Posted By Grumpy Glenn and Judy on April 20, 2009
Here are some tips to ensure a wonderful Farmers Market experience:
Posted By Grumpy Glenn and Judy on April 20, 2009
With the help of many local volunteers and the Boy Scouts, the long anticipated Galena Community Garden is having its fence raising this Saturday, 4/25/09! The garden, located on Dodge Street in the historical district of Galena will give residents in the community an area to grow their own fruits and veggies for their own consumption or to donate to the local food pantry. Their mission statement is “to provide gardening opportunities, educate and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the Galena area through the offering of garden plots and educational services”. Up to ten plots will also be donated for the sole purpose of donating what is grown to the local food pantry. Congratulations to everyone who took this wonderful idea and made it happen! The Galena Community Garden’s website is http://galenacommunitygarden.org.
Category: Events & Markets, Local "Eat Local" News |
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Tags: Galena Community Garden
Posted By Grumpy Glenn and Judy on April 20, 2009
During these hard economic times where will the typical customer go to get better prices for most of their “fresh” grocery shopping – our local Super Walmart or to the Farmers’ or Community Market when they open for the season soon? The current economic crisis has many grocery customers going without, or a switch to low-cost Walmart rather than their other neighborhood grocer. How can we reach our community members and friends and educate them of the benefits of buying from local, community markets instead? Or, how can we encourage our local grocer to spend a portion of their budget on local produce? Maybe their margin won’t be as high, but they will be doing a great community service. Any ideas?
Category: Grumble of the Day |
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Posted By Grumpy Glenn and Judy on April 15, 2009
A little about the Bloggers… We are Grumpy Glenn and Judy, and relocated to Galena, Illinois from Chicago in 2003. Grumpy Glenn’s (GG) family were avid veggie gardeners, Judy’s family were apartment dwellers. Glenn’s family always knew what it was like to sit down to a rainbow of garden picked veggie goodness.
At Judy’s house, a salad consisted of a few pieces of iceberg lettuce, a couple of “cuke” slices and a tomato wedge – all topped with a Wishbone dressing of choice – all from Jewel of course. Special occasions like Christmas or Rosh Hashanah called for a bag of frozen green beans instead of canned.
GG’s Mom, bless her soul, was the ultimate “Mom”. She was a gourmet cook and wonderful entertainer. Her vegetable garden overflowed with a bountiful assortment of veggies that lasted the family throughout the winter – thanks to freezer bags and canning jars. Judy learned a whole new way of life when marrying GG. We received an invitation to dinner one time, and Mom said she was going to make “green beans”. Judy, being the foodie she is, totally freaked, thinking her dinner was going to be a bowl of green beans. She should have known better…yes, there were deliciously crispy and freshly cooked green beans from her garden, but they had been seasoned with ham, garlic, onions, etc. And all served up with freshly baked bread and a salad made with more of her garden goodies. There was always her homemade fudge for dessert, and there probably was a home baked pie, too… That was a long time ago – don’t recall. It was heaven!
GG’s Dad is also a marvel! When he retired, he had time for his own garden – separate from Mom’s. They used to have a friendly competition going about whose veggies were better. Dad LOVES garlic, and that was always a big part of his garden. Grumpy Glenn’s garlic fixation came from him. To this day GG sends Dad garlic care packages each August. Although he is in an assisted living apartment now, he brings a couple of garlic cloves and a knife to the dining room so that he can continue to enjoy the health benefits - and great taste!
Category: Personal Stuff |
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Posted By Grumpy Glenn and Judy on April 15, 2009
There are only 2 Saturdays left for the Dubuque Winter Farmers’ Market - held indoors - and then we all go outside for the summer. It has been a wonderful six months and the venue is getting better every year! Thanks to the Colts Drum & Bugle Corp for letting us use their building at the corner of 11th and Central! The market runs from the first Saturday in November through the last Saturday in April from 9a.m. - 12. Breakfast and snacks are available, and there is always some music to add to the festive atmosphere!
We vendors really are thankful for the wonderful job of promoting the market this year! The traffic has been great! Amy Weber and Terry Mozena are the volunteer coordinators, and they have done an outstanding job! We are all so grateful to them! Amy was manually sending out hundreds (maybe thousands?) of weekly email alerts until Four Mounds Foundation took over the job a few weeks ago. They are now doing an internet based newsletter and are including a vendor highlight section. How cool!
Below are a sampling of vendors from the 2008/2009 market:
- Allgyer Farm – Homemade potato chips, Amish egg noodles, and baked goods
- Ambleside Farm – Handmade gourmet pasta, Iowa Grape Vines juice, fresh produce
- Barb’s Garden & Pantry – Jams, homemade granola, and more
- Blue Sky Meats - Bratwurst, sausage, summer sausage, cottage bacon
- Billee’s – Craft stand including microwave potato bags, rice bags, soap, and more
- Bluebell Orchard – Apples and apple cider
- C&J’s Good Stuff – Spelt flour baked goods and organic snack mixes
- Carol Steckel – Lots of fall produce, free range eggs, dried herbs
- Claire Herting – Varieties of fall produce and hand sewed items
- Coyote Creek Angus Beef – All grass fed angus beef
- Double L Vineyard – Local wines all grown and bottled in Holy Cross
- Early Risers Farm – Meats, cheeses, including cheese curds, eggs, produce, & herbs
- Galena Dips & Gifts– Homemade Gourmet Dip mixes, Seasonings, Soup Mixes, Homemade Garlic Powder
- Gateway Natural Meats – Many varieties of organic meats and dairy products
- Gerald Droessler – Varieties of nut meats, baked goods, and dried fruits
- Green Garden Room – Potted flowers and homemade treats
- Gramp’s Pickles – Gourmet varieties of pickles and apple pie in a jar
- Hammerand Farm – Certified organic chickens and eggs
- Iowa Grape Vines – Organic varieties of grape juice
- Johnson Honey Farm – Iowa honey products and maple syrup
- Josa’s Country Store– Gourmet baked goods and pre-made soups
- Key City Candles – All natural Soy container candles and wax dipped gifts
- Kruse Farm – Fall produce items, dried herbs and fruits, plus crocheted items
- Darlene Leibold – Hand woven baskets – look for the signature Dubuque Farmer’s Market basket
- Steve Lemmon – Homemade bread products made with local honey
- Marc Millitzer Glass – Hand blown glass products, organic produce & sprouted grains
- Paul Opperman – Knife and scissor sharpening
- Rollin Hills Honey - handmade soaps, body butter, honey products
- King’s Hill Farm
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Porkhouse LLC / Black Angus Acres – Organically farmed pork, chicken, and beef
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Rock Ridge Market – Varieties of gourmet cookies and seasonal produce
- Stillmunkes Produce– Kettle Korn and fresh produce
- Sue’s Essentials – Homemade soaps and hair care products & gluten free breads
- Wide River Winery – Serves specialty wines from organically grown grapes
We are thrilled to be able to get fresh greens and other veggies from April through January - all because of the Dubuque Winter Farmers’ Market! We will be posting which vendors have these items in the future.
Category: Events & Markets, Local "Eat Local" News |
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Tags: Dubuque Winter Farmers' Market, Galena Dips
