Good morning!

Have you ever had a friend who tried to coax you into trying something?  You have got to try this restaurant, or you have to hike this trail.  You get the picture.  I’m about to do the same thing.  You really have to see Little Pitchfork Ranch!

Arthur kept telling me not only how scenic, but how incredibly mind blowing it was to see bison charging over the hill.  Last Friday I went on the tour at Todd and Roxann Pettit’s bison and elk ranch and I have to say, even though the weather was less than perfect, it was spectacular! 

The drive up, with Lazy Mountain in the background, is reason enough to take the tour.  But then once you get there you are warmly greeted by Todd and Roxann.  You can tell their heart and soul is in this ranch.  Hot coffee or tea was there to warm us up and Todd’s grandfather showed us around the many buildings that he built with the help of their hard working Percheron draft horse, Fred.  I couldn’t imagine hauling all those trees by horse and building these cabins by hand!  If you have never seen a Percheron, think of a bigger Clydesdale.  A real beauty!

Todd’s grandfather also showed us the many antique stoves, small steam engine train, farm tools, pictures, and maps that he has collected over the years.  It was a living museum full of stories. 

We all got on the back of the open truck filled with comfy hay bales and started through the fields to where Todd saw the buffalo that morning so we didn’t drive around aimlessly.  In case you are wondering bison and buffalo are one in the same.

I was surprised at how beautiful these huge animals were and awestruck at the thunderous sound of their hooves as they came running towards us.  I was glad I was in the back of the pick up!  Todd jumped out and started dispersing some treats to bring them in a little closer to us.  These bison are grass fed and allowed to roam even during the winter.  These big guys knew a good deal when they saw it and immediately started coming towards us.  The cows were with their calves and the big males were milling around.  Todd answered all our questions and told some great stories.  We then moved on to where the elk were last seen.

The elk were hiding in the trees at first, but then quickly realized Todd was there.  They moved in for the treats that Todd was putting down on the ground.  The bull elk was breathtaking!  The elk cows were very protective of their newborn calves and let the bull have first chance at the treats.  Todd explained that in just a week or so the bull elk will not be able to be approached like he was doing now.  He will be doing what bull elk were made to do and will be full mating mode.  It sounded to me like college spring break gone berserk!

We had gone way over our expected time so we slowly headed back to the ranch.  I ran out of memory on the camera back when we were still with the buffalo!  Darn.  I guess I’ll have to go back to get those elk pictures.  Everyone was chatting and kept saying over and over, “I can’t believe what we just saw.  It was amazing!”

We ended the tour with a little more hot coffee or tea and some local strawberries that Arthur brought.  Todd answered any questions that we didn’t think of when we were out in the field.  I think we were all dumbfounded with amazement over these prehistoric looking creatures. 

Even though it was a little cool and damp, Todd and his family made you feel warm and invited.  It will be a day I’ll never forget.

If you would like to see some pictures, please go to Glacier Valley Farm’s Facebook page.  Here is a link:  http://tinyurl.com/29rgvfo Scroll down a bit for the buffalo video and pictures.  More pictures are coming soon so become a friend!  That way you’ll know when those new pictures are posted.

If you would like to take the tour, just send an email to:  . 

Let’s see what is going on at the market this Saturday!

Eagle River Farmers’ Market on Saturday will have Glacier Valley Farm, Arctic Choice Seafoods, and other vendors from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm located outside of Mike’s Meats. 

Glacier Valley Farm will have beautiful zucchini, tomatoes, crisp English cucumbers, tender lettuces and big, sweet, strawberries!  If people would like to know what is going on at Arthur’s farm he has a Facebook page.  Here is the link:  Glacier Valley Farm Facebook page

Arctic Choice will have a great selection of fresh Alaskan seafood.  Fresh King and Silver Salmon, Sablefish (Black Cod) and Halibut fillets for the BBQ. Also fresh SideStripe Shrimp, Cod & Rockfish fillets will be there along with large Spot Shrimp, Razor Clam meats, Halibut Cheeks, Scallops and always a favorite King Crab, along with other seafood treats. 

For the Anchorage South Side Farmers’ Market:

PRODUCE

VanderWeele Farms has a great variety of lettuce including Red Oak, Bibb, Lollo Rosso, green and red leaf, and Red and Green Romaine.  Radishes and cabbage will also be there along with their famous potatoes.

Glacier Valley Farm will have beautiful zucchini, red, ripe tomatoes, crisp English cucumbers, tender lettuces and big, sweet, strawberries!  If people would like to know what is going on at Arthur’s farm he has a Facebook page.  Here is the link:  Glacier Valley Farm Facebook page

Stockwell Farms will have a wide variety of greens including baby bok choy, kale, Asian kale and other greens, chard, new potatoes, and homemade relishes.

Rempel Family Farm will have certified organic new potatoes, carrots, green onions, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, a few pickling cucumbers and sugar snap peas, squash flowers, kohlrabi, red and green cabbage, sweet slicing cucumbers, and a score or more greens and herbs, not to mention the Original Snow Apple turnips.

Wolverine Farm will have their delicious tender peas!

Earthworks Farm will be there with a great assortment of lettuces and greens. 

Northern Lights Mushrooms will be there with their beautiful oyster mushrooms. 

FFA (Future Farmers of America) will have spruce tips, rose hips, local duck eggs, and nettle tea.  Nettle tea is incredibly good for you and they have mixed it with peppermint so it tastes nice and refreshing.


BAKERY AND FOOD

Rise & Shine Bakery will be bringing their 100% whole grain SPENT GRAIN pan loaves to the market this week—bursting with good flavor, nutrition and moist texture from the barley used in Midnight Sun Brewery’s beer-making process. The other 100% whole grain pan loaf will be GOLDEN MAIZE, with fresh-ground cornmeal and a hint of honey.

Dan & Alison’s savory hearth loaves this week will be the KALAMATA OLIVE bread, which Dan loves best of all the breads for sandwiches—never mind that the mayonnaise sometimes leaks out of the olive holes. The other savory loaf will be the CHEESE & GARLIC bread, which is always fun—especially reheated, or toasted, slice by slice—it’s like a toasted cheese garlic bread!

Rise & Shine is also baking the ever-popular FRUITED ALMOND hearth loaves this week, packed with dried apricots, cranberries, golden raisins, and toasted almonds. It makes great breakfast toast, snacks with tea, or slices to share with folks at work or on your camping trip!

Mary Jane will be bringing baked goods from French Oven Bakery.  Huge loaves of marble rye, cheddar, jalapeno cheddar, white, and wheat and white sourdough.  Lots of pastries including palmiers, macaroons, and those tempting cinnamon rolls.

Arctic Choice has a great selection of fresh Alaskan seafood.  Fresh King and Silver Salmon, Sablefish (Black Cod) and Halibut fillets for the BBQ. Also fresh SideStripe Shrimp, Cod & Rockfish fillets will be there along with large Spot Shrimp, Razor Clam meats, Halibut Cheeks, Scallops and always a favorite King Crab, along with other seafood treats. 

Matanuska Creamery will have something new-mozzerella cheese!  Lots of ice cream as well.  They will also have Alaska Grown hoodies and t-shirts.  Check out some of their cute notepads that they will bring.  All of their products are made from hormone free, grass fed cows. 

Nonessentials has Alaskan honey, barbecue sauce from Apple Branch Pantry and balsamic vinegars made with local fruit such as ligonberry!  Also check out their fresh roasted coffee by Coffee Roastery.  Check to see if they have their tasty salmon wraps!

Northfork Jams & Jellies will the Blueberry Rhubarb, Jalapeno Peach and other great flavor combinations.  She will also have heirloom tomato plants that are perfect for your deck.

Three Bears will be bringing their jams and jellies as well.  A wide variety made with local fruit at terrific prices.

Fat Boyz Ribz will be there grilling up their delicious ribs and hot dogs.  Great cole slaw too!  Just follow your nose!

PLANTS

Country Garden Farms will also be there with their direct from the field sod. Great prices too!

Gray Owl Farm still has many perennials that they will bring to market including Johnson’s Blue Geranium, Ligularia, Asiatic Lilies, Hosta, Penstemmon, Perennial grasses and Cerastium.  They have a large variety of houseplants and tropicals to choose from including a rainbow of colors in Coleus, Pink Philodendron, Ferns, Red Banana Plants, Scented Geraniums, Hawaiian Ti Plants and New Zealand Flax (Phormiums).  They have locally grown Nugget Bluegrass Seed in 2# bags available and offer free estimates on Delivery and Placement of their pure Nugget Bluegrass Sod.  Stop by and pick up a card to plan an appointment for a free estimate for “Instant Grassification.” Can’t we all just get a Lawn?  The garden is producing and they will offer
Kohlrabi, Beets, Napa Cabbage, tender Mustard Greens, Arugula, Spinach, Bunching Onions (Scallions), and from the greenhouse their “so sweet” European Cucumbers and crunchy Pickling Cucumbers as well as a variety of herbs. 

MILE 5.2 Greenhouse will have their great selection of plants, plant starts and tropicals as well.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Farm Bureau Farm Tour.  The tour is July 31st and space is limited.  It is an absolutely fabulous tour.  The tour will be visiting five different farms, be served an all Alaskan Grown lunch, be served sweet rolls and coffee on the bus and everyone will receive a Farm Bureau t-shirt, one with the special “Grown Here Not Flown Here” graphic.  To register for the tour contact Patricia O’Neil at .  You really don’t want to miss this tour and I’m not just saying this because lunch is at Carol Kenley’s house.  I just know that everyone who went last year loved it and it will be even better this year. 

For more information about the market, contact Nancy Lampman, South Anchorage Farmers’ Market, at 907-529.7630, or .

Cheers! And see you at the market!
Nancy Lampman
South Anchorage Farmers’ Market Reporter

Would you like to see some videos about the vendors and farmers who sell their produce at the South Anchorage Farmers’ Market? Check us out!
Chef Delicious Dave at the South Anchorage Farmer’s Market Anchorage chef Dave Thorne describes what to look for when shopping for local produce.



VanderWeele Carrot HarvestRoger VanderWeele of VanderWeele Farm talks about carrot production.

Rise & Shine Bakery: Owners Alison Arians & Dan Schwartz bake their whole-grain sourdough bread in the small commercial kitchen attached to their house on Anchorage’s lower Hillside.



Transplanting Lettuce at Vanderweele Farms: Vanderweele Farms employee Teresa Reel talks about getting plants in the ground during the spring planting near Palmer, Alaska in May 2009.



Strawberries: Arthur Keyes of Glacier Valley Farm talks about his experiment growing California strawberry varieties on his Palmer, Alaska farm.



Harvesting Corn at Glacier Valley Farm: Alaska farmer Arthur Keyes talks about growing and harvesting, corn in Alaska.



Onions from Stockwell Farm: Vern Stockwell perfected the art of growing onions in Alaska.