What’s Happening at This Week’s Orange County HomeGrown Orleans Farmers Market
The Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market is located on the west side of the beautiful historic Congress Square Park in Orleans, Indiana, and takes place each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Please support your local growers, bakers, artists and handcrafters by shopping at the Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market. Bring your friends and family!
Last week we surveyed our wonderful vendors. Here’s what they expect to have at the Orange County HomeGrown on Saturday, September 5, 2009:

From the Farm: apples, beets, raspberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cantaloupe, chard, assortment of peppers, cucumbers, eggs, eggplant, garlic, green beans, herbs, kale, gourds, maple syrup, kale, okra, onions, paw paws (?), potatoes, pumpkins, rutabaga, summer squash, winter squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, watermelon, zucchini, fresh flowers, plants, mums, water plants

From the Kitchen: brownies, cake, German cakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cornmeal, focacia, fudge, jams, jellies, granola, lemonade (4 kinds), muffins, sugar free muffins, noodles, pies, quick breads, raisin bread, salt rising bread, scones, sour dough breads, tea, yeast breads

Art and Crafts: aprons, baby bibs, bags, baskets, bean bag toys, benches, bookmarks, canes, candles, cat hammocks, chopping blocks, cloth books, clothespin bags, crochet, handcrafted crochet needles, cutting boards, horseshoe crafts, hypertufa, jewelry, leather goods, painted gourds, painted tools, planters, photographs, purses, quilts, recycled bags, rugs, rustic furniture, signs, soft goods, soaps, stationary, stilts, monogrammed towels, wooden bowls, wooden toys, wreaths, wool yarns, woven items, knit & crochet kits with unique pattern designs using plant fibers such as cottons and bamboo (Includes FREE jumps start lessons with any kit purchased with assistance as needed throughout projects)

Host Tent: farmers market gift certificates are now available

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS:
Learn something new this week at our farmers market. First, there’s a free Yoga Class with Janet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Then, learn about how to stay safe with our friends at the Orleans Fire Department as we celebrate Fire Safety Day. Be sure to stop by to see the very cool RiverSpirit Adopt-a-River/RiverWatch displays with Larry and Helen and see a sample of the creatures that live in our rivers and streams while learning how you can keep our rivers and streams pristine. Be sure to bring an extra pen or pencil to the farmers market this week because we’ll be playing another round of Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt. Visit us at our Host Tent to pick up a list of who you should look for. (We even have a kid’s version of the game so the whole family can play!) When you find that person at the market, ask them for their signature. (Someone might even be looking for YOU!) When you have six or more signatures, come back to the Host Tent to draw for a coupon. As always, our beloved farmers market jammers will entertain us with their uplifting music!

OUR VENDOR OF THE WEEK: Morning Lark Baskett is this week’s featured vendor. She sells very interesting and beautiful Native American and early American jewelry, leather goods, purses, soap, dream catchers, and produce. If you are visiting her booth when the timer rings, you’ll get coupon!

LOVE YOUR FARMERS MARKET CONTEST UPDATE:
As of August 29, 2009, we are ranked #12 of the top 100 farmers markets in the nation! This contest ends September 17th. (To see the current list, go to http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/top_markets ) Here are a couple of love note quotes left this week at the website about our farmers market: “Today was my first visit. Loved it! Very friendly vendors, nice variety of produce and clean surroundings.” and “In only a few years, this great market has grown by leaps and bounds to become a local institution. It just wouldn't be Saturday morning without it!” If you think the Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market is the best in the land, and then please cast your vote for us so that we can win the Love Your Farmers Market Contest and help us defeat the big city markets ranked above us! You can cast your vote online at http://fromaliceskitchen.blogspot.com When you get to this webpage, click on the Vote Today button on the right side of the screen. While there, check out some yummy husband-tested recipes. There are over 200 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.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you are looking for a gift for someone special, farmers market gift certificates are now available for purchase. You’ll find them at our Host Tent. The gift certificates can be used to purchase any item from any of our friendly vendors.
Buck-a-Book is in need of children’s books and cookbooks. Please consider donating or trading cookbooks at our Buck-a-Book trailer.
We could sure use more volunteers to help with customer counts, veggie inventory, coffee help and set up and tear down. Please see Alice in the Host Tent if you are interested in giving of some of your time. No experience necessary, just a friendly smile is required.

REPORT FROM LAST WEEK’S MARKET:
We were blessed with another gorgeous morning at the farmers market. We had 71 vendors who came to sell. We had a record number of Amish vendors as well, twelve buggies showed up. Our customer count was up as well. At 9 o’clock, we counted 149, at 10 there were 256 and then at 11 o’clock, we counted 239. The American Red Cross had 17 blood donations. Those who donated life saving blood received coupons and a t-shirt. La Leche League of Orange County provided young mothers with information about breast feeding. Two mothers won a book for participating. The Lost River Intertribal Council captivated a large audience during their ceremony complete with costumes, dancing, singing and storytelling. The Tri County Antique Machinery Farm Association really set the stage with their antique tractors parked right at the market. Linda, Brack, and Luke, our favorite farmers market horse were very busy taking visitors all around Orleans in their buggy. United Way was on hand to distribute Senior Farmers Market Vouchers. We had 22 musicians playing rousing music all morning.

OTHER GREAT FEATURES AT THE MARKET: Be sure to stop by to see our BUCK A BOOK where you can browse a great selection of books. (We have thousands!) We welcome the donations of books for the book trailer. All of the money from book sales goes to support Orange County HomeGrown Farmers Market (Orleans). Buy a book for a buck or trade two books for one book. Visit us at the Host Tent and have a free cup of coffee courtesy of our neighbor, Maple Street Restaurant. We also offer free ice water to wet your whistle, courtesy of our neighbor, The Dollar Store. We are fortunate to have friendly, helpful MASTER GARDENERS at every market. Bring your gardening questions to the MASTER GARDENER TABLE, and they will be very happy to help you! We have at least a dozen produce vendors who can accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers. Look for their signs or see us at the Host Tent. These vouchers may be used for fresh fruits and vegetables only. Another great feature of the Market is 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. Many of our produce vendors are WIC VENDORS and will accept WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers. Visit the LOST RIVER MARKET & DELI INFORMATION BOOTH and learn more about our local community grocery store in Paoli, located at 26 Library Street behind the Paoli Public Library. 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.

VALLEY FARMERS MARKET:
The Orange County HomeGrown Valley Market is open on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. now located between the Indiana Railway Museum and the French Lick Springs over-flow parking lot just off of Highway 56. You’ll also find Valley Farmers Market vendors on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the French Lick Market on W. College Street next to French Lick Post Office with the French Lick Market.

FREE HOMEGROWN ARTS STORYTELLER CONCERT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) behind the Paoli Public Library featuring folk singer-songwriter, John Gage, of Kentucky HomeFront fame http://www.kentuckyhomefront.org/john_gage.html; Tom Cunningham, fiddler, singer, songwriter and storyteller http://www.fiddletales.com/locations.htm; and award winning storyteller, Arbutus Cunningham http://arbutuscunningham.com/ Plan on bringing your friends and the whole family. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket. Call (812) 653-1047 for more information. This concert is sponsored by Orange County HomeGrown Arts and is made possible through matching grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, the Jasper Community Arts Council and the Orange County Visitors Bureau Visit French Lick/West Baden.