Somebody shoot me...

I have been very depressed. Things are going well...Francesca is surviving first grade and has yet to tell Father Matt to go to "h" "e" double hockey sticks. The market has been great especially with the addition of The Market Grill. I have an art show in Youngstown next week. Clint is touring with Sweany for eight days beginning next week. The trouble is this ridiculous minimum wage job...the only one I can find. I can make art, raise a child, cook a fantastic meal...many fantastic meals as I do at the grill, write and receive grants, help manage a weekly farmers market, give speeches, garden, serve as a village council person and all I can do to make money is work for someone else serving mediocre food and using more plastic disposable items than I can even believe. There has got to be another way...another alternative to this fresh hell. Does anyone have an extra 50K laying around so I can turn The Market Grill into a for profit business? 20K? Anything. Save for hope...I got nothin'.

Late Blight

It was a sad day. For weeks I have been wondering why our tomato plants were developing dark spots on the leaves and the fruit. It turns out they are infected with the fungus-like oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans, the same disease that caused the infamous Irish potato famine. Our potatoes seem fine so Francesca and I harvested them. The tomato plants are in the dumpster. The pathogen can over-winter so we did not put them in the compost. The disease can be prevented if healthy plants are sprayed with a fungicide containing chlorothalonil. We choose to use organic methods in our garden so this was not an option. Next year I will spray the plants with neem oil once a week to prevent a repeat of this year. The perils of gardening...ah...such is life.
So far this year we have lost two cherry trees, the Minnesota Midget melons, Longfellow cucumbers, peppers, gourds and now the tomatoes.

The Market Grill

We had not expected to open The Market Grill at the market until next season. One thing led to another and here we are on opening day. Our temporary kitchen is primitive but should prove to provide a plethora of tasty food for customers and vendors.

Today's menu includes:

Green Fields Farm Burger
1/3 pound premium aged beef from Green Fields Farm of Tuscarawas and Harrison County with your chioce of toppings on a Flat Top Bakery Bun

Walnut Grove Egg Sandwich
Fresh, free range egg from a variety of heritage breeds raised at Walnut Grove Farm in New Philadelphia grilled with your choice of toppings on Yoder's white or wheat bread.

Heirloom Tomato and Onion Sandwich
A variety of heirloom tomatoes and onions served hot or cold on Yoder's white or wheat bread.

Starfire Peanut Butter Sandwich
Homemade peanut butter by Starfire Foods of Sugarcreek and your choice of locally produced honey or jelly.

Toppings
Tomato, Red Onion, Grilled peppers, Onion Marmalade, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Hot Pepper Butter and Cheese from Heini's in Bunker Hill

Sides by Starfire Foods
Potato Salad, Pasta Salad or Macaroni Salad