Most people prefer to spend their Saturday mornings sleeping in, being lazy and relaxing from the previous workweek. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I choose to spend my Saturdays a little differently. Every Saturday morning, rain or shine, and no matter how much sleep I get the night before, I make my way to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park, or another local farmer’s market.
There is nothing I love more than spending my morning chatting with our local farmers, bakers and fellow food lovers. I thoroughly enjoy perusing the beautiful seasonal produce while deciding what I will be cooking that week. I especially love the farmer’s market in the spring because there is a nice sense of camaraderie among the vendors due to the fact that they are all selling similar foods, unlike other times during the year where there can be an 
overwhelming variety of options. During the spring months, you will have the pleasure of finding piles and piles of green and purple asparagus, ruby red rhubarb, luscious green garlic, rainbow beets, pink radishes, spring greens… so many fresh goodies! My mouth waters just thinking of all the colorful culinary creations I could make this coming week.
During every market, I make an effort to try a new fruit or vegetable in order to expand my horizons of my produce knowledge. This week, I had the pleasure of sampling chive blossoms and pickled mushrooms, both of which were delightful. This past Saturday was a bit rainy, but that did not stop me from making my weekly visit. I filled my bag with all the previous mentioned vegetables: bunches of asparagus, bags of rhubarb, a few beets, some green garlic, and some gigantic portabello mushrooms. I sampled some wonderfully rich and creamy goat cheeses and in addition to some particularly vibrant salsas. I breathed in the savory aroma of fresh herbs and the fragrant smells of spring flowers. I gazed longingly at beautiful loaves of crusty bread and flaky pastries. The more I sampled the more hungry I became, so as soon as I got home I started roasting some of my lovely vegetables for lunch with a little drizzle of olive oil and some generous pinches of salt, basil, and oregano.
I love farmer’s markets for the opportunities to engage in dialogue with the people who grow our food and for the opportunity to buy the freshest possible ingredients, but my love goes even further. Every visit to the farmer’s market gives me inspiration for my artwork from the infinite variety of colors, forms and textures that I experience every week. Sometimes the curves of a bell pepper inspire me to paint; other times it is the brilliant deep purples of an eggplant that push me to take out my oil paints and brushes.
This week, I could not get enough of the glorious morel mushrooms that look like miniature brains or the twisted and contorted oyster mushrooms that remind me of a delicate giant rose. I imagine transforming these mushrooms into giant colorful paintings that celebrate their intricate twisting lines and unique shapes. I try to always bring a camera with me to the farmer’s market so that I can document all the incredible colors, textures, and forms I see to reference for painting later. Sometimes I set up photo shoots with my market vegetable purchases after I am back home. I have never been able to find the unique beauty of the produce that I find at the farmer’s market in the produce sections at the grocery store.
From the liveliest conversations about locally grown fruits and vegetables to engaging your taste buds with most savory cheeses, sweetest jams, or most refreshing apple cider, I cannot spend enough quality time roaming and exploring the Green City Market. I urge you to explore a farmer’s market yourself, especially if it is something you have not yet experienced. It will forever transform your ideas about food in the most delicious possible way. If you are ever wondering where I will be early on a Saturday, look no further than the farmer’s market!
