A Little Patch of Heaven Way Out West

Imagine cruising along Hwy. 12 and seeing a dancing cow on the side of the road. That's right, I wrote dancing. This cow is pointing to a pasture filled with tents and activity. You can hear music and see musicians performing on a hay wagon. Curiosity gets the best of you and you turn onto Maple Avenue in Maple Plain, Minnesota and park your car on Main Street. As you enter the scene, you discover that this is a farmers' market. But, it's not just any farmers' market. It's Udder Market! And, for the next hour, you are mesmerized by what's happening on this little patch of heaven way out west.

Not only is there plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, but everything imaginable to compliment those fruits and vegetables. There is chocolate sauce to dip strawberries into and gluten free pasta to make fettuccine primavera. There is fresh baked and herbed bread and infused oils, honey and jams to enhance that bread. There are perennials and Minnesota native plants and Alfalfa's alfalfa mulch to feed them.

Children are creating their own jump ropes out of yarn at "Calves' Corner" where My Healthy Beginning hosts free "hooves on" art and garden projects. Afterwards, they go for a prize at Estimation Station where they guess how many pea pods are in the jar. Moms are trying their own luck by signing up to win a market basket and then get in line for a chair massage.

Families are sitting at picnic tables enjoying free range chicken sandwiches while listening to the free entertainment. This week, that entertainment is Nuance Duo and these talented musicians have just asked the kids in the crowd to join them on stage (a hay rack) for a song. That song is--ironically or not so ironically--"On the Other Side of the World." But Nuance Duo has replaced the word "Other" with "Udder," and soon everyone is singing along.

There are soy candles in flavors like Polo and Fall; natural dog biscuits being sold by teenagers for a charity; pancake mixes in a variety of yummy flavors; and Adirondack chairs crafted by a local woodworker. You get a free hand exfoliation at Aihu's organic skin care booth and buy a customized bracelet for a friend at Blue Water Vision.

As you meander, you come across a small group of people sitting on bales of hay and intently listening to a representative from Dynamic Healing Center. She is discussing the benefits of a healthy life style change vs dieting and how to prevent diabetes. Apparently, there are educational demos at this market each and every week.

And, the cow? He is everywhere! Playing Twister with the kids, taste testing fresh baked apple pie, and waving at the passing semi drivers who voluntarily greet him with a honk of their horn.

Sound far fetched? It isn't! This was the exact scenario at Maple Plain's Udder Market on Thursday, September 10th. You can experience it yourself on the last day of Udder Market which is Thursday, September 24, 2009. Just MOOve it on down the road...Hwy 12. that is...to

our little patch of heaven way out west.

Mimi Doran