Events and Happenings at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market
The Tomato Festival was really a lot of fun. We tasted over 30 varieties of heirlooms, and had an outstanding group of recipes entered into the Great Tomato Recipe Contest. Thanks to all of the volunteers who worked to make the festival such a great success. We also really appreciate the time and effort from the recipe judges: Denise Clemons (food writer for The Cape Gazette), Aaron Miller (chef, The Buttery), Mike Pelrine (chef/owner, Béseme), and Richard Steele (chef/owner, Café Azafran). We know that the selection of best recipes was very difficult one for them because so many of the recipes were so good. And now (drum roll)-the winners:
Grand Prize Winners of Second Annual Great Tomato Recipe Contest
First Place - Don Tilton’s Tomato Sorbet
Second Place-Janet Lank’s Tomato Pie
Third Place-Bob Hyberg’s No Name Tomato Salad Dressing/Dip
Eat Local Pledge - Month of August
National Farmers Market Week is being celebrated this year from August 3 to August 9. In addition to celebrating with our Second Annual Tomato Festival on August 9, we are also hosting an Eat Local Pledge the month of August. All that we ask you to do is to commit to eating locally (food produced within a 100-mile radius) for a period defined by you. This can be one day, one week, one month-whatever amount of time you want to commit to buying and preparing local food. Have a fun time with it by organizing an Eat Local Dinner Party. If you want to describe your Eat Local Dinner Party or even your Eat Local Dinner for One you can email us at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net, and we’ll include your experience in the email newsletter. Take the pledge by signing up at the Market in August at the HLFM Table. If you sign up, you will be eligible to win a Historic Lewes Farmers Market Bag with a copy of Deborah Madison’s Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’ Markets (drawing to take place on August 30).
It is Easy Being Green
Here are ten simple “green” ideas from It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living. If you have some “green” ideas that you would like to share in a future newsletter, email the ideas to us: historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net.
- Use a toaster oven for small jobs. It will use a third to half as much energy as a full-size oven.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving. Running the water continuously for just two minutes can waste three gallons of water! Fill a cup with water when brushing your teeth and fill the sink bowl to rinse your razor instead of running the water.
- Install dimmer switches where dimmed lighting makes sense, like the dining room and hallways. Dimming a light by 25 percent saves an equal percentage of energy.
- Use the dishwasher only for full loads for the most efficient water use. If you have a small number of dishes or pans to clean, wash them by hand. You’ll save the most water by filling a basin with just three to four inches of water, stacking the dishes as you wash them, and then rinsing them quickly under a light stream of water.
- Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation in gardens; they provide accurate, deep watering for your plants that will encourage strong root growth.
- Breathe new life into old furniture; have it repaired, refinished, or reupholstered.
- Soak labels off glass jars and reuse the jars around the house to organize loose items.
- Don’t use a hose to clear dirt and leaves out of the garage or off sidewalks, driveways and patios. Use a broom to conserve water.
- Buy fish that are not caught or farmed in ways that harm the environment.
- Keep windows and drapes closed on hot days to reduce radiant solar gain.
Kids Catch Reading Bug at Historic Lewes Farmers Market
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market and The Lewes Public Library have announced an exciting collaboration for this coming summer for the children and families of the greater Lewes area.
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market will co-host with the Lewes Library a Children’s Reading Program to be held during the Saturday Market from 9 am to 10 am in the School House on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society Complex (except for June 28, July 12 and August 2 when the Market will be at Shields Elementary rather than at the Lewes Historical Society). This program is suitable for ages 3 to 8, but all children are welcome and encouraged to attend with their parents. Each week, a special book will be chosen to reflect the themes of growth, change and healthy eating.
Maureen Miller, Children’s Librarian, announced that this program; ‘What’s The Big Idea” is made possible through a grant from the National Science Foundation and the Vermont Center for Books, to bring more math and science into the library through the themes of change and growth. “Working with the Historic Lewes Farmers Market seemed like the perfect match for this program” said Miller.
Among the projects Miller, who has a degree in Biology, will introduce during the summer months are growing seeds, watching plants grow and promoting healthy children and healthy eating. The Historic Lewes Farmers Market and the Library are delighted to bring this program to the children and families of Lewes. This program is a continuation of a partnership with the Lewes Public Library to create an Historic Lewes Farmers Market shelf in the library featuring both adult and children’s titles dedicated to educating the public about the importance of sustainable agriculture, gardening, environmental issues and healthy eating.
Sussex Consortium School Project
The HLFM is working with the staff at the Sussex Consortium to help students develop an organic garden and to sell the harvest from that garden at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market.
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Come shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, flowers and more! If you would like to volunteer for the market, become a vendor or have any questions or ideas, please contact us at at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net or 302-644-1436.
