Market Season is in Full Swing

As it is the end of May, farmers markets are in full swing. I've been attending the Markets on Mulberry in Shallotte, NC since the end of March and it will wrap up at the end of June. I tried the Sunset Beach Markets in the Park but it was sadly a bust. The Silver Coast Winery Markets in Ocean Isle Beach were cancelled for the year but the Pure Markets at Ocean Isle Beach Town Park starts up the first week of June. I've found in my particular area, there are not that many farmers. Most of theses are called "farmers markets" but all of them have been mostly craft people. Normally I would be happy that I am the only vegetable farmer but sadly most customers are not looking for farm produce. The pig farmer and the chicken farmer are my only similar vendors. I have found that every week, more customers are coming expecting vegetables, herbs, and eggs.

The garden is bursting with life but not all are the bounty that I am looking for. I have had to battle tomato fruitworms trying to eat away all my plants. As I am trying to be a no synthetic chemicals or sprays, I actually used a whole bottle of cayenne pepper dusted on the plants and the little buggers drowned in some dawn dish soap water. This morning, I walked out to find all of my squash have holes from being eaten by pickleworms. I will definitely have to get more cayenne. The tomatoes have bounced back and are looking better than ever so I have high hopes for the squash. I would release the quacken but they tore through all of my lettuce and had started working through the tomatoes before I kicked them out of the garden.

Miss Lucy has halted her egg laying and went broody for about 4 weeks. Last night she finally laid down to let me pet her. It has taken a full 3 months but she is comfortable enough to let me pet and pick her up. I had nearly convinced the others in the household to harvest her for thanksgiving but dang it, she has twisted me around her little feet and now I don't think I could.

The purple sugar snap peas have been absolutely amazing. They are delicious and proliferous. Customers love them and I enjoy snacking on them while I'm harvesting in the morning. The chinese long beans are exploding in the garden right now as the peas are slowly dying in the heat. They are taking over the harvest shelf of my refrigerator because each one is between 1 to 2 feet long and about the width of a pencil. I will probably have to make some for dinner one night this week to try the flavor.

I have been in charge of dinner ever since I came off the road (I was a truck driver right up until March) and I have been loving the search for new recipes. So far, I've only had 2 fails; lamb stew and cajun shrimp. Turns out half the family hates lamb and half the family hated the cajun seasoning. We have gotten sick of chicken so now I'm venturing into pork chops as well. If I find any amazing recipes, I will post it in a blog.

That's all from my stupid face today but you can always catch me up on my Youtube: Lessons From The Backroads