Better weather for farmers markets this week

Cold and rainy turned to hot and steamy, but weather should be just fine for this week's farmers markets. You can find a list of Eastern Iowa markets here: http://thegazette.com/blogs/homegrown/2010/04/29/find-eastern-iowa-farmers-markets-here

Bob Shepherd of the Washington Farmers Market in Washington, Iowa, sent the following today:

    Weather conditions, the first two weeks of the Washington Farmers' Market, have been less than ideal, but the stoic ethic of the Washington Community carried the day. Despite the cool, despite the rain an event happened both Thursday evenings.

   Last Thursday afternoon a drizzling rain, a cloudy sky and cool breezes greeted downtown visitors, at 4:10pm, there appeared to be no action in the area around the Central Park Fountain. Despite the conditions, by the 5pm start time; canopies, garden umbrellas and sheets of clear plastic protected large displays of spring vegetables, bedding plants, hanging baskets and tables laden with fresh baked goods.

   Adequate amounts of a variety of lettuces and radishes were available; crisp red, white, purple and pink sweet, crisp radishes, dark green, light green speckled and red tinged fresh picked lettuce made for colorful and tempting displays. Early cucumbers, spring dinner onions and spinach were available.

   Gerald Freyenberger, a grower at the first downtown Market in 1988, offered beautiful thick spears of fresh picked Asparagus.

   Baked Goods; yeast breads, cookies, bars, fruit pies, sticky rolls, dinner rolls, rice crispy bars, coffee cakes, quick breads, decorated cakes and the spring delight 'Rhubarb pie' were but a few of the culinary choices.

   Doug and Tanya Webster, Sigourney, brought a large variety of bedding plants;tomato, pepper and cole plants the many choices made selections difficult but a few exotic/heirloom plants add interest to any home garden.

   This weeks 'Guest' will be the Horticulture Class from Washington High School.Duane VanWinkle's class will be bringing the fruits of their labors in the school green house;vegetable and floral bedding plants raised by these budding horticulturists.

   Home made ice cream and pastries will be at the market for the first time this year. The Methodist Church Mission group will sell their hand made ice cream, the proceeds will go towards funding their mission/work trip to the Appalachia Mountain area this summer.

   Conversations and greetings between friends were shorter than usual last week but as warm as always none the less. The weather predictions for this Thursday evenings start at 5pm are much better, pleasant, friendly, colorful, the stuff of which hometown Washington thrives upon. The setting's more beautiful by the day, come downtown, see the progress, see your friends, enjoy the evening. See you there!