Earth Day Celebration at Salem Saturday Market tomorrow!

Image by NatalieMaynor via FlickrThe great folks behind the "Friends of Salem Saturday Market" send this along. Salem Saturday Market is one of the best things around, and joining in and with the Friends gives you a way to both give and get more great stuff from this local wonder.

Happy Spring!

Hello again from Friends of Salem Saturday Market! The Market has begun again, and we've got some great plans in the works. :

2011 Season: The Market is back in season! It opened [April 2] with an interesting mix of sun and rain, but the vendors reported brisk business. They're glad to be back, and I know we're all glad to have them return! Salem Saturday Market is your best source for fresh, local produce, meats, cheeses, breads, and other hand-crafted goods. The Market runs every Saturday through October at Marion & Summer streets, near the Capitol.

FSSM Programs: Help us celebrate Earth Day at the Market on Saturday, April 23. We'll have fun kids' crafts, seed-planting opportunities, and a Zero Waste Zone celebration. We're planning some more really great programs, demonstrations, and classes for this summer. Stay tuned for a full calendar of events, coming soon!

The FSSM Booth: You'll notice an expanded presence at the Market for Friends of Salem Saturday Market this year, all at a new location! FSSM will have a long row of tents set up at the south end of the Market -- the Marion Street side. This little compound will be the hub of all our activities. Our Bike Valet service will move to this spot, and we're adding a third Zero Waste Station. All of our classes and events will be held at this location, and the FSSM booth will also be headquartered here. Our full booth will only be set up on days that have FSSM activities scheduled. The next will be April 23. On those days when the FSSM booth is not present, you'll still find membership forms and other information stocked at our Zero Waste Station & Bike Valet tent.

FSSM Membership: It's time to renew your membership for the 2011 Season! Current members will be receiving a postcard in the mail soon reminding you about the renewal.

If you're not yet a member, now's a great time to join! Friends of Salem Saturday Market is making a great impact on the community, and you can be a part of it. You can find out more information online: http://friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.wordpress.com/membership/

Or, stop by our booth on April 23 to join in person. Thank you! we appreciate your donation to support Friends of Salem Saturday Market's mission! All donations are tax-deductible. This year, members will receive a sheet of exclusive coupons to local shops. P lus, as always, you'll receive one of our most sought-after benefits: Farm tours ...

Behind-the-Scenes Tours: We're excited for another season of exciting and informative tours for members of Friends of Salem Saturday Market. These are exclusive opportunities available only to FSSM members. In April, we'll be visiting Willamette Valley Cheese. And in May, we'll head back to Fairview Farms, which charmed our members last year with a bevy of baby goats. We'll send invitations via email, so watch your inbox for more information soon.

Remember: Tours are only available for FSSM members, so be sure to join or renew your membership!

Zero Waste Zone: Our volunteers are back at it, staffing the Zero Waste Stations to help customers toss their disposable items into the correct container. During the warmer months, we will expand from two Zero Waste Stations to three, making it more convenient to find a station when you need it. Last year, our emphasis on composting and recycling resulted in an 83% reduction of garbage thrown away at the Market. Thank you for your support of and participation in this valuable project!

Salem Weekly just published an article that spotlights the project and our nomination for a Green Award

Bike Valet: The Bike Valet service will be returning on May 28. At that time, you'll find it in a new location - on the south side of the Market, easily accesible from the Summer or Winter street entrances.

Volunteering: Interested in volunteering? We always welcome your help in staffing our Zero Waste Stations, the FSSM booth, and Bike Valet service. We also have many opportunities to help with the organization and planning of FSSM. Plus, we're seeking student interns for a variety of roles. Please contact me if you want to learn more!
--
Stephanie Matlock Allen
FSSM President
(503) 877-FSSM
info@friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org

What you missed by not being a "Friend of Salem Saturday Market"

. . . some awesome homemade goatmilk gelato, some even more wonderful goat cheese, and a really pleasant, fun, and educational visit to a small family farm in a beautiful, bucolic setting in Dallas, Ore.

Next up (but only for members of Friends of Salem Saturday Market): buffaloes!

For everyone, here's some events coming:

There will be a class every Saturday. Check back for updated schedules!

June 5 - Bike Valet Service opens for the season Free!

June 12 - Knit in Public Day Free!

August 7 - Chefs @ The Market: David Rosales of La Capitale Free!

September 25 - Book Exchange Free!

Happier note: Friends of Salem Saturday Market springing back into action!

Image via Wikipedia

Salem's Saturday Market is a gem, and the Friends of Salem Saturday Market are helping polish it to make it even more attractive. This great group offers neat tours of market vendor operations, which really helps you connect with and understand how market crops and produce come about. Here's a preview of some of the early season action this year -- join the Friends and take part!

Thank you for your support of Friends of Salem Saturday Market! Our first season was a great success, and we couldn't have done it without you. We've got even more free classes, events, and programs planned for 2010. We value your support, and we hope you continue to find value in our mission!

As an FSSM a member, you are invited to our exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of local farms and facilities. Your [2009] membership expires on April 1. Please renew today so you can join us on the spring tours detailed below. Return the form that you received in the mail, or find it here: www.friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org/Home/about/membership.

Send a reply email with your RSVP for these wonderful member-only events:

Hamblin Nursery: Sunday, April 25, at 1 p.m. --- We will visit John Hamblin's Nursery in Dallas. John has been a longtime vendor at Salem Saturday Market. He and his wife, Calene, sell vegetable & flower starts, hanging flower baskets, and potted flowers. At the tour, we'll see how the nursery operates, how to grow such beautiful plants, and more. The Hamblins will provide a tour, and then you'll have an opportunity to ask John questions while enjoying snacks. The nursery is 20 miles from the Saturday Market. Please let us know if you would like to carpool with other members. RSVP for this tour by Saturday, April 17.

Fairview Farm Dairy: Sunday, May 16, at 10 a.m. -- Do you know how goat cheese is made? Now's your chance to find out! Laurie & Terry Carlson invite Friends of Salem Saturday Market to their dairy in Dallas, where they make a variety of handmade goat cheeses. You'll see how the goats and other lifestock are cared for on this Animal Welfare Approved dairy. (And you'll learn what "Animal Welfare Approved" means!) The tour will include a walk around the property and the cheesemaking facilities, a look at baby chicks, a chance to bottlefeed baby goats, and a taste of that fabulous cheese. The dairy is 17 miles from the Saturday Market. Please let us know if you would like to carpool with other members. RSVP for this tour by May 1. (Space is limited, and a second tour may be added if needed.)

We will email you directions once we receive your RSVP & membership renewal.

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you again!
Board of Directors,
Friends of Salem Saturday Market

PS: The FSSM booth will be open at the Market on April 17. Stop by to say hi or to renew your membership in person! We will return every Saturday beginning May 8.

Last Call for Salem Saturday Market 2009!

This is the LAST CHANCE to enjoy the Salem Saturday Market in 2009! Image by NatalieMaynor via Flickr

Don't miss it!

Hi Friends!

Saturday, Oct. 31, is the last day of the Salem Saturday Market for 2009!

Friends of Salem Saturday Market will be there holding a yard sale at our booth ~ our first big fundraiser. Swing by our booth on the northwest side of the Market to see the great stuff we’ve got for sale, at ridiculously affordable prices.

The money we raise Saturday will help get us through the winter months. Although the Market may be finished, our activities and events certainly are not! FSSM is a year-round organization, and we want to keep the momentum going that we’ve gained all summer. So come take a look at our booth, see what we’ve got for sale, or just say hi. We’ll miss seeing all of our great members & supporters every week!

We’re not the only ones with good deals Saturday ~ a lot of the vendors will be selling garage-sale items, too. You’ll find even more great stuff than usual!

Bring the kids, too, for trick-or-treating and a costume contest. There’s even a costume contest for dogs!

We hope to see you you down there – rain or shine! – to bid farewell to a wonderful Market season!

One more thing to do before closing the book on summer

Become a Friend of the Salem Saturday Market.

The latest newsletter alone is worth the price of a low-end membership, with recipes for Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies, Zucchini Patties, Zucchini & Summer Veggie Casserole, tips on freezing zucchini, a recipe for Caprese (aka: The Essence of Summer Salad), Tomato Bruschetta, Marinated Tomato Salad, Tomato and Zucchini Fettucini, Ratatoulille, tips on freezing tomatoes, and enticing recipes for Peach Salsa, Peach French Toast with Peach-Pecan Maple Syrup, the recipe for that Peach-Pecan Maple Syrup, Peach-Blueberry Cobbler recipe and, finally, a recipe for Chilled Peaches in White Wine -- along with tips on freezing peaches! Typical of how much membership in the Friends of the Salem Saturday Market helps you enjoy this wonderful aspect of Salem's all-too-brief summer season of incredible local bounty.

And your tax-deductible contribution to this worthy 501c(3) group more than earns its way in terms of making your community better.

There's an upcoming "members only" tour of Salem's own Minto Island Growers on Sept. 26 that you can enjoy too.