Japan Farmers Markets

Fresh cider being pressed at the Naplavka Farmers Market in Prague . While the month may be coming to a close, the great selection of markets is certainly not. Of greatest note this month is that Greenmarket Sumida is back on the calendar and in full swing. Like the Nippori Market, it is in a fantastic part of town worth a visit all on its own. The market is new, but good fun and worth the trek. Undoubtedly, the UNU Market and Roppongi Hills Marche are also worth visiting. The latter, of course, is where the Pie Queen can be found in all her glory! Greenmarket Sumida Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 Just over the bridge from Senso-ji is the newest market in the heart of the city. A collaborative effort between the local government and the same folks who manage Market of the Sun and Yokohama's Kitanaka Marche,  Greenmarket Sumida  aims to fill the supermarket gap in this old neighborhood. An excellent selection of food trucks nourish weary shoppers while the Be

A lovely selection of squash at a little farmers market in Tylovo Square, Prague . Another nice round of markets, including the ever wonderful Earth Day Market with it's cheerful vendors and fun atmosphere. Easily one of the best places in the city to get a good selection of organic and fair trade fruits, vegetables, grains, breads, and more, it is also an extremely fun event. Don't miss the chance to sample some of the best plum jam going along with homemade mochi! Earth Day Market Sunday, September 24 I could wax on forever about how great this market is and how important it is for the future of Japanese farming and global food security. However, I'll just insist that folks go and see for themselves what great things the market and these innovative growers are doing. Come find some good food and fun! 10am to 4pm, Rain or shine Map Kamome Marche Saturday, September 23 Set on the upper level of the Yokohama Bay Quarter, this little market offers nice variet

A sweet little weekly market in Amstetten, Austria. One of the most hopping weekends for farmers markets in the area, there should be no excuse for not heading out the door on the hunt for some lovely treats. Kichijoji's little market is an absolute delight for early risers, and the Koenji Market always promises something wonderful. Both are small but action-packed. The Nippori Market is also always good fun and in a spectacular part of the city. Takako Kimura will be there with her veg and homemade pickles, so perhaps give this one a little star! Kichijoji Harmonica Yokocho Asaichi Sunday, September 17 Early birds on Tokyo's west side should count themselves lucky to find  this little market  in the warren of shops just north of the station. While fruits and veg are a bit lacking, the market is big on craftsmen and women doing interesting work, excellent baked goods, miso, rice, and other tasty treats. It's worth noting that a number of places offer breakfast d

Just down the hill from our apartment is a small shrine. Surrounded by tall zelkova, it looks like every other rural area shrine - brown, tidy, and quiet. It's where our annual Obon festival is held and a handful of other festivals throughout the year, too, but usually it's just there. We had seen a plaque that described a fire festival, but we didn't have a chance to see it for ourselves until last September. Local men and women carry the mikoshi (a portable shrine that houses the local god) along a set path, passing it over burning bundles of wara (rice straw) along the way before bringing it back to the shrine where a huge bonfire is lit. They run back and forth from the fire to the temple with the mikoshi to celebrate our local god and ask for its protection once more throughout the year. It is an event unlike anything else I have ever seen here. The whole neighborhood and then some turn out to witness this event, which feels raucous as well as revere

Colorful fruit and veg at Vienna's Nacht Markt. Rain or shine, these markets will be on, so don't hesitate to make your way up and out to see what is on offer. There is no shortage of good food to be had, and be sure to check market websites to see about special themes or which vendors may be on hand. The Market of the Sun will be featuring ichijiku (figs) as well as other autumn treats, and the Kamakura Market is always a treat. Don't forget, too, that the Ebisu Market is a small but tasty hub for good veg and fruit in a nifty part of town. Market of the Sun Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 One of Tokyo's newer markets,  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche) , professes to be one of the largest. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a visit for its lovely selection of foodly and crafty items that rivals the goodies found at the UNU Market. 10am to 4pm Step out of Kachidoke Station at Exits A

Coreopsis seed head at the ready. Ok, stolen is kind of a strong word. I happened to be walking to the garden one morning and noticed that a stand of coreopsis I admired had some seed heads. They bloom next to a guardrail along the road and are a cheerful greeter each time I walk to and from my garden. I plucked a head in passing and tossed it into the garden near the rhubarb. On the way home, I grabbed another and tossed it onto the soil near my compost bin. A couple days later, I snagged another and plopped it in a different location in my garden. I felt a little guilty, but my neighbor put my mind at ease. "Every gardener does that," she said when I confessed my crime one morning when we met while tending our respective plots. So, I grabbed another on my way home and eyeballed a clump of nira that were blooming, too. After all, I'm a gardener, I thought as I mentally marked the location.

An amazing collection of spices at the Nacht Markt in Vienna. September has rolled in with it's usual bout of stormy and wet weather, but that won't hold back the produce destined for these great markets. Look for sweet potatoes, a continued influx of squash varieties, plenty of tomatoes, and the eggplants should still be making their way, too. Don't be shy about those summer vegetables. They are putting on a last great effort before the season ends. Greenmarket Sumida Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 Just over the bridge from Senso-ji is the newest market in the heart of the city. A collaborative effort between the local government and the same folks who manage Market of the Sun and Yokohama's Kitanaka Marche,  Greenmarket Sumida  aims to fill the supermarket gap in this old neighborhood. An excellent selection of food trucks nourish weary shoppers while the Beer Truck is often on hand to slake their thirst. 10am to 4pm Asakusa Station Exit the