Saturdays: Amherst: Wheelhouse Farm Truck

This post is about two months overdue -- apologies to the reader and to the Wheelhouse gang.  It's late enough that perhaps you read the article featuring the new farm truck in the Amherst Bulletin at the end of May, and perhaps you have already made a special visit to the Amherst Farmers Market.  I know that article interested me, and the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend found Mr. Madley and me waiting in line for a farm-fresh breakfast arepa.  And then I had to go back again.


The Wheelhouse Farm Truck delivers hot, fresh, locally sourced gluten-free arepas for breakfast and lunch at the Amherst Farmers Marker -- an arepa being a cornmeal pocket sandwich.  Take a look at the photo below for a listing of some of their amazing offerings.

In case you couldn't yet tell, I am a fan.  My go-to arepa happens to be the spinach pesto and braised greens (no sausage) -- delicious!  Hot and melty and gooey on the inside, hot and crispy on the outside, full of local goodness throughout.

If you haven't gone to the AFM to get your arepa already, what are you waiting for?  There's another Saturday coming up in just a few days, so there's no need to delay any further!

The Wheelhouse truck was funded through a Kickstarter -- and I'd like to thank those who contributed -- you did a good thing!

Local Grain CSAs

Yesterday was the pickup day for my local grain csa out of Wheatberry Bakery in Amherst -- and what delights there were!  Arapahoe red winter wheat, red llamas red winter wheat, emmer, spelt, barley, pinto beans, black turtle beans (I love their name), mandan bride corn, nothstine dent corn, plymouth flint corn, and popcorn (on the cob). 

The corn all needs to dry for another couple of months, so it is remaining in its paper bags until February (when I'll do another post to highlight those beauties), but I packed the grains and beans in mason jars for long-term storage.

After packing up my 1/2 share, I ground (with my hand-crank mill) 3 cups of arapahoe wheat for bread baking, and for the first time ever I made whole wheat bread that is strictly whole wheat -- no white flour at all.  Local wheat, local honey, local milk... all kneaded together to make some delicious bread -- soft, flavourful, with a good crumb and super nutrition.
I'm looking forward to much baking, yummy hot cereals, sprouting, and then more baking.

I've never done a grain share before, but I certainly hope to do one again.  Having only 1-2 pickup dates is extremely convenient, and supporting a different kind of local agriculture makes me feel like I'm helping Valley farming remain sustainable.  Plus, it's all so tasty!
The Pioneer Valley Heritage Grain CSA is one of two local grain CSAs that I've discovered in the Valley; the other is the White Oak Farm CSA. (White Oak Farm CSA often sells at the Amherst Farmer's Market and, I've heard, sometimes shows up at the winter market, also.)

Know of another grain share or have opinions about one?  Please feel free to comment below!

CSA: The Kitchen Garden

Yesterday was part 2 of my CSA visits for Open CSA week, and Mr Madley and I visited The Kitchen Garden on Rocky Hill Road.  The Kitchen Garden is relatively new at its Hadley location (previously having been home to Stone Soup Farm), and is still under a little construction (the barn should be finished within the next few weeks).  Most of the farming and crop-growing is done in Sunderland on Silver Lane, but the Hadley location has pick-ups, a wonderful assortment of chatty chickens, and pick-you-own gardens.  Plus, a few of the farmers were there unloading the beautiful produce from the van for distribution.

Flowers, eggs, bags, an informational card, and a sign-in welcomed members and guests;

The white-board listed today's share portions.

Beautiful bunches of radishes (3 kinds) were part of this week's vegetable share,

as were garlic scapes, swiss chard, lettuces, bok choy, and kohlrabi (I don't think I'd ever seen kohlrabi before -- pretty!).

 

The farm offers different kinds of shares and add-ons -- vegetable shares, fruit shares, and egg shares; plus, special winter and spring shares and market shares. 
Strawberries and rhubarb were part of this week's fruit share.

Happy chickens lay tastier eggs for the egg share.

 

The Kitchen Garden produce is also available at farmer's markets in the area, including the Wednesday Market at Kendrick Park (which I'm really hoping to get to go to soon).  If you're looking for more information, take a gander at their website -- it's loaded with information on the farm, CSA shares, farmers markets, the produce they produce (storage tips, recipes, etc.), restaurants, and the farm philosophy.

Another fantastic CSA opportunity right here in Hadley.  

CSAs are a wonderful way to participate in the local farming industry and to support the local community.  Open CSA week is now over for the year, and I've highlighted two local CSAs.  If you have hesitations about joining a CSA, start by visiting the farmers markets and farm stands in the area.  Don't miss out on your opportunity to partake of the fresh, delicious produce grown here in the Valley and to sustain the local agriculture that has built the foundation of our community.  Enjoy those fresh summer crops!

Farmers Markets, CSAs, & More

Fresh local produce is bounteous in Western Massachusetts, and while I do try to keep a list of farm stands in the area, CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) does a better job of it than I do.  CISA keeps a list of farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs, and pick-your-own farms.  It also tracks what's available when on a wonderful harvest calendar.  CISA is a great resource -- use it frequently!

Open CSA week is coming soon, and both The Kitchen Garden and The Next Barn Over in Hadley are participating. 
Visit this informational page for details.

 

All Things Local

I found this article on MassLive today reporting on a group of people who would like to take the idea of the Winter's Farmer's Market in Amherst and expand it into a cooperative store that sells "all things local" -- everything from soap to candles to produce to wool to art and more.

There will be a meeting tonight at Amherst Town Hall at 7pm (and another on May 29) to discuss the project and gauge interest.  People from the local communities are invited to attend and weigh in.  This initiative is in association with Transition Amherst.

I think this sounds like a fantastic idea.  I would love to see a store that offers more of the great things we have in the Valley; a permanent location where local vendors could really display their wares -- and where it's all in one place.  I can imagine so many grand possibilities....

Transition Amherst

Delicious, Delectable

The flourless chocolate raspberry torte by Portabella Fine Foods in Amherst.

A delicious and highly worthwhile Valentine's Day present.  Eat your heart out!

Calendaring: Festivals, Fairs, Bazaars

Please check the calendar for the most recent information I have on holiday fairs, festivals, and bazaars!
I've noticed recently an increase of visits to last year's "Holiday Festivals and Bazaars" post.  Sadly, that information is now a bit out of date.  However, in its place is the Local Calendar (see the link to the right, just under Hadley Grass and Valley Ice Cream).  Information on the Local Calendar is regularly updated, and I make additions to it whenever I hear of something appropriate to add (or see the signs along the side of the road).  Included are holiday bazaars, craft fairs, autumn festivals, local Hadley events, and other events in neighbouring towns. 
Included on the calendar page is a link to submit local events (it reads like a comment box but submissions don't get posted until I've looked at them -- this is true for all comments on the blog) and a small collection of links wherein one can find other local activities. 
Coming soon (and already posted on the calendar) -- the chyrsathemum show, a fall craft fair, and the Twist Fair....

Chili/Golumpki Cook-off, 2011

I've been hearing about this cookoff for a few weeks now and just started seeing signs for it last week, but I can never read small, heavily-worded signs while I'm driving down the road....  This morning I finally had the camera in the car and enough spare time to stop and take the picture of the Hadley Firemen's Association's Chili/Golumpki Cook-off sign:

Sounds like a good time.  Hope to see you there!

Also coming up this weekend -- the 5K for Farmland.  Sunday, Hadley Common, 10 am.  For more information, visit the Kestrel Land Trust site.

You Eat Ferns?!

Fiddlehead ferns are in season, and their season is short, so get some while you can.  You may have seen them in the markets, for sale in the local vegetable section for $4.99-5.99/lb, and thought "what am I supposed to do with those?"  Well, you are definitely supposed to eat them.
Cook them up like you would asparagus (a little olive oil, salt, and pepper) and enjoy them as one of your vegetables at dinner.  Before cooking them, however, be sure to soak or blanch them before cooking to get the brown papery covering and little fern pieces out of the frond; it's good to snip off the brown ends, as well.

Fiddleheads, rinsed and ready for cooking.

For more information, this page on Valley Locavore has some great info.  You might also be able to get a flier at Atkins Market (where I originally got my information a couple of years ago), or there's an article from the DHGazette titled "Fresh from the Valley" (from just April 9 -- and I started drafting this article on Sunday...).

Happy fern foraging & feasting -- they really are quite tasty!

Winter Farmers Market: Amherst

Saturday I made my first trip to the Amherst Winter Market at the Amherst Middle School.  A little late, I know, but it was definitely worth the trip, and I look forward to going back.  Many local farms, bakeries, and artisans were represented at the market, and just about everything and anything was being sold -- from grass-fed beef (King Creek Farm) to popcorn sprouts (Astarte Farm) to rainbow carrots (Winter Moon Farm) to sheepskin (Balky Farm) to shares in CSAs (Simple Gifts Farm) to whimsical animal art (artbug) to fresh baked bread (The Black Sheep) and more (like soap, cheese, eggs...).

The pictures below should give a good feel for the market, though not every table was photographed (note the student art on the walls). 

Yarns and woolens from Balky Farm.

Delicious breads from El Jardin Bakery.

Organic sprouts from Astarte Farm.

Rainbow carrots and an irresistible sales girl from Winter Moon Farm.

More from Winter Moon Farm (beets, radishes, parsnips).

Bags of carrots and potatoes by Atlas Farm.

Whimsical animal art by Chaldea Emerson: artbug.

With a little music (musicians were setting up just as I was leaving), tables where one could sit and eat and visit, fresh local foods, and enthusiastic members of the community, there aren't many better places to spend a wintry Saturday morning.

Debit/credit is now accepted, making purchasing much easier, especially for those who don't tend to carry much cash.

For more information about the Amherst Winter Market, visit: http://www.amherstwintermarket.com/