Farmer's Market Season Begins

Charleston Farmer's Market

Oh yum. They even had peaches out already. Happy day! The only thing I bought was a perfect tomato and I can already taste it. The scene at Marion Square is different now with the Bennett Hotel open but that does offer outside seating with service. It all feels very bustling and festive. 

Charleston Farmer's Market - Holiday Style!

Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, SC    

You missed it! The market is over for the season but I had a few photos from one of the last ones. It was a festive holiday version with Santa and the Mrs., winter veggies and holiday music.

Ho, ho, ho!

Holiday Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC 

Ho, ho, ho! Gotta love the diversity of the Clause couple at the holiday market at Marion Square. Go Charleston! It is a chilly day and Mrs. Clause looked a bit cold this morning.

All That's Left

All That's Left, Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, SC

I was combining my morning walk with vegetable shopping at the Charleston Farmer's Market this morning when these clunky bracelets caught my eye. Unique!

He was using vintage buckles and clasps that his mother had bought in a large batch from a sale at Medway Plantation. What a great idea. The vendor's name is Steven Stafford and he has called his part of the business "All That's Left". Some of the bracelets were very tempting. Check them out at the Farmer's Market.

Charleston Farmer's Market

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Marion Square is a bustling and vibrant place these days as the Piccolo Spoleto Art show is set up at the same time as the regular Farmer's Market. Singers were singing, dancers were dancing, I bought a white hydrangea and John C. Calhoun took an art walk. I like to take an annual stroll through and drool on all the lovely paintings. It is all timed nicely to coincide with the perfect storm of deliciousness with SC peach season and silver queen corn.

John C. Calhoun goes for an art walk

Music, action!

Break Dancers at the Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC  

The break dancers at the Charleston Farmer's Market are amazing and perform for hours every week. I love watching them and love watching the expressions on the faces in the crowd while they dance. The Charleston City Paper had a good write up on the group here. What a treat. I always leave a tip in the bucket.

Charleston Farmer's Market

Fields Farms, Charleston, S.C.

I believe that a good tomato can improve almost any dish and I get a little panicky towards the end of tomato season. There is nothing like a fresh Johns Island tomato, is there? Devonne Hammond from Field's Farms has been my personal tomato dealer. He drives out and sets up a booth in the parking lot at my hospital every Wednesday to get me through the week.

I need to make at least one more summer dinner soon ....tomato pie, crab cakes, black bean and corn salad.

Today was music appreciation day at the market at Marion Square and as well as performing, musicians were letting people handle and try different instruments. It was fun to watch the kids.

Stay dry, folks! It's been a drippy day.

Free Hugs at the Charleston Farmer's Market

Free Hugs, Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

Free hugs! After I took the photo it was pointed out that there was a difference. One gentleman offered Free Hugs but the other specialized in Deluxe Hugs for $2.

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

I took the Free Hug and gave them a buck for posing with me.

To market, to market to buy a fat pig

Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,

Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.

To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,

Home again, home again, market is done.

I loved how these folks lined up for my picture last Saturday.

Unrelated but have some quick fun with Charleston letters at Charleston Letters. Cheri Cox walked the streets finding images with letter shapes. I knew that, but I didn't know she had set up a web site where you could try it. Type your name in and see what she has in store for you. You can order prints if you like them. Fun gift idea.

Now, where shall I walk this morning?

The Tastier Peach State

Schuler Peach Co. at the Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

If I had a nickle for every time someone has told me that S.C. grows more peaches than the Peach State of Georgia I'd be able to buy myself a modest peach farm. According to the SC Dept of Agriculture website we aren't even going to fight for the title, we have our own. We are the "Tastier Peach State".

I picked peaches one summer as a teenager in Canada. I remember as if it was yesterday being at the top of a ladder stretching to reach for a giant juicy peach with my fingertips. I bit into it and stood there on my perch overlooking the orchard with peach juice dripping down my arms. I am forever looking for that very perfect peach and enjoying every bite of the journey.

Break dancers - Charleston Farmer's Market

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

These kids were great and clearly each one admired the other dancer's techniques. I can't find much about them which is a shame since they were raising money for a national free style dancing competition that folks might want to contribute towards. It looks like they may be the Missing Links.

Farmer's Market season

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

 

 

Yipee! It is Farmer's Market season. Fresh tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries, oh my! The photos from last week show more booths than usual because some other festival tagged on but it is always good. Heck, now you can buy everything from fresh pasta to art work.

The aisles have spread out a little which I appreciate. With all the space I couldn't understand why we had to have the walk ways so narrow you could hardly move. All the time I am looked at fresh veggies I am consciously trying to keep myself from buying a bag of coconut macaroons from the Rococo German bakery booth. Oh yum.

Music for veggie shopping

Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

The Charleston Farmer's Market is as much about brunching, shopping, showing off adorable dogs as it is about veggie shopping. This gentleman was providing the entertainment for the folks lucky enough to grab a chair while they enjoyed their crepes and omelets.

I treated myself to some of this fresh pasta with this shrimp and pasta recipe in mind. We shall see! She advised cooking it for less than a minute. I think that this is the web site for the pasta booth. Cute.