With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, this Saturday’s market is shaping up to be a busy and festive one. The forecast is calling for scattered showers, but that will not stop us. We attend the Easton farmers’ market no matter the weather, rain or shine, and we will be there with a full booth ready for you this Saturday, May 23rd.
If you are planning to stop by, we strongly recommend arriving before 10am to beat the crowds and get first pick of everything at the booth. And if there is something specific you have your eye on, the best way to guarantee it is waiting for you is to place your order ahead of time at quarter-acre.com/shop. Online orders must be placed by Thursday at 8pm and are available for pickup right at our booth Saturday morning.
New This Week: Erlene’s Green Cotton and Packer’s Lima Bean Seedlings
Back in April we shared that we had just seeded Erlene’s Green Cotton in the greenhouse and were waiting on germination. We are thrilled to report that the wait is over. These unique seedlings are ready to come home with you this Saturday!
Erlene’s Green Cotton is a one-of-a-kind heirloom from Erlene Melancon’s family in east Texas, where her grandmother used the naturally green fibers in her quilts for generations. The light olive green cotton can be spun right off the seed, and once spun and washed it turns a beautiful yellowish-green. Plants grow to 5 feet tall and are striking in the garden even as just an ornamental. And here is a fun fact for your gardening curiosity: cotton belongs to the mallow family, the same plant family as hibiscus, okra, and hollyhocks!
Packer’s Lima Bean is an open-pollinated bush type loaded with 3-inch flat pods. If you have never tasted fresh baby limas right out of the garden, you are in for a genuine surprise. The flavor is satisfyingly good in a way that store-bought limas simply cannot match.
Hidden Gems You Should Not Sleep On
With so many seedlings available right now it is easy to overlook some real standouts. Here are three that deserve a spot in your garden this season:
Orange Banana Tomato produces 4 to 5 oz cylindrical orange fruits with a sprightly sweet flavor reminiscent of Sungold but with more depth. Wonderful sliced in a salad or roasted into a vivid, fruity sauce.
Purple Blush Tomatillo is a great place to start if you have never grown tomatillos before. Lush, sprawling plants produce large 2-inch-plus fruits that blush purple where the sun kisses them. Perfect for making your own salsa verde at home.
Gigante d’Italia Parsley, do not overlook the humble parsley! This flat-leaved Italian heirloom produces giant leaves that are easy to pick and wash, with a rich, sweet flavor that puts grocery store parsley to shame. A kitchen staple worth growing yourself.
All seedlings are $5.00 per 3-inch fiber pot, certified organic, and ready to transplant plus they are available for pre-order at quarter-acre.com/shop.
This Week’s Taco Special: Scrapple and Egg Taco
A true Eastern Shore classic reimagined in taco form! A crispy slice of scrapple paired with a fluffy scrambled egg, served on a warm corn tortilla and topped with our fresh pico de gallo. It does not get more local than this.
Take-Home Frozen Meal: Chicken Mole with Rice
This Saturday’s ready-to-heat meal is a rich and deeply satisfying one: tender chicken thighs simmered in a smoky red mole sauce with just a touch of spice, served with fluffy white rice and topped with queso fresco. Pick it up at the booth, take it home, and heat it up whenever you are ready.
A Note for Fellow Gardeners
If you are feeling a little behind on your garden this season, do not worry. We just started transplanting our own cherry tomato seedlings last week and we still have many more tomatoes to get in the ground ourselves. There is plenty of time and plenty of season ahead. If you have questions along the way, swing by our booth and ask. We love talking about growing and are always happy to help.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Grab your rain jacket and come find us Saturday, 8am to 12pm. We cannot wait to see you!