The farmer’s markets are in full swing in Dallas County. Here is a little summary of the last two weeks as we work these events.
My name is Lauren and I am working primarily at the Adel and Waukee events to try to get kids interested in eating their vegetables. If kids are brave enough to try the samples I have, then they get a small token worth $2 to spend at the Wilson Farm Produce booth. Something I have learned about the samples thus far is that kids are more apprehensive to try a dip rather than just a plain vegetable. The first week, I offered cowboy caviar, a recipe via the SpendSmartEatSmart database, and kids were a little weary and needed some encouragement to try it. This is more of the result I was wanting. Trying to get kids to step outside their comfort zone and granted a reward because of their bravery. This past week I offered cucumbers and the results were also amazing. I gave away 25 tokens in one day at the Adel market. As I do source the vegetables through the Wilson Farm Produce LLC, I’m trying to meet in the middle and do a simple concoction such as a dip but maybe less complex as the cowboy caviar. Another reason why I want to have a simple ingredient concoction is that next week, I’ll include what happens in your body when you eat the vegetables I have to sample. This would include how the body digests vitamins and how they get utilized. I will use my dietetics educational background to try and convey this information at a 3rd grade reading level. So far these events have been a great learning experience and I’m excited to continue helping out the community. As for the Perry Farmer’s Market, I’m there just to aid Spencer in his project and hand out resources such as recipe cards, kitchen magnets, and other helpful items.
Hi, my name is Spencer Lamar and the last couple of weeks have been pretty eventful in Dallas County. Last week was a lot of preparation for my container herb gardens, printing and cutting cards as well as drilling holes in buckets and getting drainage rock and potting soil. Thursday, I had a stand at the farmers market where I polled two different chicken coop designs finding a winner in the skillion roof design. After filling my first 28 gardens I packed my car in preparation for this week where I gave out 21 container gardens at the Perry Food Pantry. Since then I made a visit to the lumberyard to further narrow down the materials and design of the coop.