West Seattle, Washington
12 Wednesday
At the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, just inside the road-blocking signs at California/Alaska, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle members are back for fall. At their booth, you’ll find free coffee and other features – crafts for kids this week, including pinwheels that worked nicely in the morning breeze. Later in the season they’ll also be assisting with donation drives, and they’ll be selling tickets to their holiday-season pancake breakfast. Stop by and say hi, any Sunday during market hours, 10 am-2 pm.
11:16 AM: It’s that time of summer where growers have so much zucchini, you can run out of ideas for using it. Zucchini bread, roasted zucchini, sauteed zucchini … but that’s not all. Once a year, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market offers free zucchini and accessories to marketgoers so they can make and race “vegetable vehicles.” That’s happening at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) right now, until 1 pm, as explained in our preview! Big turnout.
1:22 PM: Adding photos by Dave Gershgorn for WSB:
A wide variety of zucchini racers took to the track – after Kiwanis Club of West Seattle volunteers helped with assembly:
Lots of options to contemplate:
Once they were ready to race, it was on to the track:
Notice the jumbo zucchini in the lower right of the photo above? 3 1/2-year-old Colette Steadman brought that from home, where she and her family grew it from seeds provided by the West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) Growing Gardeners’ Club (explained in our preview):
Homegrown or not, every zucchini racer was a winner today.
One day every year, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market celebrates one of the season’s most bountiful harvests by offering zucchini racing – young marketgoers get free zucchini and components to turn them into “vegetable vehicles” which they can then send rolling down a short race course (our video above shows a round of last year’s racing). Tomorrow (Sunday, August 31) is the big day, 11 am-1 pm. Look for the booth at the south end of the market, with volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle there to assist, as well as West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor). Marie from WSN tells us that their Growing Gardeners Club for kids gave members containers with soil and zucchini seeds back in March, in hopes some might grow their own to use in Sunday’s races. Then, earlier this month, members got “little race car kits with a set of wheels and stickers they can use to decorate their racers, and information about the Farmers Market races so they can participate.” A WSN rep will be there tomorrow to see if any members show up to race, and to provide club info to prospective new members. Again, this is 11 am-1 pm tomorrow, during the regular 10 am-2 pm market on California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska.
Before the week gets busy, here’s our annual reminder that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will NOT be in its usual place next Sunday, because pf West Seattle Summer Fest. It’ll be on California north of Oregon (the stretch you can see in our photo above, looking northwestward over the back of the “road closed” sign in place for yesterday’s mega-busy market). Regular time – 10 am-2 pm Sunday – and many of your favorite vendors, but one block north. (That stretch of street holds the main stage for the first two days of the festival, but that’ll be broken down and removed overnight after Saturday night’s shows; there’ll still be music on Sunday, but just on the West Side Stage, off SW Alaska west of California). Lots more festival info all week, and we look forward to seeing you at Summer Fest – brought to you by the West Seattle Junction Association (with community co-sponsors including WSB) – 1 pm-8 pm (music till 11) on Friday, 10 am-8 pm (music till 11) on Saturday, 10 am-5 pm (with the Farmers’ Market!) on Sunday.
(West Seattle Farmers’ Market, last Sunday)
The first-ever West Seattle session of Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets Trivia is set for one week from tonight – Wednesday, June 4. It’s happening 6-8 pm at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW). Besides buying a ticket to play, you also can buy raffle tickets, and the money all supports the organization that coordinates WSFM and other markets around the city. You can buy a trivia ticket in advance for $15, or pay $20 at the door; you can play alone or with a team of up to six people. You can buy your ticket(s) – trivia and/or raffle, and/or make a donation – by going here.
Been working on your garden and/or planter(s) and have a question or discovery you’d really rather talk about with an expert, rather than just digging around online? These are the people who can help – King County Master Gardeners – and they’re back in action, not only at the regular spots, but also with pop-ups. At center above, photographed with fellow MGs at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market, is Beth, who sent us the announcement you might have seen in our Event Calendar:
The WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners will again be offering plant diagnostic clinics in the West Seattle area. Master Gardeners provide research-based home gardening information focused on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. The clinic schedule is:
Delridge Home Depot – Saturdays, 10 AM – 2 PM – through September 6 (No clinic on Saturday, July 5)
West Seattle Farmers Market – Sundays, 10 AM – 2 PM – through September 7 (No clinics on Sunday, July 6 and Sunday, July 13)
South Park branch of Seattle Public Library – Saturday, May 3, 10 AM – 2 PM
West Seattle Bee Festival – Saturday, May 17 – 12 PM – 3PM
West Seattle Nursery – Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, July 13 – 10AM – 2PMHave a home gardening question but can’t get to a clinic? The Master Gardeners have an email clinic – askamastergardener@kingmg.org
You’ll find them at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) until 2 today.
(WSB photo: Denis and Mike from the Kiwanis Club with a booth visitor)
Classic showery spring weather brings thoughts of gardening to come. The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is hoping to make it happen for more classrooms and families with its annual seed giveaway; today’s the day, at the Kiwanis booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Though the pickup of vegetable and flower seeds is geared for the teachers and parents who responded to the invitation we published last fall, they have some extras too, first-come first-served. Supporting youth is a cornerstone of what the Kiwanis Club does, and this is part of that. The seed pickup is scheduled to continue until about 1 pm.
If you shop at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sundays – and/or any of its sibling markets around the city, market managers have a few questions for you! Their newest newsletter announced a survey:
The Neighborhood Farmers Markets are conducting our annual survey online this year to reach a wider audience. Your input is valuable to us! Data gathered from this survey will help NFM and the vendors who participate in our markets to better understand market shoppers and their preferences. Responses are anonymous and will not be associated with any contact information you choose to provide.
The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. Please note there are a few questions for shoppers who frequent markets in specific neighborhoods. If you regularly visit one of the locations listed, please choose that market when prompted so the questions are revealed to you.
A busier-than-usual Sunday news stream swept away our chance to show you this until now, but it’s too cute to just skip. Every August, the Neighborhood Farmers’ Markets offer kids the chance to use free zucchinis and accessories to build and race “vegetable vehicles,” and yesterday was West Seattle kids’ turn. Above is our video of two young racers giving it a try. Volunteers, including members of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, helped kids pick out the components:
Then, the task of creating that “vegetable vehicle”:
And the final touches before moving on to the track:
The Zucchini 500 is on its way next to the farmers’ markets in Lake City, Columbia City, and Magnolia.
We’ve mentioned this in West Seattle Summer Fest coverage already but wanted to spotlight it one more time: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market will be one block north of its usual place tomorrow (Sunday, July 14) because of the festival. The main stage and beer garden will be broken down after tonight’s festivities, and that block – California north of Oregon – is where you’ll find Farmers’ Market vendors tomorrow. Same hours – 10 am to 2 pm – while the festival continues concurrently (and then until 5 pm) on California between Oregon and Edmunds and on Alaska between 42nd and 44th. The market will return to its usual place next weekend (on July 21).
That sign at the north end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market has extra meaning this week – next week, because of West Seattle Summer Fest, the market will be on California Avenue SW north of SW Oregon instead of south. Most if not all of your favorite farmers and other vendors will still be participating, and the hours are the same – 10 am to 2 pm Sunday (July 14) – but the market moves on that one Sunday each year so that festival vendors can continue in their Friday-Sunday spots. (The block north of Oregon is home to the main stage and beer garden on Friday and Saturday – see the music lineup here.) Now that Summer Fest week has arrived, we’ll have daily updates leading up to Summer Fest Eve on Thursday and the festival’s start on Friday (following recent previews of the reusable servingware and the Kids’ Zone additions) – see you there!
Going to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow? Before you shop for food, donate some! You’ll see a booth for Farmlink, a nonprofit founded by college students to work on food rescue, food insecurity, farmers’ rights, and related issues nationwide. Farmlink fellow Ariel Cook, who interned at the West Seattle Food Bank last summer, is hosting the booth to benefit WSFB by collecting food donations and inspiring financial donations. Ariel put together this presentation to explain the food-insecurity problem in our city – you can click through it:
Ariel says just about any kind of nonperishable food is welcome – except meat and dairy. Financial donations are welcome via this link. If you can’t donate tomorrow, the Farmlink booth will be back at the market November 19th and December 3rd.
Celebrating one of the most abundant vegetables of the season, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is hosting the Zucchini 500 today. First you make a zucchini vehicle, perhaps with parental help; then you decorate it …
and then it’s off to the race track!
You’ll find all this at the south end of the market, right by the California/Alaska entrance. The zucchini and trimmings are free (though since the market is a nonprofit, donations are always welcome).
(QUICK LINKS: Bus reroutes … music lineups … vendor & sidewalk-sale lists)
10:50 AM: As the final day of West Seattle Summer Fest begins, one big thing to know – the Farmers’ Market is on California SW north of SW Oregon, regular hours (until 2 pm), one week only, then back to its regular block next week. The festival is on until 5 tonight. That includes the Kids’ Zone, which today is being overseen by Tilden School (WSB sponsor), the independent K-5 school located just north of The Junction:
The Kids’ Zone has free activities as well as inflatables for which you have to buy tickets (or a $20 all-day pass). If you’re looking for face-painting, that’s on the raised crosswalk midblock on California between Oregon and Alaska. … Just one music stage today, in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) – here’s the lineup, starting with the West Side Music Academy camp band at 11 am, minutes away. … Save The Stone Cottage advocates are back in the Info Booth with us and West Seattle Junction Association volunteers – find out what’s happened in the two years since the quirky little structure was moved, and what’s next
They’re on the east side of the booth (which is at Walk All Ways); we’re on the north side.
11:14 AM: Above are some of the “Littie STP” riders – as featured in our daily preview and calendar – who just rode from Seattle (Street, North Admiral) to Portland (Street, Gatewood) and then on to Summer Fest … The food vendors have fired up for the day – judging by what we’ve seen going by the booth, one of the most-popular festival treats this year has been the animal-shaped cotton candy (custom-made!):
On stage now in Junction Plaza Park, the camp band from West Side Music Academy, calling themselves Clark’s Son Kelly. Video:
We’ve also had bonus music here in the heart of the festival zone – instrumentalists over on the Cupcake Royale corner – and a commenter says the West Seattle band Aurora Avenue, which rocked Summer Fest Eve, will be back on the KeyBank corner at 2 pm.
12:47 PM: Not all the food is at the Farmers’ Market- some local purveyors of tasty items are here too, like award-winning Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce, and Lovely and Dapper Desserts‘ famous cakes:
(There’s a gluten-free cake on this month’s menu, too!) … Need a house plant (or two)? Check the Discovery Shop‘s sidewalk sale:
Proceeds from the shop go to fight cancer. … Our festival tradition of photographing candidates continues. Here’s Gina Topp, running for the West Seattle/South Park district on the school board, #6:
Elected officials too, even if they’re not currently on the ballot – here’s State Senator Joe Nguyễn and daughter Junie:
If you’re headed to the Farmers’ Market, remember it’s on regular hours – until 2 pm – though otherwise, the festival continues until 5 today. (The streets will remain closed for some hours afterward because of cleanup and breakdown.)
2 PM: As noted earlier, Tilden School is managing the kids’ area today – we just went over to see what’s up for free activities, on SW Alaska just west of California – options include games and art:
Here with your furry friend(s)? Visit the pet zone outside Next-to-Nature, on the west side of California just north of Alaska:
With three hours to go, this is the time we see lots of family and friend groups just hanging out. Come back even if you’ve already been!
2:25 PM: Aurora Avenue is playing now, not on the KeyBank corner but on the Cupcake Royale corner. (They’re under the canopy in this traffic-cam framegrab.)
We’ll get some video in a bit. Back here at the Info Booth, see the Junction Association volunteers on the west side of the booth – they’re continuing to sell Summer Fest merch, including a sale on T-shirts (purple, with the cool seahorse from this year’s poster art), just $10:
3:06 PM: Aurora Ave continues with a jazzy vibe – here’s a bit of video:
We’ve seen some visitors from the Admiral area this past hour or so – including Lori and Tim McConnell from West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor):
They’re organizing one of West Seattle’s biggest events next weekend – the Float Dodger 5K on Saturday, before the West Seattle Grand Parade. More than 500 people are signed up to run and/or walk, and the proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank – register now for your last chance at a discount rate!
3:38 PM: Last performer of the day on the West Side Stage in Junction Plaza Park – Dave Hates Chico:
4 PM: Aurora Ave is wrapping up too (but their merch tent will be open a while longer). Last hour of the festival. Get here fast if you’re still interested in checking it out! And if there’s any specific vendor you’re looking for but haven’t found, visit the Info Booth and we’ll look it up – we have a list of booth numbers and by this point in the festival a near-encyclopedic grasp of who’s where.
4:30 PM: The inflatables in the kid zone have closed for the day. Shopping continues until the last moment, including sidewalk sales like the one under the tent outside Easy Street:
4:45 PM: The Info Booth is in breakdown mode – unlike Friday and Saturday, festival closing time gets more intense on the last day because the streets can’t reopen until everything is cleared out and cleaned up.
We’ve had a great time talking with people. Now it’s on to the rest of the summer, including another three-day festival next weekend, the Alki Art Fair. (We’re not “in residence” there but WSB is a community co-sponsor and we’ll be covering it starting on opening day, Friday, July 22dt – lots of Alki Art Fair info is online here. Music and food as well as art!) Thanks to everyone who came to Summer Fest, including the businesses and people who made it happen!
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle for the photo! In their booth on the west side of the Farmers’ Market, Key Club members from Chief Sealth International High School are again selling painted pumpkins as a fundraiser. The market is on until 2 pm; if you miss them this week, they will be back next week.
That’s the north end of the relocated-today-only West Seattle Farmers’ Market, by the Post Office in the 4400 block of California SW. In past years, the third day of West Seattle Summer Fest has seen the market relocate to its old spot behind KeyBank, but this year the West Seattle Junction Association – which presents the festival – is trying something new: Dropping music on Sunday (which tended to be lightly attended anyway), so the market could stay on California SW, one block north. We stopped by the market-management booth to ask about the vendor response; 46 vendors are here today, which is only five fewer than usual. Hours are the same as usual – so get your shopping and snacking done before 2 pm!
While real trains are still ~10 years away, cardboard light-rail trains are being clutched by kids at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, part of the freebies at Sound Transit‘s info table. Both ST and SDOT have tables at the market today, we noticed while walking through, so if you have questions for either transportation agency, this is an opportunity to get answers. ST of course is focused on the 25 days remaining to get your comment in about the West Seattle light rail Draft Environmental Impact Statement, while SDOT is mostly there to talk about commuting alternatives. Both tables are on the east side of the market, closer to the north end than the south end. As always, the market is open until 2 pm.
(Photo from GoFundMe.com)
If you’re a regular West Seattle Farmers’ Market shopper, you know Mariposa Farm, a family-owned provider of fresh organic produce year-round. Last Sunday, they and other vendors had to deal with the revenue loss caused by the windstorm closure; then the next day, Mariposa Farm’s Whatcom County land was deluged by floodwaters. Multiple WSB readers have emailed to let us know that Mariposa is crowdfunding to try to recover; here’s the GoFundMe page, which has photos including the one above, as well as details of their losses. (Here’s an aerial look at flooding in Everson, where Mariposa Farm is located.)
9:16 AM: Thanks for the tips. The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is CLOSED today because of the windy weather, which is expected to continue throughout the day – the Wind Advisory alert says we could see gusts up to 45 mph. Details to come.
9:27 AM: That’s California south of Oregon, where the market usually would be set up. We talked to market staffers, who tell us that while the street-closure barricades are up right now, they’ll be coming down once they’re sure they’ve reached all the vendors.
Thanks to Lisa for the tip: Loki Fish Company, a vendor at the West Seattle Farmers Market, is recalling one of its products, and if you have any of it, you can take it to them there for a refund. From the company’s announcement:
Loki Fish Company of Seattle is recalling 4 oz. packages of Keta Salmon Lox (UPC code 92103 00111) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with compromised immune systems….
The Keta Salmon Lox is packaged in a 4 oz. plastic package on a coated board. It is labeled as Wild Keta Lox, Loki Fish Co., Seattle, WA. There are no best-by dates on the package.
The Keta Salmon Lox was distributed through Cherry Sprout Produce in Portland, OR and Central Co-op and Pacific Coast Harvest in Seattle. It was also sold at the University District and West Seattle Farmers Markets.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The possibility of contamination was discovered during the FDA inspection at our co-packer Felix Custom Smoking, of Monroe, Washington in July 2021. Loki submitted samples of the Keta Lox to Micro-Chem Laboratories for testing. Loki has ceased production, sales, and distribution of keta lox immediately and Loki will continue the investigation as to what caused the problem.
This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
If you have purchased this product, please do not consume it, and get rid of it immediately. You can return it to your place of purchase or to Loki Fish Company at the farmers market for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Hing Ng at Loki Fish Company (hing@lokifish.com; 206-937-1048, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
While this is a company recall, not government-ordered, it was published on the FDA website as an FYI.
The West Seattle Farmers Market is joining the WSB sponsor team at the peak of its summer bounty. New WSB sponsors get to tell you about themselves – here’s what the market wants you to know:
Each Sunday the West Seattle Farmers Market offers fresh, local, and nutrient-dense produce and groceries for growing families. The West Seattle Farmers Market runs year-round, every Sunday, and focuses on food. Everything that is sold at markets is grown, raised, or produced in Washington. Each time you shop at the markets, you’re supporting the nonprofit that runs it, but more importantly small farmers and small businesses.
West Seattle Farmers Market simply has the best fresh produce. Oftentimes fruits and vegetables are picked less than 48 hours before the market. Buying directly from farmers allows you to ask about regenerative farming practices, treatment of soil, humane treatment of animals and their diets, and on and on. Buying directly from the source cuts out the middle man where things get a little muddy. Incorporating farmers’ markets into your weekly shopping habits is good for you, good for the economy, and great for planet earth. West Seattle Farmers Market also has an option to shop online! Folks can shop from their couch via the WhatsGood app and then pick up their orders on Sunday morning at the market.
The market is also a member of the West Seattle Junction Association! We also use the market as a supportive community space for nonprofits. COVID restrictions decreased these activities, but as markets get back to being allowed to operate at full capacity, we will have nonprofits scheduled inside the market footprint again. There’s more on our website about nonprofits, events, etc) and various charity efforts in cooperation with the WSJA – like a December coat drive and Toys For Tots event.
The West Seattle Farmers Market is open 10 am-2 pm every Sunday, year-round, on California Avenue SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska.
We thank West Seattle Farmers Market for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Bee in artichoke flower, photographed by Stewart L.)
Changes continue at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Tomorrow, Master Gardeners return:
WSU Extension Master Gardeners will return to the West Seattle Farmers Market this Sunday, July 11.
We can help identify plants that you have in your garden, and the problems that may trouble them – bring along a photo on your phone or a sample flower or leaf.
And if you are new to gardening, we have lots of ideas to help get you started.
Master Gardener volunteers are trained para-professionals who will provide you with information that is RESEARCH-BASED and focused on environmentally friendly gardening practices.
You can also ask gardening questions via email at ask-a-mastergardener@live.com
More information about the Master Gardener Program can be found here.
Look closely at the lower half of our photo from midday last Sunday and you’ll see the pink tape that has marked the perimeter of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market for months, restricting entry and exit to its south and north ends. Turns out last Sunday was its last hurrah. Market management has notified the West Seattle Junction Association that the reopening changes mean it can drop the tape – so starting this Sunday (July 4th), you’ll be able to move freely between businesses and market booths. The market will no longer require masks for entry, either. And other changes may be ahead – stand by. Throughout the pandemic, despite being an outdoor venue, the market has had to deal with tough restrictions, especially from the city, which wouldn’t even let farmers’ markets open for two months, despite the governor having designated them as “essential.”
ADDED: More from the Farmers’ Market newsletter:
In accordance with the Washington State Department of Health masking order, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask while in our markets.
-There are no longer capacity restrictions or lines to enter the market!
-Eating and drinking in the markets is allowed.
-NFM and Public Health no longer regulate touching/handling of produce handling, however, individual farm and market businesses may set their own safety requirements; please read signage at stands or ask if you’re unsure.Oh Happy Day! Music, entertainment, and market events will be returning shortly.
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