May 4th, 2011

Good Earth Market, Organic Farm, Clarksville, Delaware, Authentic, Sustainable, Events, Farm to Table Dinners…Delaware Beaches

Months ago I was going to attend a gluten free cooking class at Good Earth Market.  I believe that one of those “nor’ easters” hit the beaches and that particular class was canceled.  Needless to say, I had never been there but I knew where it was located.

Let me just give the info. of where you can find them and then we will get to the best part of the post.  It is located at 31806 Good Earth Lane, Rt., 26 on Atlantic Ave., which is 4 1/2 miles west of Bethany Beach.  The town is Clarksville, Delaware 19970.  The tel. 302-537-7100.  The website?  www.goodearthmarket.com.   On Facebook, of course.  Befriend them on FB because they have more to offer besides what you will find on the website.

The owners are Susan and David Ryan.  This is their store.  The farm?  Well, it is also their home.  They open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.  On Sundays they are open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

When I arrived on Monday, Susan was there.  She was very gracious and looked very rested even though she had just come from France.  I introduced myself and she told me to feel free to take pictures and then she would take me out to the farm which was in back of the store.

The store is very well stocked and looks like a grocery store with shelves and freezers.  There is a fresh dairy case and a non-dairy case.

Good Earth has organic products from teas, coffees to all natural beauty products; hand creams and body oils. Vitamins and healthy essentials, as well.

There is a huge selection of gluten free grocery and frozen foods.  I was particularly interested on the gluten free products since we eat gluten free in my home.

Every Friday and Saturday there is a delivery of Kogler’s Old World Artisan Breads.

You will find cut flowers in season and herbs are cut to order.

The farm is 100% organic and to be so it was certified by the USDA.  Many of the items are grown right on the farm.

Susan took me to the back of the farm.  There we found Ingrid, the Master Gardener busy at work.  In the greenhouse, there were 7,000 heirloom tomatoes to be planted.  Good Earth Market is known for their heirloom tomatoes.  They are sold at the Farmers Markets in Lewes, Georgetown, Bethany and Fenwick Island.  Besides the tomato plants there were also all kinds of fragrant herbs getting ready, as well.

Besides my wanting to see the farm and store I also was very much interested in some of the upcoming events that will be starting this week-end.  These look like they will be a lot of fun.

Saturday, 5/7 – at 12:00 Noon.  Michael Rodriguez, consulting chef at Kool Bean returns for another fun cooking demo.  He will work his magic and taste the results.  Recipes for you on that day.

Saturday, 5/14 – at 12:00 Noon.  Matt Haley will be there for another fun Cooking Show!!  He will be entertaining, for sure and will show how to prepare something delicious.  Arrive early to get a good seat.

Saturday, 5/21 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. is Good Earth Market’s Semi Annual Arts & Crafts Show.  It will feature local artists.  Food and drinks will be available along with Kogler’s Bread.  It will be the day to find unique treasures for yourselves or for gifts.

Saturday, 6/4 at 12:00 Noon.  “Slow Food Delmarva” arrives at Good Earth Market.  The Market is excited to support this idea, way of living and way of eating.  It is a global grassroots movement with members around the world campaigning for a commitment to a better community, a better environment and better food.  Come to learn more.  You can check their website, www.slowfooddelmarva.org.

The “Farm To Table”  Dinners

Authentic and sustainble; indulging in several courses, gourmet dinners prepared by Plate Catering; part of the SoDel Concepts.  On Facebook.  Website?  http://www.plate-catering.com.

Placing the guests right in the field; eating the food grown in the farm.  Our coastal area affords us the opportunity to take advantage of the farm, the bay and the sea.

There will be 3 Farm to Table dinners and each is a fundraising event. 

Cocktails will be served right in back of Good Earth, while listening to music, overlooking the farm.

Then, guests will stroll to the table, in the middle of the field.  This year, the table could be set right on the back or towards the left of the farm.

Tuesday, 5/10 at 6:00 p.m.  The Farm to Table feast on this evening will benefit The Center For the Inland Bays.  Please join them as the sun sets for a unique dining experience.  Carefully selected, locally grown ingredients will be prepared by Plate Catering and paired with the perfect wines.  The events begins at 6 pm.  The cost?  $95 per person.  To obtain tickets and reservations please call 302-5378-7100 or stop by Good Earth in person.  Rain date will be the following day.

The Center for the Inland Bays was established in 1994 to protect and preserve Delaware’s Inland Bays and their watersheds.  For more info. please visit http://www.inlandbays.org.  I will be writing a post on CIB soon.

Tuesday, 6/7 at 6:00 p.m.  This Farm to Table feast will be benefiting Children & Families First, Sussex County.  It will be another unique dining experience.  Plate Catering will have selected locally grown ingredients again and will pair the dinner with the perfect wines.  The cost is $95 per person.  Please call 302-537-7100 for a reservation.  Rain date will be the following day.

Children & Families First, Sussex County is a non-profit social services agency whose branches have touched every corner of Delaware improving the lives of those in need.  For more info. please visit www.cffde.org.

Tuesday, 9/13 at 6:00 p.m.  This will be the last Farm to Table feast for the season.  It will benefit Global Delaware-HHC.  Prepare to join them as the sun sets for a unique dining experience.  Plate Catering will be cooking and selecting the wines for the evening.  The cost is $95 and you can call for tickets and reservations at 302-537-7100.  The rain date will be the following day.

Have a good one!!  Talk to you later….you know I will….

June 22nd, 2010

Good for You Market, Natural Food Market, Lewes, Delaware, Sangria Recipe

I was coming back from the Division of Motor Vehicles, after spending about 2 1/2 hours there.  I was just saying to my friend, Trish, not too long ago, how efficient the DMV has been since they opened their new building in Georgetown, Delaware.  She had told me her husband was there for hours; I just did not believe her until it happened to me.

Anyway, I was coming back to Rehoboth on Rt. 9, when I saw Good for You Market.  I decided to stop because I had never been there and I had heard good things about it. 

Good for You Market is located at 28841 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.  Tel. 302-684-8330.  E-mail Address goodforu@comcast.net.  Website www.weknowyum.com. 

From Rt. 1, going west, it will only take you about 10 minutes or less.  You cannot miss the building since it is very colorful.

Good for You Market began in 2006 as a market garden farm selling directly to restaurants and at area farmers markets.  The rest is history and what you will find now is a beautiful food market.  It combines everyday items with great gourmet ones as well.

The market has artisan cheeses, organic produce, grass-fed meats, specialty meats and poultry, dried fruits and nuts in bulk, international gourmet foods, organic coffee beans, ethnic specialties, traditional grocery items, and household cleaning and laundry items, as well.  There is a Sandwich and Juice Bar.

The store holds cheese classes and the next and last one available until September will be on July 10 at 1:00 p.m.  The subject?  What Goes Around Becomes a Rind:  Exploring the Outside of The Cheese!

“We’re so focused on the inside:  we often forget the fascinating outside.  This is the time to appreciate what goes into the outer edge of the wheel.  Join the Good for You Market Cheesemonger as he explains the makeup of the beautiful outer edges of the cheese.  You’ll learn all about washing, rubbing, rolling, bruising, and wrapping.  In other words, how the cheese wheel ends up with that nice coating of wine, chocolate, wood ash, herbs, grape leaves, or straw patterns.  They will prove that sometimes, “A rind is a terrible thing to waste!”  Some rinds are edible and make a flavorful addition to broth, stock, soup, and sauces.”

For more information, please give them a call to the above  telephone number.

Following is a Sangria Recipe, courtesy of Good for You Market:

1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)

1 Lemon cut into wedges

1 Orange cut into wedges

1 Lime cut into wedges

2 Tbsps sugar

Splash of orange juice or lemonade

2 Shots of gin or triple sec

1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries

1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)

4 Cups Ginger Ale

Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine.

Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds, if possible), pineapple, then add sugar, orange juice and triple sec.

Chill overnight.

Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving.

Note:  If you would like to serve it right away, then use a chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.  However, remember that the best Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to really marinate each other.

Enjoy!!

Talk to you later….you know I will….