Funny. Three springs ago, I stepped out of my door into the front yard in the very early morning to discover, only ten feet away, an adult American Bittern, neck elongated and beak pointed to the sky. What a sight! I had never seen one before.

We are excited to welcome you back to a new season of the 61st Street Farmers Market! As you will see this Saturday (9am-2pm), the Market grows and changes each year, while most good things stay the same. You will find your favorite farmers and food artisans from the past, as well as some new ones—and, with them, new tastes, people, and pleasures to discover!

The 61st Street Farmers Market's 6th season is nearly upon us! Only a couple of weeks to go before we can reconnect with our farmers, our food and our neighbors every Saturday from 9am-2pm on 61st Street between Dorchester and Blackstone Avenues!

As we get ready to connect with our food once again starting this May 11th at the 61st Street Farmers Market, we invite you to reflect on your food system by joining us in the kitchen of Experimental Station on Wednesday April 3 at 6:30pm for the first in a series of Market Movies! This next week's film will be the first in a 3-part documentary entitled "The Weight of the Nation." We thank Kaiser Permanente for providing us with this series.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the 61st Street Farmers Market, please review the Policies and Guidelines. Our Market is a producer-only, food-only market.

This fall, the 61st Street Farmers Market organized free cooking classes for parents and children. These classes have focused on preparing the seasonal, fresh produce grown in Illinois that can be found at the Market. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Last Market of the Season! This is your last chance to stock up on holiday foods, gifts, and market cheer until spring.

And don't forget to redeem any remaining LINK Bucks you may have. 2012 LINK Bucks are not valid in 2013.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 T grated orange rind (optional)
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 egg
• 1 cup cranberries (or a little more)
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease the bottom of a loaf pan.

Mix together in a large mixing bowl the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

The 61st Street Farmers Market encourages you to Live Your Economics Deeply by buying from within your community this holiday season and whenever you think about going shopping! The Experimental Station and 61st Street Farmers Market are, naturally, a great place to start! 

Here are some of this Saturday's Holiday Season offerings:

Here are some of this Saturday's Market offerings:

• Ellis Family Farms will be at the Market selling their delicious, locally grown apples (Honey Crisp and Northern Spy), cranberries, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, honey, eggs and jam. Bake that special someone on your list an apple pie or a loaf of fruity Cranberry Bread (recipe)!

• For the flakiest pie crust, don't forget to use Faith's Farm Lovely Lard (recipe). Faith's Farm will also be selling Belted Galloway grass fed beef, Berkshire pastured pork, and Heritage Berkshire Holiday Roast, all raised organically on pasture. What about giving a gift of a roast this year? We guarantee that it will not be re-gifted!

• Mint Creek Farm will be offering 15% off sale on freshly butchered goat. As always, Mint Creek will also be selling lamb, beef, and Kilgus Farm dairy products.

• We can count on Growing Power to bring kale, collard greens, spinach, Swiss chard, salad mix, arugula, beet greens, beets, carrots, squash, tomatoes, potatoes....