Sierra Vista Farmers Market Vendor Update for 7-22-2021 – –

A Day in the Life Of – The Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market

A Day in the Life Of – The Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market

By Uncle Ralph (Wildermuth) 21 July 2021
Tomorrow the Farmers’ Market opens at 10AM and closes at 2PM.

Many of you have come to love our Farmers’ Market here in Veteran’s Park, but I’m sure most of you know that we are more than just a “farmers” market.
Merriam Webster defines a “farmer’s market”, a phrase coined in 1905, as, “a market at which local farmers sell their agricultural products directly to consumers”. A walkthrough of our market quickly shows that we not only have agricultural products, but also a wide array of other products and crafts. Our market is a fundamental aspect of the urban – rural interface. Our market allows farmers and consumers an arena to develop relationships of trust and loyalty. It produces personal connections and bonds of mutual interest.

I like to think of our market as similar to what is known as a European market, in that we do sell fruits, vegetables, and plants straight from the farm, but we also offer more. We offer a unique ambiance and a reputation that includes meats, dairy, eggs, nuts, honey, baked goods, snacks, prepared foods, handcrafted jewelry and pottery, clothing, soaps, other arts and more. We even have music and our market is leashed dog friendly, just like in Europe.
Having said that, I want to take a minute and talk about a couple of the crafts I just mentioned: handcrafted jewelry and pottery.

Researchers believe that pottery, objects formed into different shapes for different purposes using clay, is the first synthetic material ever created by humans. The pottery was dried and either fired or baked to produce the desired result. These findings are based on the earliest recorded evidence of some experimentation with clay, some 30,000 years ago at a place known as Dolni Vestonice in the Czech Republic. The clay pieces were made from clay mixed with crushed mammoth bone.

At Odai Yamamoto, in Japan, an archeological dig uncovered the first evidence of pottery manufacture dated to around 16,500-14,920 BC. The earliest pottery was likely produced using an open-fire technique even though this method probably only produced a temperature range of between 1112 to1652 degrees Fahrenheit. Relatively low temperatures on the pottery scale.

It is believed that pottery in North America began with the Native Asian hunter-gather tribes that crossed the land bridge in the Bering Strait from Asia some 25,000 years ago. The earliest Native American pottery appeared about 4,000 BCE. While the most widely known pottery drives from the Southwest Native tribes of the Pueblo and Navajo, the oldest Native American pottery was found on Stalling Island near Augusta, Georgia, dating back to some 4,800 years ago.
Most Native Americans were nomadic in nature until about 2,000 years ago. Agricultural beginnings caused some of the Native Americans to settle down. This led to the necessity of pottery for gathering water, storing grains and liquids, and preserving seeds for next year’s crops. Pottery was not a staple item for nomadic tribes as it was too fragile and didn’t survive the constant traveling.

The craft culminated in the development of cooking pots that were made to sit on rocks in open fires, water jars with indented bases so they could sit comfortably on the heads of water gatherers, and large storage vessels for grains and water. Indian villages all over the United States became known for their different pot shapes and decorative styles. As time progressed regional tribal groups developed their pottery traditions in a variety of ways.

Between 1000 and 1400 AD, a large group of Apache people moved south from Canada. The large group separated into smaller groups and settled in the Four Corners area of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. These groups became the Navajo Nation, Chiricahua Apache, Mescalero Apache, Jicarilla Apache, and the Plains Apache. Together, the Navajo and Apache are referred to as Apacheans. These tribes were linguistically, archaeologically, and historically members of ancient hunting-and-gathering cultures. The most widely accepted origin theory suggests the term “Apache” was borrowed and transliterated from the Zuni word ʔa·paču meaning “Navajos” (the plural paču means “Navajo”).

Unlike the rest of America, Southwestern Indian culture has changed little over the centuries. The Southwest also holds the oldest continuous record of habitation on the continent, outside of Mexico. Three additional primary southwestern Native American cultures formed during the “Christian era”: Hohokam, Mogollon, and the Pueblo. But, by the twelfth century, only the Pueblo and Navajo remained.

By the early 17th century, the Navajo had begun to engage in a relatively settled way of life, farming indigenous crops and later on incorporating new products such as sheep and cattle into their economies. The Southwestern pottery made by the Pueblo and the Navajo remains one of the greatest expressions of ceramic art in the world to this day.

Along with their skills in pottery, there is evidence as far back as 8,800 BC that early Indian ancestors shaped stones and shells into jewelry pieces by using a thin stone drill. As the Europeans were migrating to the Americas in the 1500s, they brought beads with them. Soon after Native Indian art crafters began incorporating these beads into their jewelry work. As the Spanish settled into the southwest in the 1850s, the Indians learned silversmithing from them. Before this copper had been the go-to metal for jewelry.

By the early 1900s the native Indian craftsmen were selling their silver and turquoise jewelry to the tourists who began flocking to this area. Turquoise, which represents the “sky” has long been a dominant part of southwest native American jewelry. It is called the “fallen sky stone” and is believed to have life-giving powers and is also cherished for its spiritual connection to Mother Earth. Today the Navajo are world renown for their pottery, turquoise jewelry, and their wool rugs.

At this point I would like to introduce you to one of our own here at the Farmers’ Market. If you are looking for Native American Pottery and jewelry, I can’t think of a better place to find it then right here at the Greenstone Collection Pottery and Crafts booth.

Eric Greenstone Sr. and his wife Charlatta J Francis-Greenstone (CJ), proud members of the Dine’ (Navajo Nation) are the owners of Greenstone Pottery Collection. They craft amazing Navajo pottery. Along with the pottery they have authentic Navajo jewelry handcrafted by relatives along with other Native American jewelry crafted by Zuni special friends. The jewelry is predominantly silver with precious stones inlaid.
Eric, who was working in the respiratory therapy profession, needed a past time during his time off from work and began doing pottery in 2007. When he retired from his therapy work, his pastime became his full-time employment.
Charlatta his wife, is a full-time Information Technology professional for the past 15 years, currently working for a Native American casino in Tucson, and helps her husband in a part-time capacity. In fact, Charlatta, is quite an accomplished artisan in her own right. She began her art in 2016 and not only makes beaded crafts and dream catcher designing, she has a very unique, and as yet uncopied, method on making pottery. She inlays turquoise into her pottery. She also employs a technique called “horse-hair pottery” using horse hair and ostrich feathers to adorn the pottery. This technique involves burning the hairs or feathers onto the potteries surface to create lines. As the hair or feathers touch the glowing hot pottery straight from the kiln, they sear onto the pot’s surface and leave carbon markings in the outline of the hair or feather. This leaves very distinctive patterns of resin on the surface to mix with the images that have been painted on.

Along with the pottery, Greenstone Collections features a wide array of handcrafted authentic Navajo jewelry and a smattering of Zuni jewelry made by some special friends of the family. The rest of the jewelry is expertly crafted by family members from both sides of the Greenstone’s family. Each piece of jewelry is signed or stamped with their name or initials to verify the authenticity of their work. The pottery is likewise stamped on the bottom of each piece and all of their work comes with a certificate of authenticity.

I encourage you to stop by their booth and look at the fantastic selection of crafts they have. They can also do custom work and are able to ship domestically. You can order on line at any of their websites: https://www.facebook.com/greenstonecollectionpotteryandcrafts/, https://greenstonecollection.square.site/,  or  https://eagleskyarts.square.site/

As always, many of the market vendors accept WIC Farmers Markets & Senior Farmers Markets Vouchers in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables. SNAP vouchers can also be used at some of the vendors booths. You can use your EBT card at the info booth for SNAP vouchers and Double UP tokens (unlimited amount right now).

We are looking forward to seeing you all at this coming week’s Market. For more information on all our vendors and the products they will be bringing, please see this week’s Farmers’ Market newsletter at www.sierravistafarmersmarkets.com.  Also, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sierravistafarmersmarket/.

Vendor Updates
Please see the vendor listings below with updated vendor information and the products they will be bringing.  Please keep in mind the social distancing while you shop at the market.

Market Hours: Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

SNAP and Double UP food bucks available at the info booth.

NOTE: Pick up free Herald Review newspaper at the info booth.

Music Entertainment: Simmons

BASA is a volunteer board non-profit with a mission: “to promote local, sustainable food production, marketing and education in southern Arizona.

Webpage: http://basamesquite.org/
Webblog: http://bajaaz.blogspot.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/125627894978189
Email: brownchristie1@gmail.com

Updated Vendor Listing & Contact Information

– – Vendor Grown – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Grown – – seal are known to grow at least 85% of the products they sell.
– – Vendor Brokered – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Brokered – – seal do not grow a majority of the produce they sell and are known to purchase  a majority of their products from third parties.

Produce & Plant Vendors

Allred Family Fungi – – Vendor Grown –
Oyster mushrooms and other varieties.

Backyard Gardening & Growing  – – Vendor Grown –
Onions are available. Red, white, and yellow. Cucumbers (Armenian, suyo, and lemon), beets, and turnips. Peaches and Okra.
Fresh Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables
Herb and flower plants.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown –
Edith will NOT be at the market
For more information please visit one of their links: Website
520-378-2728 or 520-678-9443

Echoing Hope Ranch – – Vendor Grown –
Variety of greens and herbs from their green house.
Kale, radishes, lettuce and more.

Horton’s Farm  – – Vendor Grown –

Garlic, onions, lettuce mix, radish, zucchini, tatsoi, red Russian kale, and beets.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Just A Pinch – – Vendor Grown –
They still have fresh-cut herbs available, but due to the pandemic still in effect, they will be limiting what they bring to farmer-selected,
pre-portioned herbs and custom orders made through phone (520-234-3254), email (justapinchllc@yahoo.com),
or in person at the market the week before!  This week’s selection of fresh harvested herbs are Strawberry Mint,
Chocolate Mint, and Italian Oregano for $1.00 per bundle!

Ruth’s Garden

Ruth and Ray will be back with a load of plants and soil. Fresh Garden Produce and Eggs and Flowers. Come visit and find fresh veggies to your liking.

The Lettuce Man’s Daughter – – Vendor Grown –
Donna will NOT be at the market this week.
Salad mix, red and green leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, and young bok choi

SAS-Z Nuts – – Vendor Grown –
Locally Grown Pistachios
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Sivonn’s Garden – – Vendor Grown –
Fresh Seasonal Garden Produce such as mushrooms, salad mix, collards.

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts – – Vendor Grown –

Seasonal Garden Plants

Triple J & R – – Vendor Grown –

“We are a family providing homegrown microgreens and sprouts. We carry a varied selection of microgreens and sprouts grown hydroponically on food safe screens using only pH balanced water and food grade nutrients for microgreen growth. If you don’t see one you like just let us know and we will grow it for you. Email us at triplej&r@arizonaremountstation.net or give us a call at (520) 266-2479. Our Website is arizonaremountstation.net.”

Meat, Milk, & Honey Vendors

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown –

Roger will NOT be at the market.
For more information please contact Roger at: 520-585-6148 or email:
circlet@juno.com for orders

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
NEW: Raw butter and Ghee..
Fresh Raw Milk, Cream, and Dairy Products and their yummy granola.
Golden Rule Dairy Special eggs will be available in July and August.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Instagram-  golden_rule_dairy
goldenruledairy@gmail.com
www.goldenruledairy.com
520-210-2857

L&B Farm
Burt will be at the market on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th , and 5th Thursday of every month.
Frozen chicken and lamb, fresh eggs

Papa Mike‘s Jerky 
Locally Made Jerky
For more information please visit one of their links: Website Facebook

San Ysidro Farm – – Vendor Grown – -,
Jackie will NOT be at the market (every first Thursday) with beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey and frozen pasties.
email jackie.syf@gmail.com
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –

– Locally Raised Range fed Criollo Beef, and Navajo Churro Lamb.
All natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, and no grain feeding.
– Wild caught sockeye salmon from Naknek Fisheries, Bristol Bay, Alaska.
– Apple or Mesquite smoked bacon from Willcox Packing House (uncured bacon, nitrite, and nitrate free), pork chorizo, and pork sausage.
– Homemade Cowboy Style Peanut butter (made with slightly-roasted organic peanuts, no salt or sugar added).

YouTube Channel (Ranching in the Right Hemisphere): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrfx3NWeUSGZ7KOnV8XL4tQ

For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook and YouTube
520-507-5203
crossu@vtc.net

Simmons Honey Ranchito 

Our many varieties of local honey will be available in one pound jars up to one gallon jugs.
520-364-2745, no text, no call id
520-368-2039 text welcome
simmonshoney1@powerc.net

Baked Goods & Snack Vendors

Designs by Copper Canyon
New: Gluten-free breads.
Delicious truffles and sweet & savory breads.
Home decor items.
coppercanyonind@gmail.com

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Crumb coffee cake, oatmeal sandwich cookies, sourdough, and another fun bread.
Instagram is @ginnyseclectickitchen

Celestial Breads
Celeste will NOT be at the market.
Fresh Baked Goods and Prepared Foods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

5 Nut Granola by Better Than Provisions
Better Than Provisions 5 Nut Granola is a nutrient dense, grain-free, sugar-free granola made with a premium 5 nut blend (macadamia, almond, pecan, walnut, and hazelnut) plus organic pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, and spices. It suits a variety of dietary preferences including keto, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-free, and diabetic. Available in 3 flavors.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, facebook

Farmer’s Daughter
Cassandra will NOT be at the market during the hot season, but
for orders call 623-523-7367.
Gluten free baked goods

Incredible Snacks
David will NOT be at the market  this week.
An Incredible Variety of Snacks
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Katerina’s-It’s Original Greek
Kathy & Jim will be back in October.
Fresh Made Greek Baked Goods and Prepared Food
New: Artisan Greek breads.

McDonald Farm
Baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, pies, and nut bars. Fresh eggs, pecans, beans (black, pinto, 9-bean mix), chicken and duck eggs.
SAS-Z-Nuts pistachios
Leave a message for Dona 520-220-3000

Mystic Eatz
Baked goods such as quick breads, cinnamon roll muffins, and seasonal pies.

Steph’s Sweets Bakery
Stephanie will NOT be at the market (every 1st Thursday)
Granola, cookies, muffins (all vegan)
Desert Bloom Photography &  Ray’s Leatherworks 520-368-2454

Sweet Arizona
Locally made Toffee, Brittle, & Fudge
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
www.sweetarizona.org
520-312-5351

Sweets By Shelly
Cake pops in a wide variety of flavors, almost too pretty to eat, but oh so yummy.
Toffee and pretzels.
308-708-1680 for special or custom orders.
Shelly will NOT be at the market for the hot summer months.

Wild Arizona Gardens
Kathleen will NOT be at the market this week.
Wild Arizona Garden will have pink oyster mushrooms this week. The bread selection will include na’an, green chili and cheddar bread, 5 seed bread, honey oat bread and rye bread. Also on the menu will be apple pie and strawberry rhubarb crisp. If you would like to have some held for you, please text 520-508-2494.

Personal Health & Household Vendors

Ancestral Herbals (Arizona Soap Company)
Julee (Tracy) will NOT be at the market this week.
In order to serve our community, she is offering free shipping to local customers. Enter discount code SierraV during check out.
www.ArizonaSoapCompany.com
Hand made soap, lotion, balm, muscle rub, etc.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Desert Oasis Soap
Home made Soaps
For more information please visit one of their links:Website, Facebook
desertoasissoap@outlook.com
520-822-5330
desertoasissoaps.com

Nature’s Premium Skin Care
Aloe Vera miracle cream

Prepared Foods & Beverage Vendors

Big Woody’s
Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, BBQ, and Pulled Pork
For more information & their menu please visit one of their links: Facebook

Bombshell Sweets
Variety of cotton candy

Café Cultiva
Fresh Coffee and Hot Beverages
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
774-316-2328

Cliff’s Salsa
Cliff will NOT be at the market this week.
Pickles, and jalapenos and salsa

Esperanza
Pre-order tamales by calling 520-954-7782
New: Pasties
Fresh made Tortillas, Tamales, Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Esperanza will ship orders.

Crazy Coyote Concessions
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
734-430-1996

Mi Burrito
Burritos from the grill with fresh salsa for lunch.

Lazy KJ Ranch
Locally Grown Organic Pork for lunch specials.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Lasagna and More
Complete line of Take-n-Bakes, sauces, Chef Burritos, SW Spice Blend
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Mulcogi

Spices and herb mixes.

Queen Ceviche

Fresh Made Salsa, Ceviche, Hand Sanitizer, and  hibiscus syrup.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-4715

Pet Food & Product Vendors

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
All Natural Pet Snacks and Treats
For more information please visit one of their links:
480-488-1053
ziabischoff@gmail.com

Services

Hone Ranger

Scott wants to let you know: “I’m back in a replacement vehicle with new equipment for onsite sharpening on most items and I wish to thank all those who helped, and some that still are, with my rebuild!
I am indebted to the wonderful patrons at the market, and the market itself for the opportunity to be involved w/ all of it.

Lindsay
Handmade fitted masks.
520-546-1058
meyerwill@cox.net

In Stitches
Variety of face masks

 
Artisan Vendors (are back)

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Hand Made Pottery, Jewelry, & Crafts
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-537-4859
courage.4life4u@gmail.com
530-539-4859
greenstone.collection@gmail.com

Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch
Alpaca boutique of Unique Hand Made Gifts
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
520-249-0362

Bernie & Bill Medley
Paintings, Custom Frames and Woodwork
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
For more information please visit one of their links:

Promise Farm LLC & Ash’s Amber
Ashley comes every 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Baltic Amber jewelry
Chicken eggs and small plants.

Migrant Shelter Workshop Carpentry
Furniture from their introductory carpentry school and bird feeders

Sue’s Closet
Sue will be at the market on the first Thursday.
Tie-dye and painted clothing (hats, silk scarves, shawls, blouses)

Rita Obenauf’s Windchimes
Every 1st Thursday when the weather cools again.
Up-cycle bottle wind chimes
909-957-0368
Insta-gram Lifeabove100

Inner G Cells
Handmade orgonite item (includes jewelry)

Quails Qrafts
Tie-dye clothing (onesies, t-shirts, masks, scrunchies, pants)

Artisan Vendors (soon to return)

Jim Williams Woodworks

Checkerboards and many new lazy Susans,  one of a kind, all sizes of cutting boards, pens, pencils, fountain pens!  Key rings, toaster tongs, oven rack pulls.  By a special request, I have started making urns and jewelry boxes.

520-393-6608
weloveaz2@gmail.com

Blue Oak Builders and Sierra Vista Gems
New batch of bolt action pens made with Mexican blue oak. Cheri has made more of her color changing beads and hand painted front license plates.
520-508-1958

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