Thursday, March 27, 2014

Homegrown in Hollywood

 I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful week in Hollywood this past February. I was excited to see that the weather was going to be much warmer than my home town of Seattle and that I might even see the sun! Thankfully I had some free time to snoop about and on Sunday found the Farmer's Market bustling with vendors and shoppers.


Sharing the day with two of my sisters, we quickly found a vendor selling fresh strawberries and bought enough to fill our tummies for breakfast. I love the "taste phenomenon" each juicy bite triggers. Transported back to a multitude of summer memories in an instant of time. A vacation within a tiny fruit!


The sites and sounds of a farmer's market always delight me. The vendors excitedly telling would-be customers about how special their products are, how they were grown or hand made, where the products were produced or located. Then there are the colors and variety of goods. From flowers to mushrooms to handmade knitwear, the whole scene being serenaded by local musicians each with a distinctive style, is exhilarating! The diversity in a Farmer's market is mind blowing! When you think of all the talent, passion, and work that has to take place before this ongoing event can be successful you have to marvel.







LA Funghi

La Funghi had the most fabulous display of mushrooms I've ever seen. Artfully displayed, each basket had several varieties at the peak of perfection.  


 

Who needs to color eggs for Easter when these beauties have already been dyed by Mother Nature herself? 

My personal favorite are the vendors selling honey and honeybee products. Sharing stories with beekeepers from other parts of the country is always informational and cathartic.

Martinez Apiaries

Honey Pacifica


Even in spring there are a large variety of fruits and vegetables in sunny California!





And lovely flowers too...






You can find your local area Farmer's market list with a simple Google search. For those living in the Puget Sound area visit Puget Sound Fresh. Get out there and meet your local growers and artisans! Supporting them builds a strong societal foundation and creates community camaraderie. If you haven't already, break away from your chain supermarket and venture into a fresher world filled with vibrant music and memories of summer outings.

Spring has finally sprung her in Puget Sound. The birds are singing, the rhubarb is sprouting, and the hens are laying again!

Happy Spring!

Lydia