Pumpkins to highlight final market

You can find the perfect pumpkin this Saturday (Oct. 28) at the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market.
There will be pumpkins just for Jack O’Lanterns, impeccable for pies, or tiny for trimming the table. Pumpkins in all shapes and sizes will be at the market.
Best of all, you will find decorated pumpkins in the annual “Pumpkin Raffle.”
For a number of years, the Riverside Foundation for Health Care has teamed up with local artists and the farmers’ market in a raffle for pumpkins that have been carved, painted, and decorated in all manner of imaginative ways.
“These folks are talented . . . you’ve got to see what they can do with a pumpkin!” enthused market manager Deb Cornell. “And we really appreciate that Lowey’s Produce donates all of the pumpkins to this worthy cause.”
Don’t miss your chance to participate in the Pumpkin Raffle. Arrive at the farmers’ market between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. because the draws begin at 1 p.m.
Winners can collect their prize pumpkin before 4 p.m. at the market.
Meanwhile, young visitors to the market can pull up a seat and decorate a small pumpkin to take home with them. Gerber’s Produce is providing a basket of small pumpkins the perfect size for a carry-home project.
While their artwork is drying, kids can summon their courage to visit Lowey’s haunted house. Each fall, imaginative Donna Lowey adds a scary element to her haunted store.
Come and visit—if you dare!
Several traditional varieties of apples also will be available from Lowey’s Produce, many of which you do not commonly see on supermarket shelves. Now is the time to get apple pies and apple sauce into the freezer for the holiday season.
Gerber’s Produce also has a good selection of fresh produce still available, including potatoes, winter squash, and their fresh farm eggs!
As well, you can get organized early for the Christmas entertaining season when you visit the farmers’ market. This is an appropriate time to order holiday foods such as perogies, cabbage rolls, meats, and baking like fruit cakes and desserts.
The farmers’ market has more that foods, though.
Darcy Bernie from Dryden once again will be visiting the market with his fabulous carvings. Bernie does beautiful and intricate carvings in antler and wood with hand-crafted pieces to fit all budgets.
His carved wooden bears make a marvelous addition to a cottage or country-decorated home while some of his larger antler carvings are one-of-a-kind investments.
If you haven’t looked closely through the collection of Cher and Mark Pruys earlier in the season, this is your chance before the market closes. They provide an excellent etching service.
Personalized etching can be done on glass, metal, tiles, and any number of other surfaces. They have some lovely examples of their work available.
Cher Pruys is known widely for her award-winning paintings depicting bush planes and there are many examples of her work in their display. Someone you know may be thrilled to receive one of her paintings.
Many other items around the farmers’ market are great for gift-giving, too, such as beeswax candles, honey in decorator crocks, elk leather mitts, pottery, and woodcrafts.
You can collect an assortment of local foods at the market to create your own gift basket. Spice mixes, dried elk sausages, blueberry barbecue sauce, honey, preserves, and candles all make for great gift baskets.
Lots of “end of season” inventory reductions will be happening because at the end of the day, it’s “pack-up” time.
For instance, Christina Stoessinger of Grandmother’s Attic has her antiques and collectibles 20 percent off, with hopes she won’t have to store them for winter.
Great buys on kitchen towels and dish clothes make great hostess gifts for the holiday season.
The six warmest months of the year have gone by in a flash. And with the arrival of cool weather, the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market prepares to close for the winter.
The market crew is a group dedicated to supporting local small business and local foods. We all look forward to meeting with our friends and customers again in the spring of 2007.
Have a wonderful winter!