September 25th, 2021

Last week some ladies from NYC sat at a table in the middle of the market painting the Orchards of Concklin fruit stand. They were from a loose-knit group of "plein-air" painters who meet up at different locales each week to paint and then gather for a "show and tell."

For years, when the market was still in the Library Lot, I wanted to organize some sort of plein- air painting activity at the market because that location was so scenic, but never got around to it.

Our current location is nowhere near as beautiful but it is certainly allowing us to spread out at a time when we really need to be doing that. Yet, these ladies found it pretty enough to paint. I can't tell you how happy that made me.

Of course, I realize they were captivated by the palette of fall apples, Seckel pears and grapes. As we all are these September days when autumn colors turn up in the bins.

So many iterations of orange, purple and brown.

Later that day, I caught a woman photographing the purple peppers at the Stoneberry tent with a giant camera. And, our volunteers and staff got to share the market tent with a luminous green pregnant praying mantis.

This is all to say that the market is at its fullest right now and no matter how busy life can be in September (so. many. transitions.) take time out to wander through the stalls and take it all in.

What to look for this weekend?

Chloe Sikirica, one of our local potters, is bringing some beautiful vessels to sell. Some of you may know Chloe as the striking, tall German lady who cuts hair at her house in Hastings. But Chloe's artistic talent extends far, far beyond bobs and bangs. Come check out her most recent body of work.

Heimat Liqueur is bringing their new fragrant and delicate elderflower spirit...made with blossoms that have been hand-picked at a Hudson Valley farm. This new flavor is getting raves from spirits connoisseurs. And distiller Ute Londrigen gets giddy just talking about it.

We've gotten great feedback from our new gluten-free baker 3 x 3 Kitchen Provisions, and their interesting way of bringing together savory and sweet in their quickbreads and muffins. Saffron, chickpea flour, fermented squash are just some of their ingredients of choice.

Nothing says "fall" more than caramel apples, right? La Petite Occasion is bringing them this week, a little earlier than usual...Guessing confectioner Michele Kim thought we could all use a little more sweet in our lives right now.

Hodgins Harvest is returning. They will be here on the second and fourth Saturday of the month until November. They sell culinary mushrooms, yes, but also mushroom tinctures and grow logs. They've also started making risotto kits with their own mushrooms, for those of you who don't have the time or patience to stand by your stovetop and stir. And stir.

For those of you who are clinging to summer, may I suggest some Two Sisters Vodka Orangecello from Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery to top off a glass of your favorite bubbly?

For those of you who are instead looking ahead to Thanksgiving...R & M Farms is ready to take your turkey orders now. They also have turkey thighs, drumsticks and breasts in stock again.

If you are clearing house, don't forget to bring your textile recycling to the market and drop it off (in bags, please) in our handy new Green Tree Recycling bin.

See you at the market!