farmer’s market

Here are a few reasons I love the Madison Farmer’s Market.

1) Tulips

2) Ramps

3) Fibonacci

4) Pussywillows

4a) More and darker pussywillows

5) Bears

6) Hook’s Cheeses.  All of ’em.

7)  Violas.  All of ’em.

8 )  Families on the lawn.

The market is more than just good food, baked goods, fresh produce and happy faces selling it.  It’s a community event, where people will jostle one another but always say “pardon me” or “please excuse me” when they do.  It is sometimes clogged with strollers, sometimes the double wides holding twins, but no one cares or gets frustrated; they deal with it.  People visit with the vendors, asking questions, not just about the produce but about their farm, where it is, what else do they grow, etc.   Meanwhile families spread across the lawn, toddlers clutching croissants and other yummies. Somehow these toddlers find each other…and share their treats. They chase each, giggling and enjoying the large expanse of grass. It’s sweet.

The early markets are fairly sparse in the produce department: overwintered sweet spinach, mushrooms, ramps, lots of cheeses and baked goods.  When June hits, it’ll be wonderful and July is an embarrassment of riches.  Midwesterners don’t eat tomatoes in the winter, because they’re not tomatoes; they are a grainy, tasteless proxy for the real thing.  We can wait.  Midwesterners are patient.

Respectfully submitted,

Canoelover