From email announcement:

3rd Tuesday Jam
Our cat has abandoned the kitchen floor for our bed once more as our most reliable indicator that the seasons are changing. Fiddling and plucking in the market tells us its the 3rd Tuesday of the month and the sudden hush of students of all ages as the reality strikes that bells will call them back to class. These are the signs of autumn on my mind…

So start thinking stocks, and soups and stews. Creamy vegetable bisques with cheese and toasted breads. Late tomato bruschetti and light fresh sauces over sauteed, steamed or roasted fresh veggies of almost any kind you like. Savor the last weeks of summer and the illusion of freedom and carefreeness – let your foods embody what’s good and nostalgic, what good and coming soon.

This week, we bid farewell to Almadina and welcome Ettamae’s Oven. It’s been a rough year at the market between the economy, the heat and the storms, especially for our smaller, newer entrepreneurs. I have really enjoyed seeing the end of market trading between vendors to help support each other and strengthen bonds of shared experience. Spread the word – Byrd House Market is a great community because of its people and because its got the right stuff and the right attitude!

and Don’t Forget!
Visit William Byrd Community House’s website – it pays to know just how Byrd House Market, the Grace Arents Community Garden and the Byrd House Farmlet make up the outdoor nutrition education program of WBCH’s Library – to know how these work with the daily integration of social safety net services with early childhood education and after school programs to transform lives and build self-sufficiency in everyone who comes to our agency for help and encouragement. Next year WBCH celebrates 90 years of great work in Richmond. www.WBCH.org. Learn more. Volunteer. Support. Thanks! (See Richmond UNITE notice below)

Who’s Your Favorite Farmers Market?
Voting is still on for the 2012 America’s Favorite Famers Market contest at VaGrown. Click the button at byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com. AND at VaGrown here are two more marketing resources: Official Virginia Farmers’ Market Week Proclamation (last week, but nice for your “wall”) and Grow Virginia’s Economy: Take the $10 a Week Challenge (ongoing)

Farmers and Foodies on Facebook!
Our vendors are talking, sharing photos and showing off their great stuff on Facebook! Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=nf

MORE Save-the-Dates:
2012 Hans S. Falck Lecture on Social Responsibility will be Thursday, October 4th at St. Andrew’s School. THEME – Eradication of Poverty: Utopia or Reality? The Intersection between Housing, Livelihood and Transportation.hanssfalcklectures.blogspot.com
National Food Day (Oct.24) is October 23rd at Byrd House Market! www.foodday.org. We’ll have a chiropractor, VCU Wellness Department, a scavenger hunt and more.

Raffles
A $1 raffle ticket gets you a shot at $33.83 in Byrd Farm goodies and supports Byrd House Market! Every week all season long! We have had a happy winner every week – it’s a great deal and your pantry will love you for it.
and Massage????
For every $10 you spend at the featured vendor of the week, you get 1 minute of chair massage with Robin Raver! Different vendor every week! Check the chalkboard for this week’s vendor. (Last week Robin tore into the boulders in my neck and shoulder blade muscles so hard she made me wish I could cry in front of everyone. She said “you may not like me now, but in a couple days I will be your goddess! Lucky for us both as soon as I stood up I wanted to fall to my knees and a week later the boulders are pebbles and I can turn my head!) So since you’re going to spend $20-30 anyway, go get a massage. Or not. I’m just sayin…

Grants for Agricultural Producers
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today invited agricultural producers to apply for grants to increase the value of their products.
“Producers can greatly enhance the bottom line of their businesses and improve their economic prospects when they improve the value of their products, thus expanding their markets and customer base,” Vilsack said. “The Value Added Producer Grant program (VAPG) has a proven track record of doing just that and I am pleased to announce that we are inviting producers to apply for these grants by the deadline. The funds in this program enable America’s farmers, ranchers and rural business owners to find ways to expand their product offerings, revenue streams and create more economic opportunity by bringing additional value to what they already produce.Read more…. http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-4f4adb

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