Eisenhower Park Farmers Market: Opening Day in the Wind

Welcome Back to the Eisenhower Park Farmers Market

Today was the last day of spring—and opening day of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park. It’s my favorite farmers market, without question. You can read more about why I love it in A Real Farmers Market in Eisenhower Park.

This is Backyard Bees’ second season at the market. From a beekeeper’s perspective, time and energy are precious during the growing season. But a community like this is worth it. Local farmers, food producers, educators, and small businesses come together every week, creating something special.

Last year, every market day felt a little different, and every week brought new conversations.

Opening Day is always exciting, but this year there was one thing you couldn’t ignore:

The weather.

The Wind Was the Story

I hate to complain. Blue skies. Sunshine. A day in the park.

But the wind was relentless.

Gusts reached nearly 24 miles per hour. Not dangerous storm winds, but strong enough to create challenges for everyone on the field.

For safety reasons, the market manager asked vendors to skip the tents altogether. A pop-up tent can act like a sail, and one strong gust can quickly turn a peaceful market day into a chase across the grass.

Skipping the tent made setup easier, but it also meant no Backyard Bees banner hanging overhead to welcome visitors.

And appearances matter.

The first thing I noticed as I approached the field was the brown, crunchy grass left behind by the recent heat wave and lack of rain.

Without tents, there was no escaping the elements.

Price signs, display pieces, product samples, and table coverings all had to be secured. More importantly, vendors themselves were fully exposed to the sun and wind.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted, windburned, and unbelievably thirsty.

But one vendor decided a tent was absolutely necessary.

Some Things Need Shade

Some products simply can’t spend an entire day in direct sunlight.

Honey can.

Lettuce cannot.

Two Brothers Farm was the only vendor with a tent on opening day, and they had good reason. Their tables were filled with fresh greens, including several varieties of lettuce, kale, and garlic scapes.

I met D’Onte and his brother Jason last year through the local farming community. They grow on rented land in Old Westbury, not far from one of the apiaries I visit regularly.

D’Onte and Jason are building something the hard way—working long hours, balancing responsibilities, and showing up week after week because they believe in what they’re growing.

The wind didn’t make their day any easier. But a tent did.

By closing time, after the weather had thoroughly whipped my butt, I found myself admiring their determination even more.

The lettuce needed shade. The farmers made it happen. I respect that.

Questions from the Honey Table

Meanwhile, back at the Backyard Bees table, the jars of spring honey sparkling in the sunshine attracted plenty of attention.

Throughout the day, I found myself answering the same three questions again and again.

I loved every minute of it.

The first question was easy:

Why is this honey so light?

The color of honey depends largely on the flowers bees visit for nectar. This particular honey was harvested on June 1 during the peak bloom of black locust trees.

The second question usually followed immediately:

What’s the difference between this one and that one?

Just one week.

Same apiary. Different hive. One week later.

Already the nectar sources were beginning to shift, with tulip poplar and other blooms influencing both color and flavor.

Then came the hardest question: How does the color affect the flavor?

That answer is personal.

Eventually, I stopped trying to explain and started handing out honey straws filled with that same early-spring honey.

One taste answered the question better than I ever could.

What Came Home With Me

Just before closing, I stepped into the shade of the Two Brothers Farm tent.

For a moment, there was calm, cool air and a shared sense of fatigue after a long day battling the wind.

I left with red leaf lettuce and Bibb lettuce.

I don’t buy bottled salad dressing anymore, and when fresh greens are in season, this Lemon Honey Vinaigrette is one of my favorites.

Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

For fresh market greens, I keep things simple:

• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• pinch of salt
• black pepper to taste

Add everything to a jar and shake well. Since there are no stabilizers, the dressing will naturally separate, so give it another shake before serving.

It’s a reminder that quality ingredients make delicious salads—and that honey belongs in far more places than a cup of tea.

I also picked up a few enormous red beets from Schneider’s Farm.

I love beets, and they pair beautifully with honey, but that’s a story for another day.

The salad needed dressing. The beets are perfect all by themselves.

Looking Ahead

One market day down, sixteen more to go.

I’m not looking forward to another stretch of dry, windy weather, but you can’t control Mother Nature—and you shouldn’t try.

What I am looking forward to is more conversations, more fresh food, more seasonal surprises, and more opportunities to support the people who make this market such a special place.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Backyard Bees table on opening day.

See you next week.