As the earth tilts Seattle away from the sun, and the cool damp of autumn arrives, our farmers’ markets become calmer. The mad, heated rush of summer is over.
As the summer crops reach the ends of their seasons, some farmers are packing up their market tents for the year. The past couple of weeks, I’ve seen ‘last day’ signs in several stalls that I frequent. So I’ve stocked up, buying kabocha squashes and fragrant quinces from Mair Farm-taki, tomatoes and heirloom eggplant from Billy’s, and wishing the farmers a good winter.
Fortunately, a number of farmers in the area grow winter crops, which they sell at the couple of markets that remain open year-round. Today, I brought home eggs from Skagit River Ranch and Olsen Farms’ potatoes. I bought what may be my last tomatoes of the year, several pounds of brilliant, cherry-tomato-sized romas from Kittitas Valley Greenhouse. I’ll be tucking them into the oven soon for a slow overnight roasting.
Although I stopped by to taste the late varieties of apples from Booth Canyon Orchard (their Winesaps are lovely!), I resisted buying, as we still have several Spitzenburgs waiting to be eaten. I could not, however, resist the spectacular honey bosc pears from Rockridge Orchards. Boscs have never been a favorite of mine for eating out of hand, but with one juicy bite, this pear has changed my mind. I picked out half a dozen; their aroma kept me company on the drive home.
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I think it’s amazing how the entire palette of mother nature changes with the slowing coolness of autum. This collection of photos, as one, is simply stunning. It makes me wonder about knitting something with all those shades and then throw in that blue apple color for contrast. Our market is winding down but there’s another a little further away that will run until past Thanksgiving.
Aren’t you something to be posting every day? That’s an inspiration. I think I would do well to consistently visit and comment on one blog every day- get back into better”listening.”
I always love your going to market photo series.
Oh Dino Kale! I love to chop it up and add it to my white bean soup - fall is just the best time for cooking!
Vicki: Aren’t those apples an amazing color? I love those blue undertones contrasted with all the earthy autumn colors; I’m sure it would be a beautiful palette for knitting.
Sophie: Thank you! I love taking photos at the markets. By now my favorite farmers know that I usually carry my camera with me, and comment when they don’t see it.
DKM: Oh, I love kale in bean soups! Last week I added some kale to a green lentil and winter squash soup. Yum.
Lovely selection of good colors and images.