Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up March 18, 2012

It was a clear and windy day here at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market. So much for the Big Storm… And today it was all about the Cheese! Soledad Goats has some great new flavor combos, including this Lavender and Honey mixture.Delicious Lavender Honey Goat Cheese at Soledad GoatsSoledad Goats' Goat CheeseThe original Market Cheese guys were handing out cream cheese samples.The OG Cheese Guys

And the Milk Man had some new artisanal varieties to try today.The Milk Man and his artisanal CheeseArtisanal Cheese Sampler Plate

And in the Green Booth, students from Los Angeles High School’s AP Environmental Studies class were on hand talking about water conservation. Very cool!Los Angeles High School Students

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up January 8, 2012: It’s Back!!

Today’s post marks the return of the Sunday Mar Vista Farmer’s Market from its 2-week hiatus for the holidays, and I will toot my own horn and let you know it also marks the 3-year Anniversary of my weekly trips to the market with a post to follow.

The market was hopping today since so many of us have been missing it and were clearly chomping at the bit to get back to shopping for veggies on Grand View Blvd.

The organic strawberries at JR Organics were indeed very sweet (and did you know you Mar Vista is one of their CSA Pick-Up locations?), organic strawberries at JR Organics at Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012CSA bin contents at JR Organics at Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012the Bok Choy was looking good, bok choy  at Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012the Pomelos are enormous,  pomelos at Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012and the avocados are perfect.avocados at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012

Sustainable Works was in the Green Booth promoting their upcoming Free Green Living Workshops, so check them out.Gina Garcia of Sustainable Works in the Green Booth  at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market January 8, 2012

 

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up December 4, 2011

Just a spectacular day at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market today!

The Arts & Craft Collective is selling and will be for the rest of the month – just in time for Holiday Gifting.

Artwear by Birgitta at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Artwear by Birgitta

Quilts From The Heart at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Quilts From The Heart

Pam Goldwasser with Cane Expressions at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Pam Goldwasser with Cane Expressions

Refyll is now set up and selling their Green cleaning products.

Refyll selling Green Cleaning products in reusable containers at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Refyll selling Green Cleaning products in reusable containers

Marilyn Donadt was performing.

Marilyn Donadt performing at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Marilyn Donadt performing

Susan Holtz, of Baking & Cake Art Academy was on hand making an adorable Santa cake.

Susan Holtz of Baking & Cake Art Academy at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Susan Holtz of Baking & Cake Art Academy

Santa Cake! baking demo at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Santa Cake!

And EnerGTech was in back in the Green Booth talking about energy conservation.

EnerGTech At the Mar Vista Farmer's Market

EnerGTech

Next MVCC Green Committee Meeting Sunday, October 23rd 9:30am

The Mar Vista Community Council Green Committee will meet this Sunday, October 23rd at 9:30am at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market. Mar Vista Community Council Green Committee

Come join the Committee that brought you the Mar Vista Green Garden Tour three years running, as well as the Wise Water Expo and the Wise Power Expo. Agenda items include: the Urban Beekeeping Study, possible letter of support for the Fair Farm Bill, planning of 2012 Green Garden Tour and much more. See the full agenda here.

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up September 11, 2011

It was another gorgeous day at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market!

eggplant and cherry tomatoes at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market September 11, 2011

melons at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market September 11, 2011

raspberries at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market September 11, 2011

colorful wreath at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market September 11, 2011

James Brennan and John Ayers from Open Neighborhoods were on hand in the Green Booth talking about their current Community Solar project! DWP has reinstated the solar rebate program so now’s the time to go with the Sun’s Power!James Brennan & John Ayers of Open Neighborhoods at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market September 11, 2011

As you may recall, I got my own solar panels through Open Neighborhood’s first Community Solar project 2 years ago and I am very pleased with mine. My panels are from Solar City and if you’d like more information, please let me know. Or feel free to click though on the Solar City button on the right side of the website.

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up August 21, 2011 + Strawberry Recipe Book Giveaway!

Today at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, the MVCC Green Committee presented Evo Farm, an aquaponics farming concept. In the space of a 2-car garage, Evo Farm hopes to provide all of a family’s vegetable needs.

Evo farm at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11aquaponics at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11

And both the Market and the Green Committee wanted me to remind everyone in Mar Vista that the Ban on Plastic Bags at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market goes into effect September 1st! Get ready, people!

I caught a glimpse of Mar Vista’s own City Councilperson, Bill Rosendahl, chatting with a constituent.

Bill Rosendahl at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11

The summer veggies are in full gorgeousness.

eggplant at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11peppers at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11tomatoes at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11cherry tomatoes at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11stone fruit at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11

And Strawberries are still delightful.

strawberries at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market 8/21/11

I recently met with representatives from the California Strawberry Commission, including A. G. Kawamura, who grows the little red gems down in Irvine. He and David Grotto, RD, LDN, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, shared plenty of info with us about the health benefits of strawberries. Like, for example, did you know that strawberries contain vitamin C, folate, potassium and polyphenols? They do.

But they didn’t have to get all science-y on me; I love strawberries and will happily eat them served any way.

Strawberry Recipes for Everyday from CA Strawberry Commission

The Strawberry Commission graciously gave me a copy of their Strawberry Recipes for Everyday cookbook to try out – and another to giveaway to one lucky reader. So let the strawberry-eating and contest-entering begin!

If you would like a chance at winning the book, please leave a comment on this post on MarVistaMom.com by Friday, August 26th at 12 Noon PST, at which point a winner will be chosen at random. Winner must live within the US or be able to receive shipping within the US; No International Shipping.

UPDATE: The contest is over and the winner has been notified. Thanks!

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up August 14, 2011

It was a June Gloom Day in August here in Mar Vista, but that didn’t stop the crowds from coming out to get their veggies at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market!

Today was a big apple day at the Market: Gravensteins were here for one day only! Did you read about Walker Farm in the LA Times last week?

Gravensteins at Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Gravensteins at Mar Vista Farmer's Market

Also, have you tried Skylake Ranch’s Pomegranate products? This is Chris Brown, Operations Manager, with a couple of the things they make. I tried the fruit spread he gave me and it’s very nice; not too sweet and with a little sour bite. Just my speed. They have syrup and salad dressing I’d like to try as well.

Chris Brown from Skylake Ranch at Mar Vista Farmer's Market with Pomegranate products

And the Green Booth did double duty today: One side had Sustainable Works, which will be running workshops in LA starting this fall (check out the MVCC Green Committee’s website for all the details)

Sustainable Works Green Living Workshops at Mar Vista Farmer's Market

- and the other side had Alivia Hunter and Lillian Gardner from LA Costume Swap, who were there to promote the Big Costume Swap Day on October 9th, 2011! Save the Date! The Farmer’s Market will be overrun with “Green” Halloween Costumes! Green-O-Ween!

LA Costume Swap - Save the Date: October 9th! at Mar Vista Farmer's Market