APPLES ARE PLENTIFUL & CONTEST LOOMING

The apple crop is plentiful this year! Get to the market soon to stock up for the winter because the last market day is the last Monday in October.

Also, mark your calendar for October 12th for the 10th annual Biggest Vegetable and Best Poem Contest. Awards will be presented at 1:30 p.m. The vegetable judge is Jan Matteson and the poetry judge is Beata Tsosie-Pena.

OPEN GATE CONTINUES AT ESPANOLA FARMERS MARKET

Apples are plentiful as the weather turned cold suddenly and the wind threatened to make vendors' booths tumble at the Espanola Farmers Market this week. The growing season is winding down. However, it's still possible to fill your fridge with the last of the summer veggies and prepare colorful salads with fresh ingredients.

The Espanola Farmers Market is part of a large network of people and organizations active in sustainable agriculture and bringing food to the table. One such farm is dedicated to growing food for community organizations in the Santa Fe area. It's The Community Farm, just north of Agua Fria and San Ysidro Crossing in the heart of Agua Fria Village where volunteers are busy picking produce to take to Food for Santa Fe, The Food Depot, Kitchen Angels, Saint Elizabeth Shelter, The Salvation Army, Saint John's Soup Kitchen and Bienvenidos Outreach. Go to: www.santafecommunityfarm.org for more information.

1,000 FREE BOOKS GIVEN TO CHILDREN AT MARKET EACH SEASON

Visiting the Espanola Farmers Market is loaded with surprises for young people, and one of them is the free distribution of children's books at the manager's booth. Each market season there are an estimated 1,000 books taken home by young people as one of the many benefits of shopping at the market. Young people also participated in improving the market by planting wildflowers in the gardens in the front of the Espanola Farmers Market site.

The harvest is plentiful this year, and there's plenty to choose from...including: tomatoes, chiles, apples, watermelon, squash, corn, melons, chard, turnips, string beans, onions, peaches, honey, flowers, plums, cukes, garlic and more. Plus, there's the ice cream truck making periodic visits to the market and a stand of hot food, including burritos. Mmmm