Altadena Urban Farmers' Market

Altadena Urban Farmers' Market just keeps getting better and better.  It is not your usual farmers' market or street fair.   In fact, it's not your usual anything.

Sunday's market was the best yet.   About 30 local vendors came -- all offering homemade local food and goods.  Then there were the goats (including two babies), chickens and historic venue.  On top of that, there was the Farmers' Market University offering lessons in making cheese, bread and home cleaners.  And there were a lot of people.   

I thought my photo of the crowd was pretty good -- that is until I saw Petrea's artistry at Pasadena Daily Photo.  Of course, she found a mother and daughter strolling under an archway.   It was good to see her and John at the market.  Actually, I saw a lot of folks I knew.   The market is is taking on a bit of a Main Street flavor where you encounter not only local produce and goods, but bump into friends as well. 

We were there with Marcia's homegrown enterprise,  HomeBody Botanicals - offering herbal body products she makes with local and organic ingredients.    She was non-stop busy for all of the three-hour market and is seeing repeat customers, which is gratifying.

This little market that started just last October has quickly become a hit.  As you walk the market, you get the sense that there is a pent-up desire for this kind of thing.  Yes, folks are discovering something new.  But maybe it is more. Maybe they're finding something that was long ago misplaced.    

The market is certainly part of the trend toward localism.   Altadena shop owner Lori Webster talked about this recently in her excellent blog.  She's on the front lines of retailing and observes that the trend toward localism is "huge and growing."   May the trend continue.

Altadena Urban Farmers Market - Sunday Dec. 19

This Sunday brings the third Altadena Urban Farmers Market. It all starts at 1 pm at the Zane Grey Estate, at East Mariposa St. and Marengo Ave.

You can go to the market's Facebook for the latest information about vendors. Prolific blogger Victor Caballero has a great review of the October market here and photos of the November market here.

This market is something you really should do. You'll be supporting an emerging local economy and, even if just for a moment, disengaging from all the wasteful trappings of commerce as we typically know it.

You'll find wonderful handmade foods and products - all locally produced and all first rate. The folks who run this thing make the best goat cheese in the county and they've scouted out other top quality local vendors. The range of offerings has expanded each month, but already includes cheese, coffee, honey, breads, garden produce, eggs, plants, soaps, bbq sauce, granola, and home remedies -- all of which you can purchase directly from the person that made the product. It doesn't get any better than that.

And, when you go, please visit my wife's table. Marcia has a line of items that she's made for our family for years and is now offering through her new business, HomeBody Botanicals. It is all nontoxic and all made right here in our kitchen. So far, she offers detergent, household cleaner, salves and skin treatments. She will also have her Fire Cider, a traditional anti-cold remedy that has been infusing for weeks. It is strong stuff, but works when you've got a tickle in the back of your throat.