High school graduations and other special events have kept me away from the farmers markets for the past two weeks, but I hope to get back into the swing tomorrow. We (one of my 15-year-olds and I) try to hit at least two every Saturday, and when we go to Tower Grove or Soulard we also try to swing by G&W Meat and Bavarian Style Sausage at 4828 Parker for some fresh wurst for the week and perhaps some of that remarkable flank steak jerky.

Haven’t been to Clayton or Edwardsville yet this year; tomorrow offers a new choice with the opening of the North City Farmers Market on the 14th Street Mall, 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue. Tomorrow’s festivities include a live cooking demonstration by Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin; live music by Eric McSpadden and Margaret Bianchetta; a performance by local opera singer Marlissa Hudson;a bike giveaway; free barbeque; health screenings; and activities for children. The market will be open from 9 a.m. until noon and its season runs through the end of October.

We usually eat out for a review on Saturday night; Sunday is our traditional family meal, occupied by the six of us plus a revolving selection of boyfriends and relatives. Last week I did marinated (balsamic and olive oil) tri-tip plus a selection of vegan dishes I whipped up for my other daughter, who was in from out of town for her sisters’ graduation. I did a potato, green bean and dill dish, plus a salad of field greens, watercress, pea shoots and herbs dressed with Greg Perez’s Hemp Oil Vinaigrette. More on Greg in the dead-tree edition next week, plus I’ll probably use this blog to tell you some of the parts of Greg’s colorful history that didn’t make it into the story.

One of my kids’ perennial favorites for Sunday dinner at home is a recipe Chris Carson of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra gave me when we profiled him and several other culinarily minded SLSOers a couple of summers ago.

And, of course, weekends are when I catch up on my gardening. It looks like we’ll be picking cherries; I’ve got blossoms on my tomatoes, but no fruit yet. I also want to build up some raised beds — my garden sits on the former rock driveway for our property, and I’ve reclaimed some of it, but I think it’s better to build up rather than try to dig all the rocks out. Any and all tips appreciated. Should I build it up with railroad ties? What other retaining material might I use?

One other thing I’m feeling my way through this year: When I lived in Madison (WI) many years ago, I got turned on to a thing called ground cherries that used to show up regularly at Madison’s unparalleled farmers market. They’re spreading out nicely (I’ve only got four plants); I’ll let you know how prolific they are (assuming I manage to get them to fruit out).