[1] We are as busy as Santa’s elves, getting ready for the Holiday Farmers’ Market this Saturday, December 18, at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford. With 55+ vendors signed up, it promises to be our largest market to date, bringing with it an amazing array of local food. Farmers will be offering a wide selection of produce alongside an incredible variety of meat — chicken, duck, goose, and turkey; goat, lamb, pork and beef; also rabbit, venison, and elk! [2] Here’s a map >

Extra parking for this Saturday — [3] Salmon Falls Stoneware has made additional parking available to market customers. They’re just around the corner from the Wentworth Greenhouses at 75 Oak Street in Dover, and a shuttle will be running from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (a quick 2-minute ride). Thanks to 45 Market Street Bakery and Salmon Falls Stoneware for making this happen! [4] Map for parking at Salmon Falls Stoneware >

Come stay the day — The market will be open from 10 am to 2 pm. Whether you come early or later in the day, there’ll be plenty to choose from. Also, Poor Howard Stilth will be filling the greenhouse with his festive music, there’ll be a craft table to visit with the kids, and a number of vendors offering delicious ready-to-eat or prepared food made from local ingredients. Stay and have a light snack or a hot lunch, and enjoy the day with us.

Market specials — Keep up-to-date with vendors, new products, and specials at the market by following us at [5] Facebook or [6] Twitter. Some recent postings include:

- Eastman’s Fish Market “will be offering a few specials at the Holiday Farmers’ Market this Saturday at Wentworth Greenhouses, including select lobsters for $4.00/lb, and between 12–2 p.m. a $2 discount off your purchase of $12 or more if you bring a recipe with you!”

- Kellie Brook Farm: “We have Christmas turkeys, Holiday Roasts: Bone in Loin Roasts, Fresh Shoulder and Pork Butt, Tenderloins: Veal and Pork. We have Large Roaster Chickens and plenty of Extra Large & Jumbo Eggs available & Chicken Liver Pate for your Christmas Parties.”

- New Roots Farm: “We will be offering our garlic scape pesto, created in conjunction with the Harvesting Hermit, at Rollinsford this weekend. The pesto is a great flashback to summer, but is also a wonderful complement to our heritage breed roasting chickens, pork chops and legs of lamb.”

 

Deck the Halls — Wentworth Greenhouses still has nice selection of custom decorated wreaths, festive bows, centerpieces and more for holiday decorating; a Live Green Sale will feature special pricing on undecorated wreaths, garlands, bunched greens and cut trees. For other holiday gift choices, Wentworth Greenhouses also hosts select craft artisans in the glass greenhouse on market dates (the greenhouse on the left as you enter). Be sure to visit the glass greenhouse for locally produced goods including leatherwork, woodwork, pottery and more. For more information, please visit [7] www.wentworthgreenhouses.com.

Sharing the bounty — The Rollinsford Police Benevolent Association will again be on hand to collect food donations from consumers and vendors for their Christmas baskets. You can purchase foods at the market to donate — such as carrots, onions, potatoes, winter squash, maple syrup and honey — and Meadow’s Mirth Farm is offering a 10% discount on purchases intended for donation. Chief Robert Ducharme wrote to thank you for all your generous donations at the market on November 20th:

On behalf of the members of the Rollinsford Police Benevolent Association, please accept my sincere appreciation to all the vendors and donors who provided either fresh food or cash donations for our Annual Holiday Food Basket Program at the November farmers’ market at Wentworth Greenhouses.

The donation of food was overwhelming. We were able to provide plenty of fresh vegetables for our food baskets and deliver the surplus to the homeless shelter in Dover, as well as the food pantries in Somersworth and Rochester. Your kind and generous donations touched so many families in several communities who have been hurt by the current economy.

The RPBA has been providing full Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to the less fortunate for the last 25 years. The RPBA is a non-profit organization and is registered as such with the IRS and NH Attorney General’s Office.

Again, many thanks to you and for all that you do to help those who are not as fortunate. Best wishes to you and yours for a safe and happy holiday season.

— Chief Robert Ducharme, Rollinsford Police Department

Time to stock up — Our next Winter Farmers’ Market won’t be for another three weeks, January 8th in Exeter. Much of the produce found at the Winter Farmers’ Market stores well refrigerated, while most of the meat comes already frozen. Farm-fresh eggs will keep up to 5 weeks. Remember to stock up!

Volunteer — We’re looking for volunteers to help set up, provide information during the market, or clean up afterward. Come early to help unload and you’ll get a sneak peek at the goods before the market opens! Email foodguide@seacoasteatlocal.org if you would like to volunteer.

For more information, including a list of participating vendors, please visit [8] www.seacoasteatlocal.org.