WALK UP AN APPETITE WITH WALK MEDFORD!

Walk Medford will be hosting a walk that starts and ends at the Medford Farmers Market this Thursday, August 11, from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. All are welcome! Meet at the managers tent. Questions? Contact Syrah at the Board of Health: 781-393-2560.

MANAGER’S MESSAGE: WHEN IN DROUGHT

As many of you have noticed, we’re in the middle of a pretty severe drought. Biking around the towns west of Boston, where quite a few of our farmers are located, I have seen signs announcing outdoor water bans and even one in Lincoln—where Good Roots Farm grows its tasty vegetables—restricting outdoor water usage to two days a week. As sad as it is to see your once green lawn become a sea of brown, it’s even harder for farmers who are trying to keep their crops alive. Drip irrigation helps, but it’s expensive and should only be used sparingly. This summer, farmers are having to use it frequently in order to grow enough produce to make a living.

Here’s where you come in. Shopping at your local farmers market—and encouraging your friends and family to support their local farmers by shopping at their local markets—is a huge help to those farmers struggling with the lack of rain. Challenge yourself to get all your produce for the week from the market and get creative with what you find there. If you have any questions about what to make, ask a farmer! Supporting the farmers is crucial right now, and buying as much of their produce as you can is key to them making it through this tough season. Fill your own bags—and bring friends!

• Open to Medford residents ages 60+; advance registration required
• To register, call Syrah at the Board of Health: 781-393-2560
• Pickup is 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through October 18 at 121 Riverside Ave.
• 40 shares available each week
• $5/week for low-income seniors; $15/week all other Medford seniors

   

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  The Medford Farmers Market runs 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through October 13, 2016, at One City Hall Mall, behind City Hall, in Medford, Mass.