Farmers preparing for first Downtown Farmers Market of the season (WHO)
Related links
The Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market starts this weekend in the Court Avenue District. It's a week earlier than normal. Vendors say customers are raising more questions as the green movement grows.
From farm to table, Jill Beebout and Sean Skeehan are growing spinach, tapestry salad mix, and asparagus. That's just the start. Beebout says, "You name it, we grow it pretty much." The husband and wife team from Blue Gate Farm in northern Lucas County raise fresh fare for you to buy locally.
Beebout says, "It gives people a connection to where they live. If you're connected to the food you're eating and the land it's grown on, you have an investment in your own health, in your immediate environment and your community."
Beebout says knowing where your food is from is only one benefit from picking produce at your local farmer's market. She says, "We'd much rather see our produce come locally than from California or other countries."
You can also find out how it's grown, just ask. Beebout says, "A lot of people want to know how the crops are grown. Are they grown conventionally, are they chemical free crops. Is everything at the farmers' market organic. The answer to that is no."
Beebout calls their method beyond organic, since they don't put any chemicals on their crops to keep weeds or pests out of the garden. Instead, they use this high tunnel to grow produce earlier in the year, rotate the crops to prevent bacteria from growing, and pull weeds by hand. She says how crops are grown isn't the only question people have as the green movement grows.
She says, "We've really noticed, while there is an increased interest in chemical free and locally grown, the number of people who are interested in trying it on their own is increasing at an amazing rate." That's Something Beebout is glad to hear, since she knows first hand how rewarding it is to feed your family what you grow on your own land.
The Downtown Farmers Market starts this Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. As for shopping tips, vendors say to ask questions, like how the farmer grows their crops and if there are any special ways to prepare the food. Also, bring your own bag so you can easily carry all your goods. And, leave a cooler in your car, so you can keep things like meat fresh until you go home later in the day. As for parking, you can park in any of the nearby parking garages and on the street for free on Saturdays.
From farm to table, Jill Beebout and Sean Skeehan are growing spinach, tapestry salad mix, and asparagus. That's just the start. Beebout says, "You name it, we grow it pretty much." The husband and wife team from Blue Gate Farm in northern Lucas County raise fresh fare for you to buy locally.
Beebout says, "It gives people a connection to where they live. If you're connected to the food you're eating and the land it's grown on, you have an investment in your own health, in your immediate environment and your community."
Beebout says knowing where your food is from is only one benefit from picking produce at your local farmer's market. She says, "We'd much rather see our produce come locally than from California or other countries."
You can also find out how it's grown, just ask. Beebout says, "A lot of people want to know how the crops are grown. Are they grown conventionally, are they chemical free crops. Is everything at the farmers' market organic. The answer to that is no."
Beebout calls their method beyond organic, since they don't put any chemicals on their crops to keep weeds or pests out of the garden. Instead, they use this high tunnel to grow produce earlier in the year, rotate the crops to prevent bacteria from growing, and pull weeds by hand. She says how crops are grown isn't the only question people have as the green movement grows.
She says, "We've really noticed, while there is an increased interest in chemical free and locally grown, the number of people who are interested in trying it on their own is increasing at an amazing rate." That's Something Beebout is glad to hear, since she knows first hand how rewarding it is to feed your family what you grow on your own land.
The Downtown Farmers Market starts this Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. As for shopping tips, vendors say to ask questions, like how the farmer grows their crops and if there are any special ways to prepare the food. Also, bring your own bag so you can easily carry all your goods. And, leave a cooler in your car, so you can keep things like meat fresh until you go home later in the day. As for parking, you can park in any of the nearby parking garages and on the street for free on Saturdays.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
