Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market Offering Fresh. Local Produce Every Thursday Through October! by llc

Autumn is typically a booming time at the farmers market. Fall is known as the harvest season and during the cooler days of September and October farmer’s market baskets usually overflow with leftovers from the summer harvest and wondrous fall crops of squash, root vegetables and hardy greens. Unfortunately, the cornucopia of fall is a little on the lean side this year. The long, bitter winter took its toll on fruit trees and perennial plants alike and the extensive heat of the summer cooked or burned away most of the warm weather crops in fields across the country. The extended heat from the summer months also made it nearly impossible for farmers to get any early fall crops planted, as everything they put out in the fields was quickly burned away by the torrid sun.

Delicious Peppers Show Their True Survivor Colors at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market by llc

Now that the weather has turned cooler and rain has crossed our paths once again, there is hope for a bountiful fall, as long as Mother Nature agrees to keep Jack Frost from knocking on the farmer’s doors for a little longer. Meanwhile, farmers take the long slow walk into their fields with both trepidation and excitement. Although the fields are empty of the usual variety of bounty, they hold another joy, a bit more miraculous than usual – the survivor crops. These plants, often found hiding under a bed of unkempt weeds or beneath the remains of the bigger more vibrant plantings that were struck down hard by the summer’s heat, are tributes to life itself. Rearing up from the ashes, these survivor crops let us know that through difficulty, life does go on.

Amazing Early Fall Butter Crisp Lettuce from Central Garden by llc

Last week at Central Garden, a first year adventure in larger scale gardening at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, several beautiful baby butter crisp lettuces were discovered thriving beneath the cover of woebegone plants. The students also discovered almost a dozen beautifully ripened water melons, as well as some tenacious chard and lovely peppers. Other farmers were delighted to find okra, beets, sweet potatoes, green beans, melons, apples and even a few late blooming tomatoes in their fields.

Despite the weather, Avery's Produce and Hoyland Farms Brings a Bountiful Selection to Lawrence's Farmers Markets by llc

Somehow, despite the harsh growing season, our farmers have been able to wrestle up enough food for their dinner table and yours. This week when you venture out to enjoy a delightful day at the farmers market, take a moment to marvel at the miraculous offerings each farmer has to offer. Thank your farmer for his ability to grow, even in the toughest of times, and savor the fresh, nutritious taste of these fruits and vegetables, that despite all odds, reared their delicate heads, for you and your family to savor. It truly is a bountiful fall at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market, this Thursday, from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Mojo National has returned from their cold, wet adventure in Winfield, KS to play for market patrons. Thom Alexander (guitar), Joe Pickett (mandolin), Jim Jeans (guitar, mandolin & mandocello) and Michael Paull (bass) will play their inimitable selection of blues and jazz in the back parking lot of Cottin's Hardware & Rental during the market.

Vinland Valley Nursery Answers Questions at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market by llc

Free State Brewing Company will be on hand, pouring their delicious hand crafted beers, Abundant Life Naturals will join the market to offer up a wide selection of mostly organic, free-trade loose leaf teas, and Vinland Valley nursery will be waiting to answer your plant related questions and show you some of the many items that are perfect choices to fill in your somewhat barren landscape this fall.

Join the survivors and celebrate the amazing bounty this fall has to offer at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market, Thursday, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm, in the back parking lot of Cottin’s Hardware & Rental, 1832 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS.