Belmont Farmers' Market Weekly Email newsletter for July 24th, 2008
*There's a recipe featuring tea in anticipation of our August T-month
celebration at the end of this message!

Website: Check www.belmontfarmersmarket.org site for updates and
links to vendors, our calendar of events, and new photos. Coming soon
is the Late Summer edition of our print publication Roots and Sprouts.

Weather: There is another chance of thunderstorms for tomorrow, but
we'll just have to see what the skies present us with!
Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the morning...then numerous
showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Very humid, chance of rain
60%.

Market Managers: This week will once again be Vicky and Suzanne. You
can find them at the blue information tent. We'd like to extend our
appreciation for all the market managers, and to invite any of you who
may be interested to ask at the tent or write back to this message for
further information about how you too can volunteer!

Special Guest at the Market: Ilene Bezahler, editor and publisher of
Edible Boston plans to be at BFM tomorrow to talk with shoppers and
vendors. She will also be distributing copies of the summer edition of
a Edible Boston, a beautifully produced magazine that celebrates the
abundance of local foods, season by season. This issue is of
particular local interest to us at BFM because it highlights one of
our vendors, The Farm School, as well as a local store--Sophia's Greek
Pantry at 265 Belmont Street.

Ilene shares the value that we in BFM have-- the importance of knowing
your foods' origins. That is evident in the magazine's features and
also in Ilene's personal life. She serves on the Board of Mass
Farmers Markets, and works hard to promote and support
community farmers markets. Please seek her out if you have feedback on
the magazine or ideas to share!

Vendor news:
Angelato will be returning weekly for the remainder of the season,
weather permitting. You can look forward to a cool and refreshing
treat to top off your market shopping!

Waverly place is featuring a sale on 10" flowering annuals 2 for 10$,
ornamental grasses, perennials, 6" potted herbs, Hardy Hibiscus, and
free potted spruce tree with a $10 order. Please consider showing your
support for this Belmont community business.

The Ooh La La Fudge Company (www.oohlalafudge.com) was not able to
make it last week due to the weather, but will be making an appearance
later in the season.

Also coming soon on August 14th is Belmont's own Amy Wagenfeld of The
Thymely Gardener www.thethymelygardener.com offering Tea(appropriate for August
T-month) soaps, and lotions all handmade and all natural.

Upcoming Events:
At the Market:
Musical Performances
Aug. 7th- Violinists Julia L. and Mirella B.
Aug. 14th- Powers Music School Classical Guitar Trio led by Jay Rosenberg
Aug. 21st- Karen Allendoerfer and her daughter Helena at 4:30 pm
Aug. 28th- The Lockett Family Trio
Sept. 4th- Saxophonist Leslie W.

In the community:
Green Living 101 workshop on how to green your home and life

When: Thursday, 8/14/2008, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Where: Green Roundtable's NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38
Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Downtown Boston

Cost: $10 suggested donation

Description:
This workshop will provide you with the fundamental concepts around
green living, provide you with tools to make a positive environmental
impact in your daily life and become better connected with your
community to continue making a difference. In this workshop you will
learn about the impact your lifestyle has in terms of your home and
home energy use, the food you eat and how your get around.

For More Information: RSVP to Aaron Desatnik at
aaron@... with "Green Living 101" in the subject line
of the email. Please also include your name, phone number (in case of
emergency), and the reason you want to take the class in the body of
the email.

Contests:
Last day to enter in the July Wheels Month drawing!
One of the best features of the Belmont market is its accessibility to
those who come on wheels!

If you come to the market on bike, with the help of a wheelchair or
walker, or if you walk pushing a stroller, you are eligible to enter
the BFM raffle for a fifty dollar gift certificate for the market.
Get your raffle ticket at the BFM blue information tent near the Cross
Street exit, and drop your contact information ticket (one per visit)
into the tomato on the table. You need not be present for the drawing
at the end of the day on July 31, but if you are the lucky winner, you
must redeem your certificate during the 2008 market season.

August T-Month Drawing:
August is the first month of the year to contain the letter T.
The T in August stands for T-shirt and Tote Bag at the Farmers'
Market. If you come to the market wearing a Belmont Farmers' Market
T-shirt or carrying our famous Tomato logo-ed Tote bag, you are
eligible to win our August Drawing.
As with the July drawing you can get your raffle ticket at the BFM
blue information tent near the Cross Street exit, and drop your
contact information ticket (one per visit) into the tomato on the
table. You need not be present for the drawing at the end of the day
on August 31, but if you are the lucky winner, you must redeem your
certificate during the 2008 market season.

Sustainability in the Press:
Kids lead green buying habits
More than half of 6- to 8-year-olds encourage their parents to buy
green products -- with Hispanic children leading other demographics by
a wide margin, a MarketingDaily article reports. Upwards of ¾ of kids
surveyed say they believe in buying recycled products, and older kids
are using their own money to buy organic and environmentally aware
products. (Source gourmetretailer.com)


BELMONT MUNICPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT BMLD has provided shoppers low
energy light bulbs and information about becoming "greener" at home.
These light bulbs contain mercury, so don't just throw them in the
trash. You will find BMLD at BFM every other week for the rest of the
season. BMLD will be present and accepting recycling this week, July
31st.

Recipe:
Thyme and Tea Vegetable Soup: editor's recipe
This would be a restorative soup if you were feeling ill, or a great
way to celebrate a bountiful vegetable harvest in late July!

Tea thyme soup
About 4 to 6 servings
5 cups vegetable stock, broth, or bouillon
4 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed
3 teaspoons fresh or dried thyme, lightly crushed
3 cups chopped fresh broccoli, zucchini, summer, squash, or any
combination of summer harvest soup vegetables.
1/2 pound small shaped pasta, or pearl couscous, or other quick
cooking whole grain
1 cup steeped genmaicha or green tea at regular strength
juice of one lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon hot or sweet paprika (or smoked, if you have it)
pepper and salt to taste

Combine the stock, garlic, and thyme in a heavy saucepan and bring to
a boil. Stir in the vegetables and pasta or grain, reduce heat, and
simmer until the pasta or grain is just at the al dente stage of
tenderness which will depend on the variety chosen. Pour in the tea
and heat through for about a minute. Remove from heat and stir in the
lemon juice, paprika, and pepper, and adjust the salt if necessary.
Serve with a crusty bread and cheese if desired.