Belmont Farmers' Market Weekly Email newsletter for August 14th, 2008
*Don't miss the August special recipe at the end of this message! This
weeks contribution includes a recipe from one of our market vendors.

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

Weather: Tomorrow will at least be cool, high of 74. There is a chance
of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Chance of rain 60
percent. Note that the Belmont Farmers' Market is open RAIN OR SHINE.
It will close in case of severe thunderstorms, but otherwise, bring an
umbrella, and help support the farmers who make their way to us in all
weather.

Market Gift Certificates! Our cute Belmont Farmers' Market gift
certificates make excellent presents for new neighbors, birthday
presents, "welcome home" gifts etc. They are available at the
information booth.

Volunteer: This weeks' volunteer market managers are Nancy and Mary.
Thanks to all those who volunteer. We are still looking for volunteers
to help with market days – especially setting up and taking down the
market. We are also looking for volunteers who love writing to help
with some of our public relations efforts for the market.

Internship: Thinking ahead to next season, there is a potential
opportunity for an internship to help coordinate the many threads of
people, products, and information that go into a successful market. If
you, or someone you know, are interested in learning more about this
opportunity, please write back to this message or to
Belmontfarmersmarket@....


Market Managers: 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!

Vendor news:
*Crystal Brook  will be offering goat cheese
*Thoreau Foods and their organic cereals will make their monthly
appearance this week.
*Belmont's own, Thymely Gardener returns this week offering handmade
soap, lotion, and a variety of blended teas.
*Stuffie's Pastries returns this week.
*Angelato will bring gelato! (If the weather is nice. I know we keep
promising gelato, but we've had quite a run of bad weather on
Thursdays...)
*Herb Lyceum back after a one week absence


Upcoming Events:
At the Market:
Musical Performances
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 you get around.

For More Information: RSVP to Aaron Desatnik at aaron@...

July Drawing Winner announced!
A Waltham resident named Alysia Parkes was winner of the July wheels
drawing.  She grew up in Winn Brook area of Belmont, attended
schools here and became an FM convert at Davis Square, but now shops
here regularly with her now 7 month old daughter in a stroller. BFM is
convenient to her Fresh Pond area workplace and also gives her the
opportunity to see family in Belmont. Congratulations Alysia and we
look forward to seeing you again at the market!

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.

Massachusetts State Farmers Market Week:
Starting Sunday the 17th, 2008 Massachusetts will once again celebrate
Farmers' Market week.

Here is the proclamation sent by Governor Deval Patrick for this fine
celebration:


Massachusetts Farmers' Market Week Proclamation

August 17-23, 2008

Whereas: Farmers' markets are essential to the vitality of
Massachusetts farms and are part of the cultural tradition of the
Commonwealth; and

Whereas: Farmers' markets create a festive open air setting which
enhances community spirit and civic pride by offering a natural place
for community gathering; and

Whereas: The Commonwealth is home to more than 160 farmers' markets
and growing; and

Whereas: With increasing consumer demand for fresh fruits and
vegetables, farmers' markets ensure both urban and rural citizens
access to a wide variety of high quality nutritious produce that is
locally grown using environmentally sound methods; and

Whereas: Farmers' markets help heighten public awareness of the
agricultural diversity of Massachusetts and the benefits of buying
local and preserving open space; and

Whereas: It is befitting for the citizens of Massachusetts to
recognize the continued contribution of farmers' markets to local
consumers, as well as their positive impact on the economy of the
Commonwealth;

Now, therefore, I Deval Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts do hereby proclaim August 17th through 23rd, 2008 to be
Massachusetts Farmers' Market Week and urge the citizens of the
Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate
fittingly in its observance.

Belmont Municipal 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. Also, take a moment to speak
with the BMLD representative about Energy Star appliance rebates
available, and the opportunity to have a home energy audit. Heating
costs are predicted to be very high in New England, so it's worth your
time now to have your home tested and learn about what actions you can
take to insulate your home.

Look for this bountiful harvest in August:

Amaranth, lettuces, beets, bell peppers, blueberries, cauliflower,
corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, grapes, green beans, herbs, hot
peppers, melons, okra, onions, peaches, plums, potatoes, raspberries,
shelling beans, summer squash, tomatillos,
tomatoes, zucchini. Plus bread, pastries, soap, cereal, chia seeds,
potted herbs, lemonade, sauces, and much more!

Recipe section:

This week we acknowledge that sometimes in the summer, it is too hot
to want to cook. So how about a smoothie to get in your summer harvest
fruits? Or even vegetables! Here are two smoothie recipes, the first
of which is an easy entry into the world of smoothies, and the second
of which calls for ingredients you can find at health food stores and
from Thoreau Foods, one of our Belmont Farmers' market vendors!
Peaches and Cream Summer Smoothie – from the editor
Serves two. Or one if very thirsty.

In a blender, combine:

1 banana (even better if frozen first)
One peach cut into slices, with or without peel according to your
preference
6 ice cubes
˝ to 1 cup milk, soy milk, almond milk
˝ cup vanilla ice cream (or soy ice cream)

Blend it all up, starting at a low "ice crush" speed, pour and enjoy!


Get your Calcium Green Smoothie
Drink your greens along with Chia Seed and fruit and get your daily
calcium needs.  If your tummy gets upset when you eat collard greens,
blend them into a smoothie to make them super easy to digest and you
can't taste the greens at all!  Chia Seeds are also a great source of
calcium as well as Omega 3 and fiber and the gel acts as a terrific
thickener in smoothies.
2 tbsp. Chia Seeds (soaked), 1/2 cup banana, ˝ mango, ˝ strawberries,
2 leaves fresh kale, collard greens or other greens,  Agave or other
sweetener to taste
Blend with milk or water until very very smooth and drink up!  The
smoother it gets, the more pleasant it is to drink AND the easier it
is to digest and assimilate