Spring Promises

The warmer weather this week captured my heart with the promise of spring. The sun was shining, I opened the windows at my house, put on a light jacket, took a deep breath of spring dreams and got outside.

I love to take my dogs and just explore. This weekend we came across this unique sign at Park Springs Park. Have you noticed any fun facts popping up around Bentonville?

We also got out and took a hike on the miles of trails Bentonville offers. Kora even found a stick to play with!

With all of the fun that I am having with warm weather, farmers are working hard to plant, grow and plan for the Bentonville Farmers Market. Little seedings are growing to provide numerous tomatoes for summer BLT's!

The question is, what are you looking forward to at the Bentonville Farmers Market? Talking to the vendors? Purchasing fresh local food? Shelling the peas with the sheller?

The Bentonville Farmers Market opens Saturday, April 27th from 7:00am to 1:00pm. My suggestion? Come hungry and eat at a new food trailer, purchase flowers to welcome spring, bring a canvas bag to fill with fresh local produce, meat and cheese and stop and enjoy the place you call home.

October already?

Is it really October already? I supposed I should have been more prepared, the crisp evenings and chilly mornings have been rapidly encroaching on the hot days of summer. What do these pieces of fall have to do with the Bentonville Farmers Market?

The Bentonville Farmers Market ends on October 27. That means the market has four more Saturdays to bring you fresh local produce. You can expect to stock up on squash, pumpkins, apples, okra, beans, potatoes, greens, meats and cheeses.

One of my favorite fall activities is making caramel apples! I love the smell of the caramel in the house, the juiciness of fresh apples, and the laughs shared over a stove on a chilly day. I have been wanting to try a recipe for Inside Out Caramel Apples from our Bentonville Farmers Market Pinterest page for a while now. Looking at these locally grown apples, I think it is a must!

This week at the Bentonville Farmers Market, the Benton County Master Gardeners will be set up with fall themed activities for the whole family. I hope to see you at one of the bountiful October markets, held at the Downtown Bentonville Square from 7:00am to 1:00pm. 

Dog Days: The Sequel

As the dog days of summer fades into fall, I take great pleasure in spending quality time with my dogs outside. I am so delighted that Bentonville has a plethora of great places that we can enjoy! 

Keema, my German Shepherd Dog, is very social and playful and loves going to the Bentonville Bark Park. 

Headed to the Bentonville Bark Park with my friend Winfree!

Kora, my Australian Cattle Dog, doesn't care where we go as long as she can be right in the middle of everything. 

A great activity to take your socialized dog to is the Bentonville Farmers Market Dog Days. This Saturday, September 15th will be a day for the dogs. Special vendors include True Science, Camp Bow Wow, Hup and Running Agility, The Great Plains Mastiff Rescue, Joey's Dog Bakery, Every Dog Can, Main St. Pawstries, All Pets Animal Hospital and more! 

There will be a dog parade with prizes starting at 10:30am on A street behind the Crepes Paulette trailer. 

Take your best friend outside and explore what Bentonville and Arkansas have to offer! 

Our dogs can lead us back to the balance that nature intended for us, if only we are willing to follow.

Yarnell's Tryathlon

It is well known in my circle that I am an ice cream addict. I like ice cream floats, hot fudge sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, shakes, ice cream cakes, ice cream in cones and in bowels. I also like Arkansas products. Yarnell's Ice Cream is just that, being manufactured in Searcy, Arkansas. Could you imagine slicing up one of these juicy peaches and mixing it with some vanilla ice cream? Just trust me, its good.

This Saturday, August 11th, Yarnell's Ice Cream will be holding the Yarnell's Tryathlon at the Bentonville Farmers Market! Chef Rob from Tusk and Trotter will be showing you how to use local ingredients with Arkansas made Yarnell's Ice Cream to create ice cream masterpieces. The fun will begin at 10:00am at the Bentonville Square, don't miss out!  

Stone River Ash Garden

I don't know about you, but I am LOVING all of the ripe red tomatoes at the Bentonville Farmers Market right now. I have been making tomato bread, tomato cucumber salad, and salsa. Last week, I went to Stone River Ash Gardens.

Jessica is a new farmer and I think she is doing great! All of her tomatoes are grown chemical free. She has turned her backyard in to a suburban garden. 

What a beautiful space to sit and sip tea. Stone River Ash Garden grows many unusual heirloom tomatoes. Jessica has tiny, big, red, green, heart shaped, skinny, plump, sweet, juicy tomatoes. 

All of the tomatoes are started from seed. You may remember buying tomato plants from Stone River Ash earlier this year.

If you are looking for something different or familiar check out her booth on Central Street. Jessica is more than willing to help you pick out the perfect tomato for the foodie in you. 

Don't forget to vote for the Bentonville Farmers Market as your favorite farmers market! See you Saturday from 7:00am to 1:00pm on the Downtown Bentonville Square!

Tomato Bread:

Loaf of french bread

Fresh mozzarella sliced

Fresh basil chopped

Butter

Tomatoes sliced

Set your oven to a low broil. 

Slice the french bread to about 1/2" slices

Butter the bread and place on cookie sheet. If you like put some garlic on the bread

Put in the oven for a few minutes until slightly toasty

Remove from oven and place basil, tomato and mozzarella on the bread

Place tray of bread back in oven

Monitor until mozzarella looks melted

Serve and enjoy!

Vote for Bentonville Farmers Market!

It’s summertime and that means two things:  

1) There are loads of delicious farm fresh produce available at the Bentonville farmers market every week; and 

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 Bentonville Farmers Market; and,

3.)    Click “Vote”

That’s it. That’s all it takes to bring the Bentonville Farmers Market one step closer to being America’s favorite farmers market!

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

So don’t forget to vote for the Bentonville Farmers Market at www.farmland.org/vote and spread the word!  Big thanks to everyone who has already voted! 

McGarrah Farms

Have you ever eaten a blackberry straight from a bush? That is one of my favorite childhood memories. My family and I would go down into the woods and pick wild blackberries and raspberries and eat more then we brought home. Our hands would be stained purple and usually one of us ended up with a thorn. 

McGarrah Farms offers this experience but better! Dennis has a you pick farm of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and pumpkins. Unlike our wild blackberries, the berries at McGarrah Farms are larger, sweeter, and have no thorns! 

Dennis is a new vendor at the Bentonville Farmers Market this year. You may have purchased strawberries from him earlier this year. McGarrah Farms is located in Pea Ridge, about a 20 minute drive from Downtown Bentonville. 

Right now Dennis has corn, tomatoes, okra, squash, cucumbers, and lots of other great veggies growing. In the fall, there is a maze, tractor pulled hay rides, and pick your own pumpkins. 

This is only a few of the tomato plants at McGarrah Farms. Dennis likes to grow heirloom tomatoes. There are some ripening on the vine, as I type! 

We drove to another farm, about 7 miles away to get to the blackberry and raspberry patch. This berry is just about ready to eat!

With everything going on, Dennis and his wife still have time to maintain beautiful butterfly bushes. 

This fall, if you have the desire to experience a working farm and also get a great pumpkin head on over to McGarrah Farms. Also say Hi! to Dennis and his crew at the Saturday Bentonville Farmers Market, on the Downtown Bentonville Square from 7:00am to 1:00pm.