This morning the Texas Worm Ranch, which in addition to wrangling worms, grows some downright gawgeous produce, posted this fresh bounty of late-summer vegetables and herbs to its Facebook page, with this message:
Peppers, okra, eggplant, basil ... this is what's coming out of our garden and to you at this week's market. Preorder a Worm Wine today for pickup tomorrow evening and get a pesto-sized bunch of basil for free!
If you dream of growing a garden with that kind of offspring on your own, well, that's another story. But if you prefer they do all the heavy lifting, then you should stop by the Pop-up Market at the Eco-Op, which takes place on alternating Wednesdays (including tomorrow, October 3) from 5 to 8 p.m. at 10137A Shoreview.
The weekend markets are good great, but this is an opportunity to restock mid-week. In addition to the loot pictured above, Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters will have a freshly roasted batch of their new Sumatra beans and their Café Momentum blend. JuHa Ranch will be there with local pasture raised beef, poultry, pork and lamb. WeMe Dallas is a local micro bakery with organic "freshly milled whole grain breads and seasonal specialties," and this week they'll also have some of their house-made pimento cheese.
For those who live farther north, the Pop-Up Market has recently added a second location at the II Creeks Shopping Center (2701 Custer Parkway) in Richardson on alternating Thursdays, beginning this week, October 4, through November 15. They'll have basically the same line-up of vendors with a few variations.
Suzie Marshall with GROW North Texas and an organizer of the pop-up markets said there are typically 10 to 12 vendors and the markets are open to everyone -- it's not a co-op.