I had the opportunity to visit the Waco Downtown Farmer's Market, which was nestled under some beautiful old trees. This was the third weekend that it has been open and there was a good showing of customers. It is open every Saturday from 9 AM to 1PM. This road trip was so much fun. The vendor's stands varied from a food truck serving burritos to a social service table stressing the need for saving good food. For more information about the Farmer's Market go to their website, it is http://www.wacodowntownfarmersmarket.com/
I started with the Vanderpool Gourmet Gardens. The couple operating the vegetable stand told me that the produce comes from China Springs, just outside Waco. They offered fresh dill, baby bok choy (y'all know how much I love bok choy), kale, and mustard greens. They did not have web information available but they have set up here the past 2 weekends.
 |
| Vanderpool Gourmet Gardens |
Next stop was the Mill-King Market. They offered Low-temp Pasteurized Milk, Fresh beef, and eggs. If you go to their farm in the McGregor, you can also purchase Raw Cow's milk, Raw milk cheese, and Fresh Cheeses. However, due to the restrictions on selling Raw milk, it is not sold away from the farm. The owners are Craig and Rhianna Miller and you can contact them at milkingmilk@ymail.com and http://www.mill-kingmarket.com/.
TLC Farms Goat Milk Soaps offered soaps and lotions made from the milk of the Nubian Goats. It is owned by Tom and Caroline Lawson, who was quite informative. I tried her Goat Milk lotion and it was wonderful! Their farm is located in Franklin and can contact them at tlcgoats@peoplepc.com and www.tlc-farms.com/soap-htm.
Yesterday's post was for Mayocoba Beans, which are a Peruvian bean. So I was happy to see Cooper & Company Nurseries at the Farmer's Market. They had Peruvian hats, gloves and scarves made from 100% Baby Alpaca wool, in addition to the beautiful potted plants that they offered. Donald Cooper told me that Baby Alpaca wool is the very fine soft hairs of the Alpacas, not from an Alpaca baby, as I had incorrectly assumed. The garments help to support the people of Peru. Mr Cooper told me that he was trying to open a market for these ladies, who spend all day spinning the wool into thread. Cooper & Company Nurseries is located at 646 Old Crawford Rd, Crawford, TX 76638 or you can call them at 254-855-4930. If you are considering purchasing hats, gloves or scarves for Christmas gifts, consider contacting them. The items they had were beautiful, soft and very reasonably priced.
The Campus Kitchen of Baylor University was the next stop. Their mission is to save food. They work hand in hand with local banks and kitchens to help feed those who would otherwise go hungry. They do this by collecting excess food that would not be used and distribute it to the appropriate locations.
If you would like to help out, you may contact them at carson_clarke@baylor.edu
Smith & Smith Farms offered a variety of meats and eggs. Their chickens and sheep are free range and are chemical and hormone free. I was told that the farm had been operating for 4 years. They have whole chickens, eggs, and lamb for sale. They set up at other locations around Central Texas, which are Georgetown, Roundrock, Sun City-Georgetown, Austin Farmer's Market, Austin Triangle, and Barton Creek Market. The farm is located in Rogers and can be contacted at colbygsmith82@yahoo.com.
Double B Poultry had a very large stand. They offered pastured chickens, Grass fed beef, Cheese, Pasta, Gristmill products that includes gluten free items, Fudge, Cookies, Honey, and Muffins. They ask for orders to be place by Wednesday for pick up on Saturday. I do not have room to list all of the items that they offer, but their meats, eggs, and cheeses are hormone and antibiotic free. Contact them at 254-829-3042 or at doublebpoultry@gmail.com.
There were more vendors, but I was not able to speak with them due to the customers crowding their tables and that is good thing! I did not notice any credit card machines, so be sure to take cash for your purchases.
If you go to that area of Waco, be sure to head east out of town, on Highway 6. Not far from Loop 340 is a lovely little winery, Tehuacana Creek Vineyards. It is owned by the Westblooms. It is open Monday through Friday from 12 to 5 PM and Saturday from 11 to 6 PM. They have just released their Swedish Christmas wine, called Glogg. It is an old family recipe that has become a tradition for Christmas Eve at our house. You can contact them at http://www.wacowinery.com/. They have other wines, as well.
All in all, this was a lovely Road Trip. If you are ever in Waco on a Saturday, make a point to visit the Waco Downtown Farmer's Market located at 400 S. University Parks Drive and Tehuacana Creek Vineyards located just east of Waco on Highway 6. I bet you will have a lovely day, too!
Deloris
No comments:
Post a Comment