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Saratoga Springs

Smart Gardening with Starter Plants

May 18, 2022 By marketeditor

 

By Julia Howard

 

With spring’s last projected frost date safely behind us, gardening enthusiasts take out their trowels and prepare garden plots for planting. But if you’re new to gardening, the process may seem overwhelming. We spoke with Susan Beebe, Assistant Director/Agriculture Issue Leader of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, to understand the basics of gardening with starter plants.

To begin, determine where you would like to plant. Perhaps you have space for a garden or raised beds in your yard, or maybe planting in containers seems more feasible.

If planting in the ground, Susan Beebe explains that the first and most crucial step is to determine the pH of your soil. “Soil pH is important because it will help you prepare to plant your garden,” explains Beebe. To collect a soil sample, walk through the area that you would like to plant and collect soil samples from various places. Dig 3” to 8” deep and scoop about ½ cup of soil into a clean container. Soil samples may be brought to Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener table at the farmers’ market on the third Wednesday of every month or directly to their office.

Burger’s MarketGarden, photo by Pattie Garrett

If planting in raised beds, Beebe recommends combining potting soil and compost to hold water and prevent moisture from draining out. “Soil is alive and full of microorganisms that plants need to survive,” says Beebe. “Adding green manure, compost, or even a cover crop can keep soil healthy while planting in raised beds.”

If planting in containers, Beebe advises using soilless mixes rather than potting soil. “A benefit to the soilless mixes is that they are much lighter than potting soil and allow you to move your containers around. The counterpart is that these mixes have a tendency to dry out, so depending on the location, you may have to water your containers more,” explains Beebe.

Once your soil is ready, it’s time to buy plants. Several vendors offer various herbs, fruit, and vegetable starter plants at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. These plants are typically several weeks old and have been nurtured through the most delicate early stages of growth by professional growers in a greenhouse. If you have questions about what to plant, ask the growers; Balet Flowers & Design, Burger’s MarketGarden, Gomez Veggie Ville, Green Jeans Market Farm, Leaning Birch, and Old Tavern Farm.

Green Jeans Market Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Now it’s time to plant. Once you’ve popped the first plant out of the container, pull the roots apart with your hands gently; you can look to see how tightly wound the roots are. “You need to pull the roots apart with your hands gently,” Susan Beebe instructs. “You may even use a little knife to break the roots because the goal is to stop their circling motion so that they can spread into the ground,” she adds. When planting, maintain the level it was grown at rather than planting deeper. “The only exception is leggy tomato plants that you can bury deeper,” says Beebe.

Once your starters are planted, water generously and ensure 6+ hours of sunlight a day. Some leafy crops like spinach can thrive with less sun; however, vegetables like carrots, beets, and peppers need 6+ hours a day.

Fruit and vegetables thrive and produce more with light fertilizing at planting. The appropriate fertilizer depends on how you’re growing and what you’re growing. Beebe recommends side-dressing again with fertilizer 2-3 weeks after planting to ensure healthy, productive plants.

With your new garden well underway, Beebe has some takeaway points. “You need trial and error, so don’t be scared by anything. And, each year, try something you haven’t tried before. It’s not always going to work, but you will continue to learn.”

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilton Mall and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at the City Center parking garage. Markets return to High Rock Park on June 1. Find us online at saratogafarmersmarket.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: eathealthy, farmtotable, Gardening, Local, regional, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Springs, shoplocal, shopsmall

Spring Salad with Bok Choy & Apples

May 10, 2022 By marketeditor

Adapted from the recipe by Nava Atlas

Prep time: 15 min

Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 3 baby bok choy*, thinly sliced
  • 5 ounces pea shoots*
  • 1 large carrot*, grated
  • 1 apple*, julienned (sliced into short, thin strips)

For the vinaigrette:

  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar*
  • 1 teaspoon honey*
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Combine the salad ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss them together.
  2. Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously.
  3. Toss the salad with the vinaigrette, and season gently with salt and pepper.
  4. Transfer the salad to a serving platter, let stand for a few minutes so that the flavors can blend, then serve.

 

*Ingredients currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

 

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: eat healthy, farm to table, Local, regional, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Springs

Roasted Fiddleheads with Goat Cheese

May 10, 2022 By marketeditor

Adapted from the recipe by Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

Prep & cook time: 40 min

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh fiddlehead ferns*
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 3 ounces goat cheese*, crumbled

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425º F. Wash and rinse the fiddleheads several times, removing the brown papery husks. Pat dry and remove any loose brown leaves and trim any dry ends.
  2. Place cleaned fiddleheads into a roasting dish. Coat with olive oil and season with salt & pepper.
  3. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring about ½ way through.
  4. Remove from the oven and place on a serving tray, and top with crumbled goat cheese.

 

*Ingredients currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: farm to table, farmers' market, Local, regional, Saratoga Springs

Spring Leads the Way with Fiddleheads and Fresh Greens

May 10, 2022 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

 

Spring can feel misleading in Upstate NY, sometimes reminding us of the winter we left behind and pushing us toward summer faster than anticipated. But the rhythm of spring doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to seasonal produce. Spring vegetables ‘opening act’ features fiddleheads, bok choy, lettuce mixes, radishes, and microgreens.

These flavorful vegetables fulfill our cravings for fresh, nourishing food and require little preparation. What’s better is they are harvested just before the farmers’ markets and brought a short distance to be sold to market-goers – offering the opportunity to taste the difference in locally-grown food.

Leaning Birch Farm is bringing fiddleheads, a seasonal delicacy only available for a few short weeks of the year. Fiddleheads are young ferns, and they have an earthy flavor with a texture reminiscent of asparagus. They may be boiled, sautéed, or roasted with olive oil, then lightly salted with a squeeze of lemon.

Several farms such as Owl Wood, Lovin’ Mama, Pleasant Valley, Gomez Veggie Ville, and Leaning Birch are bringing early harvests of greens; lettuce mixes, and microgreens, spinach, kale, arugula, and bok choy. These tender cuttings are perfect for spring salads. Add fresh herbs, radishes, apples, carrots, sautéed mushrooms, and your favorite vinaigrette for a satisfying meal.

While rhubarb and asparagus are on their way, don’t overlook spring’s fleeting flavors while they are available.

This weeks recipes: Roasted Fiddleheads with Goat Cheese and a Spring Salad with Bok Choy and Apples 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilton Mall parking lot near the TrustCo entrance. The Wednesday farmers’ market is open from 3 to 6 p.m. in front of the City Center parking garage on High Rock Ave. Both markets will return to High Rock Park in June. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: farmersmarket, Local, regional, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Farmers Market Goes Outdoors

May 3, 2022 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta

 

It’s easy to get excited about spring – especially if you’re a farmer. Spring means more sunshine, super-fresh food, and a chance to share it with others in a festive, outdoor environment. For the Saratoga Farmers Market, spring is all about going outdoors.

The midweek market, which runs from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays May through October, opened outside the City Center parking garage earlier this week. The larger Saturday market begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the parking lot of the Wilton Mall. These locations are temporary. Both markets will migrate to High Rock Park once the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail construction is complete.

Saturday Market Layout 2022

“I’m looking forward to the market moving outdoors,” says Mark Bascom of Owl Wood Farm. “I’m excited about getting the fields packed with seeds and transplants, and I’m looking forward to the end of the frosts and the transition into summer.”

“Being outdoors is always nice, regardless of where we set up,” adds Rose Fera of Leaning Birch Farm. Like many vegetable growers, the Fera family spends the winter planning and planting for the spring, summer, and fall seasons to come. They are especially excited this year to introduce new varieties of Asian greens, including a purple-leaf bok choy that is attractive and delicious.

Also abundant at this time of year are microgreens, radishes, kale florets, lettuce mixes, spinach, arugula, and seedlings for home gardeners. In addition to produce, vendors are offering such seasonal sensations as goose eggs, the first cuts of goat and lamb meat, pork, beef, and chicken. Look also for new ready-to-eat items such as the Cubano smash burger and bratwurst roll that Pork & Greens is offering. The hot sandwiches feature the farm’s sausages and bacon, microgreens, farm-made sour krauts, and other locally sourced items.

“It’s our first outdoor season, and we’re really excited,” says owner Isabel Buenaga, who joined the market in November. “We hope it goes well.”

Saratoga Apple, photo by Pattie Garrett (Wilton Mall)

A new season also means new vendors will join the market’s mix of familiar faces. Among the newcomers to the Saturday are Galway Rock Vineyard & Winery, Happy Cupcake, Pork & Greens Farm, Sweetbrier Farms, and The Mushroom Shop. New vendors at the Wednesday market include Bark Hill Farm, Hepatica Farm, APJ Designs, Cookie Lab Confections, and Trouvaille.

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: #healthysaratoga, eat local, local farmers, local farms, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Springs, shop local, shop small business

Saratoga Farmers’ Market Will Open Outdoor Season in Temporary Quarters

April 26, 2022 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta

The month of May will be a bit different for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this year. Normally, this is when we clang our opening day bells at our outdoor location on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning at High Rock Park.

This year, we will be elsewhere for a few weeks, and we invite you to join us there.

We kick off our outdoor season at 3 p.m. this coming Wednesday, May 4, outside the City Center Parking Garage while construction crews widen the sidewalks at High Rock Park and build it into the downtown segment of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail. Our Saturday market will go outdoors at 9 a.m. on May 7 in the parking lot of the Wilton Mall, marking our third year of opening at that locale.

Final 2022 Wednesday Market Map Parking Garage

We look forward to being at High Rock by Memorial Day.

In the meantime, spring is in full spring. Market stalls are brimming over with fresh bags of arugula and spinach, seasonal greens like ramps and claytonia, radishes, pea shoots, and the first chard and kale of the season. Eggs are abundant. Chicken, pork, beef, lamb, rose veal, and goat meat will soon be available. Our chefs will also be in action, offering a range of warm, ready-to-eat items. 

The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with construction prevented the market from operating at High Rock in 2020 and part of 2021. The market was set to return to its usual outdoor location at High Rock Park until we learned in late March that this would not be possible.

The city said it was planning to extend the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail from Lake to Excelsior avenues, right across the lawns outside the High Rock pavilions where the farmers market takes place. Construction would be in progress, and parking would be limited.

Owl Wood Farm by Pattie Garrett

“We were taken by surprise,” admits Mark Bascom of Owl Wood Farm and president of the market’s board.

“We immediately worked to find solutions for our market to return to High Rock Park as soon as possible.”

As of now, work on the Greenbelt is in progress. Lawns outside the market pavilions are being dug up. When completed, this portion of the trail will connect downtown Saratoga to Exit 15 trail at Excelsior Avenue. It will consist of a 10-foot wide ADA-accessible paved path along High Rock and Excelsior avenues and a continuous sidewalk network. The city plans to replace 49 trees with 62 healthier trees.

For many longtime Saratoga Farmers Market vendors, news of the construction turned into an opportunity to build better relationships with city officials. Beth Trattel, owner of Something’s Brewing and market board vice president, praised both the city and the mall for expressing their support for the market’s continuation. 

“The City Center and its executive director Ryan McMahon generously stepped up to let us use the space in front of the parking garage structure for the Wednesday market,” she said. “It has good visibility and will coincide with our goal of providing a vibrant community meeting place that is accessible to all.”

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: City Center Parking Garage, farmers, farmers markets, farms. local farms, High Rock Park, outdoor market, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Greenbelt Trail, Saratoga Springs, shop small, shop small business, small business, summer season, temporary location

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After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be returning to High Rock Park for our Wednesday and Saturday Markets! Thank you to everyone on our team, our vendors, customers and friends who have helped to make this transition happen. Stay tuned for upcoming events celebrating our move! 

Photo: Flowers from @lovinmamafarm 

Parking will be available on High Rock Ave and in the new City Center Parking Garage (free for the first hour and $1/hr after that) 

#saratogasprings #farmersmarket #farmtotable #shoplocal #june1st #highrockpark
It is our second to last market on High Rock Ave b It is our second to last market on High Rock Ave before heading back over to the pavilion on June 1st!!! Stop by tomorrow from 3-6pm for our musical guest Dave Moore and our friends from @bsneny 

Photos by Pattie Garrett @mysaratogakitchentable 

#farmtotable #saratogafarmersmarket #shoplocal #healthyfood #smallbuisness
Join us this Saturday for the Saratoga Farmers’ Join us this Saturday for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market located at the Wilton mall from 9am to 1pm. Our friends from @comfortfoodcommunity will be there along with our musical guest @maltacoustic . Don’t forget your sunscreen!

#saratogasprings #shoplocal #farmtotable #shopsmall #farmersmarket
Tomorrow at our Wednesday 3-6pm Market outside the Tomorrow at our Wednesday 3-6pm Market outside the lower city civic center parking lot @northernriversfostercare will be joining us for a seed planting activity for kids! #saratogasprings #farmersmarket #shoplocal

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