Farmer’s Market Treasures
Time travel with me for a moment…
Can you remember the summer of 2020?
Something called the coronavirus had taken us hostage. For a few months now, we had been isolated. Going out into the wild, aka leaving the house, required varying degrees of PPE, from masks (some became quite fashionable) to gloves to face shields. I can recall even seeing full hazmat suits as I navigated the most dangerous of places… the grocery store.
Summer of 2020
Think, for a moment, about that experience. We waited in line, sometimes for over an hour, before entering certain places. Once in, it felt like a militant and overall surreal experience. We were allowed only to go one way in the aisles and around the store. We made no eye contact with our fellow humans. If someone coughed, everyone retreated to get as far away as possible. When the newly acquired food items arrived in our homes, we wiped them down or kept them in a holding tank for a few days to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
Most WTF moment in history
Despite that, my weekly trip to Whole Foods was a highlight of my life. Being in public to acquire food items was deemed acceptable, and I looked forward to it. I’d compliantly follow the one-way signs up and down the aisles for hours on end. I’d buy way more than I needed. It was a great dopamine rush.
This ritual continued through early 2021. Once again, my campervan saved me. It helped me realize that I no longer desired to dedicate my entire Saturday to grocery shopping. And so began a new ritual of curbside pickup.
Quick Delivery
It’s beautiful to pick your items via an app and have them quickly delivered to your car. The cost savings and time savings were measurable. And the joy of not having to enter the dreaded wholesale club was a sign of relief. As much as I enjoyed my weekly trip to Whole Foods, the wholesale club on the weekend was a special version of hell. Financially, it makes sense to go there for many essential items. But it always felt like battling with a species whose key motivator is the aggressive acquisition of free samples.
So, here we have two extremes of food acquisition. As we know, food is essential to life. The first extreme made me feel depleted and time-poor, and the second extreme made me feel disconnected.
For many reasons, as I navigate middle age, I’m doing my best to eat better.
More Fresh.
More Local.
Less Processed.
Less Mindlessness.
Farmar’s Market in Natick, MA
So, discovering a year-round farmer’s market in Natick, MA, near me, was the perfect middle way.
Curbside pickup is still very much a part of my life. I’d label it one of the good things born out of those WTF years. But when I have the luxury of spending my Saturday morning exploring the farmer’s market, there’s no question about it. That is where you will find me.
This new ritual makes me feel more connected to my community. I’m all for convenience, but I don’t believe that being able to order everything and have it delivered to us is how we are to live. To me, it conjures up visions of Idiocracy.
Looking into the eyes of the person who raised, picked, or made the item I am buying feels special and like a lost art in our disconnected society. I also appreciate, as do the vendors, being able to pay cash for things. It would be incredibly challenging today to exist without a credit card or some way of paying for things electronically. But this has led many of us (me!!) to spend our money too freely and extend beyond our means. As someone trying to pay off debt, I appreciate that before I go to the market, I get the amount of cash I desire to spend and when it’s gone, it’s gone. The vendors appreciate not having to pay credit card processing fees. As a fellow small business owner, supporting their thriving makes me feel good.
At the time of writing this, I’ve just returned from the first completely outdoor market of the season. The sun was shining, the live music was blaring, and everything felt alive. I went with no expectation of what I’d come back with; only endless possibilities. What a good life lesson that is!
And for this week of my life, I was able to acquire all of the things that I needed and then some directly from the source.
There were no big box stores.
No multinational corporations.
No credit cards.
My Treasure Haul
Everything that I needed was right here in my community. I’d like to share a few of my favorite things from this bounty and why I love these things so much.
Meat from Chestnut Farms
My relationship with meat is complicated. I struggle with eating it off the bone. It feels too real. And I find the meat industry in the US to be despicable in so many ways. But after several failed attempts to be a vegetarian, I know my body needs it. My recent blood test confirms this. My ferritin is extremely low, and my body struggles to absorb iron. So if I eat meat, I like knowing where it comes from.
Mushroom things from Joyberry Farms.
You might think that shopping at the farmer’s market means no convenience foods. But that is not true. These folks are obsessed with mushrooms. They offer easy things like the risotto and pasta you see here—delicious and perfect for a quick and easy dinner. They even have amazing hot chocolate infused with all the mushroom goodness.
Seafood from Jordan Brothers
I’m a New England girl. I take my seafood seriously. This is the BEST I’ve had. It’s nice to know the source. I usually look for fish caught in the North Atlantic because close to home is fresher and also supports my local economy.
Greens from Tangerini’s Farm
I LOVE good greens. They are so simple – saute a little garlic and oil, throw them in, and in 2-3 minutes, you are done. While my husband has gotten better about his eating habits, he used to complain about ‘green shit.’ So it was music to my ears when he complimented me and ate all his kale and Swiss Chard.
Healthy Nut Balls
I LOVE these so much! Typically, I am not hungry in the morning, but I’ve learned how important it is to have food in the belly before coffee. One of these with my morning espresso is perfect for holding me over until I’m ready for breakfast. They are sooo yummy with coffee.
Sweet Willow Natural Deodorant
Another thing I have trouble with is deodorant. Of course I don’t want to stink, but sweating is good for us. So if I speak in front of a room of hundreds of people, I will go for the strong stuff. But if I’m at home or camping, I’ll skip it or apply something more natural.
Chocolate
My husband is a milk chocolate guy. I like my chocolate dark, but we fight over this milk chocolate.
Farm-Fresh Eggs
If you haven’t had farm-fresh eggs, this is a great place to start. One of the most noticeable differences is between store-bought eggs and farm-fresh eggs. It’s hard to go back once you’ve had them.
Microgreens
Microgreens from We Grow Microgreens. So good and so many varieties. If you haven’t tried them, you are missing out.
Apples
I was very pleased to see these late-season apples. They were so sweet, and I enjoyed every last bite, knowing I might not see them again until the Fall.
Of course, there is more in my bounty, including…
English Muffins from OMG Bakery. The name says it all. And while I try to mostly not eat white flour, these are worth it.
Gria Rosemary Salted Cashews. One sample, and I couldn’t resist.
Sable Almond Flour Butter Cook. Once upon a time, gluten-free things tasted like cardboard. These cookies would put any regular cookie to shame.
Hi Rise Bread Company Granola. Yum, just yum.
Empty bag
It contained the cider donuts that I acquired along with my greens. Not coming home with cider donuts may have been grounds for divorce. When I pulled into the driveway, my husband was working outside. Let’s just say that the donuts didn’t make it inside. They were amazingly delicious, reminding me that it’s ok to have a treat once in a while.
Time Abundance
I hope you’ve enjoyed journeying with me through the joy of the farmers market. It’s a reminder that life can often get in the way of enjoying experiences like this. We’re often too busy going through the motions of weekend chores and obligations, and something that feels so natural and so right is a luxury.
As I conclude, I’ll say that I want this for you and me. Time abundance is beautiful, and I can likely support you in getting there, so contact me. It would be an honor to support you in any way I can.
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