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!

Canyon Ridge Farms

New this year at the Bentonville Farmers Market is Canyon Ridge Farms! Canyon Ridge Farms is a small family farm in Oklahoma that primarily sells goat cheese.

The drive to Canyon Ridge Farms was a long but pleasant one. I think I logged a round trip of 143.3 miles. To think, Marty and her husband Chrys will make this trip once a week to bring Bentonville goat cheese! I was welcomed to the farm by this watchful girl.

This dairy was just absolutely impressive. Marty informed me that her family built their facilities, and they have been in operation for a little over a year now. They have had dairy goats for a while, but they decided to start processing the milk and making cheese. 

The first barn I toured was the milking barn. Marty milks at 4:00am and 4:00pm. She can milk 4 goats at a time, they have around 40 milking does. The goats are fed while they are being milked. 

Next we went into the processing facility. I was told that Marty and Chrys took off in their truck to Pennsylvania to pick up their pasteurizer! The processing room is where they pasteurize the milk and make the cheese. Canyon Ridge has several new flavors they will be releasing throughout the summer. 

Canyon Ridge Farms has two different breeds of dairy goats, Lamancha and Nubian. The goats on the left and middle are Lamancha, notice that they don't have ears! The girl on the right is a Nubian, she has big floppy ears. When we went to the pasture the girls came running up to us!

In addition to goat cheese, Canyon Ridge sells farm fresh eggs and some produce. This year they are growing broccoli, and it has already come to head. 

I know that Canyon Ridge Farms loves what they do, when we were touring the kid barn Marty remarked to me "There is nothing sweeter than a baby goat."

If you want more information on Canyon Ridge Farms check out their website. Join me in welcoming Canyon Ridge Farms to Bentonville Farmers Market on April 28th at the Bentonville Square from 7:00am to 1:00pm. 

RP Beef

RP Beef is owned by Richard Potter. He is one of two beef vendors at the Saturday Bentonville Farmers Market. I had the pleasure to visit his farm a few weeks ago. Can you believe that just over the line into McDonald Co. you will see these breathtaking views? 

I parked my car at the bottom of a dirt road to meet Richard. Down the hill comes a motorcycle, navigated by Richard. He asks me if I would like to hop on, now my car is no stranger to dirt roads, but who could refuse the sun shining on their skin and fresh air on a beautiful day?

Richard took me past an old school house, a cave, a fast paced river, and scenery that can only be described as astonishing. As soon as his cattle heard him pull up, they came running up to him.

Richard has several pastures for his cattle, with a stream flowing through them and multiple ponds. The cattle have plenty of trees to escape the heat. 

These three decided to pose for a quick picture. Richard has developed his own line of cattle, but they do have some Angus influence. 

You can see that Richard takes pride in his livestock. As we were leaving he told the cattle not to worry because "She's a vegetarian." He said he tells all of his cattle that!

Get to know Richard from RP Beef and 61 other vendors at the Bentonville Farmers Market, opening April 28th 7:00am to 1:00pm on the Bentonville Square.