Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: austin farmer's market, farming, Johnson's backyard garden, organic gardening, salmonealla outbreak
The state health department is advising consumers to avoid eating raw tomatoes, as they are investigating a nine-state Salmonealla outbreak that has gotten 21 people sick in Texan alone. HEB has pulled it’s tomatoes from the shelves of its 300 stores, but the local news media is in need of a little moment of clairification. The headlines should read: “Hey folks! There’s no tomatoes at your local HEB, and you should probably not buy any from Walmart or Randall’s or your other local grocers or restaurants that ship in the wax-covered fruits fit with pesticides and additives. But what a good opportunity to support your local farmers or cooperative gardens!”
PEACHES! BLACKBERRIES! Field TOMATOES! All available at Wednesday and Saturday Austin Farmer’s Markets NOW.
From AustinFarmersMarket.org:
Saturday 2008 Market schedule and info
- Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. through December 27, 2008.
- 4th & Guadalupe
- Plenty of available free parking at top half of parking lot (don’t park in other half–you’ll pay), and in the convenient state parking garage at 3rd and San Antonio.
Wednesday 2008 market schedule and info
Wednesdays, 4 – 8 p.m. “PICNIC IN THE PARK” season, through December 17th, 2008
Triangle Park, 4600 Guadalupe (46th Street — between Lamar and Guadalupe)
Plenty of free parking available at parking garage across the street from the market.
EVEN BETTER… The tomatoes are lovely and ripe at Johnson’s Backyard Garden, a local gem that’s only five miles east of downtown and run by the most lovely family in town. Farm leaders Brent and Beth Johnson (and their daughter Lila) were some of the first friends I met upon moving to Austin about six years ago, and they have since brought a few more Johnsons into the world: Drew, Ada and Jim. They are the Lovely Johnson 6, and they are about the most inspiring folks I’ve met in my time in Austin.
- You can check out their farm’s site, fit with directions and info on how to become a member or apprentice, at http://www.johnsonsbackyardgarden.com/index.php. I wish I could share more about the backyard garden, but I haven’t been out there yet, and I think I may have to make it out there this weekend. The last I saw the Johnsons was about two years ago, when the backyard garden was smaller and located in the backyard of their home on Holly Street, only walking distance from downtown. Their backyard farm was super impressive then, and I took some pictures out there that day and at the farmer’s market (below), but it’s nothing compared to what they have established now at 9515 Hergotz Lane in east Austin.
- GO TO JOHNSON’S BACKYARD AND PICK YOURSELF A SALMONEALLA-FREE TOMATO!
- Original Johnson’s Backyard Garden photo essay
- Photos taken during the 2005 fall season by Claire Harlin
