Menu

Savoring the Seasons: Enjoying local food year-round

Hooray! The Greenfield Farmers market will be back on the Greenfield Town Common starting this coming Saturday, May 2! I look forward to roaming around the market, visiting with farmers and friends I haven’t seen in a while, getting fresh greens to satisfy my “spring fresh green veggies” cravings, tapping my foot to the music, and checking out what the farmers have been growing in their greenhouses. I hope there will be some spinach and I’ll get ground beef from Bostrom Farm. I’ve been having a hankering for my mother’s “Joe’s Special,” a tasty mélange of ground meat, onions, spinach, eggs, and cheese. See my version of Mom’s simple recipe below.

Mom didn’t serve Joe’s Special in tortillas, but I’m already imagining wrapping it in fresh Mi Tierra Tortillas that are made in Hadley with local heirloom corn. As Michael Docter said when he sent me his parsnip taco recipe, he’s been eating everything in Mi Tierra Tortillas. Look for them at The Kitchen Garden booth at the farmers’ market.

Other Franklin county farmers markets in Ashfield, Bernardston, Charlemont, Conway, Shelburne Falls, and more will start their seasons in coming weeks. If you have information about your local farmers market, please send it to me and I’ll help spread the word.

This year’s farmers market is starting, but two of my friends whom I’ve loved visiting with at the market won’t be there. Risky Case and Juanita Nelson both passed away this winter after living full and powerful lives, and I’ll miss chatting with them at the market. Memorial celebrations for Risky and Juanita are planned in coming weeks.

There will be a reception to honor Risky Case this Friday, May 1, at 3p.m. at the GCC Downtown Center on Main Street. I hope you’ll join me there to celebrate Risky and share stories.

Juanita nelson’s friends are planning a celebration of her life for 2 p.m., May 30, at the Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal St. Preceding the celebration will be a New Orleans-style jazz procession from the Greenfield Farmers Market to the Middle School. Juanita and Wally Nelson co-founded the Farmers market in 1974 and sold their produce there every Saturday for almost three decades. People who want to walk in the procession to the middle school will meet at the farmers market at 12:30 p.m.

***

Greenfield Farmers Market, Saturdays, May 2 to October 31, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Greefield Town Common, Court Square. The market accepts SNAP benefits and credit and debit cards. For information, including a list of vendors and a schedule of musicians who will perform at the market, visit their website or contact Market Manager Devon Whitney-Deal at devonwd@gmail.com

***

Western Mass Permaculture Study Group forming, open to all. Based on a permaculture design course DVDs available from librarian at Ashfield library. For more information, email Mary Johnson at mejinwestermass@gmail.com

***

Edible Wild Plant Walk with Hannah Jacobson-Hardy, Sunday, May 17, 2 to 5 p.m., Greenfield Recreation and Swim Area, Nashs Mill Road, Greenfield. Cost: NOFA/Mass Member, $25 (walk-in cost, $30); nonmember, $31 (walk-in cost, $36). limited number of registrations available for this workshop and it will fill quickly, registration well ahead of time is highly recommended. For more information, contact Glenn Oliveira, Education Events Organizer, at glenn@nofamass.org or (774) 678-9644

***

This Week We’re Eating… Joe’s Special
By mary McClintock (learned from her mother, Betsy)

Sauté chopped inion in oil in cast iron frying pan until translucent. Add ground beef (or ground turkey). Cook meat until browned, breaking up with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat. Add chopped fresh spinach and cook for a minute or so until limp. Add 3 large, lightly beaten eggs. Stir and cook until eggs are set. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and serve.