The Market Is Open

Welcome ALFN members to another week on our local market full of common, exotic, sensusal, savory, sweet, and nutritious products cultivated and prepared by local growers.

What Is New This Week?

We are nearing Easter weekend and the pivot into spring weather. Weal & Woe will have some beautiful arrangements of Parrot Tulips on sale this Saturday, so look for them at market. These flowers are really spectacular with wide explosions of color.

I’m always finding surprising items on our website. This past week, I realized A B C Nature Greenhouse & Herb Farm sells Water Fern, Azolla pinnate. These aquatic plants are fantastic. They grow on the surface of water very quickly providing habitat for other marine creatures. However, Water Ferns fix atmospheric nitrogen due to a symbiotic relationships with blue-green algae. Many agricultural traditions in the East use Water Fern as green manure in rice fields as well as supplemental feed for ducks and chickens. How cool is that!!! Setting up a small pond in a backyard is a great way to not only use Azolla, but provide habitat for indigenous amphibians and beneficial insects. Of course, you don’t have to have a plant to enjoy Water Fern. Any small space that can hold some water will allow Water Fern to quickly reproduce for a unique, sustainable source of fodder or compost.

Next week, we have our third Community Market Day. This month we will welcome Willow Springs Market Garden on Saturday. Make sure you get an order so you can drop by and see Robert. I tell you, every time I speak with Robert, I learn something new about gardening. He is a skilled gardener and has a keen interest in unique plants and foods not traditionally found in grocery stores or farmers markets. Make sure you give an extra ten minutes to greet Willow Springs this next week.

Enjoy the week!

Kyle Holton
Program & Market Manager