Since arriving in the Hudson Valley, we make it a point to get out and be a part of our new community, find out what it is all about, and dig right into the local scene.
Little did we know what we would be in store for! The Farmer’s Market in Pawling is a wondrous place to be in the summer. It allows you to get out there, be a part of your community, support your agricultural community, and taste and try new things. All our kids love it! This year the Pawling Farmer’s Market welcomed a new booth: Picklish and what a hit it has become already! (My kid’s favorite treat – a pickle, so this one was a no-brainer!) From garlic-stuffed pickles to spicy olives, you’ll find it all there at Picklish! Adults think it’s yummy too!
While at the Pawling Farmer’s Market, we allow our kids to try new food and encourage them to keep an open mind. They follow our example, so don’t be shy when trying out a new garlic rub for your steaks. Your kids might wince once their lips touch the herb, but later in their teen years you won’t regret encouraging them to try it! (Limes are also great for this gut-wrenching reaction in your children).
What I also love about the Pawling Farmer’s Market is the music, the people, the flow of energy: -the acoustic sounds of local musicians bring positive energy to the market. You’ll find the same kinds of people at farmers markets, families who love good health and positive people who want to support the local economy. The flow of energy on a Saturday is inevitable. Sure you might find a car or two fighting over that last parking spot, but if you wait and keep positive, that “just right” parking spot will reveal itself and then it’s up to you!
What will you buy? Do you need more tomatoes? Eggplant? Squash? Leeks? The choices should be a family event as well. Ask the booth representative if your children can touch the produce, and if they have samples they’re willing to share of foods your kids have never tried before. This is what we want in our children, a willingness to try new things, to take initiative, and be smart when making buying decisions.
Often times, I hand my children $2 for making their beds for the week and tell them they can buy some fruits and veggies at the Farmer’s Market. They seem thrilled and even if they buy a gluten-free cookie, my lesson still made an impression and hopefully next time, they’ll buy an eggplant I can use for the next night’s dinner!! Enjoy my dear readers and remember to eat local!
