Felix Doolittle Sketches

One of the very best things about spring is the re-opening of one of our favorite places – our local farmer’s market.  Like a reunion with a close friend you haven’t seen in far too long, the return of the Farmer’s Market market makes us giddy.  We joyfully recount all that we have missed in its absence and all that we love:  the colorful produce, the relationship with the farmers, watching the transitions of the seasons through the fruits and vegetables come to harvest and then finishing, the wild-foraged mushrooms, the fish so fresh you think it might still jump out of the bag, the still-warm eggs, the different shaped artisanal cheeses and the some of the goats that helped produce them, and all the other scrumptious goods you can find there. Most of all, we love the community that the farmer’s market creates and we are grateful for their hard work that makes our own meals so extraordinarily delicious.

As a child in Hong Kong, Felix made frequent visits to the market with his mother, where he learned how to tell good produce from bad, how to negotiate prices, and the value of speaking with the farmers and fishermen who were happy to share their knowledge with a curious young child.  The Farmer’s Market (and the playgrounds) are the piazzas of America – the places where the community gathers to experience a different sense of time, an increased willingness to connect with others, and to share.

Has your farmer’s market opened yet?  What are you most looking forward to?   We’ll be posting through the fall with pictures from our Farmer’s Market to share with you.

Image via: Manger