Salem New Hampshire Farmer's Market Part 2

We had so much fun when we attended the Salem NH Farmer's Market, that I couldn't get everything we saw and enjoyed into one post!  While we were waiting for Jamieson of Brookford Farm to set up his table, we went inside, and checked out some of the vendors in there.  You could smell fresh waffles cooking in the waffle iron.  I told my lil guy that they were selling "Waffles on a stick" AKA Waffle Lolly's!  They are made my a sweet woman named Christine, and her business is called Want Waffles, and that link will bring you to her Facebook page.  She was running a special for children ages 6 and under could get one for $1.00!  Aidan enjoyed maple syrup and powdered sugar on his, and he thought it was fantastic! 

While Mom was checking out the other tables, the music had just started up, and the guys are suckers when it comes to Blues and Jazz!  Poor Howard Stith had just started playing, and Aidan wanted to be front and center.  Howard is a great guy and we all enjoyed his music.  Actually, Aidan enjoyed it so much that that is where the guys stayed until Mom was done shopping and chatting!  I thought Howard was great,  He plays what he refers to as "traditional 12-string blues and roots music", "Songs from Mother's knee and other low joints."  In between songs Howard shares stories, jokes and anecdotes, and it draws you in and makes you want to hear more.  He is out of Dover, NH.  He did have a CD available for only $10.  Aidan wanted a bit of Howard's music to take home with us.  It was definitely worth the price.  Aidan has CD's at home, Dan Zanes, etc, but this was his first non-kid CD.  When Howard heard this, he breaked after his song, and autographed the cd liner for Aidan!  We have been listening to that CD non-stop since, whenever Aidan is in the car! 

By this time, my bags were getting heavy, and my camera was in some pocket.  I made my way over to the busy table that Hurd Farm, a family farm from Hampton, NH were selling their "Naturally raised meat, the healthier choice for you and your family"!  
Here is a little bit about them found on their site:  "We were a dairy farm that has transitioned to locally raised all natural meats and poultry. The Hurd family has owned and operated the farm
since 1923.
Today we raise all natural grass fed beef and chickens and Heritage breed pigs.
Our meats and poultry are fed an all-natural diet with no added antibiotics or other
additives as growth stimulants. Our animals are provided access to green grass
and sunshine on our farm's 160 acres.
We offer the best home grown beef, pork, chicken, and eggs to our customers." 

 The Hurd family was very friendly, and they told me that they have a meat CSA, as well as selling their great products at local markets.  If the line at their table was any indication, I knew we were in for a treat when we made our pulled pork!  I purchased a Pork Butt and pound of nitrite free bacon.  The next day the Pork Butt went into my crock-pot!  And the end results......Wow!  Melted in your mouth!  Aidan is a pulled pork fanatic and he thought it was the best!  

Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the finished product.  I did not have my camera handy.  


We saw many other vendors that day, all had some great stuff available.  The Salem, NH Farmer's Market is definitely worth visiting.  


One thing I have enjoyed about our participation in CSA's, farmer's markets, and visiting local farms, aside from supporting my local community, is that my son is learning where his food comes from.  I think he is starting to get that the food we buy at the farm, and market or receive in our CSA is not anything like they sell in the grocery store.  I want to thank all of the small local businesses that keep on trudging, even though the economy is getting more and more difficult.  Makes us want to spend more of our dollars closer to home!  Have a great Easter, Passover or whatever you believe in!  May you have a great time with your family!


Kellie & Family!

 

Book Reviews Net Galley (Amish)

I mentioned Net Galley in one of my last posts.  It is a great way to get some books for your Kindle to read and review for the publisher.  Since I have not been feeling too well, I have been doing a lot of reading.  For me, reading is a great way to take a break from my own life and to get lost in a story.  When I started learning more about the Amish faith and culture, I became fascinated with their simplicity and their ability to stay that way in today's times. I enjoy reading both Fiction and Non-Fiction, and I have enjoyed learning more about the Amish and their ways.  Within the past few days I have finished two books pertaining to the Amish way, one fiction, and the other non-fiction.  Both were from authors I have not read before.  I know a lot of people are not religious and the Amish are very religious people.  Even for people who are non-believers, or have different beliefs, I feel there is still a lot of great qualities and skills that can be gleaned from the Amish of today.

The first book I read is Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth.  It is a memoir of Nancy's families quest to lead a simpler life, and grow together spiritually, with all the modern conveniences we have.  Almost Amish is the story of how Nancy's family went from living the big life, in a big home, her husband was an ER physician and she an English teacher, and through her husband's new found belief in God, the family decided to downsize their home, get rid of many of their worldly possessions, and learn to live a simpler life.  During this journey, they moved a few times, and studied the Bible in search of scripture about nature, and how we, as the Lord's stewards should treat it.  It is the story of how a family grew spiritually, all committing their lives to the Lord, and through studying the Amish way of live, staying close to home (riding a horse and buggy), therefore the Sleeths' looked for ways to Become "Almost Amish"  Some great examples she gave that I have been gradually adding in my own life are things such as buying locally (to support your community and know your community), having faith when times are tough, building a community of like-minded people you can count on and share with, spiritually and otherwise.  Nancy talks about branching out when you go to a new community and making friends.  The Sleeths' have made Friday night Dinner at home where sometimes twenty of more people including their now grown children get together and break bread and share food.  Food brings people together.  In the Amish Culture, food is a huge part of their lives.  Families eat together mostly 3 meals a day, and are closer because of it.  Nancy's family is very close and she attributes this to the fact that they have slowed down, to enjoy life.  Nancy does enjoy using the internet, in fact she uses it for her job in their ministry.  She does keep the Sabbath however, as does the rest of her family, and does not use email on Sunday.  She finds that this has helped her relax more and enables her to spend more time with her family, and doing things she enjoys such as reading, taking long walks, spending time visiting, gardening etc.  Nancy includes scripture that applies to these beliefs and that the Amish apply to their lives daily.  It is a great book, and it makes me want to continue to simplify my life even more, so that I can enjoy more time with my family and friends.  It is often difficult to find time for things you truly want to do, in today's fast paced world.  Nancy's book, Almost Amish, shows that it is possible to reevaluate your life without sacrificing the things that are truly important to you and your family.  I would highly recommend this book, and I know that I will definitely read it again.  The book is due out April 1st 2012.
Nancy's website is Blessed Earth.  There are many great references on this site, including a list of books about green living.  I am going to get some of those books and see if I enjoy them as much as I enjoyed Almost Amish.  The great thing about Almost Amish is you can have the attributes listed in the book anywhere you live, in the city of in rural areas.  If you find yourself interested in learning more about Amish ways this book is definitely worth a read.

 Return to Grace by Karen Harper was another enjoyable book I read from Net Galley.  This book was unlike any of the other books about the Amish I have read so far.  This book is suspenseful, and focuses on a murder investigation in Amish Country.  The main Character Hannah Esh, leaves home when her beloved Seth, tells her that he made another woman pregnant and he would have to wed her.  Hannah left to pursue a singer career in the Englisher world.  She turned Goth, and returned to the Amish graveyard for a midnight party on Halloween night.  While there, they were shot at.  Hannah was injured and a friend killed.  She is hospitalized and home for the investigation and her recovery.  Harper weaves a great story with many twists and turns.  This book is a part of a series, and I enjoyed it so much I am going to buy book two as soon as it's available.  During all of the investigating and the chaos that occurs Hannah is caught one foot on each side of the fence, trying to decide if she will go back to her worldly ways, or stay Amish with the family and friends in the community she loves.  This book is set to come out on February 28th.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in book two and others to follow.  I had a difficult time putting this book down and if you like Amish stories as well as suspense/mystery stories you should enjoy this is well.

I finished Return to Grace Last night, and I have not decided what I will be reading next.  Since Spring is fast approaching I may look at some of my gardening or sustainable living books, even though my yard at the new place is not as big to do as much as I would like, and there are three kids that live and play here as well, I think it will be some container gardening for me this year!