By JODI RALL
In the Bubble columnist

Memories of ‘Indian Summer’ when my mother would can the vegetables she and Dad grew in the garden are a big part of my life. You see my world then was very different than the way I am raising my own children today. Raised in a farming community, we baked our bread, grew vegetables and chores was a huge part of daily living to sustain our way of life.

Oh, how I would love to see my own 15 year old cleaning out chicken cages and gathering brown eggs for supper. Although my Brentwood yard is plenty big, there’s no room for chicken cages and I think my neighbors would agree that is a good thing.

As my family and I have become regulars at the Forest Hills Farmers Market, those memories have come flooding back.

You may have read in Brentwood Home Page earlier this week about the market’s ‘Summer Supper’  held last Saturday. That same morning my family and one of our dogs made our weekly pilgrimage to the church for fresh vegetables and other goodies. I would love to share with you some of the great people of Brentwood that I have met because of the farmers market.

One of my favorite people to talk with each week is Cindy Delvin from Delvin Farms. Cindy and her whole family work at various farmers markets around the city. We are lucky enough to have her here in Brentwood. Greeted with a hug, Cindy always shares with me what is fresh  and has offered up good recipes for the vegetables I’m purchasing. Delvin Farms also brings brown eggs from the farm and, of course, the memories stir inside me.

We stopped to talk with Sharon Bradens from Doc Bradens Creole Seafood Pies. Her father-in-law’s Cajun background helped him create a business that makes seafood pies; using lump crab meat, Louisiana crawfish, shrimp and simple Creole seasonings. My mouth was watering sharing how amazing these pies are. Love family businesses too.

Speaking of pies, Jeanie Collier with Papa C Pies was on hand to sell their locally made pies. A customer asked about Papa C’s strawberry rhubarb pies and Jeanie shared that rhubarb is hard to come by these days. Nostalgic, I had to share with my family and Jeanie that my father had loved rhubarb pies. Sadly making a good pie crust was something this tomboy never mastered, much to my mother’s disappointment. Thank goodness we can purchase one from Jeanie just like Mom made.

I had to laugh as Howell’s Farm had fresh-squeezed tomato juice for sale. Oh the hours my mother spent canning fresh tomatoes and making homemade tomato sauce for our ‘cellar.’ This was where we stored the labors of all her handiwork. In case you are not familiar with a fruit cellar, it is a cool room made out of cinder block that kept the jars from spoiling. Imagine not too many of us have one of those here in Brentwood?

We bought the most succulent Georgia peaches from Howell’s Farm and every morning have enjoyed fresh peaches with our summer breakfast of cottage cheese. A tip from the farm, in case you did not know this, keep your peaches in a brown bag; trust me on this the peaches will be so much better.

The dog days of summer took on new meaning as my own dog Bella loved being the center of much attention at the market. Sarah Cole, from Daisy’s Delicacies made our dog’s day by offering her a PB & Oatmeal treat. Sarah, both our dogs have enjoyed the treats. I don’t speak dog language however if begging the moment the bag is in site is any indication, they love them.

This week our family has eaten fresh zucchini, squash (yellow, spaghetti and patipan), fresh peppers, potatoes and lots of fresh fruit. I already told you about the peaches, however the apples and watermelon we bought have been equally enjoyed.

If you have not been to the market, the other experience beyond the food that you are missing out on is the sense of community.
“The relaxing music being played, breakfast being served, fresh squeezed lemonade; what more can you ask for?” Leigh Ann Pettus, market organizer asked me.

What more indeed.

Jodi Rall is a special events coordinator and publicist who lives with her husband, four children, two dogs and various other pets in Brentwood. She has been known to play tennis. Contact her at jodi@brentwoodhomepage.com. Follow her "Jodi in the Bubble" blog by Clicking here.