October means it’s time for pumpkins, apples and more of our favorite fall produce, and Saturdays mean spending the day at the Binford Farmer’s Market!

Zach Brown of Grace and Truth Farms joined us today to share everything you need to know about his farm and Binford Farmer’s Market. Here’s more from him:

1. Why are people so interested in local produce?

– It’s fresher, organic, and more nutrient-dense than what is available at supermarkets. 

– Most vegetables in the grocery store come from California or Mexico. They are picked before they are ripe and ripened in transit. This can make vegetables like tomatoes taste bland. 

2. Organic vs non-GMO.

– Almost every vegetable is non-GMO. Grain crops like corn or soy are the only items you really need to worry about GMOs. 

– Organic just means synthetic chemicals were not sprayed on the crops. Only natural fertilizers are used. 

– We call ourselves beyond organic because we don’t even use the approved organic sprays. Instead, we control pests by putting insect netting over the crops. 

3. What’s happening at the Binford Farmer’s Market?

– The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. – Noon. It runs through the end of October. 

– We have live music, lots of vendors, and a lot of room for you to bring the family or walk the dogs. 

– Skip the crowds at other markets and check out Binford. It’s a lot of fun. 

4. Do you also raise animals organically?

– Yes, we have chickens and cows on pasture and pigs in the woods. 

– If a pig could choose where it would live, it would choose the woods. It’s cool in the summer, and pigs love to eat acorns. Nuts give the pork a wonderful marbled flavor that makes a tasty pork chop. 

5. How do you keep the animals safe?

– We have a livestock guardian dog named Willow. She’s an Australian shepherd that helps herd the animals. Willow will also patrol the property to help protect against coyotes, hawks and owls. 

6. What produce do you have today?

– We grow all the commonly grown Indiana vegetables. The fall crops are just now hitting their stride including Apples and Pumpkins!

7. What’s your favorite item at your stand?

– If I had to pick one, I’d choose Carmel Apple Pie Jam on vanilla ice cream. It’s life-changing!

7. What is a unique item that you grow?

– We have several, but one that is in season now is Trinidad Scorpion peppers. These are at 1.5 Million on the Scoville index. That is a measure of how spicy the pepper is. For comparison, a jalapeño is about 1500 on the Scoville Index, so the scorpion peppers are 1000 times hotter than a Jalapeño!

For more information visit Facebook.com/GraceandTruthFarms and Binfordfarmersmarket.org.

We’re celebrating National Eat Your Vegetables Day with Kris Parmelee, board member for Binford Farmers Market and Daniel Garcia of Garcia Gardens.

The Binford Farmers Market is sponsored by Community Health Network and is a program of BRAG, Binford Redevelopment and Growth, a nonprofit community organization serving 43 neighborhoods. BRAG’s service area is bound by Sargent Road to the east, 96th Street on the north, Dean Road on the west and 56th Street and Fall Creek Road on the south.

About the Market:

· Runs every Saturday (rain or shine) May through October from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

· Located on the northwest corner of Binford Blvd. and 65th Street (Northview Church parking log)

· Easily accessible parking

· Features up to 70 curated vendors who offer only Indiana-grown or Indiana-made products (no re-sellers allowed)

· Vendors include fresh produce, juices, dressings, fresh local meats, baked goods, fresh cut flowers, beef jerky, popcorn, coffee roasters, pet goods and more

· Accepts WIC, EBT/SNAP and participates in the Fresh Bucks matching program to help get fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of people that may lack access to quality produce.

· Fresh Bucks is a program of the Health Department which matches transactions on WIC and EBT/SNAP dollar for dollar up to $20

· Features local live musicians, ready to eat food and a seating area every Saturday

· Partnered with Versiti Blood Center to offer monthly blood drives at the Market

· Special drives and events to benefit other local organizations, like the Indiana Diaper Bank and the Lawrence Cupboard

For more information visit the links below.

Website: BinfordFarmersMarket.org

Facebook: Facebook.com/binfordfarmersmarket71

Instagram: Binfordfarmersmarketindy