Farmer's Market Archives - Five Feline Farm

Get Your Scones and Pies!

Did you know we only bake to order for the Farm Fresh Mercantile?

In Illinois there are several rules and regulations that govern selling food. This ranges from commercial food processing to restaurant kitchens to food trucks all the way down to cottage food permits and home based operations.

Five Feline Farm operates under the last two and there are some slight differences.

Our cottage food permit allows us to make certain baked goods, jams and jellies to sell at Farmer’s Markets. We do this from May through September at both the 18^th Street Farmer’s Market in Charleston and Market Thyme in Casey.

Through the winter months we have our on farm store, the Farm Fresh Mercantile. Here we operate under our Home Based permit. This allows us to make and sell baked items through pre-order only; plus a few other items where local farm ingredients are featured in the product. (Think blackberry jam.)

What does this mean for you?

In order to get our famous scones or individual sized mini-pies, you must order in advance. We want to get the word out so you can place your orders and not be disappointed when you arrive.

Here is what we are offering on October 12, 2019. Orders must be received by October 10, 2019.

You can place your order through email, social media or phone. We will have your scones and pies ready for pick up between 9:00 and 3:00 on the 12^th.

But don’t just come to pick up an order. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy music by Doty and Dexter. Visit with friends. Shop other great vendors like Four Little Pumpkins, Hazel Anne Farm and others.

It’s all happening at Farm Fest.

October 12, 2019 from 9:00AM – 3:00PM.

If you just can’t make it to the Farm, you can still shop for other Five Feline Farm merchandise in our online Mercantile.

Cat Burglar Balm

All businesses must name their products. We tend to come up with some unusual ones for our products. One of these has garnered a lot of attention and questions recently: Cat Burglar Balm.

What is it?

Well, there’s a story if you have a few minutes.

Back in the 14^th Century the Bubonic Plague also known as the Black Death killed a quarter of the population in Europe and Asia. This highly contagious bacterial infection circulated again in the early 19^th Century. During one of these outbreaks, it is rumored a group of robbers went from home to home stealing from the dead. Somehow they did not catch this deadly disease. When they were finally apprehended, the authorities offered leniency in exchange for their secret to immunity.

The thieves identified a concoction of essential oils with anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties that they claimed protected them from the plague. This mixture of essential oils became known as “Thieves Blend”.

Here at Five Feline Farm, we have formulated our own proprietary version in a handy balm. Lemon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Cinnamon and Clove essential oils are blended with beeswax, coconut oil, vitamin E oil and sweet almond oil to create Cat Burglar. We use it on minor cuts, scrapes and insect bites to aid healing.

But what about the name?

Well, of course we are Five Feline Farm. Our thieves would all be Cat Burglars.

What else would you expect?

Does it work?

We are not making any health claims; however neither of us has come down with the Plague.

Get yours on Saturdays through September at the 18th Street Farmer’s Market, Fridays and Saturdays this fall at our onsite Mercantile and anytime through our online Mercantile.

How To Shop The Farmer’s Market

A Farmer’s Market can be overwhelming. Who has the best product? Who has the best prices? How do I know I am getting a good value for my dollar?

This post will answer your questions.

Get to know the vendors.

Ask questions about their products. Growers and market vendors should be able to answer your questions. Some questions you can ask are: “When was this picked? Where was it grown? Has it been sprayed? Is it a GMO seed?” Based on answers to these questions, you can make your decision about what to buy.

If this is your first visit to a market, do a quick sweep around the market to see what is available and prices. In small markets, prices will usually be similar with only a bit of variance based on the variety or quantity available. Larger markets may have a more significant price difference among vendors. If you are a regular customer, you will know what to expect from your favorite vendors.

After a quick perusal of what is available, go back and make your purchases. One caution however, vendors may have limited quantities of some items. If you have an established relationship with particular vendors based on their reputation for quality and price, you may want to shop those vendors first.

Learn what is in season.

Eating seasonally will not only provide the most nutritious bang for your buck, but also the best flavor. Local produce has a limited availability due to growing conditions and climate.

For example, you can find tomatoes in Illinois in May, but these are not likely to have been grown locally. The best tomatoes in Central Illinois are available from early July through the end of August, sometimes even stretching into mid-September. These tomatoes will be fully vine-ripened, bursting with tomato flavor.

Shop a Farmer’s Market first.

Above all, find a local farmer’s market and shop there before the big box stores. Produce will be fresher and there are other some great finds like honey, balms, craft items and much more.

Plus you have the opportunity to develop relationships with great people. What could be better?

If you would like to read more about how we found a community at the 18^th Street Farmer’s Market, check out this book: The Long Road to Market. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Why Heirloom Tomatoes?

Heirloom varieties are all the rage, but are they really better?

Last week’s post discussed how the differences between determinate and indeterminate tomato plants. But what if you aren’t planting your own? How do you decide which type to choose?

We prefer heirloom varieties.

First what is an heirloom tomato?

You may also see these referred to as “heritage” or “old time” tomatoes. These are the types that have been around for a very long time, as far back as the Aztecs and Incas. These are the varieties your grandparents would know and raise in their garden. Seeds from heirlooms can be saved to plant the next season and will produce tomatoes consistent with the variety. Non-heirloom or hybrid tomatoes will not produce from saved seeds.

Heirloom tomatoes are typically not those perfect globes found in mass market stores. They also have a shorter shelf life.

Flavor.

When we started the farm and began growing tomatoes, we conducted a taste test. We included a hybrid beefsteak tomato because of all the hype around those big red slicing tomato types like Better Boy. We lined up a slice from each with the variety name hidden and tasted. We quickly found our favorites. While the Better Boy had tomato flavor, it paled in comparison to the others. Our favorites were the German, which is a yellow tomato with a red stripes and Brandywine. These were bursting with full tomato flavor. We haven’t grown a hybrid since.

Your best bet to ensure a fresh, delicious, full-flavored tomato is to either grow your own or buy at a local farmer’s market.

Five Feline Farm will be at the 18^th Street Farmer’s Market all summer with tomatoes in season as well as other fresh produce. Stop by and see us.