Diy Aquaponics Garden: laurel

Her husband calls himself Mr. Fix-it, so she decided she would be Mrs. Bake-it. But although she loves to bake, she didnt always do it for farmers market customers.

Once during a visit, her mother-in-law said she should be baking pies to sell. "I only like to bake for family and friends," Mrs. Bake-it protested. But when she arrived home one day to find pie ingredients lined up along the counter, she decided shed give it a try.

During her first day at the Laurel farmers market, her pies sold out. Mrs. Bake-it said, "I like it!" And when customers returned to say things like "it was the most delicious pie Ive eaten," Mrs. Bake-it was hooked. She said she likes to make people happy.

Baking for the market begins at 9 pm Tuesday night, after her family is asleep. She makes pies until 3 am, sleeps until 6 am, then begins a long day that ends with the evening farmers market. "I catch up on my sleep on Thursday and Friday," she explains.

When you bite into a pie, youll know it was made with love.

At another vendor table I found peacock feathers. A neighbor of the vendor raises peacocks "because he likes them." You just never know what youll see at any farmers market.

Elsewhere I found the usual lovely vegetables.

And sunflower seeds as fresh as can be.

Plus an assortment of baked goods. Zucchini bread always seems abundant this time of year.

The cards of one of my favorite card makers, Tris, were on display. Tris has asperger syndrome and avoids contact with the public, so her parents come to the market each week to sell her cards. Tris has a great deal of talent, and I hope you will check out the cards next time you are at the market. They are also sold at the Columbus farmers market and at various craft shows around Laurel and Billings throughout the fall.

Laurel Farmers Market

Town Square, on First Ave.

Wednesday, 4 pm - 6 pm

July 16 - September 24

Its an exciting season for the Laurel farmers market. They are in a new location at First and Main -- after you exit I-90, head toward town. On your right just after Main Street is a park where youll see the booths set up. There is plenty of parking in the area; go into one of the nearby bank lots if you dont see anything on the street.

I was disappointed not to find my favorite tamales (see last years market review), but there were plenty of other things to enjoy.

On this first day there were 8 vendors (many more are expected to fill the park in August), with a very good selection: jewelry, pottery, cards, baked goods, and produce. Although the crafts were nicely displayed and enticing, and the cakes, brownies, and pies were alluring, the vegetables attracted the crowds.

I bought a large bunch of sweet beets, a hefty bag of new potatoes, and a pound of peas in edible pods for $10, all grown on a third of an acre in Laurel. Other customers were piling onions, rhubarb, and cabbage into their bags.

This was such a treat. Throughout Montana, market managers have been telling me that gardens will be producing late this year because of a very wet June. But talented and persistent farmers and gardeners still manage to do their job no matter what the weather.

The following are a few photos of the day. I begin with cards made by the talented Tris Walls, whose passion for perfection is evident in her creative product. Be sure to look at her cards when you visit the market; youre bound to find something for someone who needs their spirits lifted.