Clintonville Farm Market – Fantastic Locally Grown Produce…. But The Parking, Oh No.
October 16, 2011 - Written by DianaAs the Farm Market season winds down, you sometimes need to venture further away to farm markets that are still going strong. Last week we went to North Market for the weeks groceries, but we wanted to go somewhere else this week so we headed to Clintonville because we’ve heard nice things about their market. Clintonville is out of our way since it is on the north side of Columbus and we live in a different county south and west of there. I have to say – the raves were on target.
Clintonville really does buy into the local producer idea. Not only were all of their farmers local, but the seller has to be the farmer, or from the farm. No brokers or auction buys, which I really like; we had to be really careful because we did buy from some brokers earlier in the summer who we thought were farmers, but they not only weren’t farmers, they bought at an auction and didn’t know the farmer at all. Clintonville Farm Market makes sure you get it straight from the farm without a middle man.
Clintonville also has a nice diversity. I can find my Ohio Bison …
Getting the Best From Your Farm Market
September 11, 2011 - Written by Diana
As the smaller Farm Markets are coming to a close for the season, I have some lessons that I learned to share with you. As the near by ones close, I will go to some that are further from my home, especially if I can find where my favorite vendors will be. I am determined to find fresh local seasonal ingredients for my family. Here are some lessons I’ve learned…
1. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food – Recently I’ve felt duped by some of the vendors, and even the local market stores. Not every vendor grows their own food or knows the farmer who grows the food. We have found boxes that list an auction site as the place the vegetables have come from instead of a single farmer. I have started asking for the source of the tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. When I go to the stand, I will ask the farmer where they get the vegetables from. They have to be the farmer, or know the farmer. They have to know whether the farmer uses pesticides or fertilizers and how long before the market, the vegetables are picked. …
North Market- Farmer’s Market
July 2, 2011 - Written by Diana
These photos don’t do justice to the vendors. My camera phone was on video, and so I have half second videos but not photos, drat. There were lots of nice vendors at North Market though some had packed up by the time we arrived – maybe because of the rain. Athens Market beats them in the grain department, and variety, but still North Market has plenty of veggies, Oink Moo Cluck brought the home grown meat (we bought chicken). There were a couple of cheese places – I got feta for my salads, and my husband wanted the chipotle – which my daughter thinks will go well in her mexi-salad (along with the chorizo from Blues Creek inside the market). My husband found some great looking carrots too. We visited with Isaac from Honey Run Farm, he has awesome smelling soap – I love, love, love the mint smelling soap. We picked up soap and honey from him. Someday my husband wants to start his own beehives, but we’re still in the thinking about it stage.
My husband suggested …
