NINTH ANNUAL BIGGEST VEGETABLE & POEM CONTEST

Monday, October 6, 2008. BIGGEST VEGETABLE AND BEST POEM CONTEST. Winners announced at 1:30 p.m.

Biggest pumpkin, biggest heirloom squash, biggest root vegetable, biggest apple or smallest apple, biggest chile, wild card outstanding vegetable. And best poem by a student about farming. Where? The Espanola Farmers Market. 1005 N. Railroad Avenue near Fairview.

Joan Logghe is the poetry judge and Chellis Glendining is the vegetable judge. All participants and winners will be included in next fall's Double Issue 2007/2008 of "A farming Chapbook." Double Issue 2005/2006 is available on October 6, 2008.

Deliver all poems and vegetable contestants to the market by 10 a.m. on October 6th Contest Day. For information, call 505-685-4842.

NEWS FROM THE MARKET: SURPRISES

The Espanola Farmers Market is full of surprises. It's more than the usual miracle of freshly-picked corn, vine-ripened tomatoes, shiny apples, onions so big they're like softballs, and more green chile roasting. Last week Jim Howard of Los Alamos set up shop to sharpen scissors, knives and small garden tools. It takes a while before people know he's there, but Jim's persistent. He's had a sharpening shop for the past six years. Denise Torrez of Espanola made a surprise appearance recently with handmade bird house gourds that she hangs in trees, on porches and carports. Hang them and the birds will come, she says. Sparrows, bluebirds, purple martins, wrens and robins.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE SMELL OF ROASTED CHILES

Gene Lopez roasted chiles for a long line of shoppers on Labor Day. The tables were loaded with fruit, squash, tomatoes, corn, apples, cukes, grapes and more.

SOY CANDLES FROM LUCRETIA'S CREATIONS

Tina Park and Joseph Stapleton were one of 14 venders this week at the Espanola Farmers Market. They're from Los Alamos and they urge everyone to relax and attain clarity when lighting a soy candle. They are 100% soy wax, all natural wicks, vegetable based colors and essential oils for scents.