So long for now...

Last Saturday, Dec. 20, marked the end of the farmers market here in Tuscaloosa. Since the beginning of April, when the season began, we have been able to count on the smiling faces of our community of farmers to deliver us our weekly dose of fresh produce. From Jimmy McAteer's sweet potatoes, to Smoky Smith's neatly tied bundles of collards, Sue Lewis's bags of cornmeal and green tomatoes, and Alice Parker's satsumas, these foods have sustained us, and have given us reason to engage with our food community. We have not been to the grocery store in months - 9 months to be exact - and we have loved every minute of it. Do you know how nice it is to wake up on Saturday mornings, and sometimes even Tuesday mornings, to pick up your food? To see the people who actually toiled and strained to grow it? To put money directly into the hands of a small-scale farmer, instead of some big food giant like Kraft or ConAgra? Well, I'm here to tell you that it is wonderful. And I'm only sorry that I had not resigned myself to live this way sooner, and that after 3 and 1/2 years in Tuscaloosa this was my first full season as a patron of the farmers market.

I woke up extra early on Saturday morning, hoping to secure one final load of satsumas, but alas another citrus-craving patron had beat me to it. I fear that our brief tryst with citrus has come to an awful, halting end. With not so much as a goodbye, it has left us wanting, with the memory of sweetness on our tongue and sticky on our fingers. Next fall will not come soon enough! Luckily my disappointment waned, as I began to fill my bags with a veritable winter cornucopia - cabbage, collards, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, and bags of freshly ground cornmeal - some of which would be used in our family's Christmas Eve meal. And my heart warmed when Sue presented me with a Christmas gift of fig preserves and pecans.

I have to admit, it saddened me a little to walk away that day. These farmers have nourished both my body and spirit, and have given me such a special gift. What I have gained in these 38 some odd weeks, has been truly invaluable. Thanks to you all for feeding me. I will miss our meetings under the pavilion. Until next April...




Sue Lewis looking festive














Smoky Smith in his sea of greens
















Handmade holiday wreaths by Sue Lewis and Alice Parker