Yesterday my girlfriend and I were as close to pregnant women as we could possibly be. All of a sudden, we had a zipper pea craving that wouldn't budge. Usually her mother-in-law grows fields of zipper peas/cream crowder peas and we get them from her, but not this year. Yesterday we had to have peas and we had to have them right then.
This is round about the time the peas are picked and we looked everywhere on the Internet for farms or farmer's markets in our area. We found one less than 15 miles away and woke up early to get there when they opened. What an amazing disappointment. There was no farmer's market as advertised, but the farm was running a pick-your-own, so we thought there would be some hope there, but when we started walking around we were in shock. There were weeds higher than the crops. The woman pointed out some cucumbers and I actually said, "Where?" She pulled aside the grass and I said, "Oh."
They still had broccoli in the ground (keep in mind that this is GA and we've had 80-90+ degree heat since April, that had bolted beyond recognition and was host to an amazing number of cabbage worms. I asked about some dead, dark brown stalks and were told they were potatoes that would be ready in 2-4 more weeks. I was under the impression you took out potatoes before they died back completely.
I didn't know whether to be crestfallen or proud that my little garden would most likely out produce them in a heartbeat. I was a little surprised at how unkempt the place was.
We went to a grocery on our way back and found packages of frozen zipper peas which we bought and are cooking up for dinner tonight. They don't have snaps in them, but I'm going to infiltrate some beans as snaps. Overall, the day wasn't a total loss since the end result was the same. I suppose I also certainly feel pretty good about my garden. I would, however, like to find a good farmer's market in the area at which to find items that I can't grow in my own garden. Anyone know of any good ones in the Atlanta/North GA area?
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June 13, 2021 - Together Again
3 years ago
That makes me feel so lucky to have a farm stand less than a mile from us, and they grow almost all their own produce. The sweet corn is picked only when the bins are running low, and they bring another load straight in from the field. The potato plants aren't artificially killed, and they always have lovely red and Yukon Gold, with the dirt still on them. Huge Candy onions are only 59-cents a pound, less by the bag. The few things they don't grow are brought in by local farmers. We also have a Farmers' Market that's open every Wednesday and Saturday, and the three towns in the immediate vicinity (within 15 miles) also have open air farmers' markets. We're less than 50 miles from the home of the famous Hermiston watermelons, and the even more famous Walla Walla Sweet onions. I find the farmers' markets to be somewhat over priced though, and prefer to shop the smaller farm stands.
ReplyDeleteHow sad not to have farmers markets. They have really taken off in the Boston area. We had them before, but in the last few years many more have opened. Just about every town has one. The city of Cambridge has three. None of them are huge like Haymarket (which is in Boston proper, but it isn't a farmers market anymore, just historically, now it is just an open air produce market with about 50 vendors). But I've got two real farmers markets that are about 1.5 miles by bike (and both mostly on bike paths). I hope you get one yourself soon.
ReplyDeleteHave you checked out localharvest.org or pickyourown.org? I found our CSA through Local Harvest...
ReplyDeleteI usually let my potatoes die back, but there is definitely something wrong with a farm that has bolted broccoli in the south in the heat of summer LOL! I agree with MommaS, I use the farms listed on PickYourOwn.org, around here they all seem to have their act together!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.n-georgia.com/farmers_markets.htm
ReplyDeleteHow funny. I went to visit a local farmers market today, and it was pretty sad as well. Not a pick your own, but there wasn't much of anything there. Certainly nothing that I couldn't already go out and pick in my own garden! Ya, I hope to find a decent one around here too. Have to try another one I guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links, everyone! Actually, the one we went to today was listed on all of the sites, but Anonymous, your link is one I haven't seen before. I think next Saturday I'll either try the Athens, Suwannee or Lawrenceville ones. Suwannee is a bit far, but I hear it's really nice.
ReplyDeleteAck, I don't even know what zipper peas are! I'm also jealous of people who live close to good farmer's markets. I went to one here in Indianapolis about a month ago, and was very disappointed at the lack of choice. I suppose it was still early in the season, but I wanted more after having driven over 15 miles to get there! Ribbit, I hope you find a good one near you soon. Otherwise, you might just have grow more vegetables of your own! :)
ReplyDeleteZipper peas are a crazy, awesome type of cream crowder peas. Sometimes you can find them already shucked in the freezer section, but they're in the clear, nondescript bags with the other types of field peas, butter beans and okra. Cook them up with a ham hock or chicken stock, salt and pepper and they're just fantastic. I like them much better than black eyed peas.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had zipper peas either. And can sympathize with the craptacular Farmer's Markets. We have plenty around here, but they're not local - or from farms! GAH!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the Dekalb Farmers Market? It's been about 7 years since I've been in Atlanta, but I loved their selection. It's open 7 days a week I think.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear the sad state of that small u-pick farm, boo!
Patience, Grasshopper. You need to change your way of thinking. You'll be gardening all through the winter while we're crying. Plus, you a chicken buster babe. There's no stopping you.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried the Dekalb one, but we're in Winder and that's a pretty good haul for us.
ReplyDeleteWe've been blessed with a great market that opened up in my town last year. The gardeners are amazing and I'm learning lots from them about season extension.
ReplyDeleteThere is another anonymous...I sent you the one with the link for the various markets in the north Georgia area. M.
ReplyDeleteWe have great farmer's markets in Southern MA, too many to choose from as a matter of fact! My favorite is some distance away, but there are 12 or so vendors at peak season just brimming with produce, imported oils & vinegars, granola, jellies, meat, cheese and seafood. Mt town has a market but it is so small that I skip it all together- pricey and all the good stuff it sold out within an hour, lol.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are able to find a market you like soon!!!
Hey Ribbit!
ReplyDeleteI went to the one at the Suwanee Town Center last year. It wasn't large, so I'd say to get there early (we arrived around 11 and most of the gettin' was gone!). It is possible that they could have expanded this year, though.. The Brookwood Farmers Market (near Cumming / John's Creek) is fairly small but I was pleased with the selection. I have heard wonderful things about the Athens farmers market, but I haven't been yet.
Apparently, the Georgia State Farmers Market in Forest Park is the mother of all farmers markets in GA. I plan to go very soon. Here's a link to some information on that one:
http://www.pickyourown.org/gafpfm.php
I hope this helps!
Ribbit,
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the STATE farmers market. It's the one. I went last summer and am heading back. It's where all those local neighborhood farmers market people buy their stuff and then mark it up to sell to the suburbanites! Don't stop at the stalls in the front. You want to drive all the way in the back. That's where the farmers sell direct off the back of their trucks. They sell crowder peas, cream peas, pink eye purple hull peas, limas, and butter beans. Blueberries, peaches, corn and watermelon galore. It's worth the drive, all the way down by the airport. Gather up your girlfriend, bring cash and prepare to be wow'ed!
Susan, your Haiku friend.
oh, yeah, and they'll shell the peas for you too! They have awesome machines for it. That part is so cool, it's almost worth the trip in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Will you please tell me what store you found the zipper peas in? And were they a brand name? I'm in East Tennessee and this year I'm trying to grow them but not sure if I'll get a harvest or not. I grew up in Florida and picked them at U-Pick fields. They are my very favorite. We are 4 hours from Atlanta and it would almost be worth a trip if I could buy some, frozen or not!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog a few months ago while Googling "zipper peas".
Thank you.
Where is it, Susan! WHere is it!?
ReplyDeleteI found the zipper peas at the Ingles. They're in clear packaging with very basic red writing. I can't remember the company name off hand, but they also do cow peas, breadded okra and swuash etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! We have an Ingles within 20 miles so I'll try them.
ReplyDelete