Sierra Vista Farmers Market Vendor Update for 12-16-2021 – –

A day In the Life Of – The Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market

By Uncle Ralph (Ralph Wildermuth) 08 December 2021

The Farmers’ Market will be open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

We all know the “reason for the season”, but how did the celebration of the birth of Christ become, through the centuries, a secularized celebration of love, family, friendship, food, and gift giving. It has always been about gift-giving since God gave his son, Jesus, to us as a gift.

Let’s take a trip through history during the 1800s. Before we do, I want you to think about something. Imagine that on 25 December, the hanging of twinkling Christmas lights over your front porch and in your yard were banned. You were forbidden to sing Christmas carols or take your children to visit Santa at the local store or mall. Churches were closed on Christmas Day. Everything about Christmas, as we know of it, was now forbidden. How would you feel?

Actually, this wouldn’t be a new concept. It seems there are forces that want to eradicate many holidays as we know them. Take for instance, the seventeenth-century reveler in England or the American colonies. The ruling Puritans took upon themselves the pains to suppress the excesses spawned by the Christmas season’s impious expresses.

During the first few years of the colonies in America it was illegal to celebrate Christmas either religiously or secularly in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681. If you did and were caught the fine was five schillings. Trying to convert that into today’s money is a complex process as everything is relative to a time in place. The value of the money might be measured against earnings; or against the cost of food, or value of land, or rental value of property, etc. These values change with time and technological improvements. What was considered a luxury at one time, may become a cheap commodity at another time. Looking at it from a wage standpoint, five shillings was about 60 pence. A carpenter in Massachusetts earned about 14 pence a day plus board, so you can see that a five-shilling fine was almost a week’s pay. A heavy toll on a person’s monthly earnings. All things being the same in monetary value, it was probably equivalent to around $50.00 in today’s currency.

Keep in mind that through the years the look and feel of the Christmas celebration was not as it is today. We have to look at the way it was in the 1600s to understand a little of why the Puritans clamped down on Christmas. In those days the yuletide included behavior that even we might find offensive or at a minimum shocking. Activities of the time included such things as rowdy public displays of excessive eating and drinking, mockery of the established authority, aggressive begging, sometimes even involving threats of bodily harm if not freely given. The invasion of homes of the wealthy increased dramatically during this time of celebration.

Part of the reason for the gluttony was that it was the time shortly after the harvest when food was still fresh and plentiful, and alcohol was readily available for consumption. This environment left itself open for the emboldened displays of public mischief. As for the religious side, the Puritans looked down on Christmas as an invention of the Roman church which had roots in the pagan Roman winter festival of Saturnalia, as well as the Norse festival of Yule. They also believed the celebration of Christmas was not scripturally sound as nowhere in the Bible is there a mention of celebrating the Nativity. The pagan-like way in which Christmas was celebrated troubled the Puritans even more than the underlying theology. “Men dishonor Christ more in the 12 days of Christmas than in all the 12 months besides,” wrote 16th-century clergyman Hugh Latimer. Christmas in the 1600s was hardly a silent night, let alone a holy one. Christmas celebration was likened more to a rowdy spring break than a sacred occasion, where Christmas revelers used the holiday as an excuse to feast, drink, gamble on dice and card games and engage in licentious behavior.

The ban on public Christmas celebrations was unique to Massachusetts, and hostility toward the public celebration of Christmas, remained in Massachusetts for years to come. It was not until well into the middle of the 1800s, that businesses and schools in Massachusetts remained open on December 25 while many churches stayed closed. It was not until 1856 that Christmas, along with some other holidays like Washington’s Birthday and the Fourth of July, finally become public holidays in Massachusetts.

Today it seems there are still those among us that wish to separate the religious from the secular by changing the terms of the Christmas season to “Xmas or “Happy Holidays”. What truth is there in this attempt? These people often use the fact that the Bible does not give a birthdate for Christ and the church did not even recognize December 25^th until into the fourth century. Some historians believe the day was selected to coincide with pagan winter solstice celebrations that were held in many locations throughout Europe. This timing coincided with the slaughter of large numbers of cattle so that money could be saved by not feeding the cattle during the subsequent months. This resulted in leaving plentiful meat for feasting and the wine and beer that had been started during the preceding spring and summer and was now fermented. The combination brought about raucous and drunken partying comparable to maybe Mardi Gras in stature. Many people frowned on celebrating Christmas and as we see the Puritans in Massachusetts wound up banning it for many years. Luckily Christmas did not disappear, but only became inconsequential for a time, even to the newly formed Congress in America working on Christmas Day for its first session in 1789.

So how did we go from a religious holiday to a secular one? We can thank the Germans for the custom of Christmas trees and the giving of gifts. It emerged from Pagan traditions as a holiday ritual in 1790 in Northern German homes by putting up a Christmas tree decorated with wax candles, symbolizing the bonfires of the winter solstice, and ornaments and exchanging gifts. This new holiday practice was completely outside and independent of Christian religious practices and was part of the creation of a bourgeois culture of celebration and the invention of a national (German) identity. The idea of Christmas trees and gift giving on the 24^th of December did not spread to other European Christian cultures until the end of the 18th century and did not come to North America until the 1830s.

For most of the 19th century, the celebration of Christmas with Christmas trees and gift-giving was held skeptically in America until in January of 1863 when Harper’s Weekly published a picture of Santa Claus visiting the Union Army in 1862 on the front page. The image was created by a German-American cartoonist by the name of Thomas Nast. Nast refined his image of Santa into the jolly old man with a big belly and long white beard as we know it today. He also introduced the idea that Santa Claus traveled by a sledge drawn by reindeer. The holiday finally became official when Congress on June 18, 1870, declared Christmas a federal holiday and the White House erected its first Christmas tree. President Benjamin Harrison began the tradition of setting up a Christmas tree at the White House in 1889.

The Christmas season is a magical time of year for most people. Families gather together to celebrate special holiday traditions, but without agriculture, many holiday traditions would not be possible including travel, food, candy, unwrapping presents, and much more.

In 2018, it was estimated that more than 112.5 million travelers headed to visit family and friends. Farmers played a large role in this travel, because about 40% of corn at the time was used to make ethanol for fuel consumed to make the trips. Another crop, mint, plays a special part in our Christmas traditions. Mint is used to give flavor to candy canes and other mint flavored treats. Americans will probably consume around 1.76 billion candy canes during Christmas.

Christmas dinner, like Thanksgiving, is one of the most common and beloved traditions that families and friends celebrate together. Livestock farmers provide the meat in our Christmas meals, particularly pork farmers, as an average of 318 million pounds of ham is consumed at Christmas time. Additionally, poultry farmers contribute 22 million turkeys to Christmas dinners.

Let’s not forget milk and cookies for Santa from the approximately 137 million gallons of milk that will be set out for him to drink. Don’t forget the sheep farmers that produce the wool used to make ugly sweaters, stockings, and tree skirts along with cotton to make wool hats, scarves and mittens to keep us warm. And of course, what would Christmas be without the tree. Tree farmers provide not only 25-30 million live Christmas trees per year, they also provide trees for making wrapping paper, and Americans will spend around $7 million on gift wrap.

In so many ways, Christmas begins on the farm. When you stop to think on it, a good many of our holiday traditions wouldn’t be the same, or even possible, without the year-round hard work of farmers and ranchers.

I pray you will each be surrounded with the love of your families and communities. Take time to remember where the traditions of Christmas came from and the farmer that brought most of it to you.

Until next week take care and I’ll talk to you again.

As always, SNAP vouchers can also be used at some of the vendors booths as well as Double Up tokens in exchange for fruits (Estrada Cirtus and Beatriz’ Dates are here) and vegetables. 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/.

As always, SNAP vouchers can be used at some of the vendors booths, as well as Double Up tokens for exchange for fruits (Estrada Citrus from Mesa is back) and vegetables. You can use your EBT card at the info booth for SNAP vouchers and Double UP tokens (unlimited amount right now).

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.       The terminal is working again!!!

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

Music Entertainment: Simmons Family Band

This week:  extra artisans and crafters

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.

Awareness Ranch–Vendor Grown
Bali will be back during the winter season.
Local produce (mint, basil, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, bok choy) from Tucson area

Backyard Gardening & Growing  – – Vendor Grown –
Onions- Red, white, and yellow. Beefsteak tomatoes & cherry tomatoes. Gala and Pixie crunch apples.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown –

Edith will be back next season.
520-378-2728 or 520-678-9443

Beatriz’ Dates

Dates from Mesa, Arizona

Cazador Ranch

Donna Henricks aka Lettuce Man’s Daughter

Lettuce mix, chard, kale, parsley

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

Estrada Citrus

Oranges and grapefruit from Mesa, Arizona.

Horton’s Farm  – – Vendor Grown –

Mark and Jessica will be back soon.
Cucumbers, Garlic, onions, Eggplant, chilies, patty pan squash, 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 –
Michael will be back in the spring of 2022.
(520-234-3254), email (justapinchllc@yahoo.com)

Nat Hutchins Farm

Local and Asian plant. Seasonal produce. Meyer lemons.

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, Egg & Honey Vendors

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown –

With sadness we let you know that Roger Taber passed away this summer.

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
NEW: Raw butter and Ghee.
Golden Rule Dairy Special: Their very own chicken eggs!
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 and Lisa will be back soon.

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

Rocky Creek Ranch
John will NOT be at the market this week.
Duck, chicken, and quail eggs

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 – –

– 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

Whitecane Sockeye Salmon

Alaskan caught sockeye salmon, king salmon, halibut, ling code, shrimp, snowcrab, Bairdi crab, Dungenese crab

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

Incredible Snacks
An Incredible Variety of Snacks
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Katerina’s-It’s Original Greek
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

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.

Wild Arizona Gardens
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)

www.ArizonaSoapCompany.com
Hand made soap, lotion, balm, muscle rub, etc.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Chloe’s Creations
Handmade soap.

Desert Oasis Soap
Greg will NOT be at the market this week.
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

Ascendare-Bean to Bar Chocolate
Kendra will be at the market on the 1st and 4th Thursday.
Handcrafted chocolate

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 and new hot cocoa mix and hot cocoa by the cup.

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

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.
NOTE: Esperanza will retire from our market at the end of 2021.

Crazy Coyote Concessions
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-2327
kettlekornaz@gmail.com

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

Sippin
Specialty soda drinks

Zumi Juice
Come quench your thirst with a delicious, fresh, raw, cold juice made to order at our bright orange tent.  All of our juices are made from fruit to cup with no additives, just pure goodness.  Fresh Limeade is always served.

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, fabric multi-use bowls and bags.

 
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

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:

Sierra Vista Gems
New batch of blue oak and mesquite pens.
Cheri’s front license plates.

Artisan Vendors (once a month)

Bannuar Trading & Sporting Goods

Handcrafted jewelry and cut antlers for dog chews

Chalia’s Craft (will be back in the spring)

•Crochet earrings

•Crochet & Macramé Plant Hangers

•Crochet bags and baskets

•Wall Decor

•Pillow Shams (seasonal item)

•Throw Blankets (seasonal item)

Shop: chaliascraft.Etsy.com

Instagram: @chalias_craft

Doug Merrill

Handmade wooden boxes, tables, coat racks, benches, and wind chimes.

Jim Williams
Wood works such as Lazy Susans, checker boards, and unique writing utensils

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

New artisans for November and December

Anna’s Gifts
Buena High School artisans
Leta’s Gallery
Vagabond
Crafts by Kate
Godard-woodworkings

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