2012 Farm Bill InfoGraphic

Interested to know the history of the Farm Bill and how it will affect our farmers?
Check out this great infographic from Good.is

http://www.good.is/post/making-sense-of-the-farm-bill/

2012 IWFM Customer Survey is Available!

Do you love shopping at Indy Winter Farmers Market?

Help us make the market better! Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey below.

2012 IWFM Customer Survey

Thank you for your input!

IWFM Won the Edible Indy 2012 Local Food Hero Award!

Check out Edibleindy.com for more details coming soon! We are so proud to have won this honor! Thank you to our community for voting us the 2012 Local Food Hero!

IWFM Dog Show this Saturday!

April 14, 10a-12p
West Plaza, Indianapolis City Market

Because every dog has his (or her!) day, we are putting on a dog show to celebrate the four-footed friends of our market customers! The show will feature four contests, judged by a panel of five judges, including John Aleshire, the C.E.O. of the Indianapolis Humane Society.

The contests are:
1. Best Dog/Owner Look-Alike
2. Best Dressed
3. Best Commands (Sit, Down, Stay)
4. Best Trick

Grand champions and runner-ups will be awarded ribbons and prizes. In addition, there will be several Indianapolis area pet organizations in the plaza prior to the beginning of the show, including the Indianapolis Humane Society, Animal Care and Control, Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic and local rescue groups.

The registration fee is $5 per dog, per contest entered and will be collected the morning of the show. Participants are encouraged to pre-register by posting on the wall of the Facebook event or by emailing intern@indywinterfarmersmarket.org. Please include your name, your dog's name and the contests you would like to enter in your post or email. On-site registration the morning of Saturday, April 14th will also be available. All of the funds collected from the event will support the Eat Well Initiative at the IWFM and all participants with paws will receive a small bag of dog biscuits, courtesy of Pet Lovers Organic Bakery.

IN THE EVENT OF RAIN, the dog show will be cancelled as animals are not allowed in the market space. Tabeling organizations will set up their information tables on the second floor above the West Wing. Donated prizes will be raffled off beginning at 12:00p.m. Raffle entrants may purchase tickets, from 9:00a.m. until 11:45a.m., for $5; all proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Eat Well Initiative. Need not be present to win.

RecycleForce Curbside Pickup this Saturday!

April 14, 9:00a-12p

RecycleForce provides the recyclable materials collection bins at IWFM, and collects used electronics for recycling once a month during the IWFM season. This is their final week at IWFM, so remember to bring your recyclables to the market this week!

Items accepted on Saturday, April 14:

*A $5.00 donation is requested for all CRT Televisions, monitors, and refridgeratives.

- Broken holiday lights, Books, Bicycles and Bicycle accessories, Telephone systems, Cardboard, Cellular phones, Televisions, PC's (personal computers), Styrofoam, Laptops/Notebooks, Integrated Circuits (IC), Desktop Computers/CPU's, Computer mice, CRT Monitor's (no bare CRT tubes), Microphones, Mainframe computers, Laserdisc Players, Scanners, Computer Keyboards, Printers, VCR/DVD/CD Players, Fax machines Games Systems, Xbox, DS, Sony, Etc., Back-up power supplies systems, Power Supplies, Photocopiers, Surge Protectors, Toner cartridges, Palm Pilots/PDA's, Microwaves, Motors, CD's/DVD's/Blue Ray's/Floppy disks/Thumb Drive's, Computer boards, Electronic wiring, Copiers, Power cables, Cash Registers, Electronic motors, Satellite Components, Metals - Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Nickel., Batteries, Cardboard, Phonebooks
- Plastics 1-7, Copy paper, (No carbon paper), Glass, (Amber, Green, Clear only), Styrofoam, (No dirty containers)

IWFM Newsletter for April 5, 2012

Check out what we've got for Easter! Here is our first newsletter for April.

Come visit this weekend for Easter dinner selections - meat, cheese, bread, chocolate, flowers, and more.

Andrea Townley will be leading Yoga for Life at 1pm - this is a fundraising class for the Eat Well Initiative, which helps the IWFM accept Food Stamps/EBT.

Chef Wendell Fowler will also be visiting with his new book.

As always, here is our vendor calendar for Saturday, April 7.

We can't wait to see you this weekend!

Next IWFM Fundraising Classes

Growing Places Indy and the Indy Winter Farmers Market have partnered with the Indy Bike Hub YMCA to offer four fitness and fundraising classes. Each class will be by-donation (suggested donation of $10, but any amount will be graciously accepted). Donations go to the Eat Well Initiative, which makes it possible to use food stamps at the IWFM and to distribute Veggie Bucks vouchers to low income and high health risk individuals to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the IWFM. You do not need to be a member of the Y to attend these classes.

We are delighted to encourage you to Live Well while supporting others to Eat Well. Classes are offered by-donation. Any donation amount will be graciously accepted. $10 is the suggested donation. All proceeds go to the Eat Well Initiative.

March 10th @ 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Spinning with Deb Hirt
Spinning (also called cycling) class will be 1 hour of cardio training on indoor stationary bikes in the Cycle Studio (3rd floor of the Bike Hub). Deb will share her love of awesome, motivational music during the class- each song in the class is for a different training interval (hills, sprints, etc.). All levels are welcome! Please note there are only 11 bikes so sign up at the IWFM or on Facebook to reserve a place!

April 7th @ 1-2 p.m.
Yoga for Life Balance with Andrea Townley
Join Andrea Townley for a gentle, all-level yoga flow focused on cultivating a balanced life. By finding your center and learning to navigate the line between relaxation and engagement, you will experience firsthand how to bring yourself into balance and stay there. All levels are welcome. Sign up at the IWFM or on Facebook to reserve a place in the class.

IWFM St Patrick's Bike Day

Join the Indy Winter Farmers Market for St Patrick's Bike Day!

Bike down to the IWFM on March 17^th in your dapperest get-up (St Patricks day and/or Tweed costumes) and ride your loveliest cycle (or penny-farthing) for a chance to win prizes from BGI and the Indy Bike Hub! Everyone who rides or dresses in their St Pat's Day attire will be eligible to enter the raffle.

Starting at 10am on Saturday March 17^th, the IWFM St Patrick's Bike Day will kick off by showcasing some of our City's best bicycling organizations – INDYCOG and Bicycle Indiana, The Mayor's Office of Sustainability, the Indy Bike Hub, The Cultural Trail, and others. Learn more about riding downtown and see how you can be involved in making Indy a Bicycle Friendly City.

Grab a bite to eat, pick up some groceries (which fit nicely into some kitty litter paniers, which can be purchased from the INDYCOG booth), sip a cup of tea and listen to some Irish-themed music on the outdoor stage. At 12pm, all cyclists are invited to join in an informal bike ride around the City and the Cultural Trail, stopping at various sites and St Patrick's Day activities along the way. We will make one or two stops and ride Courteous Mass style for about 5-10 miles. We will end back at the market at one of our favorite pubs, the Tomlinson Tap Room.

Join the Indy Winter Farmers Market for a great morning and the perfect way to start your St Patrick's Day festivities!

IWFM Newsletter for February 23, 2012

Check out our weekly newsletter to learn more about events in March such as the Seed Starting Workshop with Fall Creek Gardens on March 3, the Voices United to End Hunger Conference on March 3, and Gleaner's canned food collection! See our weekly recipe and vendor calendar too!

Polar Bear Run this Saturday

There will be a Polar Bear Run outside City Market this Saturday morning! We encourage you to participate if you are able.

Please be aware that Market Street will be blocked off from 7am until about 12pm. Our parking will still be available directly east of the Indy Bike Hub and on the southwest corner of New York and Alabama Streets.

Voices United to End Hunger Conference Mar 3

The Voices United to End Hunger conference is on Saturday March 3rd at the Christian Theological Seminary. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance. You will hear the voices of the hungry, those who serve them, and what is needed to end hunger in Indianapolis and around the world. IWFM founder Laura Henderson will lead a session with Dave Miner of the Interfaith Hunger Initiative at 3 p.m. For more information visit BreadIndiana.org and CTS.edu.

Slow-Cooked Stewing Hen Recipe

Chase away the winter blues with this yummy recipe from Brown Family Farm!

Slow-Cooked Stewing Hen

1 stewing hen

2 medium onions, skin-on, quartered

2 Tbs sea salt

15-20 whole peppercorns

1 splash raw cider vinegar

Water to fill crock slow-cooker to halfway

Quarter whole onion, leaving skin on. Put onions in bottom of slow cooker. Cut up hen, if desired, or if necessary to fit into crockpot. Place stewing hen in crock pot. Sprinkle salt, peppercorns and cider vinegar into crockpot. Fill crockpot approximately half way full. Meat should be falling from the bone after 10-11 hours on high.

Use tongs to remove chicken to plate. After cooling, pick meat from carcass and return bones, skin and fat to crockpot. Use meat for chicken salad, curries, soups, burritos or enchiladas.

Lunch Box Challenge Conclusion this Saturday

Are you still stumped on how to make a good packed lunch for your kids, partner, or self?

We're here to help! We've recruited a team of wonderful women to show you the possibilities. They will all be present on Saturday, upstairs on the 2nd floor, with pre-made examples of how delicious and nutritious (as well as local and sustainable) a lunch box can be!

Starting at 10am, check out our lunch-box chefs upstairs near Jack's Barber Shop and get some good ideas for your next brown bag affair!

IWFM Newsletter for February 16, 2012

Check out our weekly newsletter here to learn about NapTown Chickens visiting this weekend, info on our Super Saturday Door Prize donors, and to hear about the conclusion of our Lunch Box Challenge on February 25!

Also, see our vendor calendar for Saturday here.

Special Announcement for Indy's SUPER Farmers Market This Saturday!

This Saturday, February 4th will be Super Saturday at Indy's SUPER Winter Farmers Market! Every Indianapolis resident who adventures to the IWFM this Saturday can present any IWFM purchase and enter to win a $50 worth of IWFM products! So, come on SUPER loyal IWFM customers, plot your adventure by bus, bicycle or foot this Saturday and enter to win! We'll also be giving away door prizes every half hour from 9am to 1pm. In addition, we'll keep our Veggie Valet open until 2:30pm, so you can shop early, leave your bags to walk around downtown, and come back for them by 2:30pm. See below for transportation options this Saturday. Two Indianapolis resident raffle winners will be drawn at the close of market, 1pm, Saturday February 4th, and the winners will be notified by phone or email. It is not necessary to be present at the time of the drawing to win. The prize of $50 worth of IWFM products can be purchased anytime this season. The weather is fantastic, IndyGo is FREE this weekend, our City is shining, and the energy downtown is amazing! We have a great lineup of vendors this week, some of which will be bringing one-of-a-kind products just for the Big Game. Check out the calendar here! Share the market experience by bringing a friend, family member, or out-of-town guest with you to market. We're delighted to welcome both community members and those visiting from out of town as we celebrate the excitement and buzz of this SUPER weekend together!

Get to Market this Weekend by Bus, Shuttle, Bike, or Foot! Bus: Check out Indygo.net for route information and to plan your trip. All routes except the green line are free! Shuttle: A free shuttle will be circulating Mass Ave and Fountain Square, so consider parking further away and hopping on the shuttle! Here is a map of locations you can find the free shuttle. If you're coming from further away, the Super Bowl is offering paid shuttle service from these locations. Bike or Walk: With weather as nice as we've had, it's a great time to bike or walk to market! Ride down on the beautiful Monon Trail or stroll the world-class Cultural Trail and avoid the hassle of parking a car! Check out INDYCOG for some insights on trails, bike lanes, and how to share the road. You can park your bike at the Indy Bike Hub YMCA or outside the West Wing.

Share the IWFM with Social Media this Week!

We need your help to spread the word about Indy Winter Farmers Market this week!

If you are on Twitter, mention us @IndyWFMkt when you are talking about where & what you'll be up to this weekend for the #SuperBowl2012.

If you're on Facebook, let your friends know you'll be going by registering for our Facebook Event.

If you have a smartphone please take a moment to read the following:

The official Super Bowl XLVI Guide is available at the app store as a helpful guide for visitors. "A detailed guide to local restaurants, nightlife and official Super Bowl events," it's a pretty great app but it lacks some favorite local spots, IWFM being one of them.

Please go to the App Store, or the Android Marketplace, and find the "Super Bowl XLVI Guide." Once on the app's page, scroll to the bottom. You'll find a "report a problem" button. Hit that button, select "my concern is not listed here" and leave a comment in the space below. Here is an example of what you could include in your comment:

As a resident of Indy you're missing a big attraction the day before the Super Bowl, The Indianapolis Winter Farmers Market located at City Market. This is downtown at the corner of Delaware and Market. Considered one of the best markets in the state, the selection of locally-sourced foods, produce, and ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch selections are great options for Big Game visitors. The market runs from 9:00am to 1:00pm. every Saturday. If you update this app please add this location for visitors who will be searching out wholesome, ethically farmed and raised food.

Thanks!

IWFM Weekly Newsletter for January 16, 2012

Check out our weekly newsletter here.

Learn about what the IWFM is doing for the Super Bowl, The Indy Food Swappers' SUPER Swap, how to Eat Well on a budget, a recipe for Mac & Cheese, and our weekly vendor calendar.

IWFM Packed Lunch Challenge!

We believe there are a lot of great ideas for packed lunches in the IWFM community, and we want to hear yours! Please submit your favorite adult or child packed-lunch menu by January 28th. You can email your menu to info@indywinterfarmersmarket.org, or submit it in writing at the IWFM Market Info Table. We will select the four most creative (and achievable) packed-lunch menus to include in our February weekly e-newsletters. Those highlighting foods available at the IWFM will earn bonus points!

On Saturday, February 25th, the IWFM will hold our first ever packed-lunch competition! More details will follow, but prizes will be awarded in 5 categories:

1) Most Creative School Lunch - Popular Children's Vote,

2) Most Creative Work Lunch - Popular Adult Vote,

3) Most IWFM Product Ingredients - Juried,

4) Most Nutritious & Delicious - Juried,

5) Coolest Lunch-Box/Packing Method - Juried.

(Voting will be based on menu and presentation, not on tastings.)

To get your creative juices flowing, we recommend listening to the the podcast from How To Do Everything about how to pack an awesome lunch. Or try this recipe for Dinosaur Eggs, also from How To Do Everything. Check out Fed Up with Lunch as well, a woman's anonymous blog about eating school lunches with her students everyday for a year.

IWFM Newsletter for January 19, 2012

Check out our newsletter from January 19, 2012 to learn more about our fundraising classes (including the spinning and yoga class this Saturday with Craig Brown!), the IWFM Packed Lunch Challenge, Indiana Organic Gardeners Association meeting, Slow Food Indy meeting, Indy Super Swap, and information on the Super Bowl. See the newsletter for a Greek Quesadilla recipe from A Couple Cooks and our vendor calendar for January 21!

See the newsletter here.

IWFM Weekly Newsletter for Jan 12, 2012

Check out this week's newsletter by clicking here.

Learn about our Packed Lunch Challenge, upcoming Tap Room Talk on fermented foods, fundraising classes with the Indy YMCA/Indy Bike Hub, and more info on the IndyHub WinterFeast. Every week we feature a recipe from A Couple Cooks, our vendor calendar, and featured events for the upcoming week.

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter on our website.

Join IWFM and IndyHub for WinterFeast - Jan 17

WinterFeast
January 17, 20125:30pm - 7:30pmTomlinson Tap Room & Indianapolis City Market West Wing222 E. Market St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

Kick off the new year with IndyHub and Indy Winter Farmers Market!

If you are a young professional or Indy Hubber, we hope you can join us for WinterFeast, a community night and dinner at the market with some of our vendors, on January 17, starting at 5:30pm.

We'll start the night by grabbing a Sun King brew at Tomlinson Tap Room before heading to City Market's west wing - the new, permanent location for IWFM. Hear how IWFM supports local farmers, Indy's local food movement and about IWFM's new food voucher program. Then, we'll break out into round table discussions and a family-style dinner made with ingredients from IWFM vendors and prepared by local chef Becky Hostetter and food blogger Sonja Overhiser. Dessert will be truffles made by Litterally Divine chocolatier Suzanne Litteral. Led by eight of the most influencial foodies in Indianapolis, you'll learn about urban farming, food creativity, trends in organics, and much more. After the discussion dinner, learn about how you can get involved while browsing a sample of IWFM vendors before ending your night back at Tomlinson Tap Room.

Enjoy this event for $20 at the door - we're only covering food cost and the rest goes to IWFM's voucher program!

Register here!

Indiana Organic Growers Association Meeting - January 21

Join the Indiana Organic Growers Association for their Winter meeting on January 21, 2012 at Greenwood Library, 310 S Meridian St, Greenwood, IN.

Starting at 11:30am, there will be a pitch-in meal, followed by a brief meeting and a discussion on heritage poultry and organic gardening by IWFM vendor Laura Karr. We hope you can attend this great meeting!

Check out more information here.

Slow Food Indy - Super Bowl not the biggest stimulus to local economy this year?

Local Food in Indiana: Where do we go from here?

Community Leaders & Local Farmers Answer at Slow Food Indy Annual Meeting

For more information, contact Slow Food Indy President Tyler Henderson: tylerhenders@yahoo.com

What: Slow Food Indy Annual Meeting & Pitch-In

When: Sunday, January 22, 2pm-4pm

Where: Wheeler Arts Community (1035 Sanders Street in Historic Fountain Square, Indianapolis)

What to bring: a dish to share and your own dining ware (plates, cups, utensils, etc.)

The Super Bowl may not be the biggest stimulus for the local economy this year.

Just before the end of last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report estimating locally grown foods to generate $7 billion dollars in 2011. With Indianapolis and the state poised to claim a big piece of that local food economy pie, it could make the short-term injection of even the Super Bowl's millions look like small potatoes.

While each Super Bowl ticket means short term investments of hotel stays and souvenir receipts, the USDA report concludes that "farmers’ markets have been found to have positive impacts on local economies." Citing Midwestern states' research, the report outlines how each dollar spent at farmers' markets brought an additional 58 cents of in-direct local spending and how two new full-time farmers' market jobs spurred the creation of an additional full-time job in another local sector.

Going to market is just the beginning, since the Indiana State Department of Agriculture reports that for every salary dollar earned by local farmers and food producers, more than 2.5 times that amount flows into a local economy.

As Indiana's unemployment rate teeters around the national 8.6% unemployed and the state of our economy is at the forefront of debate locally and nationally, the results of the USDA's report on local food's long-term cash infusion and job creation can't be ignored...even with the big game on the way.

Despite Indianapolis' renown as the cradle for aspiring chain restaurants (where lots of dollars leave the local economy), the city and surrounding communities are making changes that mean more jobs and more money stay in central Indiana. Within the last two years around Indianapolis, the number of farmers markets continues to increase, more and more urban lots are available for growing food, the city's first food co-op celebrated its one year anniversary, hospitals and businesses are partnering with local producers for fresh, local food, and locally-owned restaurants and retail shops receive national media attention for the quality of their locally-sourced dishes.

The local food accomplishments in Indianapolis' recent past are many, but where do we go from here and how can Indiana see even more benefit from what even the USDA recognizes as a strengthening segment of our economy?

Those are the questions a panel of local community leaders, cooks, and farmers will work together to answer during Slow Food Indy's annual meeting and pitch-in, Jan. 22, 2-4pm in the Wheeler Arts Community. Join Chef Neal Brown of The Libertine and PIzzology along with CEO and Medical Director of Wishard Health Services Dr. Lisa Harris and David Robb who manages Harvestland Farm, a Community Supported Agriculture where produce is tended and harvested by client-employees from the Aspire Indiana Behavioral Health System and Anderson University students. Also joining the panel is farmer Greg Gunthorp who turned his back on commercial agriculture to raise animals all-naturally which not only saved his farm but spurred the local economy as his operation grew to the largest true pasture poultry operation in the U.S. while chefs near and far praise the quality of his all-natural, humanely raised poultry and pork. Moderating the discussion is Laura Henderson, founder of the Indy Winter Farmers Market.

It's the in-season for local food in Indiana. Is our team ready for a winning season?

Grow Well, Eat Well & Live Well = Be Well

Growing Places Indy and the Indy Winter Farmers Market have partnered with the Bike Hub YMCA to offer four fitness and fundraising classes. Each class will be by-donation (suggested donation of $10, but any amount will be graciously accepted). Donations go to the Eat Well Initiative that makes it possible to use food stamps at the IWFM and distributes Veggie Bucks vouchers to low income and high health risk individuals to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the IWFM. You do not need to be a member of the Y to attend these classes.

Did you know that Farmer Craig Brown teaches spinning and yoga? Or that market founder Laura Henderson and loyal IWFM volunteer Andrea Townley both teach yoga? It's true, and they are delighted to share their teaching talents to encourage you to Live Well while supporting others to Eat Well. We hope you'll come and join us!

January 21st @ 1-2 p.m.
Spinning + Yoga with Farmer Craig Brown
Join Craig for a 30 min spinning class followed by a 20 min yoga cool down. All levels are welcome.

February 11th @ 12-1 p.m.
Aligning with Love - Yoga Flow with Laura Henderson
Join Laura for a one hour yoga flow class that will encourage you to align your body, mind and spirit with a greater sense of love and passion for life as we approach Valentine's Day. All levels are welcome.

Mark your calendar for spinning class on March 10th with Deb Hirt and yoga class on April 14th with Andrea Townley. More details to come.

Vendor List for January 7, 2012

Here are the vendors who will be joining us this Saturday, January 7, 2012.

3 in 1 Restaurant

Artisano's

Body Eclectic

Bridgeton Mill

Brown Family Farm

Chocolate for the Spirit

Circle L Bison

Dickinson Furniture

Duos

Eden Farms

Farming for Life

Fields of Agape

Fermenti Artisan

Gluten Free Measuring Cup

Good Life Farms

Harvest Cafe

Harvestland Farm

Hole Pottery

Homestead Growers

Homestead Heritage

Keen-Wah

KG Acres

Lena's Mediterranean Kitchen

Lick LLC

Litterally Divine

Ludwig Farm

Muddy Fork Farm

Paper or Plastic

Peace Leaf Tea

Project Endure

Rene's

Rosie's Riblets

Schacht Farm

Simpson's Farm

Smoking Goose

Stout's Melody Acres

Sumac Grove/Eden Prairie

Sunset Acres

The Christopher Farm

Trader's Point

Tranquil Ridge

Wildflower Ridge

Wild's Apple

Your Family's Pasta

Check out our weekly list on the IWFM Calendar, where you can preview weeks to come and learn more about our weekly vendors.