The last Morrison Farmers’ Market of the 2012 season was a fine finale. Saturday, September 29, could not have been more pleasant for shopping, listening to The Heritage Trio’s live concert, visiting, or tasting. Krissy Morris of Prophetstown, IL, baked artisan breads and delicious breakfast cookies and made natural peanut butter all season. I asked what she would do next Saturday. She and husband Steve will transition into processing their organically-fed free-range poultry. The processing is done at their home, Lyndon Bridge Homestead. The phone number is 815-527-2466.
Bob Landheer of Morrison, IL, has one apple tree; it produces Red Delicious apples. He stated they are “so much sweeter after a frost.” We were blessed with a frost recently, so that may be the secret to his sell out crop this week. He and his wife pick the fruit. Landheer had cider for sale and posed with one of the last two gallons.
Ken Huizenga, also of Morrison, participates at the end of the season, due to the nature of his crop of whispy, colorful bittersweet and miniature Indian corn. There were two varieties. Strawberry popcorn “will pop in the microwave” if you [simply place the globular ear inside.] The Mediterranean blue ears had gold kernals interspersed, as if someone adorned them with daubs of paint. Both are pretty enough to display in a basket or bowl.
“Jewels of autumn” is how Gretchen Wallender described her colorful ears of Indian corn. The large ears were grown as part of a wildlife plot, instead of growing field corn, she said. The Lanark, IL, resident also listed a unique need to grow these attractive Indian corn specimens for the first time. Her son’s fiance requested them to decorate their fall wedding. Granddaughter Hannah Wallender is a fifth grader at Morrison Southside School.
Sharon Habben submitted her final Farmers’ Market Report of the year.
What a fantastic day we had Saturday [September 29, 2012.] The weather was just about perfect, the sky was a perfect blue. The sun shone on the color of the trees causing them to glow like huge, multicolored candles. One could look around the market and fill their eyes with visions of gourds, huge ears of Indian corn, bittersweet, apples, apple cider, and pumpkins of different sizes and varieties. Our stained glass artist was back with her superior pieces of art and interesting shapes of color.
All of this was enriched with the melodious tunes of The Heritage Trio as their music wafted through the air. We noticed many people stop just to listen to them. It was a great day and a wonderful way to end our fifth year.
This past week there was a meeting of the Whiteside Forum regarding volunteerism. [This] reminded me that I want to thank the people who, through these five years, have faithfully donated their time every Saturday morning from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m., through extreme heat, bitter cold and snow (oh, yes, we did!), heavy rain, as well as beautiful days just like this Saturday. TheFarmers’ Market has been blessed with some great people on the committee who went forward with this project from a zero balance of money, people who doubted, others who said we were cuckoo, etc., to what we have accomplished through this last Saturday.
Next year we plan to be in the same place, [with the] same times and approximately same dates. If you are looking for a way to make some money or maybe start a business, seriously consider participating as a vendor next year. We have had some people start their own businesses which were developed while they were at the market.
Thank you, Committee: Corinne Bender, Jim Blakemore, Jim Camp, Boon Sukboriboon, and Ron Weimer. Thank you, John Dickey and Bill Brinkman. Thank you, Jerry Lindsay. Thank you [to] all our vendors from not only Morrison, but at least ten other communities. It has been so great getting to know all of you, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.
Most of all, I want to extend a thank you on behalf of the committee and myself, to all the great customers with whom we were blessed each week. Without you and your great support each Saturday, we would not be able to continue. We cherish the new friends we have made and shall always keep you tucked in our hearts. God willing, we shall see you again this spring!