September 29, 2018
How’s this for stumbling on a gem? I had the family in the car on our way to the Durham Fair. A really beautiful, classic New England autumn fair, you should visit next year. Go early in the morning, as soon as it opens. We didn’t. After 30 minutes of waiting in the line of cars trying just to get a glimpse of the parking lot, I asked the kids if they’d rather go pick out one toy each at Target. A unanimous “yes”! It worked for me. It worked for them. A win-win. I pulled a U-ie and as we headed back up the country road, I spotted a captivating farm stand, pulled another U-ie and parked the car.
I hope you enjoy these finds from the Midway Farm Stand in Durham, CT, as much as we did. The kids loved the pies, breads, honey and stepping stones. I loved the displays and the kind, honest people who ran the stand. One thing, in my opinion, they are UNDER-charging their customers. They could really up their prices just a little and still be fairly-priced.
#5
Giant orange carrots
Whether you are planning to make a vegan soup or a roasted chicken, these awesome giant carrots could play a powerful role.
#4
Handmade stepping stones
There’s a certain kindness about a handmade stepping stone. You can almost feel how sincere the artist was as she or he planned the design, chose the colored glass and placed each mosaic piece with care. I find it moving to think about all the time and thought put into each stone; so did my five-year old who would have bought every one.
#3
Raw ginger root
Raw ginger root. You should eat more of it. It’s so healthy it makes broccoli look like junk food. It’s rare to see it offered at a local farm stand. Use it in tea, yogurt sauce or stir-fry. You’ll feel healthier if you do.
#2
Colorful gourds
Colorful gourds appear in several of my posts and Instagrams. Ok, I may possibly overuse these visually-stimulating baskets of gourds in my Insta gallery. In my defense, it’s autumn. Find some gourds and decorate the house, office, and car. Just imagine these babies on your fireplace mantel or above the entryway. They’re lovely.
#1
Pickled anything
Pickling is having a moment. It’s funny; when I was a little girl, my mother’s Eastern-European farm folk family used to take anything left over from a garden harvest and toss it into the pickling brine from store-bought pickles. Now, this simple garden hack has become a movement. Whether you make your own brine or just borrow one from the grocer, you and your guests are sure to be pleased with farm-fresh pickled veggies. Put some on the apps platter at your next get-together.
Hope you’re enjoying my top picks from local farm stands.
Have you seen this farmstand5?
Fancy’s Farm Stand, Orleans, MA
Or, shop farm stand style, like these decorative and practical half-bushel baskets
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I plant in my garden. Really, it looks like something from an alien nation. It’s mildly spikey and curved, almost in an arrogant way. It grows easily and goes to 
with bright yellow flowers.
for harvest time.
. Salves are just heavy, solid lotions that are intended to be soothing to the skin or to wounds.
them. You shouldn’t compost oil or oil-infused herbs. Your bin will stink.
. Not good with growing from seed? Have a lot of patience? Try a 
.
.
Off Center uses for their fresh eggs.
. Beyond the culinary uses, he favored the color and flowers they contributed to the aesthetic of his gardens.
, and it’s ready to serve. At the Killam & Bassette farm stand, I found fresh broccoli. It is not as easy to grow as my other choices so K&B deserves extra bonus points for taking on a more fickle vegetable.
with some herbs, 
or 
.