Orange County HomeGrown Orleans Farmers Market Opening Saturday, May 17th!

The Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market will open for this season on Saturday, May 17th, 2008. It will be located on the west side of the beautiful historic Congress Square Park in Orleans, Indiana. We will be open each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon through September and then from 9:00 a.m. to noon during the month of October. Please support your local growers, bakers, artists and handcrafters by shopping at the Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market.
We anticipate lots of lovely spring produce, plant starts, delicious baked goods, and locally made unique crafts on opening day. Our Opening Day Ceremonies will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will include remarks by special guest, Robert Henderson, the Blessing of the Market by Mary Minninger and music by Pete Webb & Late for Supper.
We’ll have free coffee, courtesy of our neighbor Maple Street Restaurant, each Saturday. We’ll also have music each market day provided by our beloved Farmers Market Jammers. Bring your instrument or your singing voice and join in the fun because all are welcome. Browse the thousands of books at our Buck-a-Book trailer and by so doing help fund the market. Bring a book to trade or buy a book for a buck. Children may choose a free book from our little red wagon. If you have gardening questions or need advice about your plants, just visit Mary Lou Beckett, our friendly Master Gardener, who is with us each Saturday. Many of our produce vendors are WIC vendors and will accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers.
This year we have two exciting new features at our market. Janet Kennedy, yoga instructor extraordinaire, will be teaching a free yoga class for men and women each Saturday through September beginning at 8:30 a.m. If you have a yoga mat, bring it, but it you don’t, we’ll have one for you. No experience necessary. What a wonderful way to start your Saturday! Another new feature of our market will be the addition of the Orange County Recycling Co-op truck. They will take household items for recycling, such as cardboard, newspapers, junk mail, paper, magazines, catalogues, plastic bottles #1 and #2, aluminum cans, scrap metal, metal cans, plastic grocery bags. Please rinse out plastic bottles and remove lids. Also, rinse out cans. Please break down cardboard boxes.
Of course, throughout the season, we’ll have fun family events each Saturday. Here’s a preview of some of our upcoming events (dates included unless the event dates are pending): Amateur Radio Club (May 31); Lawrence County Rock Club & Tri County Antique Machinery Farm Association Tractor Show (June 7 & September 20); Lotus Dickey Music Festival (June 14); Red Cross Blood Drive (June 21 & August 30); Cooking Demo by Award Winning FCCLA Culinary Arts Team (June 28); Throop Elementary School Cheerleader Farmers Market Pep Rally & Cheerleading Clinic for School Age Children (July 19); Music by Wildflowers & Weeds (August 9); Music by Paul Ash, Customer Appreciation Day, 4-H Projects Displayed (August 16); Congress Square Park Appreciation Day, Square Dancing (September 13); Make-Your-Own Scarecrow (September 27, October 4, 11, & 18) Make-Your-Own Scarecrow Contest (October 18) We are awaiting date confirmation for the following events: Cooking with Alice; French Lick Resort Chef Demo; Tri Kappa Kids Day, Hoosier Fly Fishing Club Demo, Farm to Fork Chef Demo with Raggs of Bloomington’s Nick’s English Hut; Zucchini 500 Races; Cider Press Demo; Soil Testing by Master Gardeners; Blacksmith Demo; Stonebelt Stargazers; Music by Melinda Sketo, Lost River Mennos, Don Smelser & Friends, Earth Mamas Dance Troupe. Keep updated on our events by checking at the Host Tent each Saturday or by signing up to receive weekly emails from HomeGrown at orangecountyhomegrown@earthlink.net

Orange County HomeGrown is an all-volunteer, non-profit, community service organization. If you are interested in volunteering for any of its projects, such as the Orleans or Valley Farmers Markets, the Lawn Chair Concert Series or the Adopt-a-River of Lost River, we’d love to have you. Just call (812) 653-1047 or send us an email at orangecountyhomegrown@earthlink.net
IMPORTANT VALLEY MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT:
· The Orange County HomeGrown Valley Market is open on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. They have a brand new beautiful location. Be sure to visit the Orange County HomeGrown Valley Market now located between the Indiana Railway Museum and the French Lick Springs over-flow parking lot just off of Highway 56 (map).

FREE CONCERT COMING UP:
· Orange County HomeGrown Lawn Chair Concert Series will present Paul Ash and then Troubadours of Divine Bliss starting at 6:30 p.m. on the French Lick Springs Resort Lawn on Friday, May 16th. (Inclement weather location will be on the porch of the French Lick Springs Resort.) The Orange County HomeGrown Arts Lawn Chair Concert Series is made possible by volunteers, audience contributions, and a grant from the Jasper Community Arts Center, Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Check local newspapers for the complete schedule or sign up to receive concert reminders via email at orangecountyhomegrown@earthlink.net

LOST RIVER MARKET & DELI:
· Lost River Market & Deli located at 26 Library Street in Paoli, IN.
This full service member-owned food co-op market not only has a deli, but also bulk items, local and organic produce, local meats, cheeses, natural foods, wine and beer. Be sure to stop by to take a look. Everyone is welcome.

FREE RECIPES:
· Check out some yummy husband-tested recipes by visiting http://fromaliceskitchen.blogspot.com . There are over 100 recipes on the page so far. Recipes featuring ingredients found at Lost River Market & Deli and the Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market are put to the test and added to the blog on a regular basis.