Welcome back!

The time has finally arrived to enjoy fresh spring produce, baked goods and all of your other seasonal favorites from the Farmers Market. Please join us this Saturday, June 13th from 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M as we begin our third season. The dry weather has slowed the growing season a bit, but the much needed rainfall last weekend has helped. With the upcoming warm weather the growing season should be back on track very soon!

This weekend you can expect to see lettuce, spinach, snap peas, onions, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb and asparagus as well as other Market favorites including baked goods, honey, maple syrup and coffee. Check out our Vendor List to find your favorites; also be sure to look at the Vendor Map as we have rearranged the Market a bit from last year.

Master Gardeners will be joining us from 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. this Saturday. You will be able to find them at the City Tent. Come enjoy some music too. Steve West will be performing from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

farmers parking map

Please note the map and designated parking areas. The East Lot of Civic Plaza where the Market is held has handicapped parking only. There is plenty of free parking on the West Side of Civic Plaza; walk around the building and enjoy the fresh air or cut through the lobby and see what's new inside the Center for the Arts. There is also parking across the street at Public Works off of James Ave.

Remember our new Market hours are 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.; for safety and fairness there is NO shopping before 8:00 A.M. Also, for environmental health reasons, pets are not allowed in the Market.

If you are interested in volunteering to help track attendance at the Market we can use your help! For more information, please contact Jill Murphy at 952.563.8889 or Keri Lahl at farmersmarket@ci.bloomington.mn.us. We can also use your help spreading the word about the Market. If you have a place to post a sign about the Bloomington Farmers Market (church, workplace, coffee shop, etc.) you can either print the poster yourself or pick one up at the City Tent.

Meet the Vendor - Chase Brook Natural Meats

chase_brook_natural We are delighted to welcome and introduce Chase Brook Natural Meats to the Bloomington Farmers Market. Chase Brook will be bringing their naturally grown chicken, pork and beef as well as eggs, butter, milk, cream and cheese. Initially the dairy products will need to be pre-ordered. For example you can place your order on Saturday, June 13th and then pick up your dairy items at the Market on Saturday, June 20th.

Jeff and Jill have been farming for about 10 years in Milaca, just south of Mille Lacs Lake. A software writer by trade, Jeff and his wife Jill decided to take up farming just to feed their own family and utilize some of the space at the old dairy farm where they live. After discovering just how good home raised meat is (fresh air, sunshine, natural feeds), they decided it was time to share it with others. They started selling their products at local Farmers Markets four years ago.

You may have seen their slogan "Our animals are vegetarians so you don't have to be"! Chase Brook firmly believes animals should be allowed to graze on open pastures for

their own food whenever possible. When they do give their animals supplemental food, it comes only from plant based feeds such as grass, oats and corn. They do not use antibiotics or growth hormones. The results are better quality meat with more flavor and better texture.

Jeff and Jill have 120 acres and use farming practices which help protect the environment. 60 acres are used as pasture for the animals and on the other 60 acres they have planted more than 4,000 trees. They use no pesticides or herbicides, practice composting and rotational grazing.

Be sure to stop by and check out their full line of products, Jeff's favorites are the pork chops! To learn more you can also check out their website www.chasebrooknatural.com they are located on the North West side of the Market.

Spring Green Dip with Early Vegetables - Terese Allen, Madison Food writer

1/4 c. each whole fresh dill, mint & cilantro leaves
1 c. no-fat cottage cheese
1/3 c. plain yogurt
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 green onion, coarsely chopped
freshly ground black pepper
blanched asparagus spears
blanched baby carrots
raw or blanched sugar snap peas
thin slices of kohlrabi
baby zucchini, cut lengthwise into wedges
whole green onions
radishes

Blend herbs, cottage cheese, yogurt and lemon juice in food processor until smooth as possible. Add chopped green onion and pepper to taste; blend a few seconds longer. Arrange vegetables on a platter. Cover dip and vegetables with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve. Makes 1 1/4 cups dip.

We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Best regards,

Keri Lahl

Market Coordinator


	*Issue # 2 - June 13, 2009*
In this issue Welcome back! Meet the Vendor - Chase Brook Natural Meats Spring Green Dip with Early Vegetables - Terese Allen, Madison Food writer To learn more Archived Farmers Market newsletters E-Subscribe Vendor List Vendor Location Map Music Calendar Master Gardener Calendar Market Poster Parking Map	Welcome back! The time has finally arrived to enjoy fresh spring produce, baked goods and all of your other seasonal favorites from the Farmers Market. Please join us this Saturday, June 13th from 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M as we begin our third season. The dry weather has slowed the growing season a bit, but the much needed rainfall last weekend has helped. With the upcoming warm weather the growing season should be back on track very soon! This weekend you can expect to see lettuce, spinach, snap peas, onions, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb and asparagus as well as other Market favorites including baked goods, honey, maple syrup and coffee. Check out our Vendor List to find your favorites; also be sure to look at the Vendor Map as we have rearranged the Market a bit from last year. Master Gardeners will be joining us from 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. this Saturday. You will be able to find them at the City Tent. Come enjoy some music too. Steve West will be performing from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Please note the map and designated parking areas. The East Lot of Civic Plaza where the Market is held has handicapped parking only. There is plenty of free parking on the West Side of Civic Plaza; walk around the building and enjoy the fresh air or cut through the lobby and see what's new inside the Center for the Arts. There is also parking across the street at Public Works off of James Ave. Remember our new Market hours are 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.; for safety and fairness there is NO shopping before 8:00 A.M. Also, for environmental health reasons, pets are not allowed in the Market. If you are interested in volunteering to help track attendance at the Market we can use your help! For more information, please contact Jill Murphy at 952.563.8889 or Keri Lahl at farmersmarket@ci.bloomington.mn.us. We can also use your help spreading the word about the Market. If you have a place to post a sign about the Bloomington Farmers Market (church, workplace, coffee shop, etc.) you can either print the poster yourself or pick one up at the City Tent. Meet the Vendor - Chase Brook Natural Meats We are delighted to welcome and introduce Chase Brook Natural Meats to the Bloomington Farmers Market. Chase Brook will be bringing their naturally grown chicken, pork and beef as well as eggs, butter, milk, cream and cheese. Initially the dairy products will need to be pre-ordered. For example you can place your order on Saturday, June 13th and then pick up your dairy items at the Market on Saturday, June 20th. Jeff and Jill have been farming for about 10 years in Milaca, just south of Mille Lacs Lake. A software writer by trade, Jeff and his wife Jill decided to take up farming just to feed their own family and utilize some of the space at the old dairy farm where they live. After discovering just how good home raised meat is (fresh air, sunshine, natural feeds), they decided it was time to share it with others. They started selling their products at local Farmers Markets four years ago. You may have seen their slogan "Our animals are vegetarians so you don't have to be"! Chase Brook firmly believes animals should be allowed to graze on open pastures for their own food whenever possible. When they do give their animals supplemental food, it comes only from plant based feeds such as grass, oats and corn. They do not use antibiotics or growth hormones. The results are better quality meat with more flavor and better texture. Jeff and Jill have 120 acres and use farming practices which help protect the environment. 60 acres are used as pasture for the animals and on the other 60 acres they have planted more than 4,000 trees. They use no pesticides or herbicides, practice composting and rotational grazing. Be sure to stop by and check out their full line of products, Jeff's favorites are the pork chops! To learn more you can also check out their website www.chasebrooknatural.com they are located on the North West side of the Market. Spring Green Dip with Early Vegetables - Terese Allen, Madison Food writer 1/4 c. each whole fresh dill, mint & cilantro leaves 1 c. no-fat cottage cheese 1/3 c. plain yogurt 2 T. fresh lemon juice 1 green onion, coarsely chopped freshly ground black pepper blanched asparagus spears blanched baby carrots raw or blanched sugar snap peas thin slices of kohlrabi baby zucchini, cut lengthwise into wedges whole green onions radishes Blend herbs, cottage cheese, yogurt and lemon juice in food processor until smooth as possible. Add chopped green onion and pepper to taste; blend a few seconds longer. Arrange vegetables on a platter. Cover dip and vegetables with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve. Makes 1 1/4 cups dip. We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday! Best regards, Keri Lahl Market Coordinator

In this issue

To learn more

Welcome back!

Meet the Vendor - Chase Brook Natural Meats

Spring Green Dip with Early Vegetables - Terese Allen, Madison Food writer