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Treat Dad to a Game!

Give Dad a special Northside Madison Father's Day treat – take him to a Mallards game on Father's Day (or any day the Mallards are in town). Any son or daughter who comes to the Market information stand this Sunday, June 14th, accompanied by their Dad, can receive two Mallard's tickets absolutely free! That's right! Two free tickets! Supplies are limited, so hurry and get yours!

Seven Things You Probably Never Knew About Strawberries
by Ella Wiese Moore; photo by Chris Moore

1. The ancient Romans believed that the berries alleviated symptoms of melancholy, fainting, all inflammations, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, halitosis, attacks of gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen.

2. In 26th Century BC China, the doctors of the Yellow Emperor used strawberry leaves to make a tea that would decrease the affects of aging.

3. Madame Tallien, a prominent figure at the court of the Emperor Napoleon, was famous for bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries.

4. Legend has it that if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will fall in love with each other.

5. The strawberry was not terribly popular in Rome during the later half of the 1st Century AD.

6. The Naragansett Indians of North America called the strawberry “wuttahimneash.”

7. Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, had a strawberry shaped birthmark on her neck, which some claimed proved she was a witch.

References:
http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-strawberries
http://www.nal.usda.gov/pgdic/Strawberry/book/bokthree.htm http://urbanext.illinois.edu/strawberries/history.html

Egg Update
by Lynette Jandl; photo by Chris Moore

I arrived at the Market about 10 minutes before closing last week but Keene Hollenbeck of Keene Organics (link) still had a few cartons of fresh eggs left to sell... so I got mine! The Hollenbecks must be doing a good job of estimating how many eggs to bring. But demand is high. If you're out (or almost out) of eggs, it's safer to get to the Market earlier. These farm fresh pastured eggs are so much better than store-bought!

I spoke with Keene about reusing empty egg cartons. He said he gives 25 cents off of your egg purchase when you bring a clean empty egg carton. This way everybody wins - including Mother Earth!

Bargain Berries at Rudy's Patch!
photo and article by Jim Franck

Rudy Montgomery, of Jan & Rudy's J&R Farms, is knee-deep in strawberries and he wants to spread the wealth, especially since the season is short. He and his wife, Jan, are picking about 250 quarts a day at their farm and want to make the abundance available to all so they've started "Rudy's Patch," a "U-Pick Strawberries & Raspberries" operation out in Spring Green. Bring the kids and help yourself to as many delicious strawberries as you can pick (raspberries won't be in season for about another month). Your price: An unbeatable $1.50/lb! Already picked berries are $3.75/qt. Come on out anytime from 7:00 a.m. until 12 noon daily. To visit between 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., call for an appointment. For directions or to make an appointment call Rudy (c) 608-574-8895 or (h) 608-583-7891.

This week at Artisans Row...
The Hefty Family - Windswimmers fish art
Greg & Linda Halom - watercolors, cards
Muriel Simms - cards, bookmarks
Youa Lor -handmade bags, purses, clothing
Mary Becker - jewelry
Vicki Lane - Funky Bracelets (link)
Elinor Gbedey - soy candles, handmade t-shirts

Market Report for June 7
photos and article by Chris Moore

Last Sunday the weather started out cool and by noon it had warmed up nicely. Our Market also started out slow and cool, but instead of just warming up it turned into a sizzle!

We had farm animals to pet (chickens with chicks and a calf), the beginning of strawberries, rhubarb, cucumbers, tomatoes, watercress, bok choi, cilantro, and sweet peas. For your own garden to plant there was romaine lettuce, zucchini, watermelon, and cucumbers starter plants.

Ripe Red Tomatoes? Cilantro? Sounds like it is time for fresh salsa. Not ready to make your own? Then step up to Tomato Mountain (link), who provides an array of read-made organic salsa including (from hot to mild): Habanero salsa, chipotle salsa, fire roasted green chili salsa, and roasted tomato salsa.

Heard of Strawberry Fields Forever? We will get close at the next market. J&R Farms will be bringing 150-200 quarts of strawberries at reduced prices. Every kid gets a free strawberry! What more could you want?

Well, okay. How about a buttery, flaky, moist scone (cheddar, chive, dill, and red pepper) or a sweet muffin? Yumm.

    

  Come to the NFM next Sunday and be good to yourself.
  

No-Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam
by Lynette Jandl

Ingredients
4 c. ripe strawberries
4 c. white sugar
1 box Sure-Jell powdered pectin
3/4 c. water

Directions
1. Wash and hull strawberries; crush thoroughly to end up with 2 cups.

2. Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 minutes.

3. Combine pectin and water in saucepan. Bring to boil; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4. Stir hot pectin into berries; continue stirring. Sugar may not dissolve completely.

5. Ladle jam into freezer containers. Put lids on
immediately. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours or until set.

Keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks or freeze for up to a year.