Spring is upon us. Grass is growing. Flowers are beginning to burst. The entire neighborhood is ready to get out and play. And there’s no better way to take in the sights, sounds and scents of the season than a stroll along tree-lined Ballard Avenue at the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market.

A little taste of country in the city, the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market is a family-and dog-friendly place to go for everything from just-picked Washington fruits, flowers and organic veggies to handmade crafts, artisan cheeses, tempting food carts and metal garden art.

Local Ballardite Chris Stoopman, who grew up in both the Netherlands and the U.K., says the market reminds him of the European markets he used to visit.

“It’s probably the butchers and the fish and cheese mongers that remind me of the European markets most,” he smiles as he asks a cured meat purveyor to explain the contents of his well-stocked cold case.

You can chat with the farmers and artisan cheese makers to your heart’s content and hear the harrowing tales of trolling for salmon with the very fisherman who caught your next meal.

And while we all know old adage advises one to never shop hungry, the Ballard Market is an exception. You simply have to try all the tidbits of freshly sliced apples, goat cheese, and fresh baked bread, then wash it down with Dixie cup full of Kombucha tea. It’s part of the experience.

And this market is sampler’s heaven. A bit of advice? On your first round, sample a tad of everything; take a lunch break for some hot food, then go back around for another loop or three to stock up on your week’s provisions (remember to bring a bag or backpack to avoid using plastic).

A day in the life of a farmer’s market wanderer may include picking out a few good apples from Tiny’s Organic out of Wenatchee, perhaps some grass fed beef or lamb from Olsen Farms, fresh certified organic eggs from Skagit River Ranch, and shucked Pacific Oysters from Taylor Shellfish Farms. And the smoked troll caught White King salmon (very rare) from Wilson’s Fish is a serious treat.

For lunch, a slice or two of Veraci wood-fired pizza will have you dreaming of building your own pizza oven as you savor the mere memory of it for days. The quatro is contagious (fresh mushrooms, roasted garlic, olive oil, mozzarella, romano, parmesan and other local cheeses) and a simple slice of pepperoni is no disappointment either. Veraci Pizza first started tempting the market goers in the spring of 2004 and this traveling wood-fired oven has had a line down the block nearly every Sunday since.

And don’t forget dessert. Try a slice of Deborah’s Homemade Pies, a sweet choco-banana crepe, or homemade energy bars for all you health nuts out there. Another intriguing sweet treat is the “take and bake flourless chocolate cake” in a glass jar from Theo Chocolate—the first and only organic fair trade bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the country.

But the icing on the proverbial cake at this farmer’s market is also its live street music and handmade arts and crafts (which are hard to find year round at most area markets).

Ever encountered a Snooter-doot? Creative Endeavors handcrafted fiber arts makes stuffed carrots, mushrooms and radishes (ala stuffed animals not stuffed veggies) handmade from felted wool. A fitting gift for the farmers market.

And though they are not edible, the flavors, or rather scents of Karmela Botanica soap is a sensory experience all its own. Take a whiff of the rosemary mint, calendula carrot, avocado lemongrass, orange cinnamon, or almond vanilla cookie dough soap, and you want to take a bite too. Each bar is packed full of living enzymes, vitamins and antioxidants—much like many of the other healthy choices that line this historic maritime street on Sundays.

And though spring is a fine time to wander the market outside and bask in the hopes of even warmer summer days, the magic of the market continues year round—each season with its own special offerings. For a peek at what you might find each week, visit the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market Web site and view the “What’s Fresh When” sheet.

Or, simply go with an empty stomach, an empty shopping bag, and full intentions to take it all in and be surprised.

What:
Ballard Sunday Farmers Market

Where:
Ballard Avenue (between 20th and 22nd Ave)
www.fremontmarket.com/ballard/
206.781.6776

When:
Every Sunday (rain or shine)
April – November 10-3 p.m.
November-April 11-3 p.m.

Parking:
Free parking is available on Shilshole Avenue (one block away), but walking, biking or bussing is encouraged.