Down on the Farm: Exploring Diselrath Farms

Co-op farms in Indianapolis: I had no idea these were actively being done. But I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Diselrath Farms on the Indianapolis south side.

Tucked inside the 465 loop, Diselrath offers both co-op farming and a farm store open on Saturdays. Members pay a small fee (about $5 per week) and work three hours a week for a share of produce or discount on meats such as chicken or pork.

On this Saturday morning, the Diselraths opened their farm to several local bloggers and "Future Farmers."

The children - from toddlers through pre-teens - loved the opportunity to learn about what goes into the farm, from a simple lesson on crop rotation to what it takes to raise chickens and harvest eggs.

Sarah Diselrath showed the Future Farmers about how they rotate crops each year. If you look closely, these are all the rows of tomatoes, but those furthest to the left were the rows that weren't quite in last year's pig pen! (Hence the power of compost.)

Checking out the baby animals was a highlight for the kids, though this little goat didn't get nearly as much love as the baby chicks.

The kids went to hunt for eggs as well. I think the biggest excitement of the morning was the children stumbling on a hen trying to lay an egg - though I think their shouts of surprise stopped her in action.

There is something to be said about growing your own food. Too many kids are complacent and think their green beans come from a can you get from a store; munching on a green bean freshly picked (as in seconds) is an entirely different experience. Future farmers feeding the future bacon really helps kids connect the dots about where our food comes from.

Southport Farmers Market

The amazing looking asparagus I landed
at the Southport Farmers Market.

Yesterday I had my first look at the Southport Farmers Market, located next to the Southport Antique Mall near Madison Avenue on the Indianapolis south side. The market opened late last year and is opening for its first full season this week.

The Southport Market has untraditional market hours: 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays. 

After this long winter, I'm not surprised that there wasn't much for produce available when we stopped by for a late lunch hour Friday at 3. There were three bunches of think, locally grown asparagus (which we quickly snatched up) and a tub full of rhubarb to test. There were cheeses and meats, breads and a few crafts folks. But what was sorely missing were plants! I'm hoping it was because of the threat of rain, and I'm more than willing to give it another lunch-hour look.

CSAs in Indianapolis 2014

Today's Indianapolis Star features a list of CSAs in Indianapolis as well as information on a new farmers market on the Indianapolis northside. If you have an Indianapolis area or Bloomington CSA that wasn't featured in the Star article, please share your information below!

Earn Brownie badges at the farmer's market

Taking your Brownie troop (or just your scout for starters) to the farmer's market is a great, practically free way to meet Brownie badge requirements this fall or spring.

Budget-friendly and a great way to connect with your community, not to mention local, farmer's markets are a great resource to look into if you're trying to creatively wrap up some badge requirements.

I never thought about using farmer's markets in that regard, until my daughter decided she wanted to earn the Money Manager Brownie badge was on my daughter's wish list of badges to earn this year. Trouble was, other girls didn't agree, so we decided we'd work on it from home. We were able to complete requirements one and two - shopping for items (practicing making change) and grocery shopping - in our weekly trip to our local farmer's market.

I gave my daughter my weekly budget and let her determine what we'd be buying. Noting the cantaloupe and watermelons as we walked in, I told her to mark the price and she'd have to make sure she'd have it at the end of the shopping trip, as I wasn't about to carry both melons around the booths! We talked as we went about differences in prices and what was better deals, etc. She actually enjoyed taking charge of the shopping list - and to be honest, the money - and I was so happy that the vendors were so patient with her as she made her choices.

Other Brownie badges you can work on at the farmer's market - or after you've completed your shopping:

My Best Self: 

• Activity #2 - Try three new foods that are good for you. 

Senses:

• Activity #3: Try sniffing out three different foods. 
• Activity #4: Do a taste test with salty, sweet, bitter and sour foods.

Snacks:

• Activity #1: What's in that snack - talk with vendors about what's in their jams, salsas, breads or granolas.
• Activity #2: Make a veggie face.
• Activity #3: Create a snack for a group - like fruit kebabs!

If I can give one tip though, plan your trip for the last hour of the farmer's market, as shoppers are often fewer. It's easier to track your girls and the vendors may be able to help your girls more.

What local resources have you tapped into for creatively meeting badge requirements for your troop?

Carmel Winter Farmers Market

Hamilton County now has its first Winters Farmers Market in Carmel. Open Saturday mornings, the new indoor market tucked away behind shops at Carmel City Center, not far off of U.S. 31 in Carme,l could grow into something great.

Still a small market, it had a friendly atmosphere yet still room for me and my children to move around, something that's a growing challenge in the ever-packed Indianapolis Winter Market downtown. So I was excited to make the drive to check out a new market and explore options last Saturday. And if I hadn't been running errands on a warm Saturday morning, I would have grabbed some meats as well.

This time of year, you expect fewer and fewer produce offerings and more produced items, which was the case here. I had great conversations with a Mennonite farmer as I perused the lettuces, broccoli and brussels sprouts, all cold-weather crops. My kids eyeballed the apples from the fall harvest and slurped up tea samples from a Carmel tea company.

And if you're looking for holiday treats, you wouldn't be disappointed. Greek vendors, a chocolatier from Spirit of Chocolate in Shelbyville, and holiday desserts abounded.

The Winter Market at Carmel City Center is open 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through March 17 (with the exception of Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve). The Winter Market will be held in a storefront at 719 Hanover Place on the interior of Carmel City Center, on the southwest corner of City Center Drive and Rangeline Road. Follow the signs for parking.

Daisy Girl Scouts and Our Farmers Market Find

Year two of Daisy Girl Scouts is almost upon us, and I've found myself in the somewhat unplanned role of co-leader with four other moms. This year, the leaders with experience suggested we take on an animal badge, which includes of all things, talking with a farmer, veterinarian or person who otherwise works with animals.

And so crossed an unlikely resource: One of our farmers market discoveries. A local high school senior had begun selling beef at the local market this spring as part of her 4-H project. She's young and a woman - both of which will appeal to our city-slicker girls. Can't wait to here what she has to share this fall!

Great gourds

Grabbed a few fun snaps at the farmers market we visited in Memphis. These are just plain fun!

Travels through Tennessee: Green with Envy

This weekend we were fortunate to visit our sister's family in Memphis. Meeting our niece was the good news.

The bad news? 101 degrees plus humidity.

The high temps - you worked up a sweat walking at 7 a.m. - meant our excursions were largely limited to indoors activities. Except one.

My sister, who possibly knows us too well, asked us if the kids would want to go to the farmers market.

That's like asking other kids if they'd like to play their Wii.

So Saturday morning we got to check out their "bigger" farmers market (as opposed to the "one vendor" one). My sister apologized for the 20-minute drive in advance.

The "inconvenience" was so worth it. This market spanned buildings. Rows and rows of plants, dozens of herb varieties (I contained myself and only bought a Kentucky spirament, and not the banana and strawberry mints too.)

My son stood amazed by the shelling machines and couldn't contain himself with the excitement over the produce. I bribed him with a box of okra, which we won't get in Indiana for about another month. I sighed over the boxes of blueberries, blackberries and peaches, which we won't see until later in the summer here. And frankly, I'm jealous of any farmers markets that sell seafood!

On our way home, we planned a stop at the Nashville Farmers Market, a good halfway point to run the kids around and get them a snack. The Nashville Market, an easy drive from I-65, reminded me a lot of Kansas City's City Market. Even on a Monday afternoon, the main building was filled with large baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables. We splurged, stocking up on a basket of peaches and some broccoli and cauliflower. Coupled with what has cropped up in my garden the last few days, I'm covered until Saturday's market at home.

Tonight we're dining on cornmeal-fried okra and homemade oatmeal peach cobbler. If only my husband had picked chicken up from the store, we'd have the trifecta of Southern food!

Farmers Market Update

Today at the Green Phone Booth, we're checking in to see how our local markets are going. It's late spring here, and I feel like spring didn't happen. First it was wet - really wet - and unseasonally cool, not we're unseasonally hot. It feels like we jumped straight to summer.

We're still in plant mode at our local market. I was tempted to buy lettuce, one of the few actual foods available, but as my husband is working during most family meals the next few days, I worry that we won't use it all up. (Plus I'm cleaning out the last of my freezer.)

My best finds this week?

• Heirloom tomatoes and peppers for $1


• Garlic scape (5/$1 for those who don't grow garlic)


• Herb plants for $2.25 (The great thing is I know this vendor will have them much of the summer, so as I pull out my peas, I can always replace them with herbs.)

But I'm ready for things to actually start growing so we can enjoy our summer harvest!

Indianapolis Area Farmers Market Dates

There's no excuse not to eat fresh! Indianapolis boasts farmers markets six days a week. Check out the many markets, including:

Tuesdays:

• Stadium Market: 4 to 7 p.m., May 17 to Sept. 27

Wednesdays:

• City Market: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 9:30 to 1 p.m., May to October

Thursdays:

• 38th and Meridian Farmers' Market North United Methodist Church: 4 to 6:30 p.m. June 2 to Oct. 27

Fridays:

• Traders Point Creamery, 4 to 8 p.m. through October (Items go fast, though!)

Saturdays:

• Bloomington Farmers Market: 8 to 1 p.m. at the City Hall-Showers Building



• Broad Ripple Farmers' Market: 8 a.m. to noon through Nov. 19



• City Market: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21 to Sept. 24



• Fishers Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon May 28 to Sept. 24



• Greenwood Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to noon, Greenwood Public Library



• Zionsville Farmers' Market: 8 to 11 a.m., parking lot on Main (brick) Street near Dairy Queen, May 14 thru Sept. 24

Sundays:

• Irvington Farmers' Market: North side of Ellenberger Park, noon to 3 p.m. second Sunday of the month, June through October

Market Time

Farmers markets are starting to bloom! Today at the Green Phone Booth, I'm writing about our family's love affair with farmers markets.

If you're interested, the Booth is also consierding a weekly market linkup. If you're interested please let us know!

Indy winter markets coming soon!

Sadly, our favorite local market closes this weekend. The good news is alternatives will be open soon.

Here are a few Indianapolis and Bloomington-area winter markets opening up:

The Indianapolis Winter Farmers Market is moving this year to The Maxwell, 530 East Ohio St. It will be open Satrudays beginning Nov. 13 through April 30. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Traders Point Creamery Winter Green Market opens Nov. 6 through April, from 9 a.m. to noon on the northwest side of Indy, near Zionsville.

The Bloomington Winter Farmers Market is back at Harmony School Gym. Dates are Satrudays, Dec. 4 to March 29, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Happy shopping!

Why I love my farmers market

What'd you do this weekend? I'll be asked. And I'll tell them the truth, we went to the farmers market.

Sometimes I'm met with an raised eyebrow, others and eye roll. But here's the truth. For our family, it's the place to be on a summer Saturday morning.

While we might go to a different one every now and then, we always return to our trusty market. And here's why.

The people.

No, not the food. We can get tomatoes or cucumbers or herbs just about anywhere. And to be honest, this little market pales in comparison to the variety at other locales.

But it's about people.

Our vendors have watched our children grow from infants to savvy shoppers, picking out their own plants and produce on occasion.

My daughter has her favorites, too. First we catch up with the Pepper Guy, discussing how our tomatoes are growing, commenting on the garlic, him offering her a head or two to plant this fall or vastly miscounting the number of peppers he's throwing in our bag.

Then we wander to another booth, where the owner comments that she doesn't see us at her farm stand as much this year (a change in open dates, combined with an overly aggressive planting at home and a change in evening schedules, sealed the deal).

Then to the mom and her kids, who each sell their organic produce in the shade. (Even the children are in the act this year, growing their own.)

See, we could shop just about anywhere. But it's about the people we see each week that make the difference.

This is my contribution for the July APLS Carnival topic on farmers markets. Join us for a wrap-up on July 18!

Geist farmers market

Weekday farmers markets are usually a challenge for me. The great news is that they're open just in time for hungry stomachs at dinnertime. The down side is they're usually closing shop by the time I'm arriving.

Last Thursday, though, after my day off, we took a family trip to check out the Geist Farmers Market in northeast Indianapolis. It's a smaller market, but great if you want to skip the store lines. Vendors had everything from lamb, beef and cheeses, to chocolates, homemade marshmallows and cupcakes. While the spread seemed a bit light on the seasonal produce, we were able to find tomatoes, zucchinis and red and yellow cherries (which my kids couldn't get enough of). You could still find plenty to make a full meal without having to go to Kroger.

Given the selection, it's a great option for north siders who want something fresh on a Thursday night, but not necessarily a "destination" market for people making a long drive. The Geist Market is located at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Hours are 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 30, 2010.

Growing garlic: Plan now for fall

Growing garlic is about as easy as it gets. Put a bulb in the ground in the fall, wait through the winter, and in late spring or summer (depending on the type), you get fresh garlic. There's nothing that compares to it. Not the bottled kind, nor the white papery, decaying bulbs at the grocery store.

The problem is, it's not a cheap habit. If you're ordering, you need to think about it now, and prepare to spend $8.50 or more per half-pound of garlic. And if you want multiple varieties, you better have ground space and serious cash. It adds up quickly!

Or you can start shopping now. Keep an eye out at your farmers markets for garlic. (A word of note: It goes quickly, so arrive early in the day!) Store back a few bulbs for fall, and you'll be ready for planting with a more manageable bunch.

This weekend, I managed to get some early spring heirloom garlic for 50 cents a head. For three dollars, I even with my tendency to cook using lots of garlic, I'll have plenty to plant come October!

If you're thinking about using the types at the grocery store, I'd advise against it. I've had no luck with regular or organic garlic varieties sold in the shops. Good luck!

2010 Farmers Market Dates - Indianapolis Area

Here is a list of Indianapolis-area Farmers Markets. I'm admittedly a bit behind on it this year, as I've spent more time planting and re-killing my gardens than posting.

Already Open:

• Binford Farmers Market, corner of 62nd and Binford in Indy: - Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon (More info)
• Bloomington: Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through October. (Read review.)
• Broad Ripple Farmers Market: Broad Ripple High School. Hours are 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., but come early on Saturday mornings - It's always been busy when I've attended! (More info; past review)
• Greenwood Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon through October. (Past review)
• Indianapolis City Market: Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May through October, and Saturday mornings downtown. (Previous year's review)
• Traders Point Creamery Green Market: Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. through the last Friday in October. (More info)

Coming soon:

• Carmel Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 to 11:30 May 22 through Oct. 2 (More info)
• Chateau Thomas Winery Farmers Market: Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 14 (More info)
• Columbus Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, June through September (More info)
• Fishers Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, June 5 to Sept. 25 (More info)
• Franklin Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 to 11 a.m., June to October
• Irvington Farmers Market, Ellenberger Park on Indy's east side: Runs noon to 3 p.m. on second Sunday of June, July, August, September and October. (More info)
• Kokomo Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon (More info)
• Noblesville Farmers Market: Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 22 to Oct. 30 (More info)
• Westfield Farmers Market: Fridays 4 to 8 p.m. (More info)
• Zionsville Farmers Market - Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m., June to September (More info)

Any others in the region you'd like to share? Post information here! Happy to spread the word!

Bloomington Winter Market

It may techincally be spring, but winter markets are in full swing. If you're missing your springtime fix of plant starts and produce, look no further!

A few weeks ago, we finally had the chance to check out the Bloomington Winter Market . If you've ever had visions of a winter market being baked goods and canned veggies from the previous fall, think again.


We were impressed with the variety we found. Plant starts - something I'd written off in Indiana as being unavailable until Mother's Day. Produce. Eggs and cheeses. Herbal teas and yarn. Even salmon, our big splurge for the weekend.

The Bloomington Winter Market is smaller than the one in downtown Indy but worth the drive if you're looking for something a little less crowded. This is the last weekend for Bloomington; it's open until noon at Harmony School. If you're headed south this weekend, check it out!

Indy Farmers Market Dates - Hamilton County

Thinking spring? Hamilton County's announced its farmers market dates for 2010:

• Carmel begins May 22
• Fishers begins June 5
• Noblesville begins May 29
• Westfield beings June 4

Check out the full details here. I've been to all but the Westfield market, and they are all worth the visit.

Know of other markets opening up this spring? Post the details and links below!

Bloomington Winter Market opens this weekend

The Bloomington Winter Farmers Market opens this Saturday and runs through March 26. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. It's being held at the Harmony School Gymnasium located at 909 E. 2nd Street in Bloomington.

The site promises a wide variety of meats and produce - including onions, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, arugula, kale, chard, spinach, mustard greens, watercress, potatoes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, apples and herbs. In other words, don't think that just because it's January you're doomed to eat canned or frozen veggies.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's checked out this market in the past. Is it worth the drive?

Seasonal shopping still in full swing

Winters markets are hot, even when it's brutally cold outdoors.

We hit the first farmers market of 2010 last weekend, and remained pleasantly surprised by what we found at the Indianapolis Winter Market. The building was packed with vendors and shoppers alike, even as the shopping hours came to a close. (So busy, in fact, the Star reported Sunday that the market's averaging 1,500 visitors in its second season!)

We came home with a bagful of apples, a huge glass jar of honey, seed packets (for those dreams of warmer weather someday) and more. We checked out apalca yarn, tasted freshly toasted marshmellows and would have lingered longer had the little guy hadn't had an unfortunate event outside.

Winter markets are definitely worth checking out. It's a great alternative for seasonal shopping, and one small way to beat the winter blues. If you're living around Indy, you have quite a few options--and they're growing every year:

• Indianapolis Winter Farmers Market, (downtown Indy)
• Bloomington Winter Farmers Market
• Hancock County Winter Market,
• Hummel Park in Plainfield
• Pendleton Winter Farmers Market
• Traders Point Winter Green Market, (northeast Indy, technically Zionsville)

Indiana Living Green this month lists other markets outside of the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Check out its list here.