they know apostrophe

I've been meaning to visit the Forsyth Farmers' Market for quite some time, but never seem to wake up early enough to get there in time for the good stuff. Today, I finally got there early enough.  Even friend Mandy was up in time to join me.

The market is located at the south end of Forsyth Park and includes vendors of  fruits, vegetables,  honey, grain-fed beef, cheese, bread, boiled peanuts, plants, and other local goodies.

Our friend Rachel Hennon sells organic onions that she helped cultivate at Walker Farms Organic Produce in Sylvania.

http://www.walkerorganicfarm.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walker-Farms-Organic-Produce/196335954640

Castra Rota sells handmade breads from Italy and Germany, while dressed as an authentic Roman (plus straw hat). Mandy and I split the loaf of bread.  To accompany the bread, I bought his waxed paper wrapped Caseus authentic ancient Roman gourmet cheese.

 http://castrarota.com/index.html

He also participates in Roman re-enactments in Brunson, SC.

http://legvi.tripod.com/castroromani/id8.html

Purchases

Mandy:  watermelon popsicle, bread, red peppers

Me:  bread, cheese, boiled peanuts, chocolate cinnamon plant

Sorry!  The boiled peanuts disappeared before I could take their photo.

Disclaimer:  While trying to place labels on this post, I could not save any label that used an apostrophe and s (farmers' market) because the blogsite thinks they are ampersands which are also outlawed!  So, I guess Blogger doesn't know our friend the apostrophe.  

going bananas

     Because school officially kicks off tomorrow (the students finally arrive), you'd think I was going bananas over lesson plans, seating charts, and bulletin boards.  But no!  We've actually got bananas in the backyard.  The first time I ever saw banana plants with bananas on them was at the Chiquiri Land Company in Changuinola, Republic de Panama. 

 This is where Chiquita bananas are grown and shipped by truck and boat.  After seeing this process, I am amazed that these bananas survive the trip to our local Kroger. 

The blue bags keep the monkeys from eating the unripe bananas.

     Anyway, I keep an eye on my banana plants, because they have been replanted twice.  They don't seem to be fond of the arctic-style winters we've had for the past two years in Savannah.  I learned that "bananas require as much warmth as can be given them."  http://http://www.bananaplants.net/banananinfo.html
Since we've had about 60 straight days of 99 degree weather, these plants should be very happy
     The first week in August, I noticed something so red in the banana plant.   I had to investigate and found what appeared to be a red ear of corn.  I knew that couldn't be right.  But then I saw three small green shoots at the top of the ear of corn and decided that they must be baby bananas.

 I've been watching it for over three weeks now and it seems that every flower that opens off of the ear of corn yields another banana.  We are up to four that I'm sure are bananas and another four that could be buds of tiny bananas.

     Since I know nothing about growing any crops, I've been doing some research and learned that "stalks of bananas are usually formed in the late summer and then winter over.  In March they begin plumping up and may ripen in April."  What? In April??????  I'll have to watch them for a lot longer that I had anticipated.  


     I just hope this winter is much warmer than last, or I'll have to learn to knit a blanket for the babies.  Stay tuned...