Ima Blueberry will pass out blueberry samples at the July 14 Market

Cedar Mill Farmers’ Market 2007 Lineup
By Dawn Anderson

The 9th season of the Cedar Mill Farmers’ Market is shaping up to be one of the best yet! On July 7 local guitarist Bob Colwell will entertain. Don’t miss the annual Blueberry Bash on July 14 with a visit from Ima Blueberry and Greg Clarke, a Portland bluegrass favorite for many years, who will be playing his fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Mike Danner, Portland’s most famous accordion-player, provides unique entertainment on July 21. Also in July, Ursula Davis will be teaching us how to craft lavender wands. And every week there are teenage volunteers who create balloon animals and paint the faces of young market-goers.

At the market you will find a number of long-time favorite vendors. Returning produce & flower growers include Lone Elder Farms, Baird Family Orchards, DeMartini Family Farms, Duyck’s Peachy Pig Farm, Townsend Farms berries, Vanessa’s Garden cut flowers and Xiong Farm Flowers.

Back at the market again is Debbie the Olive Lady, Viva Cucina red pepper relish, Golden Orchards preserves, Brother’s W with succulent pulled pork sandwiches, the Great Harvest Bread Co., and Sweet Ole Larry’s Kettle Corn.

Debbie the Olive Lady

Among the returning artisans are La Provence french linens and bakery items; Darris Dietz Pottery functional kitchenware; Roberta Palmer concrete cast leaves; Heinrich’s Birdhouses; Two Chicks Can Do denim jackets & jewelry; and the Forest Grove Soap Co. (who will also have several varieties of organic garlic in July).

New vendors include Galin-Flory Farms with their exceptionally fine blueberries, eggs, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, plums, and apples; Kathy Kushman Jewels handcrafted jewelry; Pacific Flames soy candles; Color Unlimited Stained Glass; Orox Leather sandals (with recycled tire soles). Licensed massage therapist Lazette will offer posture analysis and chair massages. In the late summer, we expect to have Bizens Nursery with mums and fall pansies.

The wonderful folks from Storybook Hill Nursery are retiring and have been kind enough to find a highly recommended nursery vendor replacement, to be starting up in July. John and Carla Stables own both CJD Gardens, their nursery business with annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, ground covers, and Alpen Gardens, their dahlia business—later in the summer, we’ll see a beautiful sampling from their acres and acres of dahlias.

In addition to the vendors, community groups find the market a great place to spread the word on their activities. OSU Extension’s Master Gardeners are on hand to help you with gardening questions. On June 23rd, the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition fitted many bicyclists with free helmets and safety-inspected several bicycles. Rather than keeping up this free service every week throughout the 2007 Market season, BTC volunteers plan to offer another Bicycle Safety Day at the Market in August.

Teen volunteers keep kids happy at the market

The Cedar Mill Farmers’ Market is a member of the Oregon Farmers’ Market Association (OFMA). OFMA helps markets maintain connections with Oregon’s Department of Human Services to help administer the Farm Direct Nutrition Programs for WIC and Seniors. Through these programs, produce farmers accept Farm Direct checks so that nutritionally-needy Senior and Women-Infant-Children clients have direct access to wholesome locally-grown produce.

The market is open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm, just west of Murray on NW Cornell Road. For more information see cmfmarket.org or call Dina, market manager, at 503-913-7733.

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