This week at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market, Chef Ariel Bangs is demonstrating tips and techniques for healthy cooking using produce found right here at the market.

Chef Ariel has over ten years experience creating healthy, flavorful meals and desserts for private clientele in Seattle and Los Angeles. She’s dedicated to supporting local businesses and farmers by supporting sustainability, flourishing community food systems and healthy communities.

The demonstrations will help to educate market patrons about ways to live healthier lives with new edible options. According to Chef Ariel, “It is truly exciting to have the opportunity to share with others my passion of transforming fresh produce and herbs, healthy eating and culinary vision into a healthy, mouth-watering creation.”

Chef Ariel will be conducting demonstrations each week at the market.

Here is this week’s featured receipe:

Kale and Chard Summer Delight

1 lb Kale
1 lb Chard
1 can Coconut Milk
1/2 cup White Wine
1 cup Raisins
1 tsp Cinnamon

Chop roughly kale and chard, add to skillet with 1/2 cup white whine, 1/2 can coconut milk. Add raisins and cinnamon, cover and let cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Serve with meat dish for an entree. Have for lunch or just as a snack. Either way this is a health meal for an occasion!

That’s right, tomatoes are in! Pair that with onions and assorted other goodies and you have yourself a fantastic and healthy snack.

We should also be seeing the first of the corn on the cob. Come on down this Saturday to get your produce for the week, enjoy the sounds of Traditional Blues & Americana artist, JD Hobson and visit with friends and neighbors.

Don’t forget to submit your recipe for our Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market Cookbook. The deadline is July 31st. If you have questions or need a form, come see us at the Market information booth or visit our website.

Join us Saturday, July 10 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the south end of the Des Moines Marina for the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market!

Peaches will be in! Come on down to pick up your fresh picked peaches for that peach cobbler you have been secretly pining for! How about a juicy peach cut up with some yogurt for Sunday breakfast? If you are in the mood for something cool, we suggest fresh peaches sliced over vanilla ice cream!

A few new vendors are expected this week, including a new rancher. The veggies are looking fantastic and we’ll see more stone fruits and berries.

Charlie Spring will entertain you as you meander through the market visiting with friends and neighbors.

Don’t forget to drop by the Waterland Blog tent and say “Hi!” We would love to meet you!

by Dave Markwell

I got flipped off by an old man the other day. I was driving down 7th Avenue and stopped at a crosswalk to allow a woman to cross the street. The lady was standing at the crosswalk and was looking around a little confused, but to me, still seemed to be intending to cross the street. Apparently, she was just confused and stepped back and did not cross. The old man behind me in a small silver car honked at me as I was waiting for the woman to see me stopped and cross the street. I stuck my arm out the window and pointed to the lady, with my left index finger, indicating to the old man why I was stopped in the middle of the road. At this point, his raised a meaty middle finger and shot me the bird through his windshield. I, instinctively, returned fire and had a brief flash of road rage that included an image of grabbing this geezer by the neck, forcibly removing his false teeth from his mouth and chucking them into the fresh beauty bark neatly spread in the planters on the side of the road. This image passed very quickly and I then just smiled and drove on.

I am never the sharpest guy in any room. I am, however, considerate. I was right to stop for the cross-walker and the grouch was wrong to honk while I waited. This was fact and served to release me from any onus of responsibility for receiving the bird. I was good, baby!

I have been flipped off plenty of times over the years. It is always a little troubling, sometimes warranted, sometimes not, but rarely any big deal. It was not a big deal this day and more than anything highlighted for me a sense of evolution that I may have attained. I had a good day following a middle finger by a grumpy old man. In the past, I may have lingered over the gesture. Having someone deliberately and quite personally attack one with a finger does not feel too nice. It has the power to create some negativity that can dwell for some time. It seems that, at least on this day, that power no longer had impact on me. I was unaffected, with the exception of the aforementioned, very brief, denture throwing fantasy.

I soon had to make a left turn and as the angry man passed on my right, I waved (with all fingers) and grinned at him, while shaking my head. He stared straight ahead and did not acknowledge my gesture. My day moved on without incident.

I rode bikes with my son to the marina. We bought ice cream drumsticks at ABC Grocery, chatted up, Yoon, the owner, and rented a movie. I played “Sorry” with my daughter who, once again, delivered a handy beat-down (or two). I barbequed hamburgers while standing bare-footed in my lawn. I had a cold beer with my neighbor at the fence which separates our yards. I went to bed early with a good book and a contented mind. I opened my bedroom window and enjoyed the cool sea breeze blowing through. It was a day of days, a dream day. It could not have been a better day. A better day has not been invented and even a fat, hairless old finger shining in my rear view mirror could not disturb it.

Any evolution I have achieved through the years has been slow and painful, though at age 41, it feels pretty good to understand that good days are available everyday and that the power to manifest them is mine alone and even a crusty, quick-fingered old fart cannot shake my tree. This is a good thing to know and I will continue to stop at crosswalks, every time.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

Enjoy the smooth sweet sounds of J. D. Hobson performing “Traditional Blues and Americana” music from 10am – 2pm at this Saturday’s Des Moines Farmers Market.

J.D. is an award winning local artist who competed nationally in Memphis this year at the International Blues Challenge.  He will be performing from 10am-2pm on the market stage.

As many of you know, the market expanded this year to include the north side lot. If you haven’t been down yet, you may be surprised to see how much it has grown. Berry crops are magnificent this year. Vendors have a great selection grown right here in Washington! Make sure to get your fresh produce for the week from your local farmers.

There are many other vendors for you at this year’s market including beef, fish, baked goods, prepared foods and handmade crafts.  Enjoy lunch and conversations with friends.

To whet your musical appetite for JD, here’s a video of him:

The Des Moines Farmers Market continues today (Saturday, June 12) until 2pm, and as we’ve done in the past, we’d like to showcase a few new vendors that are present:

BABY CAKES:
Baby Cakes offers organic homemade cakes and cookies.

“We do custom orders, too!” says proprietor Valria Lopez.

Ask about their wedding cakes.

HOLMQUIST HAZELNUTS:
Holmquist Hazelnuts from Lynden, Washington.

This is a fifth generation farm.

FROGSONG FARMS:
And also, Kim Richmond of Frogsong Farms, from right here in Des Moines. “We offer really, truly local produce.”

ALDRICH FARMS SPECIALTY FOODS:
Aldrich Farms Specialty Foods from Bellingham offers terrific syrups, jams and jellies.

Our roving Waterland Blog reporter suggests this inside tip:

“Try their Apple Garlic Pepper Jelly. This is not a typo. Great on salmon!”

With mostly clear, crisp blue skies, Saturday (June 5) marked the opening day for the Des Moines Farmers Market at the South Marina Park.

The market will run every Saturday from 10am – 2pm through the end of October at the South Marina Park, where there’s plenty of parking, lots of fresh food, live music, arts and crafts, and of course us Waterland Bloggers “blogging live.”

Saturday’s kickoff included the dedication of a park bench in honor of Vera Harper, a longtime Des Moines resident who recently passed away. Vera was a fixture at the market, and could be seen every single Saturday in the Kiwanis Club booth serving coffee. We were fortunate enough to have met her since our tent was often situated next to her booth.

The inscription on her bench reads:

“Good Deeds Don’t Have To Be Done Loudly”

In Memory of Vera Harper

After an opening speech by market board president Wayne Corey, and remarks by Mayor Bob Sheckler, a choked-up Rikki Marohl gave a moving speech about Vera, introducing her family and dedicating the bench to her.

Here are some photos taken by Scott Schaefer of opening day:

Here’s a bio of Vera courtesy Des Moines Parks “Rec & Roll” newsletter:

Vera Jean Wilson Harper was a Washington native and a loyal Cougar. She grew up in Spokane, attended WSU  and then married Glen Harper.  Most of her life she spent  in Des Moines where she found a special talent for service and hospitality.  She shared her home freely whether for fun or to help people who needed  time to get on their feet.  She was full of fun, and that was what made her such a great activity director for assisted care facilities.  She was only the 37th person to be certified as an Activity Professional.  The National Association of Activity Professionals honored her more than once, and their next conference will be dedicated to Vera.

Vera was instrumental in forming Friend to Friend, an organization dedicated to making sure every resident of a nursing home had a visitor.  As a member of Kiwanis she worked hard to maintain it’s vitality, serving coffee every Saturday at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmer’s Market, and sponsoring the Mt Rainier Key Club.  A “Vera Harper Lifetime Senior Award” has been established in her honor.  Vera has served Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church as Elder and as Deacon numerous terms. She has furnished countless batches of cookies for our fellowship coffee and for the One Great Hour of Sharing Auction.  In her spare time she visited.  Members who were ill, or in need,  folks who had been away, people on her care list all  received drop in visits  from Vera, who usually had some small gift to bring as well.

But her true love was music.  She played piano and cello, using her skills for the Huntington Park choir, and in leading worship at nursing homes.  For over 50 years she was the lead soprano at Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church, and her voice has permeated our sanctuary so deeply that  we can almost hear the beams singing the old hymns she loved so well.   Her children and grandchildren, her fellow church members and the Des Moines community will miss her everyday!

After a long, cold and wet winter (and spring), the 2010 Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market season has arrived. Kick-off is this Saturday (June 5th) from 10am-2pm, with fun activities for the entire family, rain or shine. Do your palette a favor and come and pick up some farm fresh delights.

In addition to opening day ceremonies, we will be honoring long time Kiwanis, Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market and Community Volunteer Vera Harper with a bench dedication in the flag plaza at South Marina Park, next to the market. Vera will be missed by all who knew her. Opening day entertainment will be provided by Salt Water Saints, Vera’s favorite.

Many vendors are returning including:

• Polish food
• Thai food
• Honey
• Goat cheese
• Alvarez Organic
• Cha New Life Garden
• Collins Family Orchards
• Sidhu Berries

New vendors appearing throughout the season include:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Pork
• Smoked salmon
• Ice cream
• Baked goods
• Unique crafts

Mark your calendars with these special market dates:

• June 5th-Opening Day
• July 24th-Local Business Showcase
• July 31st- Elder Care & Safety
• August 14th-Health & Fitness
• September 11th-Kids Day
• September 25th-Local Business Showcase
• October 30th-Chili Cook-Off

Of course, us Waterland Bloggers will be there, “blogging live” in a tent, so come find us – we look forward to seeing you at the market!

If you are interested in performing at the market or having a booth at the Local Business Showcase days, please email market@dmfm.org.

The fifth annual Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market kicks off its 2010 season on Saturday, June 5th, and is ready to provide customers with the freshest produce and flowers and unique handcrafted items through October 30th.

Like last year, the market will run from 10am-2pm on Saturdays, with fun activities for the entire family, including opening day entertainment by the “Salt Water Saints.”

You can watch The Waterland Blog’s “Countdown Clock” to the right as the big day approaches, especially if you’re a behind-the-scenes worker who wants to see how (gulp) close it is to starting!

In addition to opening day ceremonies, the market this year will be honoring long time Kiwanis, Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market and Community Volunteer Vera Harper with a bench dedication in the flag plaza at South Marina Park, next to the market.  Vera will be missed by all who knew her.

According to the good folks who run the market:

Local farmer’s crops have been growing all spring and the first harvests are just around the corner. The market board of directors and staff has been busy over the winter.

We have obtained our own 501C4 federal charitable status and are partnering with many organizations including the City of Des Moines, Des Moines Rotary Club and Des Moines Legacy Foundation.

We wish thank our many sponsors including:

• Des Moines Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Kaplan
• Sunnie View Inc
• Brothers Carpet Cleaning & More
• Highline College Foundation
• Judson Park Retirement
• Print Place
• Snure Law Offices
• Vitality Chiropractic
• The Waterland Blog
• Auntie Irene’s
• Balloon Wizards/Babycakes NW
• Char Schulz, State Farm
• Des Moines Drug & Hallmark
• Down & Out Demolition
• Eagle Fitness
• Edward Jones, Mike Wilcox
• Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church
• Russell & Associates
• Salon Michelle
• United Methodist Church,
• Precision Builders
• Zenith Holland
• Patrice Thorell

Our market would not be possible without their support, make sure to support them!

Many vendors are returning including:

• Polish food
• Thai food
• Honey
• Goat cheese
• Alvarez Organic
• Cha New Life Garden
• Collins Family Orchards
• Sidhu Berries

New vendors appearing throughout the season include:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Pork
• Smoked salmon
• Ice cream
• Baked goods
• Unique crafts

Mark your calendars with these special market dates:

• June 5th-Opening Day
• July 24th-Local Business Showcase
• July 31st- Elder Care & Safety
• August 14th-Health & Fitness
• September 11th-Kids Day
• September 25th-Local Business Showcase
• October 30th-Chili Cook-Off

Entertainment for many of the market days will be:

• Salt Water Saints, 1st Saturday of the month, June-September
• Charlie Spring, 2nd Saturday of the month, June-October
• JD Hobson 3rd Saturday of the month, June-September

Be sure to look for The Waterland Blog’s booth at the market, because we’ll be “blogging live” most days – we look forward to seeing you there!

If yo’re interested in performing at the market or having a booth at the Local Business Showcase days, please email market@dmfm.org.

The deadline for Artists to submit artwork for the 2010 Des Moines Farmers Market poster is this Friday, March 26th.

This is a great opportunity to have your artwork showcased on a widely-distributed poster that will advertise this great weekly local event. The poster will be displayed from May to Mid-October of this year.

The deadline for entries is this Friday, March 26th at 5pm.

Entries must include elements of:

• Farmer’s Market
• Agricultural
• Des Moines
• Marina
• Or other related theme to the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market

Here are the details:

WHAT: Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market seeking Artists to submit art for their 2010 poster; artists age can range from Kindergarten to College.

WHEN: Deadline for submission is 5pm, Friday, March 26th.

WHERE: Submit artwork, along with completed form (download & complete Word .doc here) to:

Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
P.O. Box 98843
Des Moines, WA 98198

INFO: From a flier:

Be part of the Waterland community and see your artwork represented on the poster that advertises the successful, marina-located farmers market!

Open to those who live or go to school in the Des Moines area.

Posters will be displayed from mid May-October 2010

Class project or individual entries accepted.

Please relate artwork theme to the farmers market, agriculture, marina location, Des Moines or similar subject matter.

A form must be attached to each piece of artwork submitted.

Multiple entries can be picked up at one location by contacting Debra at 2010dmfmposter@earthlink.net 24 hours prior to deadline.

For more information, check out the Des Moines Farmers Market website here.

(In consideration for the privilege to distribute the attached materials, the Highline School District shall be held harmless from any cause of action, claim or petition filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials, including all costs, attorney’s fees, and judgments or awards.)

The Des Moines Farmers Market is seeking Artists to submit artwork for the 2010 Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market poster, which will be displayed from May to Mid-October of this year.

This is a great opportunity to have your artwork showcased on a widely-distributed poster that will advertise this great weekly event.

Please note that the deadline for entries is 5pm March 26th.

Entries must include elements of:

• Farmer’s Market
• Agricultural
• Des Moines
• Marina
• Or other related theme to the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market

Here are the details:

WHAT: Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market seeking Artists to submit art for their 2010 poster

WHEN: Deadline for submission is 5pm March 26th.

WHERE: Submit artwork, along with completed form (download & complete Word .doc here) to:

Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market
P.O. Box 98843
Des Moines, WA 98198

INFO: From a flier:

Be part of the Waterland community and see your artwork represented on our poster that advertises the successful marina-located Farmers Market!

Open to those that live or go to school in the Des Moines area.

Posters will be displayed from mid May-October 2010.

Class project or individual entries accepted.

Multiple entries can be picked up at one location by contacting Debra at 2010dmfmposter@earthlink.net 24 hours prior to deadline.

For more information, check out the Des Moines Farmers Market website here.

The annual Chili Cookoff was held at the final Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 31st, where fun (and good eats) was enjoyed by hundreds, and over $1,000 was raised for the Des Moines Food Bank!

Here are the official results of the cookoff:

1. Team Nutting – Down and Out Demolition (market sponsor)
2. Hot Pepper Mamas – Des Moines Rotary
3. SOS – Save Our Swimming
4. Peoples Choice: Dave Markwell – 10th Ave Chili Dogs

• Within one point of winners: South King County Fire and Rescue

Oddly, The Waterland Blog’s special “Great Pumpkin” chili failed to impress enough, but that’s okay, because we’ll be back next year!

Oh, and on that note, be sure to look soon for our next political blockbuster story sure to raise the cockles of everyone: “Was the Chili Cookoff Judging Rigged?” which will be published tomorrow.

According to DMFM’s Debra Jackaon:

In my opinion…..Pumpkin Chili and Lavender Chili were great…but that’s just me!

Over $1,000 was collected for the Des Moines Food Bank with $119.00 of that coming from bribes to the judges (which had no effect on the outcome).

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the event by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Come on down to South Marina Park this Saturday (Oct. 31st) from 10am-2pm to shop the very final Des Moines Farmers Market of the 2009 Season. All the city council candidates will be on hand to judge the third annual chili cookoff.

Just bring a canned or bagged non-perishable food donation for the Des Moines Food Bank, or $3 to sample the nine competing teams’ chili.

And be sure to vote for team WaterlandBlog’s chili…errr, your favorite chili, for the People’s Choice Award (we’ll be taking pics so be sure to wear a costume just for fun – maybe you’ll get on the blog!).

It’s sure not too early to think about buying the talented crafter’s wares for holiday gifts. Check out Greg Fox’s handcrafted and uniquely carved wood products. We especially like the pens and bottle stoppers. Or the basket lady’s colorful baskets. Then there’s soaps and jewelry, all handcrafted for unique gifts for your friends and family. And all-natural honey makes perfect little stocking stuffers.

And it’s not too late to bake a pie or two with fruits from one of our many fruit vendors. And how about taking a bouquet of flowers or two to your Halloween events later that night? Stock up your freezer with organic meats…the shopping opportunities are endless at the market.

Share a crisp late fall afternoon with your friends and family at the market. We sure feel like we’re going to miss our new friends that we’ve made this season. There’s the bird lady…the kids at our neighboring Kiawanis tent…the gals serving up hot and cold drinks from the latte stand, the European and Chinese eateries…and of course Rikki the market manager, Debra her able-bodied assistant and Wayne Corey, DMFM board president, who seems to always have a story or two for us.

We’ll see you all down at the Chili cookoff stand, and again next year, starting in June. Well, hey, that’s only seven months away. But until then keep on reading www.waterlandblog.com for all your local news, arts, events, politics, entertainment and more.

The Des Moines Garden Club has installed a Blue Star Memorial Marker in honor of all veterans with the help of Anette Chameke, John Blackburn, Phil Grader, and Dave McGinnis or the Des Moines Park and Recreation and Scott Willekins of the Marina.

The memorial will be dedicated this Saturday, Oct. 31st at 10:30 am at the South Marina Park (near where the final Farmers Market & Chili Cookoff will be taking place).

The memorial honors all the men and women of the Armed Forces.

The Blue Star Memorial Marker Program of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. began in 1945. The name was chosen for the star on flags displayed in homes and businesses denoting a family member serving in the Armed Forces during WW11.  The memorial has since come to honor all service men and women.  The Blue Star Memorial Program grew to extend across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.

The Des Moines Garden Club proudly presents this marker to all the veterans of Des Moines.

At least nine gourmets chefs teams will face off at the third annual Halloween Chili Cookoff at Saturday’s final Farmers Market at South Marina Park, but there’s room for one more entrant.

If you’re interested in joining in the chili-cooking fun, the fee is just $30 and you can download an application here.

The chili cookoff cooking begins at 8:30am, with judging at 11am and tasting beginning at Noon on Saturday, Oct. 31st. Each team is required to provide four gallons of chili for judging and eating.

Tasters are asked to bring non-perishable food donation(s) or a $3.00 cash donation (all proceeds will go to the Des Moines Food Bank). Costumes are encouraged, and there will also be a “Giant Pumpkin Guess” contest.

A record number of entries have been rounded up by your Des Moines Farmers Market personnel and volunteers. DMFM Board President Wayne Corey and event organizer Debra Jackson even guilted, err, encouraged your intrepid Waterland Bloggers to sign up for the ‘pole’ position of this year’s event.

This year’s Chili Cookoff Teams will include:

1. Waterland Blog: Team Captain, Janet Grella
2. Spicy Frogs: Team Captain, Kim Richmond
3. DM Rotary Team 1: Team Captain, Brian Snure
4. DM Rotary Team 2: Team Captain, Lisa Meinecke
5. Team Nutting: Team Captain, Yvonne Nutting
6. 10th Avenue Chili Dogs: Team Captain: Dave Markwell (defending champ)
7. South King County Fire and Rescue Team,  Captain: Assistant Chief Ed Plumlee
8. Chris Kennon & Team
9. Team SOS! (Save our Swimming) Team Captain: Nancy Kuehnoel
10. ??????? it’s not too late to sign up!!!

Prizes are First Place, Second Place, Third Place and People’s Choice.

City Council candidates running for election and re-election have stepped up to judge the gourmet delights from the teams.  Judges include:

• Melissa Ponder, candidate
• Matt Pina, candidate
• Dave Kaplan, re-election
• Anne Farmer, candidate
• Lelant Scott, husband of Carmen Scott, re-election
• Melissa Musser, candidate
• Del Rivero, DMFM Board Member

We understand that bribing an elected, or soon to be elected official by teams is not legal during this contest.

All proceeds of the event will benefit the Des Moines Food Bank.

Executive Chef Freddie Detore II of Emerald Cove Catering will be the “chief chef”at this year’s event. He’s the person that makes sure that temperature of the food is up and that clean cooking practices are being used, etc.

“This satisfies the health department for events like these as they are certified food handlers,” said Debra Jackson, event organizer. “We always have a  local restaurant chef as the official. This year we asked Emerald Cove Catering because they were the ones that supplied our box dinners for the Wednesday night market/concert series. We always try to support our vendors when the opportunity presents itself.”

The brand spankin’ new Des Moines Legacy Foundation 2010 Calendar is hot off the presses, and is will be available for purchase beginning at the Farmers Market (10am-2pm) at South Marina Park, as well as stores and locations around town for JUST $5.

You read that right folks – you can own a locally-created, sponsored and produced 2010 calendar featuring beautiful photos of your Waterland City for JUST $5. And it all goes to a great cause – the Des Moines Legacy Foundation.

The calendar was printed at the graphics department at Highline Community College, and Legacy Board Member Carmen Scott donated her time and photographs to create this calendar and as a fundraiser. Many community organizations and businesses are sponsors of individual months, and have contributed generously to its content.

This gorgeous calendar will raise fund for the Legacy Foundation, whose mission statement is:

Every day our lives are enriched by the work of parks, recreation and senior services. Preserving our environment, giving dignity to our elderly, nurturing our children, providing activities that enrich and strengthen our community, these are all important values in Des Moines. The Des Moines Legacy Foundation was created in October 1999 to help and support the City of Des Moines parks, recreation, and senior services programs and ensure that Des Moines remains a beautiful, healthy, safe and caring place to raise our children and enjoy retirement.

The Des Moines Legacy Foundation is a not for profit, tax exempt, 501c3 foundation. As a non-profit organization, the foundation is able to write grants, fundraise & distribute funds for park, recreation, and senior programs and services that benefit and enhance the Des Moines community.

Through parks, recreation, and senior services, YOU can make a difference.

Each month has a different sponsor and theme. For example, January 2010 (seen above) is the Des Moines Police Department month, and focuses on their  Disaster Preparedness “PREPARE IN A YEAR” tasks, a new one each month, so that at the end of the year everyone will have had an opportunity to know what to do in any disaster (if you want to know more about this public awareness program, Officer Korey Batterman can be reached at 870-7617).

The calendars are just $5 each, and will also be for sale through many of the sponsors, as well as at the Senior Center and at the Fieldhouse.

The sponsors are:

• Jan 2010 Des Moines Police
• Feb 2010 Bjorneby’s
• Mar 2010 Des Moines Rotary
• Apr 2010 Furney’s Nursery
• May 2010 Des Moines Yacht Club
• June 2010 Des Moines Farmer’s Market
• July 2010 Des Moines Marina
• Aug 2010 South King Fire & Rescue
• Sept 2010 Highline Community College
• Oct 2010 Des Moines Food Bank
• Nov 2010 Marine View Florist & Salon Michelle
• Dec 2010 Des Moines Drugs
• Jan 2011 Des Moines Legacy Foundation

Here’s the back cover:

The seven candidates running for the Des Moines City Council’s four seats have been asked by the Des Moines Waterland Farmers Market to be judges in the third annual Chili Cookoff, which will take place Saturday, Oct. 31st at the market.

The Cookoff will take run from Noon to 2pm, on the last day of the market for the season.

Accepting to date are:

• Melissa Ponder
• Matt Pina
• Dave Kaplan
• Anne Farmer
• Carmen Scott

This event is sponsored by both the Legacy Foundation and the Des Moines Rotary, and all proceeds after expenses will benefit the Des Moines Food Bank.

There’s still time for contestants to sign up (click here for a PDF application), and shoppers who come in costume that day will also receive a treat!

A few Saturdays ago your intrepid Waterland Bloggers were innocently sitting in our booth at the Famers Market, when Debra Jackson, assistant market manager, dropped off THE CHALLENGE.

Da dum, da dum, da dum… (or for all you Swedish Chefs out there: Bor-bork, bor-bork, bor-bork…)

We’re talking of course about the dreaded Chili Challenge, the one that nobody can refuse, and the one that requires your team to actually cook Chili for the Farmers Market Chili Cook-Off coming Halloween day, Oct. 31st.

This past Saturday, The Waterland Blog not only accepted their challenge, but we were the first to actually pay the $30 entry fee!

We have it on good authority that there’s others in the Waterland Community that will be challenged. According to Wayne Corey, president of the DMFM board, there’s some teams from Rotary and others who’ve said they’re on, but nobody’s in until they pay. There’s only room for 10 teams,

Like a six-gilled shark swimming off the Marina, Debra has a bead on various Des Moines organizations and individuals to issue the cookoff challenge. Hide, we tell you hide. Especially if you’re with the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Lions, the Odd Fellows, the Yacht Club, or local churches.

She’ll find you.

Believe us, she’ll find you!

The Des Moines Food Bank needs your help. To sign up before you receive THE CHALLENGE click here for our previous coverage, or here to download the registration PDF.

DMFM has room for just 10 teams…so sign up now. Help the Food Bank, have some fun…and vote for The Waterland Blog team!

Bork Bork Bork!

Be sure to bring the kids on down to the Des Moines Farmers Market Saturday (Sept. 12th), where you’ll find lots of great foods, crafts, as well as lots of firefighters…because it’s Safety Day!

This annual market event helps to promote safety for not only kids going back to school but for the community as a whole. South King Fire & Rescue will be there with an engine, aid car and public education staff to talk to kids about safety issues.

Wayne Corey and Don Harper, co-directors of Elder Watch will be manning a booth to promote safety among the elderly, including selling emergency preparedness kits to raise funds for senior center events as well as give kits free to low income senior citizens that qualify. They will also be introducing a new program they call “In-Home Watch” for seniors living alone.

Plus your intrepid Waterland Bloggers will be on hand to blog about Safety Day, so stop by our “Des Moines Headquarters” for some mini-donuts and a chat.

We promise it’ll be safe.

It’s the last weekend in August, and both the salmon and the Des Moines Farmers Market are jumpin’.

The apples and tomatoes continue to arrive. Krissy & Eva are performing in the entertainment tent, and you’ll find your intrepid Waterland Bloggers on hand to blog about the haps at the market and show you how we do what we do.

Stop by and say hi, share some mini doughnuts and local news.

At the market, you never know who you’ll meet – see you there!

If you thought this summer has been hot, just wait ’til Saturday, Oct. 31st when the 3rd annual Chili Cook-Off happens at the Des Moines Farmers Market from Noon-2pm!

The Farmers Market is currently seeking sponsors, contestants (teams and individuals) and tasters for Halloween day chili cook-off.

Entry fee is $30, and the tasting fee is $3. Proceeds benefits the Des Moines Food Bank.

Visit the market information booth on any Saturday from 10am-2pm or go to www.DMFM.org for details.

First 10 teams receive entry!

Here’s the flyer:

Join your friends and neighbors at the Des Moines Farmers Market this Saturday, Aug 8th from 10am to 2pm at the South Marina Park.

You never know who you will meet.

Like Mrs. Lizzy LaBelle. She is a Des Moines resident and Parkside Elementary School’s own music and orchestra teacher. Lizzy was Wednesday’s (Aug. 5th) Farmers Market entertainer.

Mrs. LaBelle brought her beautiful Celtic Harp and played soothing music for a cheerful crowd. When I asked how she got involved with the Des Moines Farmers Market she told me that she has played for other markets and fairs and wanted to play in her own town. She contacted Rikki Marhol, Market Director, and asked to perform. The rest is history.

Lizzy has been a music teacher at Parkside for about five years. She teaches music to many classrooms, from Kindergarten to 6th grade. She also conducts and instructs the very popular orchestra program for 40 students who choose to be in the program.

If you missed the chance to visit the market and see Mrs. LaBell play her harp you will have another opportunity to see her in October. Her students would be very impressed, we all sure were.

Thank you Mrs. Lizzy Labelle, for sharing your talents with the market and your community and also for helping to enrich our children’s lives with music!

It’s going to downright chilly this Saturday with a predicted high of just 85!

This means all the events that were planned in Des Moines are still going on.

Here’s a WLB roundup of ways to have fun and save money in Des Moines this weekend:

SATURDAY, AUG. 1st:

9am-2pm PET FESTIVAL:
Des Moines’ annual Pet Festival is at the Beach Park from 9am to 2pm, with lots of FREE fun for animal lovers of all kinds. There’s no cost, and there are lots of fun activities for your pets and the people, including:

• Agility and Rally Training Match
• Ice Cream Eating
• Hot Dog Bobbing
• Basic Obedience
• King and Queen
• Best Trick
• Best Costume
• Ugliest Pet
• Owner/Pet Lookalike

10am-2pm – FARMERS MARKET:
Come on down to the Farmers Market from 10-2. You can meet the WaterlandBlog staff–well most of us. Plus it’s Health and Fitness Day at the Market and Charlie Spring Music will be playing.

SHOPPING:
Shopping. Shopping. Shopping. There’s bargains galore all around Des Moines with parking lot and yard sales at Wesley Homes, the Masonic Lodge and Wesley Gardens. Details follow:

9am-3pm – 4th ANNUAL TRASH TO TREASURE SALE at The Des Moines Activity Center (at 2045 S. 216th Street):
The’ll be over 80 booths of rummage sale, crafts, furniture and more to benefit the city’s senior programs and services. Food sales hosted by Jobs Daughters. At post time the inside booths were sold out, but there’s still a few booths outside.

9am-3pm MASONIC LODGE PARKING LOT SALE:
The Masonic Lodge is having their annual parking lot sale from 9-3. The lodge is at 2208 S. 223rd St, next to the fire station.

WESLEY GARDENS YARD SALE:
Wesley Gardens is hosting a yard sale at 815 S. 216th St.

There will be FREE shuttle service from the Des Moines Farmers Market at the Marina to all the big sales. The bus will run every 15 minutes, just look for the A-board signs with the balloons to catch the bus.

Public parking is also available at Steven J. Underwood Memorial Park just behind the Des Moines Post Office on 216th Street and 20th Avenue South.

SUNDAY, AUG. 2nd:

7th ANNUAL CAR SHOW:
And finally there’s the 7th Annual Des Moines Car Show, which has moved to the Normandy Park Town Center, just a few minutes north of Des Moines at 19803 1st Ave South.

Debra and Rod Perkins, event organizers had to move it out of Des Moines this year, but it will still be the same great show!

7/29/09 2pm UPDATE: We just received word that tonight’s Farmers Market has been canceled due to the heat. So don’t go there…instead, go to Beach Park and see some FREE music!

by Janet Grella

Join your friends and neighbors Wednesday afternoon/evening (July 29th, continuing through Aug. 19th) at the Des Moines Farmers Market from 3pm – 7pm at the South Marina Park.

You never know who you’ll meet…

Like last Saturday when fellow blogger Michael Brunk and I manned the Waterland Blog booth. I met ‘the new guy’ at DMFM, who’s originally from Glasgow, Scotland and now lives in Kirkland.

His name is Gordon Craig and his business is dips…very very good dips. His business is Serindipity Artisan Dip Mixes and he sells his dips at ten local farmers markets throughout the region. Well, not really dips, but the ingredients that make dips by adding to sour cream or mayo. My fave was the Dill with a Touch of Horseradish. It’s going to be yummy with fish.

Gordon and his daughter Nicole both lost their jobs at the same time last year. He was a graphic designer and she was an accountant. After sampling some very ordinary dip ingredients, they decided to go into business manufacturing great dips.

They started Serindipity in mid-February of this year.

“Our ‘test kitchen’ was a local pub in Kirkland,” explained Gordon. “They enjoyed sampling our product and their comments helped us fine-tune our product.”

They now rent a kitchen in Kirkland that’s rated a 10 out of 10 by the King County Health Department.

As with many small businesses, Gordon wears several hats. He designed the dispensing bottles—you don’t have to worry about any double dipping at this market stand. He also designed the product packaging, the logo and their website which will launch in a few weeks. All that, and he’s a great salesman for the product.

In addition to selling at farmers markets, Serindipity has a wholesale business and also provides product for fundraisers called “Dollars from Dips.”

If you want some killer dip mix, or are interested in wholesale or fundraising opportunities, stop by Serindipity’s booth this coming Saturday at DMFM.