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Today, February 19, marks the Chinese New Year.
"people born in the year of sheep are generous, just and kind."
Farm Fiber Day is our Day of the Sheep...Alpaca, Goat
and Rabbit. There is no season for the joy given to those
who derive pleasure from working with the fiber of these animals,
expressing their creativity by making garments, household goods,
and felted objects. Research is beginning to show that knitting and other crafts have the same benefits achieved through meditation.
Farm Fiber Day is this Saturday, February 21 from 10 AM to 2 PM.
(See the complete list of vendors at the bottom of this email.)
Romney Ridge Farm is home to a small diverse flock of sheep and Angora Goats. The farm, is located in Woolwich, Maine and owner Kelly Corbett says this about her flock, "We chose Romney and Border Leicester sheep for their hardiness, wonderful personalities, and beautiful long wool. Our Southdowns and Corriedales provide us with a soft, fine "springy" wool which we combine with Angora and locally grown alpaca, and our Angora Goats grow beautiful, silky-soft Mohair locks which we blend with our Romney and Border Leicester fleeces."
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Downeast yarn by Romney Ridge.
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Dale Wentworth of The Warren Farm and Sugarhouse will only
be with us two more weeks, as he prepares to make maple
with his wife Jan at their farm in North Brookfield.
Stock up on maple syrup (including Grade A: Very Dark, formerly known as Grade B), maple mustard, peanut sauce, marinades,
rubs, nuts and maple cream.
Mushroom growers are hard to find, and with the demand so high,
we are grateful that Mycoterra has chosen the Wayland Market
to share their bounty.
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Mihoko Wakabayashi - photo by Chris Christo,
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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For five years, we have watched Mihoko Wakabayashi bring her colorful weaving display to The Fiber Festival of New England.
Not only did her unusual loom catch our attention, but the fact
that visitors were encouraged to try the loom caught our attention.
Mihoko has been teaching SAORI weaving for many years, and inclusion and accessibility are a big part of her method.
"SAORI is an art of weaving by hand that is dedicated to free expression and self-development for everyone, regardless of physical or mental ability, age, or artistic aptitude. SAORI Weaving is pure improvisation from the heart, with no premeditated pattern in mind. Colors unfold, designs emerge, and beauty blooms directly from the genius of each unique individual working in harmony with loom, thread, and the spark of the moment," says Mihoko. "SAORI Weaving
is a profound inner journey, yet we can enjoy it socially, working alongside others. We can also create clothing, bags, tapestries, and many useful items that can be appreciated by all."
Is the pantry looking a little bare after all those storms?
Ooma Tesoro's Marinara Sauce to the rescue.
Windy Hill Farm in Lakeville has lovely woven items,
colorful hand dyed and spun yarn, and natural and dyed roving.
 Weeks without Charley and Carol Baer at the market mean a steady number of phone calls to the Market Manager asking when they will return! Saturday, Carol and a friend will be in charge while Charley
attends another market, but don't worry, there will be plenty of heirloom dried beans to choose from.
Colorful dried beans for a 15-bean soup - includes navy, pinto, lima, blackeye, garbanzo, northern, split pea, cranberry bean, barley, pink, green, black, red, yellow, and pearl beans - photo � Roger Smith . You can pick up the mushrooms, carrots, kale and onions that the recipe calls for at the market.
 | | Kale photo courtesy of collective-evolution.com. |
Tidal Yarns is located in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
We welcome Patricia Fortinsky to Wayland for the first time.
"As a long time supporter of locally grown organic foods, I am naturally drawn to finding the colors and pigments hidden inside local plants. The secrets come out in a process of chopping, soaking and heating the dye stuffs," says Patricia.
"Finding that treasured fleece and talking with fiber farmers, knitters and spinners is an exciting and never-ending adventure for me. The
mix of the type of fiber, plant material for dye and the mordant all combine to produce beautifully subtle and vibrant colors from Mother Nature....often with many pleasant surprises!"
Th"We have some of our new smoked pork products back from the smokehouse - smoked chorizo, smoked kielbasa, and pepper bacon which is delicious! And we'll have more stewing hens, delicious rabbit, and fresh eggs," says Jen Hashley.
E & T Farms of Barnstable grows lettuce and herbs hydroponically, which means they stay fresh longer, a winter salad treat. You will
find honey, beeswax candles and Betty's Bees Cream, too.
Having trouble keeping your feet warm? Moonshine Design's kid mohair socks, available in many colors, will keep them warm.
We are happy to report that VESTA Wood-Fired Pizza will be back
onSaturday. The "BEETZA" is made with Winter Moon Roots'
beets roasted in their brick oven.
We welcome back Gail Callahan, AKA The Kangaroo Dyer and creator of the Color Grid, a tool for "how to choose and use color." Gail uses her color sense to create beautiful hand dyed yarns and silk.
Believe it or not, it can get warm in the greenhouse. Enjoy a cup
of Giovanna Gelato or take a pint or two home for later.
Sheryl Yu gives the new Turtle Creek Winery banner a thumbs up.
Farm wineries visiting on Saturday include Carr's Ciderhouse,
Coastal Vineyards and Turtle Creek Winery.
Place your order for seafood and lobster with Carolyn in
large selection at the market.
If it is something sweet that you crave during the market,
you can choose from Goodies Homemade cookies, Joni's Cannolis,
pastries from The Danish Pastry House, and cookies from
Cookie Lady Treats and Great Harvest Bread.
Louise Walsh from Evergreen Farm will turn angora rabbit hair into wool yarn, working directly from animal to the spinning wheel. Winterberry Farm will also have bunnies as well as raw and dyed fleece and roving. They are enjoying their second winter in their new home in Colrain and have finished building a beautiful new barn.
Renita Mendonca will have a selection of Seasoned and Spiced Wholesome Grains and Indian Vegetarian Fare.
We are collecting hats, scarves, gloves and hats for ABCD, Action for Boston Community Development. While we encourage knitters
to donate, as the recipient will love the personal touch associated with a handmade gift, these much needed donations can be purchased at the market or another source for donation Bring items to the market or Russell's Garden Center any day through March 14.
The knowledgable women from the Worcester County Sheep Producers can tell you about the Baaaystate Blanket, made from 100% wool from Massachusetts.
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Sarah Voiland, Red Fire Farm
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Our thanks to Red Fire Farm and Winter Moon Roots for their
generous donation of vegetables for our Kraut Mob last week,
Saturday's workshops:
FIBER VENDORS ATTENDING THIS WEEK: Dorchester Farms Foxhill Farm
FOOD VENDORS ATTENDING THIS WEEK:
Future Special Events Day:
New England Cheese Day - March 7
You can also see our complete list of vendors for the season
on our website.
on February 28 in the third floor lecture room at Russell's
from 9 AM to noon during the Farmers' Market.
All are welcome to attend.
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Many of you have not gotten the message that due to regulations,
dogs are no longer allowed to attend the market. North Brook
Farm's Laura Busky, owner of Mick, asked us to let you know that
Mick is fine, but he misses you and your visits.
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Photo courtesy of Philippe Lopez/Agence France-Presse.
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The New York Times reports that there is confusion over whether 2015 is the Year of the Sheep, the Goat or the Ram.
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