Check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup for more local events today; here are 3 highlights:

FIRST DAY FOR THE ELLIOTT BAY WATER TAXI: The big celebration is noon-2 pm; rides are free all day; the first sighting of the Water Taxi at Seacrest should be around 8:40, going by the Sunday schedule.

FIRST-EVER “PET FEST” IN THE JUNCTION: 10 am-4 pm in the Wells Fargo parking lot, NE corner of 44th/Alaska. More info here, more on the newly added “Most Beautiful Pet” contest at noon (we’ll be showcasing the winner!) on the Next to Nature site here (or in this previous WSB post).

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As always, we bring you the weekly “fresh sheet” for what you’ll find on the SE corner of 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm – plus word of some special events (and a giveaway) today:

(Today) the ever-popular Mule-Drawn Wagon Rides will return to the market. This is one of our most popular events where kids of all ages can enjoy an old-fashioned jaunt around the Junction. In addition, Langley Gardens will give Free Sweet Pea Plant Starts to the first 200 children and shoppers who come to the market. And, in conjunction with the Pet Fest, the market will have a special visit from a couple of soft, furry Alpacas, courtesy of B&H Alpaca Farm, baby goats courtesy of Toboton Creek Goat Farm and “City Chickens” courtesy of Molly Burke.

NEW FROM LOCAL FARMS THIS WEEK:

Bamboo Shoots

Watercress

Radishes

Rhubarb

Celery

Ladyhead Fiddlehead Ferns

Snow Peas

Sugar Snap Peas

Garlic Chives – early green garlic

Vinegar: Apple Cider Vinegar – fresh from Rockridge Orchards

Herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley

Greens: Arugula Raab, Flowering Mustard Raab, Lacinato Kale Raab, Red and Green Cabbage Raab, Sorrel, Mustard Greens, Collards, Kales

Tender baby field greens: Mizuna, Arugula, Sorrel

Tons of Frost-Hardy Vegetable Starts: Spring Lettuces (many heirloom varieties), Radicchio, Edible Pea Pods, Beets, Cippolini and Walla Walla Sweet Onions, Flat leaf Parsley, Edible Violas.

Also Basil, Heirloom Tomatoes, Shiso and Artichoke starts.

Salad Bowl Planters – 5 spicy greens in one pot – cut and they grow back. Good for singles and apartment dwellers.

Herb Garden Deck Planters – a savory herb garden in one deck or patio planter.

Flower Starts: Sweet Peas, Poppy, Draught-Tolerant Perennials, Hummingbird attractors; Chilean Glory Vine and Sage.

AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK:

Wild Greens: Miner’s Lettuce, Stinging Nettles

Daffodils, Tulips, Fruit Blossoms, Pussy Willows

FRESH VEGETABLES:

Rutabagas
Celery
Parsnips
Jerusalem Artichokes
Garlic – Red, White and Elephant
Shallots
Turnips
Dried +Shelling Beans: Black, Cannellini, Cranberry.
Cabbage: Red, White and Savoy
Onions: Yellow Onions
Beets – Red, Golden, Chioggia , Cylinder
Leeks

POTATOES: Yukon Golds, Yellow Finn, Austrian Crescent , Red Thumb Fingerlings, Russet

APPLES: Fuji, Pink Lady

Local Farmstead Cheeses: Cow, sheep, buffalo and goat cheeses. Goudas , Cheddars, Fresh Mozzarella, Brie, Pecorino, Parmesan, Provolone, Semi-soft blue, Aged and Raw varieties. So many cheeses to choose from this time of year…

EGGS: Lovingly collected every morning from organically fed, run-around-the-barnyard local chickens and ducks. Growing Things, Rickman Gulch Farm, Stokesberry Farm. At all markets.

WINES: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Syrah and Blends from Sweetbread Cellars on Vashon Island . Brought to Market by Sea Breeze Farm. At UD, WS. Sweet Raspberry wine from Rockridge Farms at U-District and West Seattle .

SOUP STOCKS: Veal, chicken, beef, duck and lamb stocks; rich, gelatinous stocks for your best home recipes – Sea Breeze Farms – at UD and WS

FISH: Wild Salmon: Smoked and frozen Sockeye, KING and Coho. Also Lox, Jerky, Salmon sausage and patties, Chum Caviar, Pickled Salmon

WILD MUSHROOMS: Dried varieties.

DRIED FRUITS AND VEGGIES:

Apples, Wild Huckleberries, Peaches, Apricots, Prunes, Asian Pears, Bosc Pears, Tomatoes, Celery Leaf, Hot Chilies, Garlic Powders

Dried Herbs: Basil, Parsley Dried Mushrooms: Chanterelles, Lobster, Porcini, Truffle Salt

PORK: Organic/Pasture-Raised and finished pork from Bow ( Samish Bay ) and Reardan , WA (Wooly Pigs) and Sedro Woolley (Skagit River Ranch). All cuts; frozen and smoked. Loin, chops, roasts, ham, bacon, sausages, porchetta. LARD.

BEEF: Organic pasture raised and finished beef from Samish Bay , Olsen Farms, Skagit River Ranch and Seabreeze Farms. Steaks, Roasts, Hamburger, Summer Sausage, Andouille Sausage, Jerky, London Broil, soup bones, dog bones…

CHICKEN and DUCK: Free-run locally raised chickens and ducks. Fresh and frozen fryers, stewing hens and roasters. Chicken liver (pate) and chicken stock. Stokesberry Farm, Growing Things and Rickman Gulch Farm. At all markets.

VEAL: Veal Ribs, Loin Chops, Top Round, Shanks. Sea Breeze Farm (UD, WS)

LAMB: Fresh cuts, ground fresh – Sea Breeze Farm (UD, WS)

GOAT MEAT: From Sea Breeze Farm on Vashon Island and Toboton Creek Boer Goat Farm in Yelm. At West Seattle and U-District.

PATE’: Pate de Foie (chicken, pork and calf liver with red wine, cream and garlic. At UD and WS.

CHEESE and DAIRY:

Port Madison Farm: FRESH Goat cheese: Chevre, Brie, Gruyere-style, Yogurts.

Samish Bay: Queso Fresco, Farmer Cheese (spreadable – uncooked), Feta

Mozzarella. Yogurt. Also Organic Gouda (from Jersey cows): Flavored Goudas : Cumin,

Nettle, Mont Blanchard, Montasio (U-District, West Seattle )

Mt. Townsend Creamery (Port Townsend): Cow’s milk cheeses. Brie, Tomme and Camembert. ( West Seattle and U-District).

Sea Breeze Farm ( Vashon Island ): Aged Cow’s milk (7 mos) Goat’s (aged 3mos), fresh whey Ricotta, Crème Fraiche, Buttermilk, Milk and Heavy Cream. (U-District, West Seattle )

River Valley Cheese ( Fall City ): Raw Cow and Goat milk cheeses. Hard Goat Cheese, fresh Goat Chevre, flavored fresh Goat Chevre, Feta, Cow’s milk cheeses soaked in Cabernet and Pike Place Ale, Cow’s milk Cheddar. Cow’s milk Pepper Jack. Fresh Mozzarella.

Golden Glen Creamery: Cow’s milk Cheddars (Plain, Sweet Basil, Red Pepper, Jalapeño), Gouda , Curds, Parmesan, Feta, Mozzarella. FRESH CREAMERY BUTTER.

FRESH PASTA: Fresh egg, red bell pepper, basil, squid ink, carrot, tomato and spinach pasta made with semolina flour. Also fresh raviolis with olive & artichoke, mushroom, pumpkin, spinach/roasted garlic, goat cheese and 4-cheese fillings. From La Pasta

HONEY: Blackberry & Wildflower; Raw, unheated &unfiltered. Raw Honeycomb.

PASTRIES: Pies, pretzels, tarts, brulee, gateau, cookies, scones, cinnamon rolls, brownies, cookies, muffins, loaf cakes, biscotti, granolas. FLYING APRON VEGAN baked goods; cakes, scones, muffins, cookies, tarts at U-District and West Seattle . PIES BY JENNY: Sweet and Savory Pies and Tarts made from Farmers Market ingredients. BELLES BUNS: French style pastries; croissant, bouchon, tarts, desserts, cookies, sauces.

CIDERS – Apple, Apple Raspberry, Apple Apricot, Spiced Apple, Cherry-Apple, Ginger Lemonade from Rockridge Farms and Woodring Foods.

HARD CIDERS – Apple, Honey (Mead), Apple, Berry from Rockridge Orchards

JAMS, JELLIES, SAUCES, SPREADS AND PRESERVES: White Chocolate Marzipan, Bittersweet chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate sauces from Woodring Foods. Lavender, Rose Petal, Raspberry, Peach Chipotle, Marionberry, Black Raspberry, Golden Raspberry, Black Currant, Tayberry, Lingonberry, Blueberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Apricot, Apple, Pumpkin jams and spreads from Woodring Foods. Ginger Chutney from Woodring Foods. Peach, Apricot, Blackberry and Blueberry jams from Growing Things.