Thanksgiving Market

Braintree Indoor Farmers Market has everything under the sun.

Braintree Thanksgiving Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, is being held on November 17th, from 9 to 1, inside and in front of the Braintree Town Hall, One JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA.  Celebrate the end of the 2012 farmers market season with a full harvest for your holiday table.  Locally grown fruits and vegetables, many choices of local wines, fresh seafood, hormone & antibiotic free meats, local cheeses, honey, handmade pasta, eggs, artisan sauces, fresh pressed apple cider, preserves made from local fruits, award winning pies, scones, fresh baked breads, delicious prepared foods, several varieties of freshly-made hummus, gluten-free baked goods, all-natural spa products, plants & flowers, phenomenally delicious cookies, gourmet cupcakes, artisanal granola, Massachusetts-made ice cream, VT maple syrup, fair trade coffee, teas & chocolates, Project Have Hope.  Gift baskets, fair trade crafts including, locally made jewelry, kitchen wares and pottery will also be available.  All of our vendors, including those who visited us throughout the season with a few more more sprinkled in, will be on hand to spice things up. The market will be located inside the Braintree Town Hall.  Live music performed by Candis Stout and friends.  There will be a food drive hosted by a student of Bay State College seeking non perishable food items.  This is an annual mecca for those who love farmers markets!  For more information visit us at www.sustainablebraintree.org.

Sustainable Braintree’s Community Meeting will be held on November 15, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. at Cahill Auditorium in Braintree Town Hall.   This meeting is open to the general public.  Our featured speaker will be Bonnie Kavanagh, a second generation nurse and herbalist.  Bonnie’s presentation is entitled Chocolate "Food of the Gods and Goddesses". Join Bonnie as she explores the history and medicinal benefits of chocolate. For centuries chocolate has been coveted and craved by many and this informational lecture will leave those in attendance feeling good about indulging in this wonderful, sweet treat. The historical uses of chocolate are now being validated by scientific research and Bonnie will share some of this information for those in attendance. Samples of chocolate will be given out as well as a hand out for those who attend. Bonnie has over 30 years of health care experience as an herbalist and a registered nurse and is a graduate of the Rosemary Gladstar Art and Science of Herbal Medicine Program. Bonnie has been a past Council Member of the Northeast Herbalist Association and is a founding member of the Ocean State Herbalists Association. Bonnie is the co-author of "Rubies in the Sand; Recipes from the Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs" and currently works as an independent marketing representative for Fairland Farm/Cape Cod Organic Cranberry, LLC.   Following Bonnie's presentation the movie the Dark Side of Chocolate will be shown. This documentary exposes the ongoing use of child, forced and trafficked labor in the West African cocoa industry.   Fair trade Chocolate will be available to sample and for sale. 

Make a Difference Day/Pumpkin Festival

Make a donation and receive a free pumpkin compliments of Harvard Pilgrim Health.

On Saturday, October 27th from 9 to 1, rain or shine, the Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, invites everyone to the 4th Annual Make a Difference Day/Pumpkin Festival. This national day of giving facilitates neighbors helping neighbors. Please bring your quality used items to the Braintree Town Hall Cahill Auditorium, 1 JFK Memorial Dr., Braintree, to donate for this special day. Now more than ever, people in need would gratefully appreciate items that you may no longer need or products that are especially sought after. Our friends from Project Have Hope will also be joining us with their handmade beads made from recycled paper from the women of the Acholi Quarter of Uganda which makes a difference in their lives. In exchange for donated articles pick up a free pumpkin, while quantities last. Pumpkins are sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation's 9/11 Community Spirit Mini-Grant. Music will be provided by Karen Woodhall and Tom Glenn.

We're asking our customers to start putting aside quality used items to donate. Items that are being collected are: Fall and winter children's clothing, infant to high school sizes, for the Kid's Closet. Adult clothing, including interview and work attire, and household items, especially dishes and small appliances, for Interfaith Social Services' career closet and thrift shop. Baby items, including car seats, strollers, playpens, safety items, bedding, diaper bags, toys and puzzles-(NO  CRIBS), for Cradles to Crayons. Nov./Dec. seasonal items, books and DVD’s for the Senior Center. Eyeglasses for Lions Recycle for Sight, cell phones for cell phones for soldiers, material to make quilts for Children’s Hospital. Aquariums, Filters, Heaters, Food Bowls, Animal Toys and cages/crates, dry dog food, reptomin turtle food and bleach for the N.E. Wildlife Center.

New items are also needed and they are: Toiletries, including toilet paper, toothbrushes, shampoo and toothpaste. Non-perishable food and paper goods, especially paper towels and toilet paper, for the Margie Crispin Center. Laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, diapers, female sanitary items and baby wipes.  Birthday party Supplies for Birthday Wishes. Other miscellaneous items that are being collected are: soda can tabs for Shriners Hospitals for Children, box tops for education, codes from Coke products, Campbell's labels, Sunny D labels, Capri Sun pouches, old sneakers, in any condition, for recycle or reuse (no cleats), old keys for keyforhope.org and wine corks. Cleanse your soul and your closets for these noble causes and get a free pumpkin, grown by The Farmer's Garden and sponsored by a Mini-Grant from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, all in one visit to the market. Efforts like this really do make a difference in people's lives. This event is organized by Sustainable Braintree. Item reuse benefits the community & our planet. For more info go to: http://www.sustainablebraintree.org. See you Saturday.

Love your Local Veggies

Several varieties of produce are available at 2nd Nature Farm.

Visit one of the finest farmers markets in Massachusetts-the Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, which operates every Saturday through October from 9 to 1, rain or shine, at the Braintree Town Hall.  In the event of nasty weather the market is moved in front of and inside the town hall.  Now is the season for root vegetables and a good time to get out the crock pot for soups and stews.  The growers are harvesting turnips, carrots, beets, onions, potatoes and more.  Last week Second Nature Farm brought in 36 different varieties of locally grown produce from the fields.  Joe Beaulieu Butcher Shop always stocks many more choices of meats than you can purchase at grocery stores.  If he doesn't have what you're looking for he can probably find it for you.

The Indoor Thanksgiving Market is gearing up for Saturday, Nov. 17th, when all of our regular vendors, Visiting Vendors and a few more will unite in front of and inside the Braintree Town Hall.  Candis Stout will be on hand with jazz musicians to perform pieces from America's Songbook. Each year this market gains in popularity as it's a great time stock up for the holidays and say goodbye to your favorite vendors until next year.  Bring your visitors from out-of-town and show them this unique community event that has something for everybody.

Cream will be joining the market for the rest of the season with their Massachusetts-made ice cream.  Look for their brand new cart filled with fall inspired flavors like Pumpkin, Cranberry Harvest and Apple Crisp available in pint and half gallon sizes.  Each flavor is so delicious you'll want to pick up one of each to sample with your other market goodies.

This coming Saturday the market is introducing another new Visiting Vendor for the very first time.  Join us in welcoming Morning Bird Botanicals.   Michelle Angelides makes and sells natural honey-and-honeybee-based skin care products.  Michelle is also a beekeeper and uses her honey for products like Pucker Up!™ lip balm, Bees Knees Honey Soaps™, soaking salts, body butters and lotions and Scent Sticks for Men™ and women.  This vendor will be with us for this Saturday, Oct. 13th only, so please try out her products and let us know what you think.

Fall Harvest at the Market

Fresh picked locally grown peppers are now available at the market.

The Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, is still operating full tilt at the Braintree Town Hall Mall every Saturday, from 9 to 1, until Oct. 27th, with an Indoor Thanksgiving Market on Nov. 17th.  Corn is still being harvested and predicted to be available until the end of Oct. at The Farmer's Garden.  Fall is also the season for apples and that's the specialty at C.N. Smith Farm.  Second Nature Farm has been catering to the large demand for kale and tomatoes.  So there's no need to travel long distances for these locally harvested, healthy foods.  In case of inclement weather the market moves to the front of the Braintree Town Hall and inside Cahill Auditorium.  To the casual observer the farmers' market looks effortless, but it takes an enormous amount of hard work and coordination from volunteers, farmers, vendors and the Town of Braintree, so please support this treasured, local event.

Check out our Sustainable Braintree Farmers Market Moolah!

Our Market Moolah Program has been very successful considering this has been it's first season.  Purchasing market tokens and using them with our vendors makes shopping at the market more convenient by eliminating the use of cash sales only.  Jonathan Stidham is the volunteer in charge of the many stages the market needed to go through to receive approvals to get things up and running.  He most recently applied for a wireless terminal that will accept SNAP/credit card and debit payments through a government program coordinated by the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources.  The market has been approved to receive a new machine which we should see within a couple of weeks.  This will make token payments easier without having to run a phone line outside to the terminal.  Thanks Jonathan.  And thanks to all of you who have supported us in creating this new program at the market.

Volunteers Needed at the Market

Jim Regan is a dedicated volunteer at the Braintree Farmers Market.

The Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, is a non-profit organization that is primarily run by volunteers that value this community event and recognize the importance of supporting local farms and small artisan businesses and the convenience of bringing healthy, freshly-grown and made foods to our neighborhood.  The market season operates for 21 Saturdays and we're always in need of volunteer help to keep things moving smoothly.  One half hour of volunteer time on any given market day makes a huge contribution.  We are especially in need of volunteers to help with the morning set up and the afternoon tear down.  If you understand the significance and appreciate having the market in your community and would like to help out with other like-minded volunteers please contact Marie Vega at mariev@sustainablebraintree.org or drop by the Sustainable Braintree tent at the market to sign up to volunteer. 

Sustainable Braintree Earth Celebration

Join us this Saturday, Sept 8th, for our Sustainable Braintree Earth Celebration in conjunction with the Braintree Farmers Market.  We'll have interactive displays for Recycling, Energy and the Community Garden in conjunction with the farmers' market.  Music by Tiffany Rozenas & Family will add to the festivities so bring your blankets and lawn chairs and hang out for awhile.  For more information please visit us at www.sustainablebraintree.org.

Clam & Lobster Feast this Saturday Sept 1st

Fresh cooked lobsters right at the market.

Join us this Saturday, Sept. 1st from 9 to 1, for a good ol' fashioned Clam & Lobster Feast.  This is one of our most popular events of the season as Fresh Catch Seafood sets up a good old fashioned New England seafood banquet and cooks everything fresh right before your eyes.  The big events tent, sponsored by BELD, will be up with tables and chairs that were purchased thanks to a donation by Wamps Pizzeria at the Granite St. Plaza.  Lobsters, clams, corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, lobster bisque, clam chowder, stuffed Quahogs, Lobster Salad rolls, little necks and oysters on the half shell and much more.  We'll even have live music by the very talented Aaron Belyea, owner of A Street Music, on bass and Paul Chase on saxophone, for entertainment.  Project Have Hope will also be on board with their hand-crafted items created by the women of the Acholi District of Uganda.  This is an event not to be missed.

Press Release

Braintree, Massachusetts August 17, 2012:  Sustainable Braintree, host of the Braintree Farmers Market, and the Ever So Humble Pie Co, owned and operated by Andrea Taber, wish to issue this joint statement to clarify news stories concerning them and the EBT (formerly food stamps) program. 

Sustainable Braintree respects the opinions of all its vendors.  As an organization focused on environmental change, we encourage and applaud other organizations and individuals who express their opinion and take steps to further positive change in their community.  In response to requests from the visitors and vendors of the Market, EBT, Credit Card, and Debit card payments were introduced for the Market’s 2012 year.  Our vendors have been asked to join this program although it has not been mandatory.

Andrea Taber's frustration with the EBT program is directed at the US Department of Agriculture and the organizations that dictate what EBT benefits can and cannot be used for.  Sustainable Braintree has no control, nor any opinion, over the EBT program.  Andrea Taber, and the Ever So Humble Pie Company, Inc, have been a welcome vendor at the Market for the past three years and Sustainable Braintree hopes to continue this positive relationship with her and her business.  Quotes attributed to Donna Ingemanson have been taken out of context in an unfair manner.  Neither Donna Ingemanson nor Sustainable Braintree take any position regarding the EBT program but rather will continue to seek ways to grow the Market and respond to the needs and requests of its visitors and vendors.

For more information about the mission of Sustainable Braintree please visit www.sustainablebraintree.org.

The Ever So Humble Pie Company's home on the web can be found at www.eversohumble.com/

Summer's Bounty at the Market

Fresh picked local berries available at the market.

The Braintree Farmers Market, hosted by Sustainable Braintree, is celebrating the peak of harvest season with a wide assortment of locally grown fruits and vegetables that are brought to the market direct from the growers.  Nothing tastes better than sweet, juicy, freshly-picked corn, tomatoes and peaches in the summer.  The season goes by quickly so make sure to come down and visit with us every Saturday from 9 to 1 at the Braintree Town Hall Mall.  Your taste buds will thank you.

Patti Small from On the Edge Sharpening will be visiting the market this week.

This coming Saturday, Aug. 18th, Patti Small from On the Edge Sharpening will be joining us next to the Sustainable Braintree tent.  Patti prides herself in her craftsmanship in sharpening knives, tools and scissors with the finest equipment.  Bring your items to Patti as soon as you arrive at the market to ensure that you'll be able to pick them up before the market closes.  Look for Patti in the back of her truck to drop off your pieces for sharpening.

Drawing for Braintree Farmers Market apron every week-put your name in!

From now until the end of the market season, or until we run out, we will be having a drawing for a Braintree Farmers Market apron at the Sustainable Braintree tent each week.  The aprons are made of sturdy cotton duck fabric and have the Braintree Farmers Market carrot design stitched on them by Threads & Ink right here in Braintree.   The aprons are great for crafting, cooking, art projects and gardening.  Stop by our tent to put your name in.  No purchase necessary.  

Please remember to put on your calendar the upcoming Clam & Lobster Feast at the market on Sept. 1st.  This is one of our most popular events of the season as Fresh Catch Seafood sets up a good old fashioned New England seafood banquet and cooks everything fresh right before your eyes.  The big events tent, sponsored by BELD,  will be up with tables and chairs that were purchased thanks to a donation by Wamps Pizzeria at the Granite St. Plaza.  Lobsters, clams, corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, lobster bisque, clam chowder, stuffed clams and much more.  We'll even have live music for entertainment.  Join us.

Braintree Farmers Market Welcomes Pura Vida Salon

Courtney Romano from Pura Vida Salon. 

This coming Saturday, Aug. 11th, the Braintree Farmers Market and Pura Vida Salon are linking up to offer the first 100 market customers a coupon for 20% off at Pura Vida Salon.  This is an opportunity to introduce our market visitors to Braintree's Premier Eco-Friendly Salon.  This past April, South Shore Magazine awarded Pura Vida Salon with their Eco Award in recognition of their efforts to make the environment a safer, cleaner and greener place and also acknowledged their work in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Do you ever wonder about the chemicals that go into your hair styling?  How do the effect your hair, skin and the environment?  Although ammonia is widely used it's both caustic and hazardous.  Take one walk inside Pura Vida Salon and you'll realize the difference immediately as you won't have to hold your breath because of the hair treatments in progress.  It has a clean and fresh vibe and your hair will be less stressed out from all those unknown chemicals and your styling will be tres chic when you leave.

Courtney Romano, 3rd generation Braintree native, is the owner of Pura Vida and is passionate about creating beautiful hair with her professional staff who care about you and the environment.  Her eco-friendly hair salon was inspired by her career with Pureology as a Pure Artist and her honeymoon to Costa Rica.  In fact, Pura Vida is a Costa Rican saying that means "Pure Life".  This small country prides itself in it's environmental sustainability.  When you think about Costa Rica imagine lush tropical rain forests, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, tropical birds and exotic butterflies.  Using Pureology's purest products and the relaxing Costa Rican ambiance guarantees an organic experience at the salon.

All of the stylists at the salon are educated in the latest techniques and take pride in being point on with today's fashion sense.  They have a comprehensive understanding of hair color principles, creative color, foil placement, color correction and the consultation process to ensure that all their clients are guaranteed to receive exceptional service and color results with minimal impact on the environment.

The Braintree Farmers Market and Sustainable Braintree are thrilled to align forces this week with Pura Vida Salon which is a small, local, woman-owned, eco-friendly business in Braintree Square.  Be one of the first 100 customers to arrive at the market and receive a coupon for 20% off at Pura Vida Salon.  The market is open every Saturday, from 9 to 1, at the Braintree Town Hall Mall at One JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree.  For more info go to sustainablebraintree.org/food or check out our facebook page.  See you on Saturday.

Volunteers Make the Market Work

Rick Gallagher grew up in Braintree and now volunteers at the market.

The Braintree Farmers Market is an extremely vibrant market in large part due to the commitment of our community's support.  The market is hosted by Sustainable Braintree which is a non-profit environmental organization and the market is organized and operated primarily by volunteers who share the vision and importance of this community event.  Volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds and we all have a desire to keep the market in our neighborhood.  Volunteer Market Shifts last from 1 to 2 hours so that folks don't need to take too much time from their busy schedules to help us out.  If you'd like to volunteer you can sign up at the Sustainable Braintree Market Tent while the market is operating or email our Volunteer Coordinator, Marie Vega, at mariev@sustainablebraintree.org.  Volunteers don't just work-they make it work.

We're Here for You!

Summer Squash & Peaches are now available at the market.

Nicole Maniez, yoga teacher and licensed acupuncturist from MVP Health & Wellness and the Lane Center, will be offering Family Yoga for all ages this Saturday, July 21st, from 8 to 9 am in front of the Braintree Town Hall.   Please join her for a fun and mindful activity for the whole family! You will leave this class with a smile on your face and relaxed body. Please bring a yoga mat and wear loose clothing. A few yoga mats will be available for those that don't have one.

The Braintree Farmers Market will be on the cutting edge this coming Saturday as Patti Small rolls in with her On the Edge Sharpening truck tricked out with her mobile blade sharpening workshop on board. Patti makes her presence know throughout Eastern Massachusetts by keeping an active schedule with local farmers' markets.  If you like to support small businesses this one is about as small as it gets since Patti is the CEO and the only employee.  Her tools of the trade include a whetstone, ceramics and a variety of polishing stones.  Load up your knives, scissors, shears, salon scissors, gardening tools and just about anything that needs sharpening.  Drop them off with Patti as you arrive at the market and pick them up when you leave.  It's like having brand new knives all over again.

Visiting us again this week is Stir it up Cuisine with their taste of the Caribbean Pepper Jelly and Pepper Jelly Cheese Torte.  For those of you who met them at the Strawberry Festival you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't tried them yet this Saturday is your chance to spice up your life!

Breakfast at the Braintree Farmers Market

Unbelievably delicious granola from The Providence Granola Company.

Good morning sunshine and hello breakfast at the farmer's market.  While visiting the market you may have realized that the assortment of vendors have a wide variety of products to explore.  The market has been designed to provide our visitors with a one-stop shopping experience with all locally grown and made items.  There's no better place to find your breakfast foods for the morning, or for your entire week ahead, than the Braintree Farmers Market.

Start with a sampling from The Providence Granola Project.  This is one of our newest vendors and they provide us with a wide array of healthy granola and muesli choices with flavors like Ginger Zinger, Mochaccino Hazelnut, Cherry Chocolate, Pina Colola, Maple Rosemary and Keith's Originola.  The very first year they started their artisan business they won a "Best of Rhode Island" award and some of the area's premier restaurants started putting them on their menus.  Along with their outstanding products they are also very proud of their refugee employees that are the backbone of the company.

Fresh picked local berries right from the grower.

 Add creamy homemade yogurt from To Dine For to your granola.   This popular new vendor has a wide assortment of Middle Eastern delights that will have you coming back each week to try something new.

 On top of the yogurt add fresh fruits from our growers.  Each week brings new varieties of berries and fruits that are in season to the market.  Try something new each week to keep your taste buds on the cutting edge of flavor.  It's amazing how something so simple can look so beautiful, taste so good and be so healthy!

Honey direct from the beehives at C.N. Smith Farm.

For a sweetener try the local honey from C.N. Smith Farm.  This is raw honey, meaning it hasn't been heated to make it look nicer on the shelf, which preserves it's natural enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants and other natural nutrients.  Pasteurized honey is known to be just as unhealthy as as eating refined sugar.  Purchasing locally sourced raw honey is an alternative way to treat seasonal allergies.  Many folks consume raw honey that is made near where they live because it contains small amounts of pollens when consumed build up their immune system to help ward off allergies.  

This season we are thrilled that The Cupcakerie is providing market customers with hot and iced coffee.  We've had many requests for this convenience so join us for your morning brew made from locally roasted New Harvest Coffees.  Enjoy your java while checking out the market or sit and relax in our cafe area on the green.

So get into a healthy breakfast routine at the Braintree Farmers Market.  If there's something you can't find please ask us at the Sustainable Braintree/Market Manager Tent and we'll point you in the right direction.

Each Week Brings New Items to the Market

Shopping for fresh-picked local berries at the farmer's market.

The market is now in full swing as the farmers will continue to add new harvested items to their repertoire of local produce.  Now that strawberry season is ending blueberries have started to arrive.  The season for these two favorites is very fleeting so stop by the market to ensure that you won't miss out.

 

Sue George from Harvard Sweet Boutique.

Harvard Sweet Boutique has just joined the market as a full-time vendor.  Check out their delish sweets and treats made from scratch.  This coming Saturday Sue will be bringing her all-natural lemonade made with fresh strawberries.  It's predicted to be hot so try this new drink offering that will have you chillin'.  Other beverages like hot and iced coffee can be found at The Cupcakerie tent along with free cold water cooled by solar power at the BELD tent.

This coming Saturday, June 30th, Braintree's Fourth of July parade will start on Washington Street  at 11:45 a.m. and pass by the market about noon.  Please arrive at the market early to ensure that you will not get caught in parade traffic.

Strawberry Festival this Saturday June 23rd 2012

It's strawberry season locally so be sure to get to the market early so you won't miss out on these sweet & juicy jewels of the market. Purchase strawberries direct from a local grower and support small farms.  This Saturday, June 23rd, the market will host a Strawberry Festival that was so popular last year we now have it included in our schedule of events for every season.

Sweet & juicy native strawberries picked fresh on the farm.

The events tent, sponsored by BELD, will be up and there will be tables and our new chairs provided for our visitors to sit and enjoy freshly made strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream created by the folks at Ever So Humble Pie Company with strawberries from C.N. Smith Farm.  The Farmer's Garden will have an entire tent filled with their strawberries fresh picked and ready to take home.  Music provided by Ramshackle.

Cully arriving on our Opening Day in 2009.

 

 

This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Carlton N. (Cully) Smith from C.N. Smith Farm.  Cully was the inspiration behind the Strawberry Festival and he was a tried and true leader at the farm.  He unexpectedly passed away this past winter.  Stop by the C.N. Smith tent to see the Local Hero Award that was given to the farm in recognition of Cully's community service.  We miss you Cully!

Try out our new Braintree Farmers Market Moolah.  Enjoy the convenience of shopping with our own market currency which you can purchase with a credit card or EBT/SNAP card at the Market Manager Tent.  Market Moolah tokens can be used to purchase goods at the market without having to use cash.

Market Opens this Saturday June 16th

Opening Day at the Braintree Farmers Market

The Braintree Farmers Market hosted by Sustainable Braintree opens this Saturday, June 16th, from 9 to 1 and operates every Saturday through October with an indoor Thanksgiving Market on Nov. 17th.  The market is located at the Braintree Town Hall Mall, One JFK Memorial Dr., Braintree, MA.  Due to renovations on the Historic Library Building the market may be shifting around the parking lot, rest assured, we'll always be at this convenient location throughout the season.  We've been waiting for this day since the season ended last year in November.  Look for your favorite farmers and vendors and enjoy even more variety with an array of new vendors.  This season there will be even more of an influx of Visiting Vendors to entice you to the market with a variety of new local food products.  Join us on our experimental adventure as we make an effort to provide the best in local produce and artisan food products that are are made in micro-batches, many times, by the person you make your purchase from.  Many large corporate food companies try to make you think your getting these types of offerings by copying our format and wording but you should know-the Braintree Farmers Market is the real deal.

This season the market is offering a new service called Braintree Farmers Market Moolah.  Enjoy the convenience of shopping with our own market currency which you can purchase with a credit card or EBT/SNAP card at the Market Manager Tent.  Market Moolah tokens can be used to purchase goods at the market without having to use cash.  This program was spearheaded by Jonathan Stidham who is one of our volunteers that invested his time and efforts to make shopping at the market more convenient and provide healthy food choices for all income levels.  Thank you Jonathan.  This program has also encouraged the market to hire its first employees to process payments.  On Opening Day say hello to Lauren Crook who'll be more than happy to sell you market tokens and tell you how much she loves the farmers market.  Lauren grew up in Braintree and is now raising her own family here and we're thrilled to have her on board.  Angela Cavanaugh will also be joining us in this position.  Angela has been a dedicated volunteer since we first started dreaming about the market in 2008.

It's strawberry season locally so be sure to get to the market early so you won't miss out on these sweet & juicy jewels of the market. Purchase strawberries direct from a local grower and support small farms.  On June 23rd the market will host a Strawberry Festival that was so popular last year we will now have it included on our schedule of events every season.  The events tent, sponsored by BELD, will be up and there will be tables and chairs provided for our visitors to sit and enjoy freshly made strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream created by the folks at Ever So Humble Pie Company with strawberries from C.N. Smith Farm.  This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Carlton N. (Cully) Smith from C.N. Smith Farm.  Cully was the inspiration behind the Strawberry Festival and he was a tried and true leader at the farm.  Cully unexpectedly passed away on Dec. 31, 2011 from a heart attack while clearing land.  Stop by the C.N. Smith tent to see the Local Hero Award that was given to the farm in recognition of Cully's community service.

Pick up your complimentary summer issue of edible Boston Magazine at the Market Manager's Tent along with a Braintree Farmers Market card that lists our special market dates as a reminder of events you won't want to miss out on.  See you on Saturday.

Visiting Vendors at the Farmers Market

In addition to our tried and true vendors and farmers we'll be adding Visiting Vendors throughout the season to keep the market changing and evolving.  If there's a Visiting Vendor that you think would make a great permanent fit to the market please let us know at the Market Manager's Tent.. 

Buxton Hollow Farm will be visiting the market on Opening Day, June 16th, for one market day only.  For those of you who enjoy growing your own garden without the use of chemical fertilizers here's your chance to try their compost tea technology.  Create your own microherd of microbes, bacteria, nematodes and fungi with the Buxton Hollow Farm Compost Tea in conjunction with their Compost Tea Pot.  Serve up your plants the technology that encourages healthy soil which, in turn, creates the optimum environment for thriving plant growth. 

Harvard Sweet Boutique will also have a spot on Opening Day and will be joining us for the very first time as a Visiting Vendor.  This vendor was looking for markets earlier in the year and we scooped them up and are looking forward to tasting their gourmet baked goods that are made from scratch.   They offer over ten varieties of cookies, artisan brownies such as espresso, sea salt caramel, chili, raspberry, chocolate almond toffee and more.  Owner, Sue George, has also created an online boutique where you can purchase her products and send them out to all your friends and family who just can't make it to the market.

Braintree Farmers Market 2012 Vendor Line-up

A perfect day at the Braintree Farmers Market!

CN Smith Farm is a 90+ acre family run farm located in East Bridgewater that grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.   They also provide the market with beautiful flowers and plants.

The Cupcakerie whips up gourmet cupcakes using local ingredients.  This year they'll be offering fresh brewed coffee!

Deborah's Kitchen makes all natural, low sugar spreadable fruit and relish.

Equal Exchange coffees, teas, sugars and chocolates will be sold by the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Braintree.

Ever So Humble Pie Company bakes traditional, home-style fruit pies with local ingredients.  

Fairland Farm provide the market with their own locally grown cranberries.  Look for their cranberry recipe book-Rubies in the Sand.

The Farmer's Garden is a family run farm producing a variety of fresh produce.  Join their CSA for convenience!

Fastachi Artisan Roasted Nuts are hand-roasted in small batches in steel drums in Watertown.  

Fresh Catch Seafood of the south shore will be selling fresh local seafood. 

Hearth Wood Fired Bread is an artisan bread bakery that creates their breads in the tradition of 18th century France.

Homestyle Caterers make delicious comfort foods that are a must have treat while visiting the market. 

J.H. Beaulieu Livestock and Produce Farm of Fairhaven will be selling USDA beef and pork that has been naturally grown and field raised and is hormone and antibiotic free.

Joslin Foods was created by a mom in Dartmouth who was trying to get her kids to eat more varieties of vegetables.

Lawton's Family Farm use milk from their own Aryshire cows to create their 'Fromage Blanc" and Asiago cheeses.

Nella Pasta creates gourmet pastas using ingredients from neighboring farms.

Rhode Island Spa Products offers an array of body products such as Goat's Milk soaps, lotions, balms and more made from locally grown ingredients.  

Second Nature Farm  is a small, "certified naturally grown" farm run by Adam Tedeschi.  Explore their array of artisan and heirloom produce.

Great Cape Baking Company creates a number of gourmet and artisan loaves.

To Dine For  Paula Cofman makes Mediterranean foods such as hummus, Tabooleh, beet salad, bean salad and much more-that's made fresh.

EvaRuth's Specialty Bakery  Baked goods that are wheat-free, gluten-free and created in a nut-free facility that taste delicious!

Coastal Vineyards  a small local winery that produces a wide variety of wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  They will attend the market on a rotating basis with Turtle Creek Winery.

Turtle Creek Winery  a smal local winery that produces excellent, hand-crafted wines combining traditional techniques with modern technology.  They will attend the market on a rotating basis with Coastal Vineyards.

On The Edge  Knife Sharpening will be visiting the market once per month to provide a sharpening service for knives and gardening tools-drop them off as you arrive and pick up as you leave the market.  Dates attending are:  6/16/2012, 7/21/2012, 8/18/2012, 9/15/2012, 10/20/2012 and 11/17/2012.

Flexible CSA Offering from The Farmer's Garden

Tammy Noons from The Farmer's Garden.

This season The Farmer's Garden will be offering a new modern CSA program with their Green Rewards Debit Card.   It has more flexible options for the full season CSA membership.  Choose the veggies you like when you want them.  This gives you the flexibility you're looking for with the best selection of quality produce throughout the season.  A minimum $150. prepayment gets you a debit card of $180.  That's a 20% SAVINGS!  Redeemable for fruits, vegetables & farm fresh eggs only.  The only catch is the balance left on the card cannot be carried over to the next year.  Debit cards can be purchased online at farmersgardencsa.com or call 508-889-7632.  Pre-pay debit cards must be purchased before June 10th, 2012 to receive the 20% savings.

CSA Offering from Second Nature Farm

Adam Tedeschi is the CFO (Chief Farming Officer) at Second Nature Farm.

Second Nature farm is a 4-acre diversified fruit and vegetable farm in Norton, MA. Their nutrient-rich produce is Certified Naturally Grown, and the farm abstains from using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. The farm strives to put the creativity and fun back in eating, and so cultivates many unique and colorful varieties of vegetables, both heirloom and hybrid.

Their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program runs for the duration of the Braintree Farmers' Market. Each week there are 1-2 "core" items that all CSA members receive, and 4-7 "you choose" items that members select from the farm's produce display. This allows each member to customize their share so that it best fits the needs of the individual or family.

For more information about the CSA, visit www.secondnaturefarm.com or email Farmer Adam: adam@secondnaturefarm.com

2012 Season Planning Underway

Fresh carrots grown by Second Nature Farm.

The Braintree Farmers Market hosted by Sustainable Braintree is currently in the planning stages for this season.  Many of our past vendors and farmers will be returning and we're hoping to add to the mix and shake things up so each week will be enticing and inspire a trek to the Braintree Town Hall Mall.  Look for updates and changes to our website as things begin to evolve and take shape as you won't want to miss out on the latest news!