As you have already been told, CSA members get a discount at our Red Dog farmers market booths. That in itself is a great incentive to visit us in Port Townsend or Chimacum, but as one of the folks working markets this season, I can vouch for all the other reasons that adding a market visit to your Saturday or Sunday will vitalize your weekend, expand your palate, and deepen your connection to our community.

First off, we put a lot of effort into making your CSA share a beautiful and bountiful selection of our farm goods, but it’s also very possible that one pint of berries may not even last you the drive home. Or perhaps you got a hankering for zucchini bread only to find that they aren’t included in your share that particular week. Therefore, you may need to supplement, because sometimes we just simply can’t get through the next 7 days without another buttery soft head of green leaf lettuce. The variety of fruits and veggies at our market booth is far wider than what we could possibly hope to fit in your CSA bins, and even more than what you may find at our farm stand on any given day. We’d love to see you at the Red Dog booth and chat about your CSA experience, current happenings at the farm, or what you’ve been cooking with your veggie abundance.

Additionally, call it an assumption, but I’ll guess that as a CSA member, you like the idea of supporting local businesses. And while I certainly hope that you would make a stop by our stand, even to just say hello, I also want to mention the menagerie of other vendors, farmers, florists, chefs, fishers, artists, bakers, advocates, and purveyors that spend their precious weekends offering specialized goods and education to their communities. I’m so lucky to have met many of these hardworking and wonderful humans who pursue an astounding variety of passions and skills with the hopes that others will appreciate and value their work as well. After grabbing a bunch of Red Dog gold beets (my personal favorite), I encourage you to take a slow lap around the market, stopping to chat with vendors to learn about what they do. I promise you’ll learn something new and maybe even make a meaningful connection.

I’ve worked farmers markets all over the West and have developed a heartfelt appreciation for these quirky, vibrant, seasonal hubs that enrich and enliven each community they exist within. The markets in this area are no exception, and both provide unique products, experiences, and opportunities that we’re so proud to be a part of. Hope to see you this weekend!

~Karyn Levin