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Today's weather does not appear mild, so we’re moving inside!  The Wyoming Ave. Farmers’ Market is thankful that there is space from 2-6pm in the Civic Center at 1 Worthington Ave in Wyoming for tomorrow’s Market.  You may have to dodge raindrops to get inside, but you’ll be able shop for most of your Thanksgiving dinner (and the rest of the week) without juggling your umbrella with your shopping bags.

Pilgrims, presidents, and produce have given us a national day of Thanksgiving.  The first was held in 1621 when the Pilgrims, grateful to have survived the winter of 1620 and gathering a sufficient harvest the following growing season, held a three day celebration of Thanksgiving.  President Washington declared a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, but the event was not annual until President Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War, declared the 4th Sunday of November as the National Day of Thanksgiving.  Even though the nation was divided, there was a bountiful harvest, the country was not at war with foreign nations, and there was continued expansion of territory, cultivated land, and population.*  Thanksgiving Day became an annual holiday.

Our nation continues to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with family and friends gathering for a meal during times of peace and war, rich and thin harvests, and wealth and poverty.  It’s a day that can bring together neighbors and families, much as the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated in 1621.  This fall, the weather has been milder, and there is bountiful autumn produce, meats, and cottage goods that can fill your Thanksgiving table. 

*http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/source/sb2/sb2w.htm

Our gazebo guest this week – Queen City Cookies, will not be in the gazebo, but inside the Civic Center.   MMM, can you say “schnecken”?  www.queencitycookies.com.

From the Farms this week:

Backyard Orchard – Apples: Gold Rush, Black Twig (did you remember to pre-order a bushel of Black Twig? backyardorchard@hotmail.com).  They’ll have apple butter, too.

Branstrator Farm – Butternut and acorn squash, broccoli and if it stops raining cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

Eli Creek Farms – Eggs from their free-range chickens; rabbit (fryer leg cuts, loin cut, whole, and whole cut up), free range chicken meat (breasts, thighs, wings, drumsticks, and whole); mushrooms, and turnips.  Don’t forget to pick up your pre-ordered turkey!

A note from Eli Creek-The “rainbow ranger” chicken breed we raise was bred to forage for their food unlike the Cornish Crosses that are sold in grocery stores. They are all around a healthier bird to eat and they are raised free range and without antibiotics and hormones. 

Locust Run Farm – Certified organic lettuce, celery, fresh sage, endive, baby beets, sweet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, onions-red and yellow, arugula, Swiss chard, and kale.

The Eaton Farm – Winter squash; long pie, butternut, a couple acorn types, hubbard, cushaw, sweet dumpling, kabocha/buttercup, and lots of small pie pumpkins; lettuce, turnips, chard, kale, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, green onions, arugula, and maybe spinach.  For your Far East Thanksgiving: bok choi, and tatsoi.  Sustainably raised meats; beef – ground, soup bones, flank steak, strip steak, filet, ribeye, roasts, and more; pork – loin roasts, uncured bacon, pork belly in 2# pks, ham steak, shoulder roasts, jowl, hot & mild sausage; chicken – boneless, skinless breast, thighs, drums, wings, whole birds, whole cut up birds, and more.  Turkey – ground turkey, drums and, wings.  Don’t forget to pick up your pre-ordered turkey!

Walnut Ridge Acres – Certified naturally grown salad greens, spinach, arugula, mustard greens, collards, carrots, beets, radish, fresh sage, rosemary, oregano, tarragon and dill; bottled mustards: Dijon, zydeco, horseradish, and honey.

From the Cottage Producers:

Andy’s Bees – Will be at the Farmers’ Market information table.  There’ll be an assortment of honey sizes, and beeswax tapers and votives.

Blackbird Pond – Handmade soaps, sachets, bath salts, shampoo bars, foot baths, lavender sachets, spicy simmering potpourri and aromatic facial steams.

Fireside Pizza – Is hoping to be at Market tomorrow – we’ll let you know around noon. Seasonal pizza cooked on-site in a mobile wood-fired oven.  Selections include tomato or pesto sauce, cheese, pepperoni and Italian sausage.   

La Terza Coffee Roasterie – Pre-ordered coffee will be at the Farmers’ Market information table. 

Ohio Farm Direct – A selection of cheeses, including raw cheddar, baby Swiss, gouda, and havarti from their certified-organic, grass-fed cows; summer sausage; certified organic drinkable yogurt in an assortment of natural flavors.

Skirtz & Johnston – Fresh-baked artisan breads; baguettes, batards, salted rye, and nine-grain whole wheat.  Dinner rolls; white and whole wheat; sweet breads -- great for breakfast thanksgiving morning while watching the Macy's parade – pumpkin bread, purple wheat raisin, and chocolate chip banana; desserts – pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and pumpkin cheesecake.

Taste of Belgium – Delicious Belgian waffles – classic and pumpkin available in 4-packs; peanut butter cups.  Gift cards available for purchase – for the new Bistro or for the Findley location.