By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Fragrant and colorful blossoms, fresh eggs, ruby-colored beets, leafy green spinach, crunchy lettuce, tender zucchini, peppery arugula, radishes, parsley, and handcrafted wooden toys were among the offerings of a half dozen or so growers and vendors who sold their first “fruits” of the 2012 growing season on the opening day of the Canajoharie Farmers’ Market at the Arkell Museum Saturday.

Producers such as Chad Myers, of Blue Moon Farm of Sharon Springs, and Jeff Clemishaw, of Sharon Springs’ Trifecta Farm, who have an interest in sustainable or organic agriculture, sold fresh brown eggs, frozen USDA-approved grass-fed beef, smoke-house-smoked hams, lamb and veal; and an Amish family sold honey, cookbooks and flowering plants grown on their town of Minden farm.

Yet another Amish producer sold the toys, whirligigs, and unusual, glass-sided bird houses that allow their human hosts to watch their winged guests’ remarkable transformation from egg to fledgling.

“I can have my face right against the window,” he said, noting that the adult birds are only nervous initially. Once their chicks hatch, the parents’ minds are on something else, he said.

A Sprakers resident with an interest in birds said that he would like to attract orioles.

The artisan, whose home is in a heavily wooded area, said his family has an oriole feeder and a suet cake. Situated about a foot apart, the feeders attract orioles and woodpeckers. The orioles prefer the suet, he said, making about 10 suet-cake visits for each trip to the bird feeder.

The town of Glen craftsman wasn’t the only vendor with helpful advice.

Each of the vegetable growers and meat producers present had culinary tips and/or handouts with nutritional information, recipes and the like for their products.

A handout from Diane Reilly’s Emerald Valley Acres farm, for example, described the aromatic and wispy tendrils that she attractively displayed in a large wicker basket as garlic scapes — “the garlic top or flower of hard-neck garlic.”

Considered a “gourmet delight,” the scallion-like stems of the garlic plant are available only during a few weeks in June, she noted.

As suggested in the handout, the tender green spirals can be roasted or steamed and served whole, cut into short lengths for a stir fry, used like green onions, added to stocks and soups, or dried and used in flower arrangements.

Paul Marshall, the owner of Willowplace Farm, of Canajoharie, who raises grass-fed beef, noted that pastured beef is leaner than corn-fed beef and should be cooked slowly, at a lower temperature.

Town of Palatine grower Tom Takacs noted that arugula is delicate and can be eaten in salads or lightly sauteed in olive oil, but only until wilted.

Fort Plain residents Mandar and Melanie Pandit offered a different type of “soul” food: Free meditation at their booth, which offers free instruction in Sahaja Yoga Meditation. As noted by Mandar, it’s a type of meditation practiced in around 90 countries and “works on energy centers” to help balance an individual’s physical, emotional and mental well being.

Reilly, who serves as the market manager, noted the market will be held on the Erie Boulevard grounds of the Arkell Museum each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, through the end of October.

Nine vendors are currently registered, although new vendors are always welcome. Rules and applications are available on the website, canajohariefarmersmarket.com, or by calling Reilly 922-5127.

Musicians like acoustic guitarist Melissa Clark, of Hamilton, who performed classic rock and other popular selections on the opening day of the season, will be present at the market one Saturday per month. Other performers are also welcome and should contact Reilly for more information.