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Customer Survey Link, Vendor Lineup & Index, Vendor Profile: Big Sister Little Sister, Pepitas Recipe
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Weekly Newsletter #31
 
 
 
 

October 23, 2020

Sat 8am-1pm / Tues 2pm-6pm suspended
3233 Alpine St, Dexter, MI 48130
(Vol. 1 Issue 31)


Customer Survey: Please fill in a customer survey at this link. Your feedback helps the city and vendors to better connect you to local food and entrepreneurs.



*****


The Dexter Summer Market Ends October 31st.
Winter Marketplace starts November 7!

    COVID has made everyone's year a little uncertain, I'm sure you'll agree, and the Dexter Winter Marketplace is no different. Anne Young, owner of Owl Hollow Bakery and Dexter Winter Marketplace manager has been hard at work behind the scenes in negotiations and preparations for her season. She is pleased to announce that their opening day will be November 7, 2020! Please expect health precautions to be observed, for announcements and updates you can follow their Facebook and check out their website.
   There are some pretty distinct and important differences between the summer market and winter market besides some of the more obvious. Yes, the market is at a different location: Dexter United Methodist Church at 7643 Huron River Dr, Dexter and there is a different market manager, but did you know that it is run and funded by a completely separate (although no doubt familiar) organization? The 5 Healthy Towns Foundation may be a name you have heard before. They are a charitable group that spear-heads farmers markets and other health related initiatives in the 5 Western Washtenaw county towns of Chelsea, Grass Lake, Stockbridge, Manchester and Dexter. Dexter is the one exception because the City of Dexter funds and organizes the summer market.
   As we prepare to change hands, we are excited to help the winter market distribute flyers announcing their market days (every other Saturday) and their vendor application. If you are interested in being a vendor at the winter market you can contact Anne at dexterwintermarket@gmail.com or Dana at farmersmarket@dextermi.gov. Or come see us at the market!



*****


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

  • Please only send one person from your household to shop,
  • wear a mask
  • wash your hands at our provided hand washing station (we also have hand sanitizer in the dispensers throughout the market).
  • 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.
  • Please only touch what you will buy. Vendors are more than happy to help you choose.


Vendors
  Below is a list of all of our vendors. Click links to go to their online shops, websites and social media.

Big Sister Little Sister - handmade crochet hats, scarves, toys, and blankets from our market manager, Dana and her sister Beth. She specializes in custom orders and sports color gear! Follow their Facebook here. *see vendor profile below!*

PetzGlitz - Artful Jewelry for Pets. Diana makes cute dog themed greeting cards and pet jewelry. Show your doggo who the bestest boi really is!

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


BB's Beauty Essentials - Brittney wants to make the world a better place through her craft. She makes body and foot sugar scrubs with a mission of using plant-based, natural ingredients and equity and inclusion for all market customers!

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!!

My Serenity, Creations by Rachel - lovely bath, body and home goods, soy candles, natural deodorants and bath bars. Follow Rachel on Facebook too!

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.

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! Follow their Facebook here. Sign up for their newsletter here to hear how they can bring you fresh produce this year!

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


Jacob's Fresh Farm Shares - chicken 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!


MaryAnn Simpkins - one of our founding members brings produce, baked goods, sewn and crocheted housewares, nuts, soaps, eggs, honey, too much to name! Please keep an eye here for her earliest harvests, there will be lettuce soon!


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.

Julie's Cookie Art - Julie has hand decorated fall-themed sugar cookies.

Carolyn Ayers
- chicken eggs and knit and sewn house goods from right here in Dexter!

Happy Introvert Studio
- framed signs, plank signs, seasonal decor, upcycled book art, shelf decor, tiered tray decor and more!

Flightless Bakery & Patisserie - croissants, kouign amann ("the most decadent pastry in Europe" made in northern France), changing seasonal homemade cereals, garlic croutons. Something different at each market!




New Vendors Added Every Week!


Vendor Profile: Big Sister Little Sister


Big Sister Little Sister is a late season vendor at the DFM. Dana and Beth, who are stepsisters, own a fiberware company out of Ann Arbor. They feature handmade crochet items from clothing to toys to home goods and make each of these pieces with thought and love in every stitch. Their main inventory includes hats, scarves, mittens, stuffed animals, shawls, blankets, bags and some very unique "nerdy" items, but they pride themselves in being able to replicate almost any knit or crocheted item.

Beth and Dana were both born and raised in Ann Arbor, and love to do arts and crafts. They met and became fast friends when their parents began dating in 1994. Luckily, the relationship worked out and now they have been stepsisters and best friends for over 20 years!! When they settled down from their wild teen years and began getting married and having children, they rediscovered crochet together and became quite prolific!!

Now they are offering their classic and quirky designs to people all over the world for purchase through their Etsy website. If you have an idea or custom order, they are more than happy to fill it! Give them any details that must be included (color, size, etc) and leave it up to them to create a beautiful and functional piece of art.

BSLS accepts cash, credit and Venmo. You can find them at the DFM in stall 11. Look out for their cozy creations at the Dexter Winter Marketplace starting November 7th.


Upcoming Events

The last market this day is October 31st. For Halloween, we will be giving away free pie pumpkins to the first 30 customers while supplies last. Wear your costume and come see us in ours, say goodbye and thank your local farmers and entrepreneurs for another amazing, if not trying season. We thank Dexter and the surrounding community for your support and can't wait for spring and to see you all again.


Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas)

Are you elbow deep in pumpkin slop and seeds? Make the most nutritious thing to come out of Halloween: Pepitas! Roasted Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc and fiber, plus so tasty!!

1. Wash the seeds.
Before you roast the seeds, you first have to separate them from their nest of gooey, pulpy fibers. For best results, do it just after you've scooped out the seeds from the pumpkin and before the pulp has dried. Put the pulp and seeds into a large bowl of water, and rub the pulp with your fingers, picking out the strings and clingy pumpkin bits.

2. Boil seeds in salted water.
Pumpkin seeds don't roast evenly — the insides tend to get done faster than the shells, and they can burn in the middle before the shells are nice and toasty. To solve this problem, simmer them first in salty water for about 10 minutes.

3. Dry the seeds.
Drain the seeds in a sieve or colander, and dry thoroughly with towels. Drying the seeds before roasting helps them bake up crunchier.

4. Oil and season to taste.
After washing, simmering, and drying the seeds, place them in a bowl and coat them with oil, melted butter, or cooking spray. Stir to coat the seeds evenly, then add sweet or savory flavorings. Try:
  • Garlic and salt (traditional)
  • Sesame oil and soy sauce (Asian style)
  • Cinnamon and sugar (sweet)
  • Chili powder and cayenne (spicy)

5. Place seeds on a baking sheet.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (this makes cleanup so much easier) and spread out the seeds in a single layer. The less the seeds overlap the crispier they'll bake up.
Tip: You can roast the seeds of any winter squash, not just pumpkin.

6. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
If you're following a particular recipe, use the roasting temperature recommended in the recipe. Otherwise, using a moderate oven temperature helps cook the seeds evenly. Roast until toasted, about 20 to 25 minutes, or as recommended in your recipe. Check on your seeds every 10 minutes, removing the baking sheet from the oven, stirring, and spreading them out again. Start testing for doneness at about 20 minutes. Let them cool a moment, then break into a few to ensure they're not burning on the inside. If they're crispy on the outside, tender and golden on the inside, your work is done.

7. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.
Season them as you like. And crunch away! Stored in an airtight container, your pumpkin seeds will keep for 1–2 months in the refrigerator, or at room temperature for up to a week.

10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds

  1. Mix pumpkin seeds into homemade granola.
  2. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over comforting squash soup.
  3. Add them to energizing trail mix.
  4. Use them to top flatbread.
  5. Press them into granola bars with oats, nuts, and honey.
  6. Blend them into a smoothie for a nutty hit of protein.
  7. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over cakes and muffins.
  8. Add a handful to salads for protein and crunch.
  9. Grind them into pesto.
  10. Fold pumpkin seeds into homemade hummus.