Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah ! Today is the last Saturday at the market and the weather should be great. There is no more fresh produce but there will be plenty of fresh canned goods. There will be plenty of Christmas gifts, all handmade!

We will also be open for our last market day Friday Dec. 23. Vendors are taking orders for baked goods and special requests for that day.

• Linda and her baked goods will be there. She also has canned beets, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, salsa, jams, jellies
• I will be there with my homemade soaps, lotions and fleece scarves. I will have Cardinals, Rams, Missou and military scarves as well as kids, adult and Christmas scarves.
• Judy will be back with her porcupine crystal suncatchers, jewelry and baked goods including cheese bread and huckleberry muffins.
• We are hoping Vicki will make it with her baked goods including awesome red & green Christmas balls with peach filling and some very unique canned goods such as her great vegie spread.
• Debbie will be back with her knitted scarves & hats, as well as her canned goods. She also has some really cute sewn Christmas stockings, aprons and tote bags.
• Maggie will be there. She has made some beautiful Christmas & winter wreaths. She also has Sarovske (sp) jewelry, decorated sweatshirts, including a mizzou one, and best of all ghiradeli covered nuts.
• Wilma should be there with her many craft items. She has many kids gifts including little aprons with themed items in the pockets such as baking utensils, gardening tools, art tools etc.

I hope there will be more vendors but have not heard from them.

see you at the market,

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

The farmer's market is still open with lots of great stuff.! Our vendors still have produce, especially veggies that store well through the winter like beets, fruit, potatoes. There are still tomatoes that were picked before last night's big frost. There will be plenty of good baked goods and canned goods until Christmas. Now that the weather is cool the vendors are starting to make candy. Most vendors are happy to make something for you if you don't see what you want. There are also unique crafts that make great hostess gifts and Christmas presents.

• I will have a lot of green tomatoes at the market tomorrow for $1/lb. I also cut all my herbs so I will have cut herbs also. What I don't sell tomorrow I will dry. I also have loads of hot peppers, mostly habeneros. And of course I will have my home made soaps, lotions, lip balms, etc.
• Linda is making some different cookies. Last week she had peanut butter, chocolate chocolate chip, M & M chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin (I had some of these, they were yummy). And she also has her regular stuff like my personal favorite, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, pumpkin bread, blueberry muffins and other sweet breads, yeast breads including awesome rye bread and cinnamon rolls, canned jams & jellies made with her own home grown fruit, canned beets and tomatoes. She also has hot chocolate and coffee.
• Judy is making her fudge now and has other snack stuff like great caramel corn, cupcakes, peanut brittle. Her huckleberry muffins are awesome and something you can't get anywhere else. She also has very popular cheese bread made with yeast and she has been knitting baby hats with mittens and booties. The jewelry & sun catchers she makes with porcupine quills will be there as always.
• Vicky & Troy still have produce. They have lots of tomatoes. They have tomatoes in their green house that still have that great home grown taste. Also, beets, pears and maybe still some peppers and garlic. Vicky also has her homemade cheese and apple rolls and yeast breads. She makes a bread that tastes like a crescent roll and some that has a nut, brown sugar mix in it. Both are wonderful. They may have some brown eggs this week too. Vicky also has some great canned goods. Recently she made some pear preserves and pear butter. She also has other preserves and butters, and canned veggies and veggie spread.
• Maggie will have her fall wreathes, some of which light up, and grave decorations. She will also have her Swarvoski (sp?) jewelry and holiday sparkle balls (which also light up). She also has some small aloe plants.
• John & Darleen will have a large selection of canned goods. They make all of them together as a couple. They have all the favorites and many unusual items as well, including mint jelly, mint apple jelly, cantaloupe jelly, a large variety of hot pepper jellies, many fruit jellies, apple butter, pumpkin butter, a variety of canned relishes and many more items too numerous to mention. They also make sugar free jellies and snack breads. Darleen makes regular snack breads too including her latest green tomato bread which sounds funny but is very tasty.
• John Kopmann said he wasn't sure if he was coming this week. If he does he will have tomatoes, pecans, a variety of cooking pumpkins and winter squashes. I bought a Fairy Tale and La Estrada pumpkin and a Blue Hubbard and Buttercup squash. My daughter in law will make holiday pies and soups with them. They will keep for the holidays if you put them in a cool place. I get them every year and put them in the garage.
• Doris is usually at the market but haven't heard for sure. She has the fancy stuff like pies, tarts, springerle cookies. She also has comfort food like cinnamon rolls and muffins.
• Wilma has a variety of crafts for children and adults. She makes the cutest children's aprons with tools or cooking utensils in the pockets. She also makes home decor items like embroidered and appliqued dish towels, hand towels, pillows etc. Last week she some really cute fall and thanksgiving decorations.
• There are many more vendors that will be at the market. I will try and highlight them in depth next week. Briefly for now; Art & Larry make handcrafted wood items, Natalie makes machine embroidered aprons and other items, Julia and Gwen make purses, Sandy makes a variety of unique crafts like dog collars and zipper bracelets, Maggie Barron makes cheese cake, Charlie has loads of produce, Tanya usually has canned items, cookies and candy, dried flowers and wreathes, Susan makes soap, bath salts, Kim makes cookies and cakes. I'm sure that I'm missing someone.

Tomorrow should be a beautiful day. Come see us at the market and buy local. All items at the market are handmade or grown by the people selling them.

Happy Halloween!

ARTCanDo is having a Make it and Take it Event!

Debbie Hawkins of Fox Creek Crafts and Garden (one of our vendors)

will be showing how to make the Ladder Yarn

necklace. We will also make a gift box with a lid,

decorate it and attach a tag. All ready for giving!

ARTCanDo is located at 618 West Fifth Street

Washington, MO Date: Monday Nov. 14 Time: 6:00-8:00pm. Refreshments

for your pleasure. Tour our buildings! $15 at the door.

Contact Andi Kempf for more information. 636-221-4991

Tomorrow we are having a Halloween party. Bob & Pat will be BBQ ing in the parking lot. Kids can come in costume and trick or treat from the vendors. There will be Halloween pictures for the kids to color and we will display them. I will be doing a craft project with the kids. We will be felting bars of soap. Anyone with old pantyhose or travel size bars of soap that they can donate, will be greatly appreciated.

Tomorrow at the market:

• John & Darleen have made apple jelly and apple mint jelly. They are also making a new sweat bread with green tomatoes.
• John Koppmann have lots of tomatoes, and winter squashes and pumpkins, as well as peppers, eggplant, cucumbers and more.
• I made new lotion, some with orange butter
• Linda is making more jelly and still has her pickled beets
• Troy & Vickie should be back with produce, baked and canned goods
• Gwen, of Just Button It, will be there with purses
• many other vendors with produce, crafts, baked and canned goods

Next week starts our Winter hours. No more Wednesdays and

Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm

Happy Halloween,

Remember, buy local,

see you at the market

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

October 29 is our Halloween party at the at the market. Bob & Pat's BBQ will be on the parking lot and the kids can come in costume and trick or treat from the vendors. I will be doing a craft project with the kids. We will be felting bars of soap. It will be going on throughout the day. Kids can bring a small bar of soap and an old pantyhose leg if they have it. Otherwise we will have extras of both.

We will be at the market this afternoon and next week Wednesday also. November starts our winter hours . No Wednesdays and Saturday hours 9 am to 1 pm.

John & Darleen are making homemade apple jelly this week and should have it Saturday.

Maggie has some beautiful grave decorations.

John does not have anymore watermelons (boo hoo) but has lots of pumpkins and gourds and pecans.

Vicky & Troy will not be at the market today or Saturday. Their daughter Lucy is getting married.

Brenda & Ron along with Tim, Charlie and John have had loads of produce. Last week I got some lettuce from Brenda that was so sweet and tender. It was like the first lettuce of the spring. And there were plenty of tomatoes.

And as always, this week we will have plenty of canned goods, baked goods and crafts.

Support your local farmers and craftsman. BUY LOCAL!

See you at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Wednesday was beautiful at the market. We had 6 vendors, 3 of them were produce vendors. There were plenty of tomatoes. John had watermelons and lots of pumpkins and gourds.

• It is a good time for fall planting. I am going to bring some perennials and some bulbs tomorrow and Mark is coming with his asters and mums. The mums are in full bloom and beautiful.
• Charlie is back with his produce. He had lots of tomatoes last week.
• Vicky & Troy have lots of pears from their trees. They are fabulous.
• Linda has her homegrown canned tomatoes.
• Darleen & John will have their sugar free baked goods.
• I will have my homemade dog soap, made with mango butter to condition skin and coat and herbal oils to repel fleas and ticks.

We would like to have a special fall Saturday at the market with Bob & Pat BBQ. I have been making felted soap bars at the market and the kids seem fascinated by it.

I would like to have a kids craft project where they felt their own bars of soap. I can provide the ingredients but I would need help from other adults. We could have the project the same Saturday as Bob & Pat or it might be good for a Wednesday at the market. Any girl scout / boy scouts/ home school groups interested? Email me at christajones10@gmail.com or call me at 314-795-1642.

This weekend is the Annual Washington crafts festival. The farmers' market will still be open at its usual time, 8 am. There is usually parking in the block west of the market on main if you are coming early. We will, however, be open until 6 pm. We will also be open on Sunday the same hours as the festival which I believe is 10 am to 4 pm.

John and Tim have said they will be there Saturday morning with produce.

We have another new vendor who came for the first time Wednesday. Kim and her mother are bakers. They had cookie samples that got rave revues Wednesday. They also had breads and pies.

I have been making my own soap, hand felted bars of soap, Goats milk and shea butter lotion and lip balm . Tomorrow I will have goats milk, shea butter, mango butter soaps. I also pulled out last winter's knitted hats. They are freshly washed and include my special glow in the dark kids hats.

I am working on a new project to spin and knit a hat and glove set out of dog hair and I will be carding and spinning it at the market this weekend.

Come join the fun at the market and downtown this weekend.

Christa Jones

Spinning Blue Skys

We finally made it past the hot weather and into fall. The market is still busy with lots of produce. Please welcome our new vendor Diane Dawkins. She makes soap and other skin products, as well as lovely crocheted baby sets that include sweater, hat, booties, and baby blanket. Diane also makes yummy snacks.
Hurrah! Judy is back from Alaska. She had huckleberry muffins Wednesday and will have them again Saturday.
Linda had lots of tomatoes last week and hopefully will bring more this week.
Darleen & John made cantaloupe jelly and say its good even though it doesn't sound like it. They also canned something called Chow Mix.
Mark from Schroeder greenhouse is also back with lots of fall mums and asters.
Brenda had plenty of her heirloom tomatoes last week as well as lots of other produce and cut herbs. She also had plenty of perennials for fall planting and the most gorgeous hanging ferns.
Maggie has been making grave memorials and fall wreaths.
I have been making something new, felted bars of soap. I will also have cut herbs and daffodil and grape Hyacinth bulbs.
See you tomorrow at the market!

Don't forget the market is still open tomorrow even though the fair is going on. It is not going to be so brutally hot. Should be a great day at the market. There will be lots of produce including tomatoes and corn on the cob. There will also be lots of baked goods, canned goods, plants and crafts. I still have plenty of herb plants.

August 13 and CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY is fast approaching. There will be gift basket give aways every 30-60 minutes and lots of games with prizes. Bob & Pat will be barbecuing in the parking lot again as well as live music. Many of the vendors will have sales. It is all to show our customers how much we appreciate their support.

See tomorrow at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Produce is plentiful at the market! There are more than enough tomatoes for everyone and plenty of most other produce as well. We are very fortunate that we have such a wonderful facility, under cover with overhead fans. During this hot weather there is plenty of cold bottled water.

Coming August 13th Customer Appreciation Day. We will again have Bob & Pat barbecuing in the parking lot. There will also be gift basket give aways every 30 - 60 minutes and plenty of games with prizes for all ages. There will be live music by Linda Jo and Don and hopefully Greg too.

See you today at the market,

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Last Saturday's Independence Day celebration was a big success. The next event to look forward to is the Customer Appreciation Day on August 13. Bob & Pat's BBQ will be back and there will be a gift basket give away.

There will be lots of locally grown produce today and farm fresh eggs as well as baked goods, canned goods, plants and crafts. AND TOMATOES AND SWEET CORN ARE IN. Basket Case Deli will provide lunch as is usual on Saturdays. The Market has been full of vendors with plenty of bussel.

See you later at the market,

Christa

Happy 4th of July!

Saturday is our 4th of July Celebration. The day starts with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Lucy. The first cake walk begins at about 8:30. Shortly thereafter the Duck Pond opens for kids 6 & under. At 10 am is the first Over and Under game with the vendors vs the customers. Hopefully the vendors team will be headed by Mark Wessels, chamber president. There will also be Hoolah Hoop contests throughout the day. What would a 4th of July party be without BBQ? Bob & Pat's BB q will be doing their thing in the parking lot. I have been told that they now make their own french fries and they are yummy! There will be picnic tables set up in the market so you can enjoy lunch then join the cake walk and win desert. We will also have live music for the day.

There will be plenty of fresh produce for you 4th party of Monday. Last week we had tomatoes and corn, as well as plums, blueberries, peaches, onions, garlic, lettuce, kale, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, beets, radishes, turnips, cut herbs. And of course plenty of baked goods, homemade candy, canned goods and hand made crafts.

There are still lots of plants at the market including annual flowers and perennials. I will have lots of herbs including stevia, mint, rosemary, 6 kinds of basil, feverfew, fennel, oregano and more.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Welcome new market vendor Rick Babb who will have blueberries Saturday. The produce is really starting to come in now, last week there was lettuce, onions, garlic, beets, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, kale, collard greens, fresh cut herbs, blueberries, peaches and more. Hopefully this week tomatoes will be available.

Saturday July 2nd is the first annual 4th of July Celebration. There will be bar-b-qing and games for kids as well as a cake walk for the adults. The day will start off with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Lucy. There will also be live music for the event. Please join us for day.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

A beautiful but hot afternoon at the market today. I will have baby gold ball turnips, baby beets, green onions, a small bag of baby multi-colored carrots and beans. I will also have lots of herb plants, annual flowers and perennials.

Vicky has had, giant green onions, radishes, beets, cut herbs and a variety of home canned goods and fresh farm eggs. Debbie has been bringing lots hand baked treats from the Fudge Shoppe as well as lettuce and her hand made reversible aprons.

We will have plenty of iced bottle water in the cooler for any one who wants some.

Don't forget that Sunday is Father's Day. There will be many hand made gifts and treats for Dad at the market Saturday. As well as produce, breads, canned goods to make a nice Father's Day dinner.

Linda from Breads by Linda will have her fresh canned pickled beets. Produce is really starting to come in. Last week there was lettuce, beets, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, radishes, cut herbs, kale, collards and turnip greens and more.

The basket Case Deli will be at the market with sandwhichs and cold drinks.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

The market will be open this afternoon despite the heat. I will be bringing Jericho lettuce. This is an Israeli lettuce that is supposed to be bolt resistant in the heat. I will also have green onions, golden ball turnips, turnip greens, baby beets, the first handful of multicolored baby carrots and beans. Also lots of herb plants.

I will have plenty of iced bottles of water.

See you at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Gonna be a hot one today. I will have bottles of cold water for anyone who needs one and The Basket Case Deli will be at the market again today with lunch including ice tea and lemonade.

Judy of Quills and Crystals will have a new recipe of bacon and cheese muffins that are supposed to be really good.

I will have lots of herbs and a pink lilac bush.

Maggie has awesome Cardinal hats with crystals on them.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

I will be at the market this afternoon with lots of different kinds of mint, stevia, basil, lemon balm, and thyme among others. I'm sorry that I did not get to the market last Wednesday. The weather was just too bad. Today I will also have green onions and lots of perennials.

Last Saturday The Basket Case Deli began serving sandwiches and drinks. It was awesome. They will be there every Saturday. http://www.thebasketcasedeli.com

Tim had loads of lettuce last week too. Also last week vendors had fresh onions, garlic, spinach, radishes, cut herbs, cabbage, chinese cabbage, broccoli and other things.

Come on out to the Market today, I will have cold bottled water for those who want it.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Oh what a beautiful morning. I will be at the market this afternoon with baby Golden Ball Turnips. This is an heirloom variety brought to this country from England in 1855. They are sweet and mild and the tops are excellent for eating. I put them in my salad. I will also have baby spinach and lettuce and onions.

This Saturday is the Art and Wine Fest. The market will be open the regular hours but the vendors will be in the street in front of the market and the block to the west.

I have decided not to come that weekend.

See you this afternoon.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Good rainy morning. I will have white lilac and dogwood bouquets today as well as baby lettuce and onions.

See you at the market.

Spinning Blue Skys

Let's hope it doesn't storm for the market this afternoon. Lily and her new friend Bella may have to come with me today. I will have fresh baby lettuce, spinach, onions and fresh cut cilantro. I will also have live herbs and plants.

I also have a 3 ft male holly and a 5 ft pink mimosa, 4 ft catalpa. If anyone wants to buy one of them let me know and I will bring it to the market.

We are also looking for volunteer musicians to play on Saturdays for tips. No hard rock please. Call Amanda at the Chamber of Commerce to get on the schedule. The number is on the lower right side of the blog. Or just stop by the market and if no one is playing have at it. Wednesday afternoons are available too but not as busy. It might make you a little more comfortable before playing on a Saturday. Playing at the market is good exposure several musicians are now too busy with paying jobs to play for us. We will put your name on the blog and facebook too. It also is a good confidence builder for students.

See you later today at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

We are now open Wednesdays 3-6.

Sunday is Mother's Day. There are a lot of nice gift ideas at the market.

Maggie is making grave bouquets this year.

We want to welcome new vendors Irvin & Kathleen Huser. They were at the market Wednesday. They sell plants, produce, worm castings and adirondack chairs.

I am bringing cut chocolate mint and spearmint Saturday for Derby Day mint Juleps and mojitos. See you tomorrow at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

Yesterday was a beautiful day at the market. The produce is slowly coming in. We had lettuce, spinach, cabbage, onions, radishes and fresh cut herbs. Every week there is a little more. There was also lots of fresh baked goods. Doris with Moriah bakery was there for the first time this year. I bought some farm fresh brown eggs from Vicki. I just cant buy those store bought eggs anymore. There are lots of crafts this year. Maggie has sparkle balls to take camping. There are beautiful embroidered aprons, hand made purses and Cindy was there with her great scarves. And of course there are loads of veggie plants, flowers and perennials. Oh, I almost forgot the home canned goods.

Next weekend is Mother's Day. There are lots of great gifts at the market.

Christa

Spinning Blue Skys

This Saturday is our Easter Egg hunt at the market. We will have a hunt at 9, 11, and 12 noon. Cara Knox will be there with special Easter cards. Here is a picture of one of them. The picture doesn't do it justice. Last week I ate some of Linda's new rye bread and it was soooooo good.

Produce is coming in. Last week there was lettuce, spinach, onions, fresh cut herbs. This Saturday I will be bringing radishes as well as Easter planters, herb plants and perennials.

The bakers are making lots of Easter goodies. Maggie has her already made Easter baskets. There will be lots of canned goodies and of course, lots of bedding plants and perennials and annuals. We will have music also. Come join us this Saturday for holiday fun.

Opening day was great. We had close to a full house of vendors and lots of customers also. There were lots of veggie and flower plants, yummy baked goods including cheesecake. Ruth Scott is a new vendor who makes packaged dips, baking mixes, soups etc. She will not be at the market this Saturday but will be back on the 23rd. I even bought fresh spinach! This Saturday the BBQ contest and blues fest will be going on. The market will still be there and many vendors will be staying later in the afternoon. Place your orders for Easter baked goods and treats this Saturday and pick them up on the 23rd.

I understand the first weekend was great! Gladden Studios will be starting April 23. I have lots of great spring colors in the popular ribbon scarves!! See you there!

Breads By Linda
I'm really busy getting ready for our first Market day on April 9th
I will have fresh Jams & Jellies, Salsa, & Spaghetti Sauce
Lots of cookies, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Pecan, Cowboy, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip, Oatmeal Craisin, Snickerdoodles
Blueberry Muffins, Cinnamon Rolls, Lots of Yeast Breads I'm trying my hand at Rye Bread & Potato Bread this year. I hope they both turn out good. I'm so excited about the Market starting again, I was getting really bored.
See you all at The Washington Farmers' Market on Saturday 8:00am sharp!!!!!!!!!!

Maggie Bradford has been getting busy for the opening day of the market. She has Easter basket ready for kids and moms or sweathearts. She also has spring decorations. Her heart wreath is shown in one of the blog pictures.

For baseball fans Maggie has made Cardinal baseball hats with Swarovski crystals.

For your outdoor entertainment, Maggie also has new sparkle balls for this year.

New Kid on the Block

As the new Director of Tourism for Washington I am very excited that the Farmers' Market will fall under my umbrella of duties. I look forward to working with all of the vendors and continuing with a strong market, that we can all be proud of!

Opening day is less than 2 weeks away! The Easter eggs are stuffed with candy and toys. The vendors are excited to see customers and each other. The bedding plants are growing and will be ready. Linda is making jellies this week as are the other jelly and jam makers. There will be plenty of baked goods and canned items. There will also be lots of crafts. Maggie is making Easter baskets in case the Easter bunny needs a little help. Vendors who would like a list of their items at the bottom of the blog should contact Christa. All vendors can post to the blog. If you are unable to do so make sure Christa has your email address or, if you don't have an address, give your postings to Christa. Contact information is available at the chamber or, once the market opens, at space B.

Opening day is getting closer. Linda Jo Webb and Don will be playing for opening day. We will be having something new this year. An Easter Egg hunt will be held on the Saturday before Easter. There will be filled eggs for the kids as well as tickets for free games of bowling at Town and Country Lanes. Mark your calendars now.

Spring is Coming

Our farmers and plant growers are starting their seeds now. There should be a good selection of vegie plants and flowers at the market this spring as well as early vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, beets and onions. Everything you need for that first tender sweet spring salad. Except the tomatoes of course. I can almost taste it now!

Debbie Hawkins

Hurrah! Debbie Hawkins will be back this year with her hand knitted hats and scarves.

Gladden Studios will occupy a space again for the third year.(www.gladdenstudios.com)
Cindy

This blog site is currently under construction and will be ready prior to the 2011 season which begins the second saturday in April.  The early season will include lots of bedding and vegetable plants as well as Easter crafts and lots of baked and canned goodies. New this year will be an Easter treat hunt, 4th of July party and a customer appreciation party in August.

Can't wait to see you at the Market!