Harvard Farmers Market

image from cape cod lavender farm

Well, my lavender bushes have decided to expand for another year, which I celebrate in this month of May along with emerging white and yellow irises alongside the exploding greenery of creeping vines and summer blooming bushes. Years ago, I read up before planting the lavender on a sunny dry hillside, to insure they would survive. Indeed, as they are heat tolerant and require little maintenance, they’ve thrived. It also turns out that the authenticity of lavender is sometimes debated, with certain circles distinguishing the plant into two large categories, one as ‘fake’ lavender, the other the real McCoy. Wow, who would have thought? To look at the ‘fake’ versions that one can purchase here in New England—the Hidcote, the Munstead, the Vera (English lavenders)–it’s nearly impossible to discern from the real deal, which hails originally from Southern Europe and North Africa.

Why then this distinction and, like a Champagne from Champagne, is there a requirement that the lavendula hail from a certain place? So even plants are now discriminating and at arms length?

Actually the native plant, lavandula and its associated cultivars, spread and co-mingled over time, thus developing into even more varieties. One, the ‘lavendin’ species, is used for most commercial sales because its flowers are bigger and plants easier to harvest. In general however, the use of the umbrella term lavender covers these distinctions. So there you go, no need to panic. Whatever lavender you grow, consider it the real deal and take pleasure in the airy fleeting aroma that is thankfully so versatile and robust that you don’t need to pay a small fortune for a trip to the south of France at just the right week in Spring, or setout on a quest for expensive seeds from catalogs.

P.S. If you’re near Harwich on Cape Cod this summer, don’t miss the wonderful Cape Cod Lavender Farm with gardens to stroll in and a gift shop (also online) with everything lavender.

Wild strawberries taken by Philip Jägenstedt in Stora Hultrum, Sweden.

In France, they’re called ‘frais du bois’, and a strain in Italian is called ‘fragola di bosco’ , both phrases roughly translate to ‘strawberry of the woods’.  In English, we call them Alpine strawberries, those dime-sized berries often found growing wild in wooded and shady areas.   Their sublime flavors are very unlike traditional larger-sized strawberries, and you can cultivate them here in New England if you know what you’re doing!  In the dead of winter 2009, I planted hundreds of miniscule fragola seeds in tiny pots to watch them grow with gusto from my windowsill.  The idea was to eventually transplant these lovely green leafy shoots, some already showing tiny white flowers, to hillsides and bare spots around my garden areas.  But once outdoors, most of them fell victim to cold snaps, rain, incorrect fertilization, not enough sun, you name it.  I was happy to at least guard a dozen or so stalwart plants here and there.  By fall, some of these survivors had even born fruit.

Nonetheless, the berries that did produce offered a taste that’s difficult to describe other than perhaps how one describes an oyster fresh from the sea as tasting, well, like the sea.  The berries tasted like the earth, like the woods, like a bittersweet brush of spring rain and, because they were so tiny, the taste lingered barely, at least until I pulled at another one to pop in my mouth.  Needless to say, my lackluster produce did not extend beyond these hand to mouth tastings, and my recipes for Italian berry liqueur, iced drinks, and sorbets had to be temporarily shelved.

This is why, during a recent warm spell, I was thrilled to find my fragolas pushing forth along with daffodils and hyacinths, upwards and outwards to a deep shade of green that could only mean they are ready to commence another season, this time perhaps with the idea of spreading a bit across those empty hillside spaces, offering up a late spring production, and even maybe a second one in fall!  This picture to reminds me not to give up.  These little guys didn’t so why should I?  These delectable perennials can be had at some local garden stores, or from a friend who may allow you a few cuttings, or by ordering on the Internet.  Recipes abound on the Internet, but one of the best ways to delight in their flavor is to enjoy them straight from the garden.

My 7th grade daughter had to give a report on Thailand this week in Social Studies class, and part of her report included a special kind of farmers’ market found in Thailand….a floating market!  Vendors arrive in boats filled to the brim with produce, flowers, spices and more.  From their boats they trade, barter and sell to other traders.  I thought the idea was great, and I immediately thought of Harvard’s pristine Bare Hill Pond.  Hmmm…..  I wonder if  the summer pond crowd would dig the idea of canoes filled with blueberries and tomatoes…

Thanks to pixdaus.com for these beautiful images taken by volker.

Damnoen Saduak is a famous floating market in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

A heartfelt thank you to all who came to support the Harvard Farmers’ Market scavenger hunt this past Saturday…the hunters, volunteers, donors, the after-party-goers, the Ayer Billiard’s Cafe, the Cottage Restaurant, our vendors, and Harvard’s own rockin’ band Pandemonium.  Special thanks to the Cullinan, Sklar, Kelley, Brockmann and Sennott families for all your hard work!  Due to your participation, Harvard and our surrounding communities can proudly say we are working our hardest to support small family farms and local food producers, to be mindful of our limited resources, and to bring fresh nutritious food to our families.

Our fundraiser was a great step towards ensuring a successful upcoming Market season!  All of the proceeds go directly to the operations of the HFM and include scholarships to help local farmers, families in need, insurance, local advertising and more.  It does take a village to feed a village, so if you weren’t able to make it to the festivities but would like to contribute in some way, please click the paypal icon on our website OR a donation can also be mailed to P.O. Box 317, Harvard MA 01451.  If you would like to join this FUN organization, let us know…helping hands are always needed, and at the very least, it’s worth joining for the delicious local food we have at every meeting!

Be on the lookout over the next few weeks for puzzle answers and more fabulous pictures.  Also make sure you become a Friend of The Harvard Farmers’ Market on Facebook for a full slide show of our hilarious teams.  Good times, good times…   Already can’t wait to start planning next year’s adventure…..

HI Everyone!

Spring has sprung and the faire maidens of the market have been busy planning our Second Annual Harvard Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, May 1st, 2010
Time: 4:00pm registration – Hunt starts at 4:30pm -sharp!
Place: Starting and Ending at Billiards Cafe on Main Street in Ayer, MA.

Details:  Hunt ends as 8:00 at followed by judging, food, give-aways, and music provided by local musicians, Pandemonium.

Registration:  Download your team registration form Here:

Click here to download your form.

Return it by April 28th for pre-registration 25$/pp.  After the 28th and up until the guns go off..$30/pp.

We look forward to seeing you there and challenging you with our new and improved (and even trickier) May Faire inspired hunt!

Peace, Love, and Good Food,
Jen, Rochelle, Lisa and Davida