Dateline: Leon Springs, Texas
When we first moved back to Texas from Louisiana, I missed the local Saturday morning market tremendously. Although it was well-established by the time we moved to Baton Rouge, it was great fun to watch it morph from a few tables to the magnificent community gem that it is today. Actually, the BR market is several different initiatives threaded together...the weekly Red Stick Farmer's Market, a monthly juried art show and a ground level collection of shops and eateries in a state-run parking garage.
Going from that kind of exciting venue to the produce section at my local grocery was a let-down. There's no spark of connection, no spirit of community made manifest in the big stores...even though I must say the staff at mine is incredibly friendly and helpful and I wouldn't trade them.
I really missed the comaraderie of the local market...not to mention the produce.
To the rescue came Mario Obledo.
Mario ran for city council in San Antonio a couple of years ago. From what I understand, he became the market's driving force when he promised that he'd create a market, even if he didn't get elected.
He didn't get a seat on the council...and, sure enough, he did create a market in Leon Springs.
Yup, Mario's a politician, which means a few of you will say "Of course he created a market...he wants to run again." Maybe...I haven't asked him. But so what if he does? Would that every politician cared as much about being a public servant and would give up a fair amount of free time (he's married and has a beautiful pre-schooler) to meet the needs/desires of the community in which he resides.
So, hats off to Mario!
And hats off to the cadre of local growers who show up every week in the Leon Springs Dance Hall parking lot, rain or shine...just a stone's throw from what used to be the community's one stoplight, the original Rudy's Bar B Que, the highly acclaimed The Grill Restaurant and, a-hem, a Sonic. Speaking of dedication and commitment...have you ever stood beside the road near a busy intersection on black tarmac in Texas in May...let alone August? It can be uncomfortable...but these folks make it work, situated as they are near a tree and with plenty of tents and coverings. It's a little oasis of green.
Mario has also worked to bring in musicians and even occasional chair massage teams. Never short of ideas or enthusiasm, he told me this weekend that he plans to launch a web site in a few days so that locavores can take a peek at what's on the horizon at the market.
I look forward to sharing the link here soon...not only does it merit exploration by locals interested in fresh produce, great plants and good bread, cheese and Fredericksburg/Stonewall peach products, but it seems that lots of other communities (and a politician or two) could take a lesson from the Leon Springs Farmer's Market...the little Texas farmer's market that could.
What we bought at this week's market: fresh organic bread from Phoenix Rising (San Marcos, Tx. • 512-392-RISE), a jar of seasoned feta cheese from CKC Farms (Blanco, Tx. • 830-833-5669), a jug of peach cider from Hill Country Harvest at Burg's Corner (Stonewall, Tx. • 800-94-2772), and an assortment of Celebrity tomatoes, zucchini (needed extra for a recipe since ours are still just coming in), and some fresh Fredericksburg/Stonewall peaches. If you're in these parts, word is that this round of peaches is smallish, but they are finally, finally here. A freeze really gave the first round a bad time...hence they're late in arriving this year. The anticipation was worth it.
For Further Exploration:
• Read this, this, this and this about CKC Farms...which is getting some great reviews. (The feta really is good...I've purchased both the feta spread and the seasoned feta now. The brains behind the operation? A young woman who is a VERY recent Central Texas high school graduate.)
• Not from Texas? You can read a bit about the Fredericksburg/Stonewall peach phenomena here. You can also see my other blog to read some Leon Springs-centered stories from last year.
• Find your local market at Local Harvest.org. Can't find one? Start one. Seriously.
|