gardening

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:

• 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 Father’s Table – Neighborhood-grown veggies, herbs and starts
• Food for All (aka Vinegar Flats) – Locally grown veggies and herbs
• KC Creations – Beaded lanyards, leashes, earrings, photos and custom cards
• Mama Torrez Salsas – Authentic salsas, pico de gallo and chips
• Mary Beauregard – Plastic canvas needlepoint
• Morning Sun Bakery – Cinnamon rolls, muffins, cakes, tarts and pies
• Orange Thyme – Natural balms, soaps, perfume oils, body butters and more
• Riverfront Farm – Locally grown vegetables from Project Hope Spokane
• R.P. Guerrero Farms – Organic fruit (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples)
• Rufino Zusimbo – Chair massage
• The Scone Ranger – Sweet and savory scones
• Simply Sweets – Confectionery including baklava and brittles
• SnowBerry Ridge – Raw honey
• Song Sparrow Farms – Locally grown vegetables
• Vladimir Kuzmenko – Fruits and vegetables from the Yakima area

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.