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Saturdays to September 28th | 8 am to Noon
Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Road
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Farm in the Spotlight
Garey Farms
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Garey Farms is our Spotlight Farm this week. Hailing from Paris, KY in Bourbon County, Garey Farms and Farmers Carla and David Garey occupy a double booth space near Shelbyville Road in the center of the market. David and his family have been part of the market since its inception and offer an exceptional variety of produce, local honey, meats, Nature's Rhythm CBD oil products and much more. The offerings include tomatoes, potatoes of many varieties, okra, cauliflower, broccoli, greens, onions, many types of peppers, eggplant, shallots, leeks, squash, zucchini, bok choi and even kohlrabi. They also grow watermelon and cantaloupe, herbs, and aromatics. In the protein department, they offer sausage, sliced smoke cured bacon, David makes a great salsa, jams and jellies, and amazing honeys.
The entire family -David, Carla, John, Makayla, and Libby – have always been a farming family. Raising row crops as an additional source of income in the early days, gave rise to a more successful and permanent business, started by John around 2000. John began raising vegetables on the family’s property to sell at farmer’s markets to pay his college tuition at the University of Kentucky. All through college John was either at class, working at his father David’s trucking company, or growing and selling vegetables. Things became busy enough with the market that the whole family, including younger sister Makayla, participated in the business in some way.
As college came to an end, John was ready to begin a new business, starting his own landscaping company. At that point, Carla and David decided to increase their participation and manage the operation themselves. Over the next several years the business expanded to more market locations each week. By 2012 both Carla and David had become full-time farmers and soon began raising pastured pigs and chickens on the farm. A commercial kitchen was built for preparing ready-to-eat and canned items from excess produce. Today, with the help of John and Libby, Garey Farms operates at six markets per week, provides meat and produce for restaurants in Lexington and Louisville, and their line of pantry items appear in a few local shops.
The Gareys have always tried to innovate and adapt to the changes of the markets and the consumers in the 20 years they’ve been working farmer’s markets. This attitude and intuition led them on their latest venture when the Federal Farm Bill of 2014 was passed. After some evaluation of the program and the potential for Hemp as a profitable, sustainable crop, the Gareys began growing and processing through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program. Now in their third growing season, the Garey family has launched Nature’s Rhythm CBD, their own brand of products made using CBD extracted from Hemp. Their line of products currently consists of CBD Oil Tinctures, Jams and Jellies, Local Raw Honey, Peanut Butter, and Topicals, all with CBD extract made from hemp grown and processed by the Garey family in Central Kentucky. All CBD extracted from their Hemp undergoes third-party testing for pesticides, microbial contaminants, and content analysis (such as other cannabinoids and terpenes related to The Entourage Effect).
Today, the fruits of their labor are beginning to show in the repeat business from Nature’s Rhythm customers, providing testament to the improvements in health and quality of life they feel. The feedback received from customers has helped define the range of benefits that are possible with CBD.
Scientific studies have shown that CBD has significant benefits for a wide array of health concerns. Their CBD products are available at their website, https://naturesrhythmky.com/pages/why-natures-rhythm
Dave says, “We have been farming as a family business for nearly twenty years, but farming in one form or another has spanned several generations in our family. We have made agriculture our livelihood, but it’s also our lifestyle - when you love what your do, it doesn’t (usually) feel like work. Farming isn’t for everyone, and certainly not those in it to get rich quick. We are committed to operating in a way that will ensure the longevity, sustainability, and health of our way of life. We believe this attitude is passed on through our products to our customers.”
David Garey also serves breakfast each Saturday morning featuring his own delicious bacon and sausage, farm fresh eggs from Jackson’s Produce, and served on a yeast roll or homemade biscuit from Triple J Farms. Country ham is available as well. It makes for a wonderful morning at the market and the Garey’s are a big part of the St. Matthews Farmers Market’s success.
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Glass Talisman Glass Blowing Demo
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Weather permitting, the St. Matthews Farmers Market and Gail Oyler will offer a glass torching demonstration this Saturday, June 15 at the top of each hour at her booth facing Shelbyville Road. Gail has been melting glass for more than 10 years and started by making jewelry for friends. Her small business gives her great joy! Her first goal was to make vessels to hold sand or shells from the beach, which are still her favorite treasures. She named her business, The Glass Talisman, for that reason. A Talisman is a good luck charm, and all her vessels are filled with treasures, especially good wishes. You will find bracelets, necklaces, earrings, vase pins, and an array of fine gifts in her booth.
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Gazpacho
Summer is a perfect time to make a delicious gazpacho. Everything you need can be found at the market. And here’s something to do with that last bit of baguette that’s too hard to eat, and the beginning of this summer’s tomato crop. The bread gives gazpacho, which has its origins in Andalusia long before the tomato arrived in Europe (it was made simply with stale bread, water, vinegar, garlic and olive oil), its wonderful texture. Keep a pitcher on hand in the refrigerator for refreshing snacks and quick, healthy lunches. It could really be described as more of a drink than a soup.
Ingredients:
2 thick slices stale French bread, crusts removed (about 1 ounce)
1 pound ripe tomatoes, cored and peeled
2 garlic cloves (more to taste), halved, green shoots removed
1 slice red or white onion, coarsely chopped and rinsed with cold water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 to 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or wine vinegar (to taste)
½ to 1 cup ice water, depending on how thick you want your soup to be
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Garnishes (optional)
½ cup finely chopped cucumber (more to taste)
½ cup finely chopped green pepper
½ cup small croutons (a good destination for the rest of your stale bread)
1 hardboiled egg, finely chopped
To Make:
- Place the bread in a bowl and sprinkle with enough water to soften it. Let sit 5 minutes, until soft enough to squeeze, and squeeze out the water.
- Combine the bread, tomatoes, garlic, onion. olive oil, vinegar, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Pour into a bowl or pitcher, thin out as desired with water, cover and chill for several hours.
- Meanwhile, prepare the garnishes, if using. Place them in small bowls on a platter. Serve the soup in glasses or bowls and pass the tray of garnishes.
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Our musical guest is Them X Brothers with Kristi Nichols. Our alternate vendors are Kentucky Made & More, Beaded Treasures, Blueberries of Daviess County, Splendid Bee, Tim Burton's Maplewood Farm, and Scarlett's Bakery. Fruits, vegetables, meats, breads, oils, wines, and plants and flowers of all types are now available. Come one, come all!
HOW TO BUY BLUEBERRIES
Fresh blueberries are most plentiful during the summer months, but you will find them in the market all year round, along with frozen, canned and dried blueberries.
When purchasing fresh blueberries, look for firm, plump, dry berries with smooth skins and a silvery sheen. Size doesn't matter, but color does- reddish berries aren't ripe, but can be used in cooking. Avoid soft or shriveled fruit, or any signs of mold. Containers with juice stains indicate that the fruit may be bruised.
HOW TO STORE BLUEBERRIES
Refrigerate fresh blueberries as soon as you get them home, in their original pack or in a covered bowl or storage container. Wash the berries just before use.
HOW TO FREEZE BLUEBERRIES
The secret to successful freezing is to use berries that are unwashed and completely dry. Discard berries that look bruised or shriveled. Place the berries, still in their original plastic pack, in a resealable plastic bag. Or, transfer berries to freezer containers or resealable freezer bags. The berries will freeze individually and you can remove just the portion you need. Remember to rinse them before using.
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Maker in the Spotlight
Blueberries of Daviess County
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The McCormick family began growing blueberries in 2001. As full-time farmers, their corn and soybean farm struggled for profitability. With the loss of tobacco pounds, Nancy McCormick decided to try growing blueberries as an alternate crop and selected 12 varieties which ripen early to late summer. Each variety has a slight variation in flavor and size. Currently, they have three acres (approx. 3,000 plants) of blueberries and their goal is to provide customers with excellent quality blueberries, fresh from the bush.
In addition to their sweet, delectable flavor and visual appeal, blueberries are jam-packed with good nutrition. They're a convenient little berry at home in pies, pancakes, salads, smoothies and sauces. Or, simply wash and eat. No peeling, pitting, or slicing needed!
Blueberry muffins have long been a breakfast favorite, yet fresh blueberries haven’t always been something consumers think about as a summertime treat in Kentucky. But that is changing. Demand for blueberries has been increasing throughout this decade, and growers are stepping up to meet the demand. Production in the state has increased steadily since 1997. There is still plenty of room in the market for additional growers.
Blueberries have surprising health benefits. They help guard against cancer, fight Infection, strengthen eyesight, promote urinary tract health, improve circulation, improve your mind, coordination and balance, reverse short-term memory loss, reverse the effects of aging, and fight chronic and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Blueberries of Daviess County will be at the market through July and will offer blueberries, blueberry cobblers, jams, cakes, and popsicles. Visit them online at https://www.facebook.com/pg/BberriesofDC/about/?ref=page_internal or http://blueberriesofdaviesscounty.com/
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