The Providential Gardener

Rhode Island's Winter Farmers' Market Begins! Buy LOCAL!

Farm Fresh Rhode Island , our four-year-old dynamo of a Buy-LOCAL organization, has established an indoor Farmers' Market for Rhode Islanders, with 34 vendors in a beautifully restored mill building just over the Providence-Pawtucket city line in the Hope Artiste Village,1005 Main St, Pawtucket, beginning Saturday, December 6, from 11 am to 2 pm. I went over there this morning for a press conference and saw the space, which looks vast today, but which Noah Fulmer, the director of Farm Fresh RI, says will be jam packed on Saturday.  

Veggin' Out

For several summers now, WIC (Women, Children & Infants Program) and RIDEM, in conjunction with Johnson & Wales University, have sponsored cooking demonstrations at Farmers' Markets and other locations. These 1-2 hour demos feature such recipes as salsa and fruit/yogurt parfaits. Participants watch the preparation of the recipes, which use in-season produce available at the Farmers' Markets, get recipe booklets, and get to taste the results - a good deal! I overheard one woman at the Pawtucket Farmers' Market this past Sunday say that now she was inspired to start cooking again.

The last three Veggin' Outs of 2007 are from 11:30 to 1:30 on August 30 and September 6 at the Capitol Hill Farmers' Market in Providence, and the final one is September 7, 11 to 1 pm at the Pastore Center Farmers' Marketin Cranston. These events are listed in the Providential Gardener Calendar.

Rhode Island Local Food Fest

From Farm Fresh Rhode Island:

A ramble through the flavors of Rhode Island.

This is the inaugural benefit for Farm Fresh Rhode Island, at Castle Hill, Newport, on Wednesday, August 1, from 4 to 8pm.

• An evening celebrating Rhode Island farmers, fishermen and food artisans.
• Live cooking with a dozen local farmers, each teamed up with chefs from the Newport Harbor restaurants, 3 Steeple Street, La Laiterie and Local 121.
• Plus, local wines, beers, a raw bar and a silent auction.

Open to the public. Tickets are available online, at locations in the FarmFresh link below and in limited quantities at the door. Tickets bought online are paperless; your name will be on the guestlist. Kids under 12 are free. Tickets include food as well as samplings of local wines and beers.

Tickets are $30.00

http://www.farmfreshri.org/about/localfoodfest.php

Directions: http://www.castlehillinn.com/Information/Directions/

First Annual "Iron Chef" Competition

From Farm Fresh Rhode Island:

PROVIDENCE, RI – Farm Fresh Rhode Island is excited to host the 1st
Annual Iron Chef Competition. The event will be held at the Downtown
Farmers’ Market on Friday, July 27th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Chefs from
several area restaurants will compete for the title of Providence Iron
Chef 2007.      The secret ingredients to be used during the competition
will be locally grown, seasonal fruits or vegetables decided by Farm
Fresh Rhode Island. The produce will be donated by farmers with booths
at the Friday market. Chefs will only be told what the ingredients are
at the start of the competition. They will then have one hour to
prepare an appetizer, entrée, or dessert of their choice. The guest
judge is Jen from Jen’s Dish who broadcasts a weekly live radio show
all about food (www.wnri.com). A “People’s Choice” award will also be
determined by a ballot vote; everyone who attends the event is welcome
to sample dishes and vote for their favorite. Fresh fruits, vegetables,
and other locally produced foods are available each week at Farmers’
Markets. Apart from being delicious, these foods are key parts of a
healthy diet. Using Farmers’ Markets also helps preserve Rhode Island’s
agricultural community. Come see what it’s all about! For additional
information on the 1st Annual Iron Chef Competition or a list of the
day, time, and location of various Farmers’ Markets, visit Farm Fresh
Rhode Island at www.farmfreshri.org.  You can also email Jessica Gordon
at jessica@farmfreshri.org.

What's Happening ~ June 15-17

So much is going on this weekend, I wish I could clone myself! Alas, I will have to choose. But so can you. I hope you can make one or more of these cool events!

Fri Jun 15, 2007

09:00	Warwick Farmers' Market
11:00	Providence Farmers' Market (Downtown)
12:00	Newport Secret Garden Tour
14:00	Bristol Farmers' Market
18:00	Mount Hope Farm Garden & Antiques Preview Party

Sat Jun 16, 2007

09:00	Paving with Brick and Stone
09:00	Pawtuxet Farm & River Day
09:00	Warwick Cove Cleanup
09:30	Providence Farmers' Market (Hope High)
10:00	HYDRANGEA - NEWPORT'S FLOWER
10:00	Mount Hope Farm Garden & Antiques Show at Bradford Fields
10:00	Newport Secret Garden Tour
10:00	Rivers Day on the Blackstone
10:00	Secret Gardens by the Bay
10:30	Water Quality Testing Workshop
11:00	Providence Open Market
12:00	Ask a Master Gardener Booth
12:00	Pine Top In June
12:00	Strawberry Festival
13:00	Orchid Dividing & Potting Workshop
13:00	RI Rose Society 2007 Annual Rose Show

Sun Jun 17, 2007, Father's Day

09:00	Narragansett Farmers' Market
10:00	Mount Hope Farm Garden & Antiques Show at Bradford Fields
10:00	Newport Secret Garden Tour
12:00	Pawtucket Farmers' Market

Rhode Island Agriculture Day, Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The time is 11:30 to 5pm, the place is the Statehouse rotunda in Providence, and featured attractions are:

• 25 Exhibitors offering local food samples
• Announcement of the first inductees into the RI Agricultural Hall of Fame
• Announcement of $70,000 in Farm Viability Grants

Come celebrate Rhode Island agriculture and meet the folks who bring you local food! You do eat, don't you? Why not locally grown food? For more info, see the rest of this post, which is a press release from the Department of Environmental Management on the web:
 

Urban Greens

I went to the Hope High School (Providence) Farmers' Market yesterday to stock up on apples and anything else I could. I thought it was the last market until next June, and that's true for just about all the farmers except Allan Hill of Hill Orchards in Johnston, RI. Allan will be at Hope High Farmers' Market next week, and that will be it for the Farmers' Market for months.

But not to worry! Urban Greens is carrying fruit and cider from Hill Orchards, as well as Rhody Fresh milk, New Harvest Coffee, and lots of organic vegetables. I'll write more about this in future posts, but I wanted to get this in today because there are only two orders per month and the next order is due in on Tuesday, November 21. Check out the Urban Greens website: www.urbangreens.com.

SCLT's Harvesting Hope Breakfast ~ Next Wednesday

We've received an invitation from Southside Community Land Trust to attend this special breakfast on Wednesday, October 4th from 7:30am to 8:30am on the second floor of the Roger Williams Park Casino.

"It is a unique opportunity to learn more about SCLT's mission and programs.

The morning's program will include: a 7-minute video about SCLT's impact on the community; a wonderful presentation by storyteller and Somerset Community Gardener, Raffini; a personal testimony by youth intern, Gloria; and an address from Katherine Brown, SCLT's Executive Director, about SCLT's work, goals and vision for the future. Also, longtime Board Member and current Board President, Louis Raymond, will invite you to join SCLT's new multi-year giving society, The Harvest Society.

This fundraising breakfast is free to attend. Guests attending the breakfast will be asked to make a contribution, but are under no obligation to do so. There is no minimum or maximum gift requested. Gifts come in many forms and may be: monetary, in-kind goods or services, volunteer hours, community networking assistance, and other valuable ways.

So please join us this Wednesday morning for a delicious breakfast generously catered by Whole Foods. The breakfast will include fresh Urban Edge Farm eggs, local seasonal fruits, bagels, muffins, cheeses, coffees, juice and more!

Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday,

Taylor Ellowitz

Southside Community Land Trust "

email: outreach@southsideclt.org

phone: 401-273-9419, x23

web: http://www.southsideclt.org

Farm Fresh RI - Louella Hill

For a great article on the founding and organization of Farm Fresh Rhode Island and its founder, Louella Hill, see ProJo, September 23, 2005: Farm Fresh Rhode Island Connects Farmers and Chefs ~ But director Louella Hill wants to do more. "I'm trying to develop the connection from farmers to individuals; from farmers to businesses; from farmers to institutions."

2006 Farmers’ Market Season kicks off Saturday, Hope High School Farmers’ Market

   Hope High School Farmers’ Market Opens Saturday, June 10^th, 9:30 to 12:30 p.m.

   Farmers’ markets are a great way to bring freshness to the heart of Providence.  This year the Downcity / Farm Fresh RI Market Season kicks-off on Saturday, June 10^th, at the Hope High School Farmers’ Market.  All farmers from last year will be present: Hill Orchards-Johnston, Arcadian Fields--Hope Valley, Woodstock Farms—CT, Wishing Stone Farm- Little Compton, City Farm- Providence, Bettencourt Farm- Warren, Cook Valley Farm—Wrentham and Friendly Farms- Cumberland.  Also present will be Marcia’s Chutneys and Handspun Wool. 

   The Hope St. Market will feature foods produced in the Rhode Island region such as fragrant herbs, heirloom tomatoes, crusty breads, farm fresh vegetables, tender baby greens, sun-ripened berries and zangy apple cider.   Join us throughout the season: from strawberries in June to sugar pumpkins in late October.  The Hope Street Market is a community event—and will feature local performers, chefs, artists and flavors.  Stop by and show your support for local agriculture and really fresh food!

   For info on all Providence Area farmers’ markets, visit: www.farmfreshri.org.  By late August, there is a farmers’ market everyday of the week! Don’t miss out!

Submitted by Louella Hill, Farm Fresh RI, Market Manager, Phone: 401-301-7690