FARMBOAT NEWS BLOG

Today, the historic fishing vessel Olympic made its first official produce run leaving from Brownsville in Kitsap County bound for the FarmBoat Floating Market at Lake Union Park in Seattle. Continue reading →

While researching local history, I recently ran across this article in a family scrapbook and offer this fascinating summary of the article:

Back in the 1800’s in the Puget Sound area there weren’t any highways or freeways to depend upon to deliver goods, but there were floating stores or as they became better known  as “trade boats”. Besides carrying groceries, tools, firearms, dress goods and medicines and supplies, some of these floating stores also had postoffices with their own postmasters. Newspapers were brought to the settlers from areas in the Sound to help keep them more up to date with local news. Continue reading →

Cinnamon dates back to 2800 B.C., it is native to an island located on the southeastern  tip of India, called Sri Lanka formerly known as Ceylon.  Over time, this spice has played an important role in economies, it was so highly valued that wars were fought over it. Cinnamon was also one of the earliest spices transported by boat.

Recently it has also been touted as a health cure for everything from reducing bad or LDL cholesterol to the reduction of proliferation of leukemia cancer cells to improving the health of diabetics.
Continue reading →

The Cvita moored at South Lake Union Park at the Wooden Boat Center is a floating store boat, a project of Farmboat. Its name is derived from the Croatian word for flower.  Its purpose is to offer local produce from local farms directly to the consumer through an old fashioned honor box. That’s right, produce is loaded periodically to allow patrons to stop by and choose what they need that day and pay at the colorful farmboat honor box nearby.

It operates as a roadside farmstand only in this case it is located on the waterfront!  The Cvita operated through this past fall with fresh pears, apples and squash from local farmers.  The honor box offers a good lesson for youth who frequent the Wooden Boat Center and demonstrates the values of honesty and integrity which were common amongst our earlier maritime settlers here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Cvita is stocked depending on weather conditions and farm produce availability.

Purslane, a common weed and annual succulent is also known as Pigweed, Little Hogweed, Fatweed and Pusley.   It is also considered an exotic weed and in some areas an invasive plant.  Normally drought resistant it does grow in poor soils.   Many people also use purslane as a culinary and medicinal plant and in the right conditions it may grow to 6-12 inches in height.

The stems, leaves and flower buds are all edible. It can be used in salads, stews and soups.  What is so wonderful about this common weed is that it contains more *omega 3 fatty acids  than any other leafy vegetable plant. Omega 3 fatty acids are important to your health.  Studies have shown that they may help reduce risks for cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. Research has also revealed that the omega 3 alpha linoleic acids found in seeds, like flaxseeds,  walnuts, and whole grains may be as necessary to one’s health as the omega 3’s found in fish oils to prevent heart attacks.

Continue reading →

After a long dreary winter, the FarmBoat Lake Union Floating Market is back onboard the historic steamship “Virginia V”. We are ready for another fantastic season on the water. This year, Michael Petrone has joined us to help run the popular floating market at Lake Union Park (some of you may remember Mike’s famous award wining sandwich shop “Mikes East Coast Sandwiches”). Mike will be working with vendors and promoting FarmBoat to the South Lake Union neighborhood. He will also be organizing market entertainment and weekly festivities. Come by and meet Mike. He is a great guy!

The FarmBoat Lake Union Floating Market will run every Thursday from 11:00 am to 3:00 PM (except for the week of July 4th and Seafair).

Due to the simultaneous construction closures of roads, parking lots and pedestrian walkways at South Lake Union, the FarmBoat Floating Market will close early this year. Despite hopes to run the market up until Christmas, the City of Seattle has made it nearly impossible for visitors to easily get to the city’s newest multi-million dollar park. The closure of Terry and Western Avenue to pedestrian traffic cuts off most of South Lake Union from the waterfront park. With the expanded construction zones of various municipal projects in the area, the park has become a virtual desert.
Continue reading →

The steamship Virginia V is 90 years old next year. All who built and ran her in the early days of her Mosquito Fleet career are dead now. The vast majority of folks who walked her decks over the years have passed on as well–most of them, peacefully. However, there are a few contentious souls who linger in the afterlife wandering the ships passageways late at night. Come in Halloween costume and learn the chilling tales of ghost ships and see if you can find evidence of recent hauntings.
Continue reading →

Fall is definitely here. Squash, apples pears, sweet corn, chard and kale star at the floating market. It’s a great time to start dreaming about those cozy holiday meals. This week, Adriana will be cooking up her famous Fish Tacos, and tamales for lunch on the lake. Seattle Bagels will be there with their special locally made bagels and amazing bagel chips (highly recommended). 11 Olives will be sharing samples of incredible infused olive oils and balsamics. Marias Deserts has gluten free breads and treats.
Continue reading →

When is the last time you dined and shopped for groceries on an historic steamship? Now is the time to come by if you have not experienced this exclusive Seattle treat.

Fresh Fall crops are in! Eat well and stock up for winter. We have amazing fresh fish Tacos, and Enchiladas. Local bagels gluten free breads, artisan coffee & tea, olive oil & balsamics, and of course, fresh fall produce from local farms. Pam is out this week so no long stories. It has now been a year since we started this little market at Lake Union Park. Just come and enjoy the view!
Continue reading →