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Celebrate Earth Day by heading to the farmers’ market

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By Julia Howard

Earth Day is April 22, and with it comes the opportunity to reflect on the environment; what can we do to honor and protect the nature surrounding us. Earthday.org describes this global event as not just a day but a movement. At Saratoga Farmers’ Market, we agree wholeheartedly. The environmentally-conscious collaboration between local businesses, farms, shoppers, and the community is inspiring and encouraging, and we invite you to join in!

Composting at the Saratoga Farmers Market, photo by Madison Jackson.

Saratoga Farmers’ Market is pleased to continue offering community composting with help from Squash Villa Farm. Market-goers may drop fruit and vegetable scraps and compostable household matter like coffee grounds and eggshells in a large composting bin located at the TrustCo entrance at the Wilton Mall. Composted material is donated to local farms.

By shopping with baskets and reusable bags and adopting healthy habits like carpooling or taking public transit, we all can contribute to a healthy environment. 

And, when you shop at Saratoga Farmers’ Market, every dollar makes a difference in supporting local farms and businesses that, in turn, support environmental health and sustainability.

Local businesses have found innovative ways to reduce waste, which substantially affects the environment. Mean Max Brew Works repurposes their spent grain at [farmacy] Restobar in Glens Falls, where the restaurant makes crackers and other dishes from the leftovers. Argyle Cheese Farmer makes bread from whey, a byproduct of making cheese. Award-winning cheesemakers, Nettle Meadow, feed whey to their goats. And, Pork & Greens pigs feast on food bank goods, spent brewer’s grains, and whey.

Businesses like Junbucha prioritize environmental stewardship by composting food waste and recycling cardboard, metal, and plastic in their production facility. Filtering systems reduce their water consumption.

Reusing packaging is also a top priority. Farms accept clean egg cartons, plastic and glass containers, and even rubber bands from produce. Ballston Lake Apiaries sterilizes and reuses all of their glass honey jars rinsed and returned by customers. 

Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo provided

Many local farms, such as Pleasant Valley Farm, compost, rotate crops and use cover crops to hold soil nutrients. These farming practices are vital in supporting land ecology. Lovin’ Mama and Owl Wood Farm promote no-till, regenerative farming. Undisturbed soil layers build a healthy ecosystem with many benefits—mainly healthy soil to grow healthy food.

This week’s recipe: Chicken Spinach Salad with Butternut Squash

Shepherd’s Pie with Lamb

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Recipe by Wolfgang Puck

Makes: 8 servings

Prep & cook time: 1 hr 35 mins

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 1/2 lb. ground lamb*
  • 3 carrots*, cut into 1⁄4-inch rounds
  • 2 leeks*, cut into 1⁄4-inch rounds
  • 1/2 lb. red Swiss chard*, thick ribs removed, leaves cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 c. frozen peas
  • 1 1/2 c. beef gravy
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 lb. russet potatoes*, peeled and cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds
  • 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1/4 c. milk*, plus more if needed
  • 2 tbsp. freshly grated horseradish
  • 2 slices country white bread*, crusts removed, bread cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 2 oz. Parmesan, grated (1/2 cup)

 Instructions

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add lamb and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer lamb to a bowl and set aside. In the same skillet, add remaining oil, carrots, and leeks and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in Swiss chard and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in peas, gravy, and reserved lamb. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until heated through, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cover.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large pot over high heat, bring potatoes and enough salted water to cover to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add 3 tablespoons butter and mash potatoes. Stir in milk and season with salt. If potatoes are too stiff, add up to 2 tablespoons more milk. Stir in horseradish.
  3. Transfer lamb mixture to an 11-inch deep-dish pie plate or eight 4-inch ramekins. Spread mashed potatoes over lamb mixture.
  4. In a food processor, pulse bread to crumbs. Sprinkle crumbs and Parmesan on potatoes. Dot with remaining butter. Bake until tops are lightly browned, about 45 minutes.

Notes: If you like garlic, boil 2-3 cloves along with the potatoes.

Saturday Market Vendors at High Rock Park 2018

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Saturday Market Vendors at High Rock Park 2018

Argyle Cheese Factory

Balet Flowers & Design, LLC

Ballston Lake Apiaries

Battenkill Valley Creamery

Burger Farm

Captain Kernel

Clark Dahlia Gardens & Greenhouses

Clyde O’Scope Farm

Collar City Hard Pressed

Dancing Ewe Farm

Denison Farm

Dickinson’s Delights

Elihu Farm

Erin Luciani

Euro Delicacies

Facchini Food Services LLC

Feathered Antler

Freddy’s Rockin’ Hummus

Giovanni Fresco

Gómez VeggieVille

Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes

Green Jeans Market Farm

Halls Pond Farm

Humiston’s Vegetables

Kokinda Farm

Lake George Distilling Company, LLC

Lewis Waite Farm

Longlesson Farm

M & A Farm

Mangiamo LLC

Mariaville Mushroom Men

Moxie Ridge Farm

Mrs. London’s

Nettle Meadow

Old World Farm

Oliva Vineyards

Otrembiak Farm

Owl Wood Farm

Petra Pocket Pies

Pleasant Valley Farm

Puckers Gourmet

Pura Vida Fisheries, Inc

R&G Cheese Makers

Ramble Creek Farm

Rock Hill Bakehouse

Row to Hoe Farm

Saratoga Apple

Saratoga Chocolate Co.

Saratoga Crackers®

Saratoga Peanut Butter Co.

Saratoga Suds ‘n’ Stuff

Scotch Ridge Berry Farm

Slate Valley Farms

Slyboro cider house

Something’s Brewing

Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery

The Chocolate Spoon

The Food Florist

The Smoothie Shoppe INC

Underwood’s Greenhouse / Shushan Valley Hydro Farm

Vital Eats

Wild Things Rescue Nursery

Yankee Distillers LLC

Zoe Burghard ceramics

Muddy Trails Jerky

Saratoga Spicery

Reach Creative

Momma’s Secret Salad Dressing and Marinades

Mugzy’s Bakery

Candy’s Cupcakery