Dane County WI, Winter Farmer's Market Newsletter

MarciaGeiger emailed me this so I could post it for her. Enjoy!

"Dane County Winter Farmers' Market"


Hello all – This will be very quick today as we are very busy planting, weeding and all the good things that come with living on a farm. Hannah, our 8 year old daughter, has been helping us this week and yesterday she was out helping thin the radishes. The birds were filling the air with their sweet songs and Hannah said to me, “If we lived in the city we would be hearing cars instead of these birds.” Out of the mouth of the young – what a lovely young lady who is so in tune to nature.

I want to thank you all for coming down to the Friends Fundraiser Brunch last Saturday. It was a great success and we served at least 425 folks a delicious breakfast – compliments of L’Etoile. Thanks to L’Etoile, our many many volunteers that worked the entire morning and to the vendors at the market for providing the food that made this meal so very special and good. Note: You can still sign up to become a member of Friends and have your breakfast included during the last two indoor markets.

Just 2 more breakfasts before the outdoor season starts. I want to extend an extra special thank you to Ben Hunter of the Catacombs Coffee House for being at the market for ELEVEN of the breakfasts when all is said and done.

Our friend and fellow vendor John Carr from Pecatonica Valley Farm is still on the mend . He had some complications following surgery. John’s home address is PO Box 57, Hollandale, WI. John wears the chicken hat. I’m sure that cards would be most appreciated.



Event: Dane County Winter Farmers' Market

Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2004
Time: 8:00am to Noon
Place: Madison Senior Center, 330 West Mifflin St.
Parking: Mifflin/Civic Center Parking Ramp or meter parking on the street
Breakfast Hours: Serving starts at 8:30am until 11:00am
Cost for breakfast: $5.00 for adults and $3.50 for kids that can't eat an adult portion
Music: 9:00-11:00am, Stephen Lee Rich – yodeling and variety with a country sound.

Menu: Biscuits (made with Brantmeier Farm flour) and Priske’s sausage, mushroom gravy available for vegetarians, Pecatonica Valley Farm Slow Scrambled Eggs made with Hooks and Bleu Mont Dairy Cheese, Organic, Fair Trade, Locally Roasted Coffee, Cranberry or Orange/Pineapple Juice and Tea.

Guest Chefs: Ben and Grace Hunter and other staff, Catacombs Coffee House

Volunteers: UW Dietetics Club, Winter Market Committee, DCFM Vendors, DCFM Volunteers, Friends of the DCFM
Recipes and Educational Materials: Provided by Friends of the Dane County Farmers' Market

Proceeds: Proceeds from breakfast will be used to help fund the Winter Market venue next winter.



Following is an update from Rainbow Homestead Farm.

Leg of Lamb roasts are available just in time for Easter. Rainbow Homestead (John, Virginia and Sylvan Goeke) raise their 100% Grass-Fed lamb organically on heir Viroqua area farm. Other cuts of lamb include: lamb stew meat, shoulder steaks, ground lamb, wild rice & lamb sausage, Italian sausage and sirloin chops.(Lamb chops, lamb shanks, and our grass-fed beef are sold-out until fall)



Stop by their booth for some great recipes (Moroccan Lamb Stew and Kibbe are two customer favorites) or to find out more info on 100% Grass-Fed Meats. They are also taking orders for whole lambs, and sides of beef and pork. They will be cut, wrapped and frozen to your family's request and ready this October.

Reserve your Leg of Lamb by calling 608-637-2544 or e-mail naturewool@mwt.net

***Products this week – Cookies, muffins, scones, breads, pastries, cheese, catnip, organic potatoes, poultry, pork, eggs, bison products, maple syrup, yarn (handspun, custom-millspun, plant-dyed, wool (for spinning, felting, doll making, quilting, Tanned Sheepskins, Felt Hats, Lamb, Chicken, Bacon, Sausage, Shiitake Mushrooms (dried), honey, beeswax candles, tomatoes, baklava, Highland Beef and Pork, popcorn, and other high quality beef products, kitty greens. This is only a partial listing of products.

The following folks are stepping up to help with breakfast this week. A great big thank you to our guest chef Ben and Grace Hunter, Catacombs Coffee House, 731 State St., the Dane County Farmers' Market Volunteers, Market Vendors ( for their help and products), UW Dietetics Club, Just Coffee (Fair Trade Organic Locally Roasted Coffee), Kaldi's Best Sustainable Coffees, Friends of the Dane County Farmers' Market (for the educational and informational materials) AND to Stephen Lee Rich, our musician guest.

Newbie, Thanks so very much for doing this. I so love the market and with our members so scattered, this is one of the few ways that I can share (other than getting plants and growing enough for trade!!)