Farmers Market in August: A Little Cactus Tale

The Las Cruces Farmers Market was as crowded as we've ever seen it this past Saturday. It's a wonderful place to watch people, listen to music, get a massage, buy fresh produce, try out an herbal remedy, get a sack of fresh green chiles roasted, and...

... we always need to STOP to see the nice couple who sell the cacti and other low-water plants, just in case we find something to add to our garden. 

We were just digging around in our pockets for some cash to buy the last beavertail cactus when a little boy--oblivious to us, but focused on the cactus--leaned down in front of us, scooped it up, and said, "I think I've found my cactus! What's it called?" The cactus lady explained that its name was Opuntia basilaris. Handing over his two dollars and fifty cents (what a steal!) he said, 

"I think I'll call it Steve."

Then the budding young gardener ambled off, smiling and hugging his cactus pot to his chest. We were charmed. Next week, we'll try to get there early enough to buy a Steve of our own.

Not Steve

The Las Cruces Report for August, Part 2: Green Gold

It's hard to explain the importance of chiles here in the Mesilla Valley. Chile is a crop, it's a culture, and it's a big part of the cuisine here. Our friend, Pat, who is planning to retire here soon, calls them "green gold." There's a sign in one of Beez's favorite restaurants that says, "A day without chiles is like a day without sunshine," and we rarely experience any days without both of these staples of New Mexican life. 

When it's chile harvest time, the air is filled with the smell of roasting chiles and the grocery stores sell a ton of those little quart freezer bags. We all shop for our year's supply of chile and a great many of us have an extra freezer just for all those bags of green gold. 

We bought our first batch at the Farmers Market on the weekend. You buy a big burlap bag, 20 pounds worth, right from the farmer...

... then you bring the bag over to the roasters...

... who roast your 20 pounds and pack the hot chiles into a plastic bag like the one on the left in the first photo.

Once we get the chiles home--and what a fragrant ride it is!--we spread them out a few at a time on a pan to cool a bit. Then we plunge them into some chilly water, drain them, and package them (skin and all) into those little freezer bags, 8 chiles to a bag. Once the bags are all closed up, we pop them into the chile freezer, all but the plateful of fresh ones that we peel and eat for lunch. 

It's a lovely, almost ceremonial tradition, and a nice thing to do on a hot day in a shady kitchen while looking out the window over the sink up at the Organ Mountains and being thankful for such a good life.

*****

If you are a fan of cowboy stories (Deb, I'm trying to catch you!), be sure to check out the tale of tenderfeet over on the Remember blog today. 

A Joyful Moment at the Market

There is so much going on that you can't see in this photo--the jaunty Caribbean-style music the group was playing, the sound of the drumming (the man in the brown shirt was sitting on the "drum"), the smiling, dancing crowd that was gathering, the look on the little boy's face that none of us can see as he is invited to join in on percussion--still, I just had to share this joyful moment from the Farmers Market last Saturday.

Just a reminder: You can vote for any (or all) of my entries in the New Mexico Day of Enchantment photo contest every day. The camel, especially, needs your support as he was a late entry!

Go to the main page: http://www.dayofenchantment.com/. When you enter the site for the first time, you will be asked to register. Once you have done so, you can vote for any pix. My five are at http://www.dayofenchantment.com/entries/46443.Thanks for your help.

Dogs in the Market

I've been showing you some photos from the Las Cruces Farmers Market over the last couple of days and I wanted to end the series with some dog photos. They were really taken as an afterthought last Saturday because I was mainly there to shoot food as part of a Digital Photography class assignment. Next time I think I'll find a better vantage point to shoot from--something low and stationery, so I can really do these doggy personalities justice.

For now, here are some shots caught on the fly.

Some of the dogs at the market are there because they are available for adoption from the local shelter; this dog walker wears a sign that says "ask me about this dog"

Some dogs come dressed in their favorite outfits; some come sporting their best beards and mustaches!

Not all the dogs have to walk; some come in strollers or, in the case of this little fellow, a wagon that will also carry home his family's purchases

This natty guy is getting famous; he always shows up with his scarf and sunglasses

I'll end with this picture of one of the mariachi bands that give such an air of fiesta to the market

Las Cruces Farmers Market: The Food

The homework assignment this week for my Digital Photography course was to take photos of food, so a stroll through the Las Cruces Farmers Market this past Saturday was just perfect. It's too bad that I didn't get photos of the green chile spring rolls that Beez is still talking about.

It will be interesting to see what we learn to do as far as editing our food photos. Be sure to click on any photo to enlarge it slightly.

Radishes

Dried chile ristra

There were all kinds of herbs ready to plant

Grass for cats?

The kettle corn man stirs a batch while his customers line up, drawn by the delicious smell

Bean sprouts

I like the way the colorful tablecloth was reflected in these jars of honey

Honey warmed by the sun

Even though the bags say "Onions" they were filled with dried red chiles

The Las Cruces Report: Mid-March

A little cabinet by Mr. Bean, just waiting for a collection

We are starting to have some really beautiful weather here in the high desert. Cool nights, as always, morphing into lovely warm, sunshine-filled days. Wearing layers of clothing is a must. We might start out the morning on a bird walk or at the public market wearing a couple of shirts plus jackets, then we peel away the layers as we reach the warm afternoons.

I'm setting up a backpack that will always be ready to grab on the way out the door. In addition to the camera, phone, binoculars, and maybe the Flip camcorder, now I have to remember extra water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a foldable wide-brim hat. Got to be ready for all that New Mexico sunshine!

The trees are leafing out, daffodils are in bloom everywhere, and the fruit trees are in bloom. The raptors are arriving down at the bosque. The farmers all around us have started field and orchard irrigation, and the Rio Grande is full from bank to bank--looking like a river at last.

In other seasonal news, up at Dripping Springs the "animal sighting" board lists the first spotting of a diamondback rattlesnake, stretched out on a trail and soaking up the sunshine. We were up there at the Visitor's Center on Saturday afternoon, admiring the views of the city and mountains, and watching some search and rescue workers practice rock climbing rescues. I'm pleased to report that we didn't spot any snakes ourselves.

The Farmers Market is in full swing now on Saturday mornings. This past Saturday the place was full of hundreds and hundreds of people, many with their dogs. There were jesters and jugglers and mariachi bands and solo singers scattered everywhere. In addition to the crafts, jams, and jellies featured there all winter, we are now also seeing lots of bedding plants, herbs, fresh produce, and many kinds of honey. We bought some Desert Mesquite and some Red Chile honey (hot!), hoping that eating local honey will help with the allergies that are in full swing at our house just now. I got a lovely nasturtium plant for the patio, Beez bought (another!) hand-tooled leather belt, and we finally got the perfect little cabinet from Mr. Bean.

I'll have some more photos from the market in the days ahead.