Plymouth-MA-farmers-markets Archives |

There is just so very much, that I love about this time of the year. One of those things for sure, is going to the farmer’s markets! We have them at a few different locations here in our hometown of Plymouth (MA), and they run from June through October, on Thursdays and Saturdays of every week. One of the original ones has made a new home starting this year, at the Plimoth Plantation.

To begin with, it matters to our family, to support our local farmers and the small business people in our community. We are small business people ourselves, and knowing these vendors have families they are trying to support just like we are, makes us truly appreciate all they are trying to do. Though our specific businesses may be different, we understand the hard work involved in marketing one’s self, producing high quality work, feeling love for what you create, and having little dreams for the success of it all.

And what’s not to love, about fresh and locally grown organic food, and handmade goods anyway?

It’s just enjoyable to walk around with my kids and see what freshness is available week to week, to purchase and bring home for some good old fashioned home cooked, healthy meals. There is always great music to listen to as we stroll around, some handmade goods here and there to check out, and tasty samples offered from various vendors, hoping you’ll buy from them. We love every bit of all of it.

Then for me, is also the opportunity to just have fun, photographing all of the beauty and interest that farmers’ markets display. I often have with me my classic Canon 5D, with my 24-70 mm 1:2.8 L lens. Just loving taking photos of everything and anything, is one of the things that has encouraged me to keep on blogging! It’s an outlet to share some of my favorite photos I’ve taken, for no reason or need for them, other than the joy it brings me just taking them. And so here in this post, is some I took from our last couple of farmers’ market trips. I like to think (and sure hope!), that our readers enjoy the photos of posts as much a I do, when visiting other blogs. Whether it be for the sake of being interested in photography, or for a sense of visualization to the stories being shared.

A dozen organic eggs. Have I told you I want chickens, this week?

I want chickens. This week.

This farmers’ big white truck was parked right behind his stand on the street there. It was the perfect backdrop for my shot.

But I did buy some produce from him, such as corn on the cob, the dozen eggs . . . . . .

. . . . . . and a quart of these blueberries.

How pretty are these mixed arrangements?

A pink cosmo.
Honestly, I think this shot was taken in my own garden, in between farmers’ market trips. But I knew you woudn’t know the difference.

Especially if I’m not even sure.

I can’t tell you how much fresh, locally grown corn on the cob we eat in the summer. We lo-oooove it. And, we’ve been cooking it a whole new and easy way, lately!

I’m going to share that with you all just how, very soon, in an upcoming post.

Sunflowers. Gorgeousness.

I really wanted to buy some. But it wasn’t a need, it was a want. And I need to not buy things we don’t need, right now. Even though I want to.

Olivia is growing a great big tall one in her garden right now anyway. We can’t wait until it blooms.

This young girl, is a talented violinist. Her mom and dad are back-up musicians for her. Her dad was playing guitar, and her mom was playing some kind of drum thing, I believe. The kids and I talked to her for awhile. She goes to college right near where I grew up, and comes home on weekends. Watching her made my son, who plays piano, want to play violin now too.

This guy was firing pizza, and selling it to buyers right there on the green. I bet you anything, he and his family made this clay oven. I thought it was pretty cool to be making pizza right there. Also a little crazy, for the hottest of days.

Homemade beeswax candles. *Matches included!

; ) I don’t know why I thought that was kind of funny marketing.

Edamame.

No, it’s not the same as sugar snap peas, or snow peas.

Carrots.

I’ve never eaten a carrot, that wasn’t orange. Have you? Do they taste the same?

This guy . . . . . this guy’s name is Ray Papile. He has such a great sound, such a great style about him, he sings a great choice of songs, and I just love his voice. Easy listening, for sure. Made me wish I brought a blanket, and a big bottle of wine. I was driving one of my boys crazy, because I was so lost in his music as we strolled around, and I guess I kept saying out loud, “Oh my gosh, I love this guy!” I was having a hard time leaving the market when we were done, because of Ray, here. Can’t wait to here him again. Think I’ll be sure to have that blanket, and bottle of wine next time. Do you think the other market visitors would mind walking around me much?

Yup, farmers’ markets just ring my bell, but good. OH! That’s another thing I love about these markets! They open with the ring of a cowbell! Anyway, it must be the real country girl in me. The one who loves country fairs, and such. I grew up around a lot of this kind of thing. I have so many flash memories of being a kid and running around barefoot at fiddle and banjo, bluegrass kind of festivals. Farmers’ Markets have that kind of feel to me, when there there is some good music playing too. There’s just something about them, that makes me feel right at home.

Thanks for swinging by, listening to me chat, and looking at my photos. It’s nice to have someone to show them to, at least.

Are there any farmers’ markets in your neck of the woods? Do you go to them much, and what are your favorite things to pick up? I’d love to hear all about what yours are like, and what you love most about them.

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One of the very best things about the summer and early autumn months around here, to us, are the Farmers Markets that are held in town, down near the waterfront, twice a week!

With local growers who set up their stands, selling their abundance of farm fresh fruits and vegetables, and crafters with their beautiful and unique goods not often seen in stores, it’s the perfect place to be on a Saturday morning. With a camera in one hand, and the hand of your husband in your other hand, who has a wallet in his back pocket, that hold’s a little cash-you can’t help but love every second. The kids love going just as much, not only to walk around, but to express their hopes that we might pick up some of their favorite things. It also brings me joy, to buy healthy and delicious foods, that our kids are really looking forward to eating! We are blessed in that they truly love fruits and vegetables of all kinds.

The colors, the scents of ‘just-picked’, and the endless possibilities of some grand planned meals for the week!

We long for these seasons the rest of the year, when we are faced with less than appetizing choices of produce at our local grocers, that are not as colorful, not as tasty, and certainly not as fresh. The Farmers Markets always inspire me to cook some really great meals for my family, with all fresh ingredients–or to just kick back barefoot on the deck with them, and have some great big slices of watermelon that afternoon!

On the way down the walkway towards the market, as we walked from the van, the sweetest music on the air grew louder. Stepping onto the court green where the market is held, I was expecting recorded music being played. But it was actually this performing duo, called The Harper and the Minstrel. The style of music is not what I normally listen to, but I really did enjoy it while walking around the market!

They are both obviously very musically gifted, playing multiple instruments. You can hear some sample of their music here. They seem to have several cd’s out as well, that are available at the links above.

Walter’s Specialty Foods is one of our favorite stands! Selling all kinds of hot pepper sauces, BBQ sauces, rubs, jams, jellies and more, we want to buy and try it all!! This guy is always behind his stand, with a quiet and welcoming smile that pulls you over there to his stand, as much as what he’s selling does!

Mr. Philemon Walters makes all of his goods himself, and is always helpful in suggesting various ways to prepare meat using his rubs and sauces, or different ways to enjoy his jellies and jams, if you just ask.

We bought 3 items from him, even though we wanted one of everything else too. But we know where to find him, about twice a week. ; ) Plus, he lives and makes his products in the town right next to ours, so we can always get more of his good stuff. Visit Walter’s Specialty Foods web site to get a better look at what other goods he is selling here. We’ll be sharing which of his specialties we picked up from him, coming up in a great cooking post in Vittles very soon. We can tell you, the items we bought at this stand had most everything to do with the perfect summer evening dinner we just had—and I took photos. ; ) It was all-SO-good!

I have to admit…going to the Farmers Markets, to take photos, is half the excitement for me. But to leave there also, with a bag or 2 of fresh locally grown goods, or creations by a local, and purchased at such reasonable prices…..well, lets just say I’m a happy camper. Of course, with our own gardens going this year, we don’t need to pick up as much in the way of vegetables. But the fresh corn alone is worth the trip! Boy do we love fresh local corn in the summer. There’s nothing like it! But if they didn’t have corn, I’d still go to take photos.

Who might this lad be? Living in Plymouth, we see frontier people like this often enough that we hardly look twice. We don’t stare, with a puzzled expression, like that little boy in the background there in the blue short. lol. I think he’s so cute, and chuckled when I noticed him in my photo. I guess he’s not used to seeing this yet.

There was a crafter there today with some very interesting furniture pieces made of sticks, limbs and large pieces of rough wood. Very ‘unfinished’ and rustic….which I love. I spotted this little chair right away, and knew it would be great for some of my child portrait work! I’m hoping I’ll be able to get it, or something like it, at some point soon. But today wasn’t the day.

I grabbed a card, and it turns out they have a simple web site called Rustica, that shows some of this woman’s other creative wood pieces. The artist’s name is Susan Grose Rioff, and she donates all of her proceeds made from her furniture sales to help the Boston Minstrel Company, which sings in Boston area homeless shelters and prisons. That’s obviously another wonderful passion of hers.

I saw a piece on the site that would make a lovely gardener’s table near my gardens! There was also these pieces below at the market that I thought were really nice too:

The Farmers Markets are just a happy place to be.

These photos are dedicated to my good fellow-photographer friend, Gina, who was as excited to see my photos, that I took at The Farmers Market this morning, as I was to take them! May they inspire her to lug around her camera, a little more often. : )

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