Fun at Farmer's Market

How lucky are we in Chico to have our fabulous YEAR-ROUND Farmer's Market?!  

I love strolling down the aisles, chatting with friends and asking vendors for ideas about how to cook a particular kind of squash or greens.  Long-time friend Sarah Adams (or one of her equally beautiful sisters, Molly and Emily) is always there with a smile and sample of her Chico Chai (the BEST! A perfect blend of sweetness and spiciness--I heat mine up with vanilla Almond Milk).   I used to babysit those wonderful girls in my previous life as a canyon mama.  It's fun to see them "all growed up" and enjoying life.

With movements like "Think Local, Chico" and "10% Shift" gaining momentum, it's obvious that people are becoming more aware of the importance (both for our local economy AND for the planet) of making more of their purchases closer to home.  So get your fresh fruits & veggies (maybe pick up a new Chico Bag to haul them in) this Saturday morning, then reward yourself with a nice, steamy cuppa chai or coffee, either there or at one of our great locally-owned coffee shops or eateries!

The Saturday Market is located in the parking lot at Second St. and Wall, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. (Thursday Market runs April - September in downtown Chico, and Wed. Market runs June - Oct. at the North Valley Plaza Mall, Corner of East Ave. & Pillsbury, near Tinseltown movie theater.)

Check out my Flickr page for a few more fun photos.

Springtime in Chico

Only February, and it's SPRINGTIME in Chico! This corner of Vallombrosa and Mangrove (across from Chipotle) is absolutely my all-time favorite "bloomin' spot" at this time of year. After my mom and I visited the Farmer's Market this morning (wonderful, fresh produce!), we swung over to see whether the blossoms were out. You betcha! Next time you're cruising downtown, swing by and check it out. The blossoms only last a few weeks, so don't miss 'em!

Giving Thanks

I know "Thanksgiving" is officially over, but I ran across this article online today, 10 Reasons to be Thankful, and thought to myself, "What a great time to be reading something positive!" My next thought, of course, was to share it in my blog. It's good to take a few moments in our daily lives (especially these days) to contemplate the many things we really do have to be grateful for. As is quite obvious to anyone who has read my past blog entries, I'm so grateful to be living in a place like Chico. (See "Stepford Chico?") Friends and I were just discussing that at a busy, sunny Chico Farmer's Market last Saturday. I'm also very thankful for the family I was lucky enough to be born into (see lovely photo of Mom and Dad above, taken in '05 at that very same Farmer's Market) and for the great friends and clients I've met in the 26 years I've lived here (as well as longtime friends from earlier times). What are the top three on your list of 10 Reasons?

Gardener's Swap Meet

Too many tomatoes? Up to your chin in cherries? Are you and your zuchinni being avoided by friends and family? Now you can SWAP THAT SURPLUS every Wednesday through October 8th! Sponsored by the Chico Food Network, the Veggie Swap Meet takes place every Wed. evening at various locations (see schedule for time/place).

Nothing to swap but still want to put fresh, wholesome food on the table? We're so lucky here in Chico to have not one, not two, but THREE DAYS of wonderful local Farmer's Market! Saturday morning downtown (parking lot at 2nd St. and Wall St.), Wednesday morning (North Valley Plaza--Mervyn's parking lot) and Thursday evening (downtown on Broadway). With all of this access to enchanting edibles (much of it organic), you have NO excuse for not eating healthful, nutritious and tasty meals. (As my friend Marcia Zimmerman--another Chico treasure--says, "Eat your Colors!) So get that big salad bowl, grill and wok out and eat your veggies!

Stepford Chico?

Ok, I admit it; I'm a hopeless Chicophile. My dear brother-in-law Jim was recently visiting from the Portland area. I took him to our fabulous Farmer's Market and then to a favorite local coffee shop afterwards. Naturally, we ran into a number of friends and acquaintances of mine along the way (it's Chico after all!). And, as usual, each one of these fine folks (upon learning Jim was from out of town) spent a portion of their conversation extolling the virtues of life in Chico. It didn't even phase me; after all, doesn't everyone LOVE Chico? After several of these encounters, Jim confided in me that he and my sister have a little running joke about Chico being "Stepford," full of Chicoans roaming this quaint little hamlet, intoning over and over, "Don't you just LOVE Chico?"

I have to admit, I had to laugh at that and had to somewhat agree with his observation. But really, I mean, don't you just LOVE Chico? ; )