Winter Farmers' Market Starts this Saturday at Harmony School

For the first time in recent history, Bloomington residents will have
year-round access to food grown by local farmers and sold at a weekly
farmers' market. The Local Growers Guild is kicking off its annual
Bloomington Winter Farmers Market, this Saturday, from 9 am to noon.

Please help us spread the word about the extended season! Located at
Harmony School near the intersection of 2nd and Woodlawn, the market
will offer fresh produce, meat, and dairy products along with prepared
foods, special events, and live music.

This is a great opportunity to kick off your holiday shopping and
support local, ecological businesses at the same time. Gift items
include fair trade, organic coffee, herbal teas, a wide range of
soaps, salves and lip butters, holiday jars of soda bread mix, candle
arrangements, wreaths and centerpieces, fresh flower bouquets,
ornaments, gift baskets of strawberry and blackberry jam, holiday
roasts, blooming bulbs, holiday cookie gift bags, Christmas stollen
and alpaca yarns.
In addition, consider giving a gift that will keep on giving all year.
There will be CSA gift subscriptions and/or gift certificates
available from Heartland Family Farms, Muddy Fork Farm and Bakery and
Schacht Farm. Gift memberships to the Local Growers Guild will also
be available.

Available produce will include salad greens, kale, squash, mushrooms,
herbs, potatoes and sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, chard, carrots,
spinach, apples, and more. Farmers will offer locally raised beef,
pork, chicken, and turkey, along with milk, yogurt, eggs, tofu,
cheese, and breads.

In addition to fresh foods, shoppers can purchase frozen vegetables,
relishes, local grains, fresh flowers, fair trade coffee, seeds,
organic soil amendments, and potted plants. There will also be a wide
range of other farm products and holiday gifts, such as dried herbs,
jam, kombucha, herbed vinegars, herbal teas, soaps and salves, fiber,
wool, and wreaths.

Visit www.localgrowers.org for more information about the Bloomington
Winter Farmers Market, including schedule and parking information, a
full list of products and vendors, and recipes showcasing seasonal
ingredients.

Robert Fischman