Our 2010 Year Begins

  If I hadn’t really thought about it until today, I realize that we are now in the full push for our THIRD season.  It is hard to believe we have been doing this for three years.  We have learned a lot in that short time and have much more to figure out. 

  This year we are expanded.  We are going to be at the farm (600 Buttermilk Road, Williams Township, Hellertown, PA) from Thursday-Saturday.  In addition we are going to be at the Blue Ridge Flea Market on weekends.  We had been at Blue Ridge ‘on and off’ the last two years, and did well.  This year we are going to be there a lot more and with a more permanent presence, near where we were the last two years.

  We took a visit to Blue Ridge (Saylorsburg, PA) today and saw a lot of our old friends from the past years.  The older couple who sell plants are in their place on the end of the row.  We enjoy being near their site, as we sell with a similar philosophy of plants and ecology.  It should be local, in season, and pesticide free.  They see the same logic to the plants they sell.  Last year there was another couple who were next to them and then we were often in the third spot on the row.  I did not see the other couple today, but the market has only been open one week.  It is early.

   We got to see Luba selling her jewelry and sports cards.  It is hard to believe that she is teaching her ‘little’ daughter to drive and she is picking out colleges already.  We saw Saul and his wife selling their jewelry and antiques on the far end of ‘our’ row (yes, since we set up there, it is OUR row).

   We bought a book on soap making.  The only soap we had real directions to make was not the type we wanted.  It was the glycerine style.  We were looking for a more natural style and got a really good book on it today. 

  So, come first week of June (there abouts) we will be open in both locations. 

  From Saylorsburg we headed to Bethlehem to check out a new store.  It is called Seasons.  It bills itself as an olive oil and vinegar taproom.  The owners, Soraya and Tim were there and they were beyond helpful.  Neither Chuck nor I know a lot about vinegars and olive oils, other than we know what we like.  We read an article in the Morning Call about this place and a quote struck me, that I believe was attributed to Tim (Balshi).  He said that good “olive oil is not like the grease you buy in the store”.  He is so right.  Chuck and I bought a bottle of his lighter olive oil (for $14.95 we got a nice 375 ml bottle).  The taste is extraordinary.  We also tasted chocolate and raspberry balsamic vinegars (we actually tried about 6 total).  I could not believe I was tasting vinegars.  This, too, was nothing like what you buy in the store. (Note: Tim suggested when Chuck’s bees are producing enough honey to sell commercially, he would be interested in having it their store.  That is exciting.)

  Before leaving north side of Bethlehem we stopped at the Magic Shop which is relocated from ‘the tunnel’ to Main Street as well.  I admit that I am lost in those places, but Chuck understand and enjoys the herbs, potions, and genre.

  After Seasons, we headed to South Side Bethlehem and checked in at several of our favorite places.  Loose Threads is owned by our friend Mike Jasorka’s sister.  She was there today and always her friendly self.  She noted that we need to come back on the first Friday of May when they are celebrating their 1st Anniversary with live music.  We plan to be there.

  Home and Planet is always worth the stop on South Side as well.  A wide, wide variety of unique items that are things you almost have to say “why didn’t I think of that”.  Great re-used and re-directed use of items like the chairs made from 25 gallon steel oil drums to the purses and wallets made from juice packs.

  The whole day had a theme of planning for the opening of the farm market this season.  We brought home a lot of new ideas, coupled with confirmations of ideas we already have going.

  Getting anxious to be selling again.  We miss our friends from the growing season that we haven’t seen since last October.  We hear, via emails and Facebook, that they are waiting for quality in season, locally grown and pesticide free vegetables and fruits too.