A Serendipitous Farmers Market Run
The summer season is drawing to a close. I feel the air cooling with each passing day. The light of the sun seems to get a tad bit cooler toned with each sunrise. The number of blankets on my bed has suddenly doubled. The other telltale sign is that I have turned my air conditioner off.
The changing of the seasons never ceases to amaze me. I love watching the shift of the environment and people around me. It is delightful to suddenly watch as people bring out their boots, fuzzy beanies, and fluffy coats. I also cannot deny that no matter where I am, the development of seasons, is always unique. The feeling of fall especially has a special sense of wonder to me.
Maybe this is because I see fall as a more drastic change. The summer is hot and sometimes muggy. Yet, autumn can stretch and weave itself into the end of summer. I appreciate the progression as well as when the season gets into full swing. It sometimes feels as though summer was only yesterday. Yet the changing of the leaves, darkening of the skies, and cooler temperatures always feel like the arrival of an old beloved friend.
In the days counting down to fall, my family and I visited a farmers’ market just outside of town. We had to go back and forth between Durango and Farmington that day. For reference, the drive is about an hour both ways. On the way back we made a point to stop by a local farmer’s market. They had the last items of their summer harvest for sale.
The tables were neatly stacked with varieties of squash, tomatoes, pickles, and even peaches! They also had some awesomely fun products in stock from various sellers. For instance, they offered multiple different kinds of butters. My family and I decided to try pumpkin and peach butter. The pumpkin is amazing! I really enjoy the pumpkin butter on a slice of sourdough with peanut butter. We have yet to try the peach butter! When we do, I will be sure to make a note.
Another item we invested in was some local Aztec honey with the honeycomb still inside. I love taste testing different honey types, especially local varieties. Each honey has a unique flavor that compliments different aspects of a drink or dish. One of my favorite uses for honey is in teas or coffee. I also like drizzling a bit of honey atop a parfait with granola.
We also were able to snag some bags of freshly roasted Colorado green chilis. My mom and I purchased a big box of locally grown tomatoes as well. Our day was unplanned when we first stopped by. However, as we roamed each aisle, we began to accumulate most of the ingredients for homemade salsa. Our debate did not take long. My mom and I discussed making salsa and we were off. Read on to learn about the canning process and how we made our 2022 batch of salsa!