Easing into the holiday...

If you’re having trouble finding your holiday spirit this season, please join us at the Hastings Farmers Market this Saturday where you are sure to find it.

There will be a caroling circle led by the talented Hudson Valley Singers from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Free free to join in! There will be extra sheets of music for all. 

Also we’ve invited lots of local crafters including two local potters, two local woodworkers who make head-turning cutting boards and bowls and serving boards, respectfully, and not one, but three seamstresses, to make your holiday gifting homespun, easy and local this year.

You may know 3x3 Kitchen for their fantastic gluten-free offerings, but did you know that their family in Poland make traditional hand-blown glass ornaments? They will be bringing a small selection to the market to sell alongside their popular black rice breads and turnovers. Buy some to give as a gift or to gussy up your own tree.

Is someone you care about an avid knitter? Pick up some colorful skeins of wool from Wil Hi Farm,  straight from their Rambouillet sheep. (Then once that’s done, make sure you pick up a leg of lamb to make this crowd-pleasing classic.)

And who wouldn’t want a stocking filled with all things botanical from Ash Hopper. Their pretty boxed collection of “hotel” soaps is sure to please. As is a box of salted caramels from La Petite Occasion.

For the tea lover in your circle, pick up some unique blends from Teagevity and pair them with some local orange blossom honey from Hudson River Apiaries.  For those who prefer something stronger, Heimat Liqueurs returns after a long hiatus. Her cranberry liqueur is a must for holiday cocktails. 

Kids are coming home from college yearning for home-cooked meals and family is heading your way, too, so make sure your fridge is fully stocked. Buy several different AYA Hummus flavors since Jenny’s fresh hummus freezes beautifully. Ditto for the smoked ricotta  at the Maplebrook Creamery tent, where they also sell creamy burrata and mozzarella. I like to add a dollop of their ricotta to this Frankie Spuntino pasta recipe a surefire hit. Feeding vegetarians? Skip the sausage and buy meaty mushrooms from Madura instead. 

Some nights are sure to be hectic over the next couple of weeks so make things a little easier yourself and stock up Homespun Chili. John has so many different varieties, everyone in your picky flock will be happy. Or make a vat of this chicken and rice immune-boosting soup with ginger and turmeric to heat up and serve on a dime, with a ciabatta roll from Bien Cuit or a Parker roll from Newlight Bread Co. Or let Danielle, of Plantidote Foods, do the cooking for you with her curry-flavored veggie burgers. Make your sheet pan your friend next week with recipes like this easy baked chicken with apple and fennel.

Obercreek Farms will join us in January with their exquisite greens. In the meanwhile make sure you pick up some of the dainty baby arugula at the Madura Farm tent or the greens at Harlem Valley Homestead. By the way, the rosemary plum jam  at HVH makes for a sweet (and savory!) gift.  It’s also the perfect companion to any cheese or charcuterie board. Speaking of charcuterie, one of our favorite Frenchies at the market, Daniel Teboul of Larchmont Charcuterie, will be joining us on Saturday and on the 30th but then will disappear until the spring so make sure you get your saucisson and pâte de campagne while you can.

Our next market is not until the 30th of December. Don’t panic, there will be a market on Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve, in Irvington so you won't be without your market greens or fresh fish and bread for long!

There’s gift wrapping in your future. It’s very difficult to make those ribbon curly cues with dull scissors so bring yours to the market Saturday for Matt to sharpen, along with your carving knives to carve that lamb.

This is our last “gleaning” day of the year. This week the food pantry is requesting onions, potatoes and winter squash. As they did last year, R&M Farm is once again offering to match any donations of ground beef. If you buy one pound of ground beef from Josh, he will put one pound away for the food pantry. We are so grateful!

Finally, make sure you stop and admire our festive tree also at the entrance of the market. Not a Christmas tree, but a small apple tree handmade by the folks at the Bethany Arts Council. They made the tree for us to display all the sweet messages children have written about the market throughout the summer in celebration of our 25th anniversary. How festive is that?

HHS grad, Sarah Feldman, now studying poetry at Smith, will be setting up a “poetry box” at the market this Saturday as part of a community-driven poetry project. Channel your inner Yeats (or Amanda Gorman) and see where her prompts lead you!

See you at the market!