Farmer's Market Fall delight on Saturdays

Birdsong mingled with the play of a waterfall Saturday, September 30, welcoming shoppers to the third week of Myrtle Creek Nursery’s new Fall Farmer’s Market. Under a canopy of dappled shade, bright tents sheltered buckets of sunflowers and roses; wooden trays of limes and sapotes; and baskets of oranges, tomatoes, corn, strawberries, hard winter squash and eggs from “real chickens,” said Marqui Molo, a young mother with two small kids in tow. “My kids’ health is at the top of my list,” Molo said. She tries to buy organic foods and liked the eggs because “they’re not full of hormones.”

Jim and Judi Brady, owners of Rusty Acres Herb Farm, were busy explaining the array of appetizer dips and spreads arranged beside bowls of crackers, all made from Rusty Acres Herb Farm relishes and sauces, stopping only to sell another dozen eggs or winter squash produced on their acreage in Rainbow. “It’s nice to have nurseries supporting each other,” Judi said.

On this Saturday, a trio of ponies formed up to give small children rides around the property. Jim Harvey, whose two boys tugged at his hands, said they were there for the rides. “And the fresh produce,” chimed in wife Julie, busy selecting tomatoes.

Olga Meteer, discovered pondering a display of breads and cookies, confessed she’d been in Fallbrook for two years and had never been to Myrtle Creek Nursery before. “They’ve got this gorgeous place. I’d stay all day,” she enthused. The loaves of bread are brought in from Belen Artisan Bakery in Escondido by Nancy Duke and the sweet breads and cookies are made by Diane Tjepkes, both Fallbrook residents.

Nearby, Leslie Hunt stood beside a display of her original ceramic animal-themed food dishes and cookie jars. “I usually sell wholesale but this is fun, getting out to meet the customers,” she explained to a young mother of two teens who asked the price of a poodle-shaped cookie jar. Along with Hunt, tents covered a display of wreathes, hand-knitted hats and scarves and handcrafted soaps. A lemonade stand, Valdez Tamales and fresh coffee offered instant refreshment.

Rich Sherman, one of the owners of Myrtle Creek Nursery on hand to greet people arriving for the event, said he hopes to have all organic foods for sale within a short time. At present the farmer’s market offers a blend. Sherman wants to feature all local produce and says starting this market is in response to Fallbrook gardeners who wanted a local place to sell their vegetables and fruit when in season.

“Actually, some of our customers asked us to do this,” Sherman said. “We used to have a produce stand alongside the road on the nursery property to sell what we grow, but a truck took it out.” None of the fruit, vegetables or flowers for sale at this time are grown on Myrtle Creek Nursery property. Sherman encourages anyone who might have “family fruit” trees or gardens who would like to sell their produce at the farmer’s market to contact him at (760) 728-5340.

The Myrtle Creek Fall Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine, until December 16, and will re-open in the spring. Myrtle Creek Nursery is located at 2940 Reche Road, Fallbrook, and is open all year.