23 April 2010

Market Report April, 23

The Market’s EverGreen initiative, a goal to reduce the Market’s landfill waste by 90% over the next 3 years gets its official launch tomorrow at 11:30. Mayor Sam Adams will ceremoniously recycle a container (its like the first pitch; but for Earth Day) and then talk about the glamorous world of recycling and waste reduction. The Market’s EverGreen coordinator, Ryan McLaughlin’s (more here), Earth Day wish-list is pretty short: Slow down to make sure your recycling is being sorted properly and ask questions as they arise. EverGreen also needs volunteers, if you have ever wanted to get up early on a weekend and recycle your heart out, now is your green moment, email ryan@portlandfarmersmarket.org for more info.

Market-goers, looking for a green way to hold your greens? Country Financial, a proud Market sponsor, is helping reduce the Market’s waste and the reliance on plastic bags by distributing reusable tote bags (My Country tote bag is green, boldly declares it loves farmers markets and has hauled close to an estimated 55 pounds of Raab away from PSU). Stop by the Country booth for your own bag and test your knowledge of recycling for fun and prizes.

Cracked Pots, an organization that uses art to encourage people to creatively look at trash, will be demonstrating uses for repurposed materials. For gardening pots, this week the Potting station is hosted by Metro Master Gardener – providing, research-based education about horticulture and household pests – Stop by for advice or visit the potting shed give your garden start a new home in a portable container – soil and fertilizer provided by Whitney Farms and Portland Nursery.

The Market welcomes the visiting culinarians from IACP to the Market. Also culinarily –  this Friday the Leftbank Annex is where local bounty and culinary artistry come together to create an exceptional family-style meal to benefit The Culinary Trust. More info here. Earlier this week Black Sheep Bakery, maker of righteously good food asked Market fans to provide a name for their vegan sausage, red pepper biscuit. You can read about Black Sheep here or you can visit them in the SE corner of the Market’s new block.

Earth Day is all about activity, next week will be all about the food – the Market kicks off at 8:30 Saturday morning.