local:

Stop and Smell the Flowers

Our recent trek to the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference in Little Rock was inspirational. We learned about the farm bill and food policy; Farm to School; racial equity, including black land, liberation, and power; and the future of farmers markets. We also took a moment to talk about self-care, what this looks like on a farm, and the real people behind these small businesses. We know the farms, but what about the farmers, fishers, and bakers? Over the next weeks we will give you a peek into the lives of the people who spend some of their work hours at CCFM. Whether it be their preferred choice of relaxation, mid-week motivation, or favorite movie, we hope you can relate and grow a little closer. We invite you to slow down, stop and smell the flowers…

#Selfcare is important whether you are behind a desk or in a field! Seldom do we talk about it, but it is very important to our well-being. So what is this “self-care”? Well, our program manager Caryn says setting healthy boundaries for herself and knowing when to say no to things that aren’t productive or beneficial to her is self-care. She also swears by rubbing honey all over her face a couple times a week and sleeping on silk pillowcases. 🍯 💤

If you ask Jonathan from Amorphous Gardens, he says, “I do the work I love with the people I love the most. I work until I am tired and then I rest. I do the work that needs to be done each day and then I stop.” He says self-care is passive, and believes this is how everyone should live their lives. This is why he dropped everything in his hometown of Pittsburgh, moved to Mississippi, and started a family on a farm. How do you define self-care? Next time you are at the market, just take it all in. And buy some honey.

Picks of the Week:

What’s Good?

The Crescent City Farmers market app is a great tool to help you plan and budget for your weekly meals. Place an order from Our Family Farm for your favorite cut of lamb, goat or beef, and pair with their hydroponic lettuce for a delicious side salad. Find Our Family Farm at our Thursday market in Mid-City, Friday market in Bucktown, and Saturday market Downtown. Download the app on your Android or Apple device, browse items, and purchase in advance for quick and easy pick-up at your choice of market. And don’t forget to use coupon code “FIRSTORDER” for 25% off your first purchase!

Raining Cats and Dogs

What’s the deal with this weather, y’all? It has been especially wet these days. Lots of rain means harvesting delays, seedling saturation, and wash outs. Not to mention the strong wind adding difficulty to trawling and goat wrangling. Inclement weather can be difficult for fishers, farmers, ranchers, and bakers all around. If you aren’t seeing your favorite vendor at market it isn’t because they don’t want to be there -- trust us, they do! Don’t let that stop you from coming out to market though; the veggies need to be picked and we are rain or shine!

SNAP Update

A few weeks ago we wrote about how the government shutdown was affecting SNAP (food stamps). February benefits were disbursed early in the middle of January, and shoppers had to make sure to budget carefully to offset the challenges of having an unusually large time gap between payments. Now, with the government reopened, Louisiana SNAP recipients should expect to receive their March benefits early. You can read more about SNAP and the impact of the government shutdown here. And remember: CCFM matches food stamp dollars through our Market Match program, up to $20 per day. Bring your EBT card to the welcome tent at any CCFM location to double your purchasing power!

Vendor of the Week:

Pickled NOLA

Kim and Jeremy, the dynamic duo behind Pickled NOLA, first bonded over the garden they started while working for a non-profit in Central City back in 2010. Over the next few years they honed their gardening skills together, and soon grew too many cucumbers to keep up with. And so began their adventures in pickling. In addition to cucumbers, Kim and Jeremy pickle local produce like carrots, cauliflower, beets, and tons more sourced from other vendors at CCFM. You can find Pickled NOLA LLC, “A Homemade Pickling Company” at our Rivertown, Bucktown, and Bywater markets, and on the CCFM app.

Tuesday’s Green Plate Special:

Paella NOLA

Recognize these guys from our new Friday Bucktown market? Paella NOLA will be heating things up at the GPS tent at the Tuesday market throughout February for… PAELLA! Paella is a traditional rice dish from the Valencia region of Spain. With the freshest New Orleans seafood and other local ingredients, Jacob and his team will bring this dish to life every Tuesday for your brunch, lunch, and dinner needs. Vegetarian? No prob. Paella NOLA is making a special veg pan just for the GPS. Come hungry.

Recipe of the Week:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

This simple recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts is a healthy and delicious side for any meal. Local honey is the secret ingredient that will make these Brussels sprouts stand out! Purchase honey from Powers Beekeepers, Blue Tara, Burg’s Bees, or Country Girls, and pick up Brussels sprouts from Monica’s, available at our Tuesday Uptown, Thursday Mid-City, or Saturday Downtown locations.

What’s your favorite dish to make after visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market? Share your recipes with us on Instagram or Facebook or even Twitter and it might be featured in our weekly newsletter!