DFM Newsletter #15, July 3, 2020

July 3, 2020

Sat 8am-1pm / Tues 2pm-6pm (suspended)
3233 Alpine St, Dexter, MI 48130
(Vol. 1 Issue 15)

Farmers markets are an essential part of the food industry and as such, we need to follow protocols similar to grocery stores:

Please continue wear a mask!
Please only send one person from your household to shop,
wash your hands at our provided hand washing station (we also have hand sanitizer in the dispensers throughout the market).
Sadly, one of the most important messages we will be sending is: please do not linger.

We will be allowing 20 customers into the market at a time, so please come with a patient mind, in case there will be a wait. We also ask that you shop quickly to make space for the next customer.
The market is fenced and the traffic flow will be one-way running North to South. Please enter at the gate closest to the library and exit toward Main st. Don't worry, there will be plenty of signs to let you know what to do.
You will see very little product out on the tables, which will be missing any fabric decorations, but rest assured that we will have lots to sell you.
Remember that the vendor is an expert in their field. Now is a great time to ask them to pick for you! Please only touch what you will buy.

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SNAP, PEBT, Double Up Food Bucks
WIC Project Fresh and Senior Project Fresh

    Many residents have needed to sign up for food assistance benefits during the pandemic and we are happy to welcome you to the Dexter Farmers Market! Don't be shy to have us walk you through anything you need to know to get healthy food on your table, utilizing your Bridge or PEBT card, or Project Fresh coupons. (Please note: if your child(ren) qualify for free lunch at school, you should receive a PEBT card automatically. Be sure to activate it before you come to the market!)

    The DFM has secured a Double Up Food Bucks grant, which matches customers charges on their cards. For example, if you have been provided a PEBT card recently, you can come to the market and charge $30 with the market manager and receive wooden tokens that can be spent on approved items with any qualifying vendor (they will have signs on their booths indicating what forms of payment they take).
    In addition to those tokens, Double Up Food Bucks will match you $30 (for this example) for the charge you made on the EBT card. DUFB will match any amount you charge your SNAP/PEBT card (unlimited!) in $2 increment aluminum tokens. These are free of charge, but can only be spent on fresh fruits and veggies. This means your SNAP tokens can be saved for:

Fruits and vegetables;

Meat, poultry, and fish;

Dairy products;

Breads and cereals;

Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages;

Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

***

Have you ever envisioned yourself as an entrepreneur, charming people at the market? Is your vegetable bed enough to feed an army? We have an open application deadline and welcome new vendors anytime of the year. Please visit our website and fill in an application! Tell a friend!

Two Dogs Farms - perennials, annuals, veggie starts, berries, fruit, veggies, maple syrup and jellies and jams from Ray Sowers. And coming soon: Scottish Highlander grass fed Beef!!

Paper Cup Coffee Co - Isaac brings the freshest, fire-roasted coffee by the cup, whole bean and ground; plus hand-dipped chocolate cake donuts and date balls. Follow his Facebook here.

Hoppy Soaps - Stephanie fills the market with the fresh smells of bar soaps, bath bombs, shower fizzies, deodorant, lip balm, body butter, and herbal sachets. Some of these products are even made from her home-brewed beer! Follow her on Facebook here.

Shagbark Knoll - Henry has gorgeous asparagus, beans, beets, tomatoes, apples, plums, basil plants, and Zephyr squash.

NOKA Homestead - Noelle has a breath taking array of produce. From radishes to greens to potatoes, all grown with respect and care for the earth and its creatures! They have a variety of CSA boxes this year, please visit their site to sign up for their wait-list. Follow their Facebook here. Sign up for their newsletter here to hear how they can bring you fresh produce this year regardless of market open date.

Owl Hollow Bakery - Anne will have delicious pies, breads, baked goods, granola, Amaizin' popcorn, free range eggs, maple syrup, and pure Greek olive oil.

Jacob's Fresh Farm Shares - chicken and duck eggs, as well as a wide variety of veggies and fruit grown with natural methods from heritage and non-GMO seed. They have several different types of CSAs depending on your family's needs, including boxes that have bakery and coffee items included. Visit his site and get signed up today!

Hives on the Hill Apiary - Jacob also runs a great honey business. Find honey in all sizes of jars, plus he will remove your swarms!

Shoreline Wild Salmon - wild, Alaskan, hook-and-line caught salmon. King and Coho Salmon sold frozen in vacuum sealed packages. Smoked Coho Salmon sold in shelf stable jars. Marie and her dad, Mark handle the fish with the utmost care, all the way from the fishing vessels in Southeast Alaska to the farmers market in Dexter! Look for them in May, August, September and October.

MaryAnn Simpkins - one of our founding members brings produce, baked goods, sewn and crocheted housewares, soaps, eggs, honey, too much to name!

Jeff Peters - Jeff is a market staple in his 11th year at the DFM. He brings breathtaking cut flowers like Cosmos, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cockscomb, and a rainbow of lilies. He will also have leeks, storage onions, kohlrabi and tomatillos.

My Serenity, Creations by Rachel - lovely bath, body and home goods, soy candles, natural deodorants and bath bars.

Manchester Blooms Flower Farm - Amy grows beautiful bouquets, arrangements, and buckets of freshly cut, locally grown annuals. Some of the bright beauties offered include: Cosmos, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Allium, Poppies, Daisies and many other wildflowers. This year, Amy will also be offering a wide selection of herbs,edible flowers and beneficial plants. Online ordering begins in July.

Herb 'N Beans - Steve has artisan crafted coffee, tea, locally grown hemp flower and oil, and freeze-dried fruits and veggies.

Judy Welsh - charming hand cut cards, framed beach glass, driftwood art and notebooks.

Sweet and Salty Cookie Co - Jeff is back with the best cookies! Chocolate chip, double dip chocolate chip, M&M, peanut butter, snicker doodle chip, butterscotch, Special Dark, Reese's, sea salt caramel, dark chocolate pecan, maple oatmeal raisin, pecan raisin, milk chocolate raisin, molasses, caramel apple crisp, gluten-friendly chocolate chip and gluten-friendly dark chocolate pecan.

Paper Bead Elegance - Karen makes the most fascinating jewelry - from paper! Barrets and earrings; durable and gorgeous

BB's Beauty Essentials - Brittney puts a new twist on bath products. She makes body sprays and rooms sprays, plus shaving cream, sugar scrubs and foot scrubs.

Specialty Tea Products (STEAP) - Samantha has a variety of loose leaf teas and blends. Visit her website to sign up for a subscription!

Skalski Farm in Hamburg - John and Rochelle will be back this year! Their vegetable, fruit, and start plants are grown using organic methods. They will have larger, more mature vegetable, herb and flower starts sold in individual pots. Teaser: they will have strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and sweet corn!!

Ski's Sausage Co - this is Dan's first year, but he's a local from Pinckney! He offers a large variety of sausages; traditional Polish kielbasa and cheddar, jalapeno cheddar and traditional bratwurst.

Ruhlig's Produce - Janelle and Matthew come from the long time Dexter farming family, Ruhlig. After a few years off, they will be returning in July, to bring corn, beans, greens, squash, tomatoes, peppers and more!

Beakes Boys Woodwork - custom tables, lazy susans, wood epoxy clocks, live edge epoxy river tables, wood planter garden boxes, wood garden accessories.

New Vendors Added Every Week!

Upcoming Events

At this time, the DFM has canceled all music and activities. We are following Governor Whitmer's Reopening Plan. We are in Phase 4 which allows crafters to return and our coffee vendor to sell hot coffee by the cup. Still, after purchase, please proceed to a place away from the market. Please be patient and know that we are working hard to provide free entertainment and educational events to Dexter as soon as is possible. Events will resume when all threat of community spread has been addressed.

Red, White and Blue Icebox Cake:
Including Keto/low carb alternatives
    
 
  Beat the heat this holiday with this Icebox Cake with mixed berries! It is the perfect easy no bake dessert for summer.

Ingredients:
  
 2 cups heavy cream , divided 
 1/3 cup sugar.  (use powdered monkfruit sweetener for low carb / Keto version)
 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
 8 ounces cream cheese , softened to room temperature
 12 graham crackers (for low carb use Nui cookies or my Keto sugar cookie recipe)

2 1/2 cups mixture of any fresh berries, like blackberries , blueberries, raspberries and hulled and sliced strawberries, divided leaving the prettiest slices for the top


OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:
 crushed graham cracker crumbs
 chopped
nuts
 drizzle of chocolate
 powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

MAKE WHIPPED CREAM:
With a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, whip 2 cups of heavy cream until it just holds soft peaks. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whip to combine until stiff peaks hold. Do not overmix. Set aside 1/2 cup whipped cream for topping.
In a
separate large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the 3 cups of whipped cream.

ASSEMBLE THE CAKE:
Spread a thin layer of the cream mixture in a 8 x 8 pan to coat the bottom.
Place 3 graham crackers across the center of pan and then break up 1 or 2 more crackers as needed to fill in the gaps. Spread half of the cream mixture on top. Place a single layer of mixed berries.
Top with another layer of graham crackers, breaking them as needed to make them fit. Spread the remaining cream mixture over top. Add another layer of berries.
Top with the final layer of graham crackers. Spread the reserved 1/2 cup whipped cream on top.
Place the last layer of the prettiest mix of berries reserved for the top. Sprinkle on graham cracker crumbs on top.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until the graham crackers have softened completely. Serve chilled.
 