June 2011

When I was young, my grandfather lived in the country near Rochester, Minnesota, and had an abundant vegetable garden. Walking down its paths in the spring, you would see what would be rows of carrots, greens, potatoes, eggplant, a trellis where the french beans would climb, and then, in the corner of the garden, a huge rhubarb plant, already lush and green. I remember pulling up a stalk of that rhubarb with all my might. Dipping it in sugar I would crunch into it and pucker my lips as its juice ran down my chin. Its taste always reminds me of this childhood happiness. I must say this is still my favorite way to eat rhubarb—there is a spontaneous joy in picking a stalk, cutting off the leaves, and eating it then and there. Yesterday afternoon, I was in the Linden Hills Coop in Minneapolis and saw one of the cashiers sitting at a table taking her break.

Nestled between the theatrical masterpiece designed by famed architect Jean Nouvel and a museum built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill resides the Mill City Farmer’s Market, offering Twin Citians the opportunity to connect with and support local vendors each Saturday. Running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October 15, this vibrant gathering place features more than 60 vendors selling everything from vegetarian curry dishes to native woodland plants.

The greens are growing wildly in my garden, the spinach is getting munched up as soon as the leaves are as big as half dollars. Soon, I will be buried in salad greens from the crunchy and mild butter crisp lettuces at the farmers markets, to the mix of lettuces and other cutting greens in my garden. Add in the mustard greens and dill that grow everywhere in my yard now and I'm set to eat as much salad as I can handle. The only way that is going to happen is if I have great dressings constantly on hand. This is key. I mean, I love a spot of salad with every little thing, but if I have to make dressing every time or suffer through another bland canola oil based bottle of store bought dressing (for $5 bucks, no less), then there is no way this massive influx of greens will get eaten. Some will inevitably end up a slime project in the bottom of my crisper.

Autumnwood Farm, founded in 1902, is a family owned dairy farm whose milk is produced only by grass-fed cows. This weekend, Autumnwood is hosting their 4th Annual City Farm Day, a fun-looking event whose goal is to "bridge the gap between the consumer and the agricultural community." In my experience, this "gap" is more like a grand canyon, so events like these are much needed. Here are the details, straight from the farm's press release:

Minneapolis, MN, March 27, 2011- Autumnwood Farm would like to extend an invitation to join them for an entertaining family afternoon at Autumnwood Farm (19435 Granada Ave. N., Forest Lake, MN 55025) on June 5th from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Attendees can go on creamery tours and hayrides, see how Autumnwood milk is made, and experience the inner workings of a farm as well as hourly cow milking demonstrations. For the younger kids a barn filled with small farm tools and baby animals will be available.