What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Maybe it will be warm and sunny enough for you to get out and work in the garden, or take a hike, or just enjoy the day. But we hope that somewhere along the way, you'll stop by Local Roots and stock up for your weekend meals. New things are coming into the market all the time!

If you stop in Saturday around lunch time, you'll enjoy two special treats:

--From 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Betsy Anderson will demonstrate how to make a delicious lamb stew. It's the perfect meat dish to welcome spring -- try it and see!
--From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Susan English will provide familiar and favorite tunes as she strolls around the market with her accordion. We think it gives the market an Old-World flair, and Susan will be happy to play your favorite tune for you!

If you're interested in learning more about local foods or want to swap recipes and ideas with other local-foods lovers, join us at a table up front around 1:00 PM for this month's Eat At Home discussion.

And don't forget, we are now open on Fridays, too, from noon until 7:00 PM. Stop by on your way home from work to pick up a loaf of bread, some milk, and maybe some fresh produce and meat!

Welcome Spring!

Saturday we celebrate the first day of Spring, and it hasn’t come soon enough! Stop by Local Roots this weekend for your first taste of spring. Whether Spring tastes to you like fresh greens, some locally-raised lamb, delicious herbed cheeses, or tasty cookies, we’ll have something to wake up your taste buds!

Expanded Hours Fridays from Noon to 7 PM

Our doors are now open Fridays from noon to 7 PM, so stop by and pick up some goodies for the weekend! (Please note that many producers will still bring their products in later on Friday or Saturday morning, so it may be a while until the store is fully “stocked” on Friday; stop by after work anyway!)

What’s Cookin’?

The demonstration kitchen will be busy Saturday morning, so stop by and try something new!

9-11 AM: Lynn McGinnis from Weedy Ways will bake her gluten-free goodies and be available for questions on living gluten-free.

11:30 AM-1 PM: Elizabeth Geiser will offer a cooking demo for kids. Bring your young ones and introduce them to the fun of cooking!

We’ll also have guitar music by Morgan Quinn to liven the shopping atmosphere from 10 AM to noon. Come in, grab a cup of locally-roasted coffee and a delicious treat from the bakery case, and enjoy the music!

Ready to Green Up Your Thumb?

Don’t forget, our Square Foot Gardening workshop will take place this Saturday (the 20^th) from 1 PM to 2:30 PM. You can get all the production of a traditional row garden in just 20% of the space, with only 2% of the work and no weeds. Master Gardener Cassie Holderman D’Aula has trained directly with the author and creator of Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew, and in this class she will cover the ten basics of the method. It’s so easy, you’ll be able to get started right away!

We still have places available in the class. The cost is $5 for Local Roots members and $10 for non-members, and the class will take place in the meeting room at the market.

Get Your Fresh Food Fix With a Couple of Clicks

Members, have you used the online order system? If not, you’re missing the chance to order ahead on almost 300 different items, from fresh produce to select cuts of meat to specialty pastries and more, some of which are only available online. If you think you’re too busy to spend time shopping at Local Roots, shop online and make your trip quick, easy, and efficient. The next order cycle begins on Sunday.

Volunteers Needed!

We’re having a volunteer day on Tuesday, March 23 from 10 AM to 4 PM. We still have much to do to spruce up the market. Stop by next Tuesday to help Jessica clean, make t-shirts, and more!

Get a Breath of Fresh Air!

The weather this week has been telling us that spring is, indeed, on its way -- isn't that great? And if you have any further doubts, stop in at Local Roots this Saturday.

If the online order system is any indication, more farmers will have fresh spring greens such as spinach and salad mix available for sale. Add a little local cheese, some minced green onions, a slice of wholesome bread on the side -- welcome spring with an early salad!

And if that's not enough of an idea to get you into the kitchen, we have two tasty cooking demonstrations on Saturday:

9-11 AM: Karen Geiser (of Karen's Garden Delights) will show you how to make yogurt and soft herb cheese with Hartzler Family Dairy milk. The yogurt features Schmidt Family Farms' raspberry honey, and the cheese will include Adonai Acres' dried herbs and be served on toasted Desem bread from Valley Grass Bakery. How can you resist?

11:30 AM-1:30 PM: Dawn McLaughlin (of In the Garden) will offer samples of a savory sweet potato and sausage skillet dish using her own bulk sausage. Save room for this at lunchtime, and grab a roll from the bakery case to go with it.

You never know what we'll be cooking up this spring at Local Roots!

More on Organic Gardening

Our gardening workshop series continues this week!

On Thursday, March 11, at 7 PM in the Local Roots Market building, local farmer Monica Bongue (of Muddy Fork Farm) will present part two of her discussion of organic gardening techniques. Participants from the first session said the ideas were very helpful in their own gardening planning this year.

If you didn't attend part one, don't worry! Come anyway and pick up plenty of tips to make your organic garden even better.

Cost for the program is $2 for Local Roots members and $4 for non-members.

Get growing with Local Roots!