Vendorful Fall

The lazy, hazy, stifling days of summer 2016 are finally transitioning into fantastic, cooler days like last Saturday, and by the time you read this, we'll have hopped over into fall. Hooray! In celebration, the LFM has invited the following vendors this week (okay, it's really just who was already scheduled, but this cooling trend deserves a party, and if we were throwing a party, this is who we'd invite): Weekly: Big Sky Bread, Bonnie's Wondergardens, Frecon Farms, Freeland Market, Fruitwood Farms, Green Zebra Farm, Kia's Cakes, MyHouse Cookies, Rebecca's Dumplings, and Wilsons Curiously Good Foods. Biweekly: Amazing Acres Goat Dairy, The Ancient Kitchen, Crisp Pickles, Paradocx Vineyards, and Rafiki Shoppe. Soap: Love Naturally.

We're really very sorry to report that two vendors won't be returning to the Market for the rest of the season. Poniton Farm has had a hard year (don't we know it with all that heat and no rain!) and we'll miss Todd's friendly staff and, of course, his produce. We'll keep our fingers crossed for the future! Second, FBG Foods cites an uber-busy fall schedule that includes cookoff competitions, but they've already told us they want to return for the Winter Markets.

After we ran that recipe for puttanesca sauce in last week's newsletter, John of Wilsons Curiously Good Foods let us know that he has frozen puttanesca sauce at the Market every week. So you can save yourself a lot of work and hit him up (though it's worth making that eggplant version, trust us!).

Have you tried MyHouse Cookies' cutout cookies? We'd call these sugar cookies because of the shapes and the colorful sugar on top, but the taste that's most striking when you bite one is butter. They are straight up wonderful.

Dog Day Shenanigans

It's been a dog's age -- 7 years in Fido time! -- since the last Dog Day at the Market, but we are going to rectify that this Saturday. Volunteers from Animal Friends of Lansdowne have organized an amazing lineup!

If you're looking for a new best friend, Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue and Peace, Love and Doggie Paws Rescue will have dogs available for adoption. Dr. Wineburgh of Lansdowne Veterinary Hospital will offer an on-site microchipping service ($49.50 with no office visit fee!) as well as a selection of flea and tick products. You can also meet veterinary staff from the Glenolden Animal Hospital and get information on affordable spaying/neutering from The Spayed Club.

Volunteers of the nonprofit Delaware County Animal Response Team, which sets up animal shelters during disasters, will have information about emergency preparedness when it comes to pets. There will be two options for canine fashions. DOCS (Dawn's Original Collars) for Dogs will be selling handmade collars and dogcessaries. As a fundraiser, AFL will be offering Heather Van Heusen's Radar Love collection of no-choke collars (Martingale-style) and lined nonslip coats. Galleria Mona will have dog- and pet-related art. Alice Hasbrooke is bringing her Vegan Roadkill line of soft re/upcycled dog toys, which both your dog and your own green, Market-going self will love. Plus Sparky, the Lansdowne Fire Company's mascot, will make a guest appearance.

Finally, the annual dog parade will kick off in a flurry of utter cuteness around 11:30. Please register your pooch at the Market Manager's tent by 11:15. The $2 entrance fee goes directly to AFL. Prizes will be awarded in a bunch of categories (Showmanship, Best Dressed, Best Trick, Best Poser, Best Smile, Funniest, Best Kisser, Best Use of Tail), so costumes and pet tricks are encouraged. If your dog is good with other dogs, we want to see you both on Saturday.

Apples of Our Eye

Apples are sneaky things. In August, they hide beneath the bounty of vegetables and other fruit, but when September and the cooler temps hit, suddenly they're overflowing on the Fruitwood and Frecon tables.

Knowing which varieties to choose can be tricky, but your friendly farmstand folks can give you advice. Mike from Fruitwood reports that the famously delicious-out-of-hand Honey Crisp, Gala, and Golden Delicious varieties are also fine for baking, though they are a bit soft, meaning they don't hold their shape well when placed into a hot oven. If you want a flavorful apple that keeps its form in a pie or tart, wait for the Fujis, which will be coming in the next week or so. In the meantime, follow his mother's lead and make sugar-free but perfectly sweet and smooth apple sauce with the Goldens. (Being a good mom, she always made a chunky Fuji version for her son. Your choice.) While you're at it, how about whipping up some apple fritters, a French apple tart, celery root, celery and apple slaw, or a magic apple plum cobbler? Mix up all different kinds, if you want to be a real rebel.

Fall Plant Exchange and Bulb Sale

We like to share and swap things in our dear 'Downe Town, and plants are no exception. The brand-new Lansdowne Garden Club will be holding a plant exchange for outdoor plants and houseplants at the Market on October 1. For each plant you drop off in a plastic container (or even a plastic bag) before 10 AM, you'll get a ticket that you can exchange to take home a plant of your choice later on. No plants to drop off? They'll sell you one for a dollar late in the exchange. You can also donate empty pots, which would be greatly appreciated.

The Lansdowne Garden Club, in conjunction with The Center for Psyche & the Arts, will also take orders at the Market for flower bulbs, which will arrive in time to plant this fall, so you can enjoy a beautiful display next year. Funds from the sale will go to educational programs, community gardens, and other beautification projects. For more information, check out the club's website.

Housekeeping

Please note that the season's final Community Day is the last Saturday of October, the 29th. Applications will become available through this newsletter on October 6 and at the Market on October 8. Stay tuned!