Behind the Line: Melissa Trimmer
Topic: Off the Clock
Free Time!
Q: Do you like to market? Why or why not?
I love to market, too much in fact. This year my husband has asked me to stay away from Green City Market as we're trying to save some cash and I have a weakness for spending way too much there. So on that note I checked out the Evanston Farmer's Market this past Saturday. It isn't Green City, right?? I recognized many of the farms and came away with the last strawberries of the season for jam, beautiful little zucchini's for curried pickles, fresh shelling peas for everything, and a beautiful bouquet! All in all, I love markets because they support local farmers, I adore the fresh produce I find there, and I cherish the time with my children talking to them about seasonality and the earth in general. Besides if I can't go to one market this year, I will find another (sorry, honey!)...
Q: Do you have any food-related hobbies, like canning, gardening or home-brewing? How did you come into this hobby?
I can and preserve at home. I learned to make and can jams and jellies as a kid. I spent my summers on my Aunts farm where I began to pick up some of these skills. In 6th grade I lived in a house with raspberry brambles out back. One day I decided to teach myself how to make raspberry jam. I took the bus out to Meijer’s and pick up small canning jars, then following the instructions on the box, I made and canned my first batch of raspberry jam after first picking the berries myself. Who knew exactly how far that would lead.