Snowflakes are falling in New Haven this week--seems winter is in full swing, and with them, preparations for winter holidays. Our weekend markets are open for your holiday shopping, from filling your table to gifts and decor. Shop local, and support local farmers and artisans!

See information on this week's market activities below. Also below is our detailed winter and holiday market schedule.

All CitySeed markets accept cash, debit, credit, SNAP (food stamps), FMNP, SFMNP, and WIC CVV. Now doubling SNAP up to $10 per market thanks to a partnership with Wholesome Wave

Saturday at the Wooster Square Farmers' Market

• Saturday is World AIDS Day, and representatives from AIDS Walk New Haven will be on hand with educational information on HIV and AIDS.
• Barberry Hill and Daren Hall return to the market with beautiful fresh CT grown wreaths, kissing balls, garlands and more for your holiday decor.
• Smyth's Trinity Farm's delicious whole milk eggnog is perfect for holiday celebrations!

Sunday at the Edgewood Park Farmers' Market

• Guest Vendor: Best Buddy Biscuits, with holiday gifts for both dogs and cats. Great hostess gifts for the pet lover...
• Guest Vendor: Massaro Farm from Woodbridge, CT will continue to join us in December with fresh local produce.
• Waldingfield Farm joins the market for the winter starting this week, with Organic produce, heirloom tomato products, holiday gift baskets featuring CT grown treats, and more!

Through December, the Wooster Square and Edgewood Park Markets are open weekly, except for the following Holidays:
The Wooster Square Market will be closed 12/29.
The Edgewood Park Market will be closed 12/23, and 12/30.

WINTER MARKET SCHEDULE: The Winter Market Season runs from January-April.

The Wooster Square Winter Market will be open every Saturday January-April, from 10am-1pm.

The Edgewood Park Market will be open every other Sunday from 10am-1pm:
January: 1/6, 1/20,
February: 2/3, 2/17,
March: 3/3, 3/17, closed Easter Sunday (3/31),
April: 4/7, 4/21.

Stone Gardens Farm is excited to announce thier first ever Winter CSA collaboration. They have partnered up with Fred and Michele Bialek of Liquid Lunch and Tom Giammettei of The Flower Farm of Prospect to be able to bring you locally grown produce all winter long! Shares will include an assortment of the following:

• 3-5 Assorted frozen veggies grown by Stone Gardens Farm, prepared and frozen by Liquid Lunch Creations (sweet corn, diced peppers, halved peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cubed eggplant, green/yellow beans, broccoli, cauliflower, winter squash puree, prepared collards greens) approx. 1lb packages of veggies and 2 qt package of sauce
• 1-2 Specialty items each pick up: 24oz jar of our tomato sauce, 16 oz jar of our salsa, popcorn, pesto
• Assorted root veggies, brassicas, and or mustard type greens (quantities dependent on weather and time of season- beets, carrots, turnips, potatoes, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, collards, asian mix, leeks)
• 2 heads of hydroponic lettuce for each pick up grown by Tom Giammattei from Prospect
• There will be an option to add soups to your share each pick up, info coming soon.
  

How long does it run/ What are the dates? 9 weeks: 1 pick up in December-- week of the 17th, 2 pick ups in January-- weeks of the 7th and 21st, 2 pick ups in February-- weeks of the 4th and 18th, 2 pick ups in March-- weeks of the 4th and 18th, 2 pick ups in April-- weeks of the 1st and 15th. Sign up information and pricing available here.

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Bodhichitta Farm's 14 week Winter-Spring 2013 CSA starts mid February with early crops such as microgreens, braising greens, herbs, spicy salad mix, baby greens, kale and more. By April they add radish, salad turnips and scallions. An additional bonus is fresh maple syrup when the sugaring season comes. This is usually in March, but is weather dependent. Drop sites available in Cheshire, Prospect, Bethany, and Westville, Connecticut. For more information, click here.

Wreath Making at Common Ground, Saturday December 8 from 10:00 – 2:00 358 Springside Avenue, New Haven Celebrate nature’s ornaments with a beautiful wreath made from fresh greens, vines, pinecones, and other natural materials from the farm and forest. Hot beverages, soup, and snacks from our organic farm will be shared with all. Wreath or swag: $8, all tools and materials provided.

Meet John Barricelli, author of the Seasonal Baker (and CitySeed Vendor!), Wednesday, December 12, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, 50+ Transition Center, New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm St. New Haven, CT 06510 Nationally known for his baking talents, John Barricelli of Norwalk’s SoNo Baking Company has earned loyal customers right here in New Haven through his Farmers Markets offerings. His newest book, The Seasonal Baker, offers home cooks 135 sweet and savory recipes based on seasonal ingredients—and tells us how to make them! Free, click here for more information and registration.

CitySeed seeks volunteers for the fall season and beyond! Opportunities include running cooking and canning demos, helping with administrative tasks, marketing and promotions, and even working on this newsletter! Short and long term commitments available. Contact Cara for more information.

Northfordy Farm Seeking Volunteers: Want to learn how to plant onions, sort garlic, harvest kale, brush a donkey, collect eggs without getting pecked? Come volunteer at Northfordy Farm, 20 minutes from New Haven, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. Learn all aspects of organic crop production - veggies, herbs and flowers, and maybe even take home some delicious, healthy food. Call Peter 203-494-8408

Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters is looking for volunteers. This progressive program "connects families with food by teaching them how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget." Current opportunities include culinary instructors, nutrition instructors, class assistants, and support volunteers. For more information, visit their website here.

Have a food, environment, or sustainable event to share? send it to us at markets@cityseed.org.