Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market - Party in the Parking Lot at Cottin's Hardware & Rental! by llc

As the market season comes to an end, Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market hopes to go out with a bang. Cottin’s will be hosting a party in their parking lot this Thursday, October 27 from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Thursday marks the end of the 2011 farmers market season at Cottin’s. The market has run every Thursday since May and although weather conditions have not always been favorable, the majority of vendors and regular patrons have never missed a day. Local bands have played (for free) in the best and worst weather conditions. Bill Crahan and Scott Tichenor took the bad weather prize this year for playing on the wettest day, the coldest day and the hottest day of market all within the 2011 market season. Market vendors have weathered strong winds, torrential rains, trepid cold and relentlessly hot summer days to bring you fresh local produce week after week. Come out this Thursday to Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market and thank the farmers for their tenacious devotion to providing our community with healthy food choices. Participate in a little local food activism by buying out the market vendors on the last day of market this Thursday at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market.

An abundance of fresh local produce awaits you at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market this Thursday, October 27, 2011. by llc

John Thompson (accordion) and Ed Judd (Tuba) will set the mood as Rag x 2 plays a varied selection of contemporary music coupled with the occasional polka, throughout Thursday’s market. Free State Brewing Company will return to market once again to serve up their delicious hand crafted beers to the over 21 crowd and the Ross Family will cook up Thomasine’s delicious fry bread, topping it with fresh fixings to create one of the world’s best Indian tacos you’ll ever taste.

The market’s tried and true regular vendors will set up their booths from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm in the back parking lot of Cottin’s Hardware & Rental at 1832 Massachusetts Street, hoping to sell the bulk of the fruits of their labors to market patrons. Stony Ridge Farm will have their usual array of coffee cakes and focaccia breads, along with local honey and fresh chicken and duck eggs. Mellowfields Urban Farm will hold their last outdoor CSA pick up, offering regular market patrons their excess bounty, including peppers, eggplant, greens, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, herbs and more. Martin Farm will sell readymade pies and pastries along with spectacular apple pie in a jar – a simple way to make that perfect apple pie for the holidays. Juniper Hill Farms will be there with the last of their tomato harvest along with peppers, green beans and more. Backdoor Bakery will supply the market with tasty treats crafted mainly from local ingredients.

Mellowfields Urban Farm offers a wide selection of fresh, local produce to CSA members and market patrons alike at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market. by llc

Regular market vendors Avery Lominska and Aaron Sibler will compliment their usual wide array of chemical free local produce with a pepper roasting demonstration. Peppers, a product seemingly in abundance in the Lawrence area right now, can easily be frozen (roasted or fresh) to create a delicious local food store for the winter months ahead. Make a quick roasted red pepper sauce for pasta by blending 3 roasted red peppers, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, 3 cloves garlic and 2 TBSP Basil together or add roasted peppers to humus for a quick and tasty treat. There are many simple and delicious recipes that can make use of frozen peppers, so take advantage of the last of the fall bounty and buy up all you can at this year’s final market!

Avery Lominska and Aaron Sibler will demonstrate how to roast peppers this Thursday at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market. by llc

Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market vendors also include Drum Creek Cattle Farm offering hormone free, grass finished beef, Vinland Valley Nursery with locally grown mums and other chemical free green goods. Jefferson Hill Farm and Winery with their fresh made caramel corn, granola and more and Abundant Life Naturals will have an amazing selection of organic, fair trade, loose leaf teas to choose from. If all goes well, MAD Farm may also make their first market appearance since the birth of their little girl Irie!

MAD Farmer Cole Cottin displays an abundance of fresh local produce in the MAD Farm market stand just days before the birth of her first child. by llc

Of course Upward Spirals will be at market with Nan’s great selection of fresh baked breads and pizza crusts. For a quick and easy winter meal, Upward Spirals pizza crust is the perfect accompaniment to store away in your freezer with those roasted peppers. Simply sauté up two cloves of garlic and some diced onion. Coat the crust with olive oil and top with the onion garlic mixture. Add some roasted red peppers, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, if desired, and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees to create a perfectly delicious carefree entrée.

Upward Spirals bake goods will be available at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market final market of the season this Thursday, October 27. by llc

If you are running a little short on olive oil or garlic, check out the New Boston Coop stand at Cottin’s Hardware Farmer’s Market and pick up those much needed grocery sundries along with some Bob Gent glass drawer pulls and switch plate covers!

New Boston Coop offers grocery sundries and local garlic at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market by llc

Joining the regular vendors will also be Liquoriste Botanical Barmaids, doling out samples of their organic agave cocktail mixers and sharing insight with market patrons on the wondrous possibilities of organic botanical based cocktails. To learn more about Liquoriste check out this video on kickstarter.com:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/liquoriste/liquoriste-botanical-barmaids.

Devil Dog’s Brewhaus, a new-to-market local coffee house located on the corner of 19th and Haskell, will also be on hand at the final Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market this Thursday. Devil Dog’s Brewhaus specializes in freshly roasted fair trade, organic coffees. A portion of their proceeds will go to support individuals and their families affiliated with the Military and First Responders in our community.

A plethora of sweet potatoes, winter squash and other root vegetables awaits you at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market this Thursday. Take advantage of the season’s bounty and stock up for the winter months with these local storage crops. Bring the family and enjoy the festivities at this delightful community event. Grab an Indian taco and sit down to enjoy great friends, good food, awesome drink and incredible music at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market, Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm.

Cottin’s Hardware Market patrons will also receive a free reusable shopping bag to help tote home their purchase. Hurry down, grab a bag and participate in a little healthy local food activism - Buy out Your Farmers at the Final Market of the Season!