News & Updates

Looking Ahead: July Market Events

Posted on by E-G Market

Every Friday morning we post a list of vendors who are slated to be at the market that day along with our scheduled musician and demo activity.

But we know that seems like short notice to some folks. So for those (like us) who live and die by what’s been blocked off in their calendar well in advance, here’s a list of confirmed upcoming activities we’ll be hosting at the market throughout July.

July 3: There’s no scheduled demo because of all the Independence Day activities, but we will have a limited number of dump passes available for Emerson-Garfield residents. That means anyone who lives in E-G can get a $20 credit the next time they need to dispose of construction waste or garage/attic/alley/yard clutter. That’s usually enough to cover most loads.

July 10 – Garden photography: Want to put your best flower forward when showing off your home garden on Instagram or Facebook? Chris Wooley of Head and Tails Photo (you might know him from his photography for the Civic Theatre) is going to show all budding shutterbugs how to get the best shots of their home garden. He’ll go over macro settings, bokeh, filters, and other ways to capture the natural beauty of, well, natural beauty. Bring your preferred D-SLR or smartphone for hands-on tips.

Also starting July 10, the Kids Eating Right: Nutrition and Exercise for Life (KERNEL) pilot program will be launching at our market. Organized by Catholic Charities’ Food for All initiative, this is a weekly kid-friendly activity that focuses on healthy eating and exercise. It will involve games, crafts, or light physical activity such as yoga. Participants will get a reward for completing the activities. It’s safe, free and lots of fun, so bring your children and grandchildren!

The first KERNEL activity focuses on gardening. Kids will get to transplant a zucchini and learn how to care for and harvest it when the time comes.

July 17 – Compost tea: No, you can’t drink it, but it’s like rocket fuel for your plants. Master Composter and Master Gardener Ryan Herring will demonstrate the process for making both compost extract and compost tea and explain uses of each in the home garden.

The second week of KERNEL deals with companion planting. Here kids will take part in hands-on learning about how to pair certain plants (like tomatoes and basil) to deter garden pests or avoid competition for soil nutrients.

July 24 – Vermiculture: That is, worm cultivation. Worms are the best friends your soil can have. Jim Wood of Marlé Worm Growers will show how to set up a bin for worm cultivation, how to “harvest” the worm castings and how to use them in your home garden.

KERNEL’s third week looks at composting. This will tie in with the vermiculture demo, and our younger participants will be able to get their hands dirty by making super soil with the help of their wriggly friends.

July 31 – Pickling and canning: One of our longtime vendors, Lois Musser of The Farm Yard, will show you how to can and pickle all those veggies that you buy at the market or that are growing in your home garden. Pickling expertise runs in the Musser family — Lois’ son Dave was interviewed by The Inlander last year on the subject.

The fourth week of KERNEL will tests kids’ knowledge of fruit and veggies. Sure, they can tell a carrot from a tomato, but do they know their zucchini from their cucumber? They’ll learn about all the visual and nutritional differences in this activity.

Vendors and Activities for June 26

Posted on by E-G Market

Ever wondered what hydroponic gardening is? Or maybe you know enough about it to want to give it a try, but you’d like a step-by-step? Today the market is featuring the folks from 509 Grow, who will set up a basic hydroponic garden demo to show you what it is and how it’s done. They’ll also have some supplies on hand for purchase if you can’t wait to get started.

Ryan Johnson is our musician this week. If Ryan looks familiar, it’s because you might have spotted him at Fringe and Fray (here’s their Facebook page), the chic consignment boutique he and his wife own downtown. But he probably wasn’t on guitar at the time.

Today’s market will let you kick off your Hoopfest weekend right — with fruit and vegetables that have just come into season and are likely being harvested as this post goes out. Not to mention tons of prepared foods for any hungry basketballers you might be feeding.

Here are the vendors who are scheduled to join us today:

Alpine Bakery is sitting out this week because they had a massive bake order for local restaurants on account of Hoopfest. But Morning Sun should be bringing some traditional bread loaves, so you don’t have to go without. The Scone Ranger is also back from vacation, so he’ll have his addictive scones once again. We had a lot of people jonesing last week.

As for fruit and veg: R.P. Guerrero’s certified organic pears, apples, cherries and apricots were a massive hit last week. Vladimir’s bounty is growing by the week — he has enough Washington-grown variety to put most supermarkets to shame. He had some of the first green beans in Washington State last week, and at this rate it probably won’t be long before he’s got regional tomatoes too.

Word on the street is that Project Hope is going to be making their seasonal debut at today’s market too. Their summer crew started last week and their urban gardens are in full swing.

We want to remind senior citizens that SFMNP (Senior WIC) vouchers are being mailed out. When you get them, please come and use them at our market! We have a growing (no pun intended) number of produce and honey vendors who are authorized to take SFNMP vouchers. Get in touch with your local senior center for more info on SFMNP vouchers, or simply come by and see us at the market.

Vendors and Activities for June 19

Posted on by E-G Market

Got pests in your garden? This week experts from the WSU Master Gardener Program will be at the market to help identify pests and instruct you on how to get rid of them in an environmentally friendly way. Snap a photo of the bugs that are gorging on your grapes or ravaging your roses, or bring a couple specimens in a sealed Ziplock so that the master gardeners can ID them. They’ll also be sharing more general tips on how to keep your veggies, fruits and flowers from getting nibbled on (or worse) by insects. You’ll even learn about beneficial insects — such as the ones that keep aphid populations under control.

This week’s musician is Emerson-Garfield’s very own Renaissance man, Bryant McKinley, who’s performing as Spokaloo. Bryant has performed at our market many times before and his keyboard-backed pop and rock classics have always been a hit. In fact, you can see the spontaneous dancing that broke out to his playing in the photo on this page.

Here are the vendors who are scheduled to join us today:

The Scone Ranger is on vacation this week, but Morning Sun will be bringing a full supply of scones so you can get your fix.

R.P. Guerrero will be joining us for the first time this week. They’re a certified organic farm out of Quincy, and they’ll have pears, apples, cherries and apricots. Vladimir will round out that fruit assortment with several varieties of cherries, more apricots and plenty of blueberries.

Petunia’s Marketplace will be joining us this week — remember, Stacy is here on odd-numbered weeks throughout the season. She’ll also have eggs and meat from Ramstead Ranch so you can do a full-service shop.

And speaking of a full-service shop, Jenkins Java will be selling gallons and half-gallons of milk from Spokane’s Family Farm. Gallons are only $4.50, which is less expensive than the same milk at most supermarkets.

Vendors and Activities for June 12

Posted on by E-G Market

This week’s main event is a rolling water conservation demo that’s part of the city’s Slow the Flow initiative. It’s going to focus on drought-resistant landscaping and gardening, zone planting and drip irrigation, so you can get a top-notch yard that’s also low-maintenance and low-cost. (Pictured above is Russian Sage, one of many beautiful and practical drought-tolerant perennials.)

That activity runs for the duration of the market and should be informative as well as fun. If you’ve been harboring any questions about hardy veggies and flowers, optimal watering times or how to plant for our climate, now’s your chance to ask them.

Our musician this week is Mike Ross, a guitarist who’s performed at the Spokane Club, First Friday events, Coeur d’Alene Resort and wineries all over town. He plays bluesy rock as well as some Spanish-inflected solos. Here’s a video of him performing “Lady Madonna” at Pig Out in the Park in 2011. He starts at 4pm and will play until the market closes at 7pm.

Here are the vendors who are scheduled to join us today:

Please note that Petunia’s Marketplace, which also carries eggs and meat from Ramstead Ranch, is only scheduled to be with us on odd-numbered dates this year. Fortunately, their shop is just two blocks away from the market.

Jenkins Java will be selling gallons and half-gallons of milk from Spokane’s Family Farm. Gallons are only $4.50 — less expensive than the same milk at most supermarkets.

Vladimir thought he might have apricots and blueberries this week in addition to cherries. We’ll know when he arrives!

As we have a few dump passes left over from last week (and they’re still valid for a few more days), Emerson-Garfield residents will still be able to claim them at the central market booth.

Vendors and Activities for June 5

Posted on by E-G Market

We’re kicking off our second full season in style. Today for your musical pleasure is Broken Whistle (pictured above), the band that appeared as if out of the blue last year and had the entire market enthralled by their performance.

At 4pm, we’re going to be recognizing our market poster contest winners, August Nelson and Mason Brazill. These are the two students from local elementary schools (this year we held the contest in Spokane Public Montessori and Trinity Catholic) whose drawings are now featured on our posters and handbills. Each winner will get $15 in market tokens and a hearty helping of thanks. Come out and show these two young — and clearly talented — artists your support!

On the other side of the parking lot, master composters will be holding a composting demo. They’ve been gathering your lawn cuttings, leaves and kitchen scraps for weeks in order to show you how to turn it into nutrient-rich super-soil for your backyard garden. That will be ongoing, so you don’t have to show up at an appointed time. This activity actually marks the start of several weekly hands-on gardening how-tos — but more on that in time.

Right in the lower level of Knox Presbyterian, the Spokane Hope Christian Reformed Church (스포켄 소망교회) will be holding one of their Korean food sales alongside the market. That means you can get hot, freshly prepared, authentic Korean food just a few steps away — just follow the scent. Grab a bite when you’re done shopping and enjoy it outside on the lawn or at the picnic table. Incidentally, the Korean Church is scheduled to hold their hot food sale every week.

There are also so many info booths that we lost count. SNAP is supposed to be on hand as well as some representatives from Building Stronger Neighborhoods.

As for vendors — here’s everyone who’s scheduled to join us today:

  • Alpine Bakery – A full range of baked goods, including gluten-free
  • Awesome Possum – Handmade all-natural lotion bars and lip balms
  • Chattaroy Cheese Co. – Farmstead goat cheese
  • Country Buddies – Jams, salsas and more
  • Courtney’s Crafts for Costa Rica – Handmade jewelry, scrapbooks and more
  • The Farm Yard – Neighborhood-grown veggies, herbs and more
  • The Father’s Table – Neighborhood-grown veggies, herbs and starts
  • Food for All (aka Vinegar Flats) – Locally grown veggies and herbs
  • Gourmet Foragables – Wild-harvest edibles including mushrooms & berries
  • KC Creations – Beaded lanyards, leashes, earrings, photos and custom cards
  • KJ Pottery – Handcrafted functional pottery for the home and elsewhere
  • Jenkins Java – Cold- and hot-brewed coffee plus sodas
  • Mama Torrez Salsas – Authentic salsas, pico de gallo and chips
  • Mary Beauregard – Plastic canvas needlepoint
  • Morning Sun Bakery – Cinnamon rolls, muffins, cakes
  • Orange Thyme – Natural balms, soaps, perfume oils, body butters and more
  • Patti’s Pies – Homemade pies
  • Petunia’s Marketplace – Flavored honey, candies, gourmet pasta and more
  • Riverfront Farm – Locally grown vegetables from Project Hope Spokane
  • The Scone Ranger – Sweet and savory scones
  • Simply Sweets – Confectionery including baklava and brittles
  • Song Sparrow Farms – Locally grown vegetables
  • Vladimir Kuzmenko – Fruits and vegetables from the Yakima area
  • Wash House Candies – Dried fruit, granola, seasonings, honey and more

We’re getting every last item in place so you can do a full, affordable grocery shop here. Jenkins Java will be selling half-gallons of milk from Spokane’s Family Farm. And Petunia’s will have meat from Ramstead Ranch plus eggs!

Later in the month — and possibly as early as next week — we’ll regularly have certified organic fruit (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples) from R.P. Guerrero Farms. As they’ll be traveling from their orchards in Quincy, they want to make sure they’ve got enough product.

Our regular chair masseuse, Rufino A. Zusimbo, was already committed to another event today, but he’ll be back in the usual “zen” spot on the lawn starting next week. We’ve also been getting some last-minute applicants, so you could very well see someone selling some lovely perennials there.

What’s Poppin’ Kettle Corn is confirmed to be with us starting on June 19.

And one more thing: Emerson-Garfield residents (and only Emerson-Garfield residents) will be able pick up dump passes worth $20 each. There’s a limited number, so get there early. We’ll be handing them out at the central market booth.

Looking forward to seeing you there!