Wow, Sunday already, what a week. Only my second week of school, I can already feel my momentum growing and with it my enthusiasm. At first, I must admit I was very apprehensive about going back to school, getting back into that academic machine. But my classes have engaging discussions, thought-provoking readings, and many intriguing students to boot. Enough on school though, my most interesting revelations this week have been in the farmers markets!

Apples, anyone?

Each week since I arrived in Hyde Park, I’ve been shopping at the Harpers Court farmers market, getting all my beets, chard, lettuce, squash, onions, garlic, apples, pears, turnips, cukes, tomatoes, oh man the list goes on. This market, I learned, is owned through the City of Chicago and will continue until the end of October. Although this market has been here for years, I have heard rumors that it will not be there next year, when the University of Chicago is planning to build more high rises. I wonder if it will be moving, or if it will just disappear?

My friend Serena picking up some goodies. Check out the herbs and jade next to her!

I met up with my friends Serena and Pete at the market this past week. We browsed around, chatted with shoppers and vendors, and bought our fruit and veg in the late morning. It’s surprising how the market feels in the early morning (when it’s busiest) and how much that vibe changes throughout the day. One week I arrived at 1pm and there were only three vendors left, even though the market *officially* closes at two. Serena and I came back to my house, as we do most Thursdays, to make a big market salad with lettuce, cukes, tomatoes, and almond-stuffed olives (ok it’s not all from this market heheh). On the side we had some cold beet/collard greens/sweet potato salad with a mild garlic vinaigrette dressing. I used to take plenty of pictures, and I’m trying to get back into that habit.

Market salad

Yesterday I also went to the 61st Street farmers market, which is run through the Experimental Station. This is the first year for the market, and unlike the other Hyde Park market above, this one is independently owned and managed. There is also a greater focus on locally produced items, or items whose origins are significant to the product, and are apparent to the consumer.

This market had a very different feel, which was clear to me while still a block away from the market. As I walked to 61st Street, I could hear drumming in the distance, and upon arrival I saw a circle of adults and children playing drums. Of about eleven vendors, most of them were based in the Chicagoland area. Here are a few that I found very intriguing:

• Growing Power – They have been getting plenty of press lately because one of the founders recently received a genius grant. This is high on my list of places to visit and blog on!
• God’s Gang - Another city farm focused on training and education, with many projects you can check out on their website
• Windy City Harvest - This farm operates through the Botanical Garden, and is a relatively new project. Last year they started with training 16 people, some of whom stayed on for this year, and this year they have a class of 15.

My friend Courtney from the Backstory Cafe was at the market too, helping a group of kids sell caramel apples as a fundraiser. She told me that the nearby school gave each student three $1 “market money” dollars, which they could spend at the Saturday farmers market. What a cool idea! Courtney and I have been working with a group for the documentary I mentioned before. More on this later, but she introduced me to Kelly from Windy City Harvest, who might be the main character in our documentary. Kelly will call me back on Tuesday, and filming will start next week if all goes well.

Another beautiful day is beginning, and I’m going to live up the warm (in the high 70s!) weather while it lasts. My life in Hyde Park is clicking into place, I am finding my niche, and starting to feel pretty darn good.