Join us at Handmade Holiday!

The holiday season is upon us!

Arlington farms are tucked in tight, mulched and sleeping for spring, but our artisans are busy-busy-busy making special, one of a kind gifts!

You can see some of the amazing handiwork of last year's show here, on our blog, and here, on Barefoot Mommy's local blog.

Join us again this Saturday for our 2nd Annual Handmade Holiday, a seasonal celebration and gift show at 101 S Olympic Avenue, in the red co-op accessory barn, from 10 am to 5 pm.

As a special Arlington Food Bank fundraiser, you can get portraits with Santa from 10 am to 2 pm for 10 cans of food or $15, provided by Photographic Journeys.

And, drum roll please..... this year's door raffle is a gorgeous living 5 foot Noble Fir decorated by Sadie Lane, and covered with gifts from each of our vendors! Tickets are $5 or five for $20, with proceeds benefiting the farmers' market. 

Come early, as the City of Arlington and the Downtown Arlington Business Association are also sponsoring a Santa parade, free carriage rides drawn by Clydesdale horses Sugar & Spice, Victorian carolers around town, and a tree lighting at 4 pm in Legion Park with a special appearance by the Grinch!

Shop small, give real!

Harvest dinner, Arlington Farmland Trust, and our dear friends!

It's almost here! Our upcoming harvest dinner is Wednesday October 24th at 6:00 pm--just 5 days away!

Dennis Canty, the Pacific Northwest Director of American Farmland Trust, will kick off our evening next Wednesday with a commemorative plaque naming us America's Favorite Small Market. We are honored to be able to host the AFT, and we're so pleased that all of you will be joining us!

This harvest dinner is a possibility only thanks to the VERY generous support of a handful of local businesses:

Garden Treasures located in Arlington along Highway 530 donated all of the produce for our fabulous seasonal, local menu. Many of you already know Mark and Patricia Lovejoy from their gorgeous farmers market booth and farm stand.

Mark Lovejoy with his "chedder cauliflower"- photo credit Arlington Farmers' Market

A newcomer to the downtown Arlington area, Debi Morgan of Wild Rose Bistro and Catering has donated the venue (their new restaurant located at 318 North Olympic in Arlington) and  the services of executive chef Doug Nishimura, who will bring his expertise in creating and preparing a fantastic local, seasonal menu. Even if you aren't able to join us for dinner on the 24th, please enjoy the great lunch menu at the Wild Rose at their downtown location. Let's show this new business some love!

Visit Wild Rose at 318 N Olympic Ave, M to F 10:30 am--3:30 pm, Sat 10:00 am--3:00 pm.

 Along with our meals, we'll be enjoying the freshly baked foccaccia bread from Matt & Ariel Buza of Misty Mountains Farms. Gluten free bread will be available as well for those of you who note your preference in the "comments" section when you check out on brownpapertickets.com.

Misty Mountains Farm foccaccia bread; owners Matt & Ariel are opening a bakery CSA group in 2013!

And for dessert.... wait for it.... dream about it....

Pumpkin cheesecake! No way you want to miss the debut of this delicious treat freshly handmade  and donated by Jessica Feliciano of Cheese Cake Ever After.

Needless to say, this is a dinner not to be missed! There are still tickets available on Brown Paper Tickets for just $16. Proceeds benefit the growth of the Arlington Farmers' Market and seed projects to revitalize our agricultural community.

If you want to find our more about American Farmland Trust and the good work they do please visit their website, or read the article they wrote about our market. We can't thank them enough for hosting this contest and we can't that YOU enough for voting!

 

See you next Wednesday!

Harvest Dinner October 24th--Join us!

Hey market supporters! We miss you! Won't you join us for dinner?

Presenting: the first Arlington Harvest Dinner on October 24th at 6pm!

Come enjoy a fresh, local harvest meal prepared at the new Wild Rose Cafe, 318 N Olympic in downtown Arlington. The seasonal menu will be made from organic produce grown at Garden Treasures of Arlington.

The menu is forthcoming--butternut squash soup? Roasted baby beet salad? French bread with sage butter? You'll have to come to find out! At just $16, this meal is a steal. Kids are welcome for $6!

Please purchase your tickets early at brownpapertickets.com--we are unable to sell tickets at the door.

Enjoying this meal together will help all of us support the market, rally future success for local food, and spend a great evening in good company. We hope to see you there!

Arlington is America's Favorite Small Farmers' Market!

This week, we got some big news. Great news!

Arlington was bestowed the title of America's Favorite Small Farmers' Market!

American Farmland Trust's annual contest seeks to determine which farmers' markets can rally the most support from their community and collects votes from market lovers. Markets were judged in their size category: Small, Medium, Mid-Sized, and Large. So many visitors of our little community market voted for Arlington that our market was named #1 Small Market in America!

The Arlington market downtown on Olympic Avenue

We are so honored to have been given this title by the residents of our community. We are also excited that so many Arlington residents expressed their love for the resource the market is. As a volunteer-run organization, we can't express how grateful we are for your support!

Market organizers Samantha & Audrey display the market's mascot

Why does Arlington love the Arlington Farmers' Market? Let us count the ways:

Flowers from SnoCounty Farms

1. We are a truly local market. The hands you pass your money to are the hands that grew, crafted, or baked what you're buying (some shift-relief excluded!).  There's nothing like the relationships that develop when farmers are recognized and thanked for the work they do every week, and that proximity is hard to find--certainly absent at the grocery store.

Garden Treasures farmer Mark showing off his cheddar broccoli

2. We foster a community gathering space. There are so few places in our society these days where you can freely mingle with your neighbors, no entrance fee required. Drift through the rows of tents at the Arlington market, and you'll hear people laughing, kids playing, and friends recognizing each other.

Arlington Library's Helen plays Head Shoulders Knees and Toes with the kids

3. Free activities! We host kids story time and kids crafts every week, invite local musicians to play, and do yoga in the park. The farmers' market is a great place to spend the day!

Matt of Misty Mountains Farm sitting with his herbs and artisan bread

4. We love our hometown. Most of our vendors live right here in Arlington, and they have a heart for our community. They don't drive into town, pack up, and tally their receipts. They care about their shoppers, because they are also neighbors. Their kids attend our schools. You'll see them in line at the movies. The shoppers and vendors at the market aren't just buying and selling--they are investing in each other.

Biringer Farms with raspberries grown just outside of town

We know that there are exciting things on the horizon for the farmers' market. Next season will be even better than this one. Thank you, Arlington, for your support!

August at the market

Hello dear friends! It's mid August already! Only three weeks left for the Arlington market- let's see what has been going on shall we?!

Our little market is growing!

In 2006 when our community market began, it was little more than a one farm show. The Lovejoy's at Garden Treasures located in Arlington along Highway 530, setup week after week, rain or shine.  The market has is in it's 6th season now and we are excited to have so many new friends!

Chef demo sponsored by Misty Mountains Farm in Arlington

We had the good fortune to host a chef demo earlier this season as well as live music in the gazebo!

Love Lights! From Bellingham Washington

 

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We are so excited to offer local fresh produce grown with in a stones throw of the market, harvested within hours of the market opening.

Heirloom tomatoes from Garden Treasures

Bread baked fresh by Misty Mountains

New this season- Bread of all kinds including GLUTEN FREE! Cheesecake made by Cheesecake Ever After (Come early they often sell out of the most popular flavors!) and Yummy bakery goodness handmade by super sweet master baker Karen at Shoebox Bakery (Try the gluten free cobbler made from local berries, you won't regret it!).

Yoga at the market- Kathleen Buchanan Owner of Be.Well. 

Come for the food, and stay for the fun! Every week we enjoy something new! Bouncy house, yoga in the park, drama performances, music, chef demos, Story time (10:30 every week) come see us, it is way more fun than going to the grocery store.

Local food, strong community! 

Checking in at the market

If you haven't been to the market yet this season you may not know what a rocking market we have become!

Garden Treasures- Believe it or not, this is only HALF the display!

All our vendors have amazing displays and fantastic local offerings! Pair that with story time, bouncy houses and chefs demos and you have an idea of what is happening in Legion Park every Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Cheesecake Ever After spoiling us weekly with sweet treats!

Let's not forget live music from the Love Lights- out of Belligham Washington. What a treat for market goers and vendors alike to have such an awesome local band to grove to while you shop!

Please join us at the market this week, you dear friends are what take out market from "good" to " GREAT" and we look forward to seeing you!

Make sure you take a moment to vote Arlington farmers market "Best small market" in Washington State,

according to American Farmland Trust (AFT), the purpose of this contest is to re-connect local consumers to local farms, with the ultimate goal of keeping our nation’s farm and ranch land productive and healthy!  Buying at the farmers market keeps money in the local community and helps farms and ranches remain economically viable. By voting, you’re helping support farms and communities across the nation. So don’t forget to vote for Arlington at www.farmland.org/vote and spread the word!  Big thanks to everyone who has already voted! 

 

Local Food, Strong Communities! 

Please Help Arlington to be America's favorite small farmers market!

 

It’s summertime and that means two things: 

 1) Goodies of every kind are in full force at Arlington farmers market

 2) American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest has kicked into gear and we need your votes to win!  

 

The process is simple.  To vote for our market, all you have to do is:

1.)    Go to www.farmland.org/vote

2.)    Type in Arlington, WA

3.)    Click “Vote” 

That’s it. That’s all it takes to bring Arlington one step closer to being America’s favorite small farmers market!

Want to support multiple markets in Washington? Search by state and you can vote for more of your favorites - just remember, you only have one vote to cast per market! But Please vote for as many markets as you would like!

 American Farmland Trust (AFT) reports, the purpose of this contest is to re-connect local consumers to local farms, with the ultimate goal of keeping our nation’s farm and ranch land productive and healthy. Buying at the farmers market keeps money in the local community and helps farms and ranches remain economically viable. By voting, you’re helping support farms and communities across the nation.

As American Farmland Trust says, “No Farms No Food™!”

Don’t forget after your vote for Arlington farmers' market at www.farmland.org/vote, spread the word! Ask your friends and family to vote for Arlington as well! Remember you get one vote per market you attend, shop at, and love!

Of course a BIG thank you to everyone who has already voted! 

Sunshine on Opening Day!

This past Saturday was the opening of the sixth season at the Arlington Farmers' Market!

It was gorgeous weather, but our market stayed nice and cool in the grass of Legion Park.

We think this walk should be renamed Farmers' Market Way; what do you think?

The kids loved the bouncy house, and it looked like parents loved shopping in peace.

Attendance by you lovely market supporters was almost double the count for last year -- thank you for coming out to support your local food system! Our vendors went home happy. :)

Next week, the Street Fair will be held all up and down Olympic Avenue. You'll find the farmers' market vendors out in the street right in front of our home at Legion Park. See you there!