Mobile’s Market in the Park Begins May 24

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 17, 2012

The summer farmers market at Langan Park will open next week.

WHERE & WHEN

Market in the Park
Langan Park, in front of the Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile
Thursdays, 3-6:30pm
May 24 – July 26

PRODUCTS

Seasonally available produce such as tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, melons, berries, peppers, honey, seafood; flowers, plants; baked goods; and crafts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Enjoy live music, children’s activities, and free admission to the Museum during the market.

These markets are producer-only markets, meaning that the vendors must personally grow or produce the items that they sell. Resale of items purchased by the vendor is not allowed.

The markets participate in the state’s Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, which distribute coupons to low-income senior citizens, women, and children. Visit the program web site for more information and eligibility requirements. Vouchers for seniors are now applicable to honey.

Web site: City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services

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NYT Ethicist Contest on The Ethics of Eating Meat

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 6, 2012

The New York Times Magazine has published the winner and finalists in their essay contest on The Ethics of Eating Meat. You can read more about the contest and reader responses (and complaints), and also the essays themselves. I haven’t read them all yet (finalists are here), but I can tell you that my own thinking is pretty closely aligned with the winner, Sometimes It’s More Ethical to Eat Meat Than Vegetables, by reader Jay Bost.

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Gallery of Gardens by Bike

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 6, 2012

WHAT: Tour Mobile Botanical Gardens’ Annual Gallery of Gardens by Bike with Bill Finch
WHEN: Saturday, May 12 at 9am
WHERE: Meet at Washington Square in Oakleigh, Mobile
COST: $20 in advance; $25 the day of

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Join MBG Executive Director and bicycle enthusiast Bill Finch to tour five of our gardens by bike. Interested bikers should meet in Washington Square on Saturday, May 12 at 9 am for a leisurely tour of the Klumpp, Hamm, Fisher, Walmsley and McCrary Gardens with other interesting sights along the way.

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Market on the Square Update

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 6, 2012

Group members getting ready for the return ride.

We had a turnout of six for our leisurely ride to the Market on the Square yesterday morning. There was an impressive array of produce and the market looked really good. I spent all my money and still didn’t get everything I wanted to.

Available for purchase: arugula, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, carrots, citrus (kumquats), cucumbers, green beans, greens (collard, kale), lettuce, green onions, peaches, peppers, potatoes, radishes, summer squash, tomatoes (green), pecans, eggs, fresh goat cheese, honey, seafood, baked goods, jellies/preserves, pasta, cut flowers, plants, handmade soap, candles, other handcrafts.

Peaches and green tomatoes.

A new organic grower with arugula, kale, and carrots.

Doug West of Honey Moon Bee Company. Always great honey.

Eye-popping zinnias.

Henrietta, everyone's favorite goat cheese maker.

Healthy looking herb plants. $5 for a large container of basil.

Love those wax beans!

The friendly women of Retriever Soapworks.

There were tons of sunflowers.

My bike parked at the cathedral.

My bike at the meet up point for the Midtown to Market ride. Panniers empty and ready to go.

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Mobile Botanical Gardens Marketplace

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 4, 2012

WHAT: MBG Marketplace
WHEN: Saturdays, 9-11am, through June 30
WHERE: Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Drive, Mobile

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Located in the “white tent under the trees” at MBG, the Marketplace features many of the same unusual, interesting, native and hard to find plants featured at Spring Plant Sale, plus new merchandise arriving weekly. Staffed by Master Gardeners, the Marketplace provides not only plants, but expert advice for your Gulf Coast Garden.

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Westside Tailgate Farmers Market

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 3, 2012

WHAT: Westside Tailgate Farmers Market
WHEN: Thursdays, May – July, 5-7pm
WHERE: land owned by The Grove UMC on Snow Road between Airport and Jeff Hamilton

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Vendors will include local large and small scale farms, local honey and beeswax products, homemade dog treats, fresh eggs, hand cut soaps, pizza by the slice from Ransom Cafe, pickled items, jams, arts and crafts and much more! Westside Tailgate Farmers Market is a free, local farmers market on the west side of Mobile, AL. There is no charge for vendors, but vendors are expected to donate a sampling of their products to support the food ministries of Providence Presbyterian Church, The Grove UMC and Ransom Cafe. Visit the Facebook page to see what products will be available at the market each week.

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Midtown to Market Ride on Cinco de Mayo

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 2, 2012

WHAT: Midtown to Market Ride (a Mobilians on Bikes event)
WHEN: Saturday, May 5 at 7:15am
WHERE: Meet at the east gate (main entrance) of Murphy High School at the intersection of South Carlen and Conti Streets.

Cycle with me from Midtown to the Cathedral Square farmers market on this family-friendly, leisurely paced ride. We will take the Midtown bike route, and it’s approximately three miles each way (total of six).

Arrive at 7:00 so we can depart promptly at 7:15 (strict leave time). There is a parking lot just south of the main entry on Carlen that you can park in.

The market opens at 7:30am and we should get there shortly afterwards, have an hour or so to shop and hang out, and leave for the return ride by 9 (or as consensus dictates).

Bring: water bottle, and something to bring any purchases home in – backpack, messenger bag, bike basket, panniers, etc. We will leave our bikes across the street from the market while we shop, so a lock is advisable.

If you live downtown or the departure time is too early for you, another group will be leaving at 8:30 from Cream and Sugar in Oakleigh.

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Chickens + Bikes = A Fun Time This Saturday

By Ang Jordan | Published: May 1, 2012

WHAT: Second Annual Tour de Coop Ride
WHEN: Saturday, May 5 from 2-3:45pm
WHERE: Meet at Cream and Sugar in Oakleigh
COST: Free!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Join Mobilians on Bikes for the second annual Tour de Coop! This family-friendly ride is your chance to check out how your neighbors raise backyard chickens and get to eat farm fresh eggs each morning. You’ll be surprised at how little space you can do it in. So if you’ve been curious about how to raise backyard hens and want to ask some people with experience then this is your chance. This is also a great opportunity to bring the kids out to see the chickens.

This year’s ride will feature four backyard chicken keepers that we didn’t see last year, and we may even get to see some baby chicks. The ride should last between 1-2 hours. This will be a leisurely and entertaining ride for all ages.

Midtowners who want to ride down to C&S together can meet me at 1:30 at the east gate of Murphy H.S.

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Read Wendell Berry’s Jefferson Lecture

By Ang Jordan | Published: April 30, 2012

Wendell Berry by Guy Mendes

You may have heard that this year the National Endowment for the Humanities bestowed its highest honor for intellectual achievement in the humanities on the farmer, essayist, novelist, conservationist, and poet Wendell Berry. He delivered the 41st Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on April 23. You can read the complete text of his lecture, It All Turns on Affection, at the National Endowment for the Humanities website, where you can also find links to more information about Berry. If you prefer, you can watch video of the lecture.

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Fairhope LFPI Yummy Yards Vegetable Garden Tour

By Ang Jordan | Published: April 29, 2012

WHAT: Yummy Yards Vegetable Garden Tour
WHEN: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm
WHERE: Fairhope, AL
COST: $5 per person, $8 per couple, or $10 per family
CONTACT: Fairhope Local Food Production Initiative

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Gardens included on the tour will be the two community gardens at Homestead Village and Summit Street. In addition, the Fairhope Intermediate School Garden and Bee Natural Farm will be on the tour as well as a number of private gardens in and around the Fairhope area. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Fairhope Intermediate School Garden. Please check the website, www.fairhopelocalfood.org or Facebook page, Local Food Production Initiative for more information. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the tour.

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