STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Becky and Kylie Klimes sell natural products ranging from the soap and laundry detergent they make from their hogs to bacon, Italian sausage and chicken.
Although the harvest is over, they are still making the journey from their Agrarian Harvest farm near Buhl to the Wood River Valley to sell dry beans, squash, and other products at the Fall Farmers Market each Saturday at the Upper Big Wood River Grange Hall in Hailey.
“We make the soap using fat from pigs that we’ve rendered into lard, and we grate the bar soap to make all-natural laundry detergent,” said Becky Klimes. “It has none of the chemicals and preservatives your find in many other soap projects—and it’s better for your skin.”
The Fall Farmers Market runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, with the exception of Nov. 30, at the Upper Big Wood River Grange Hall, 609 3rd Ave. S in Hailey.
It’s smaller than the summer farmer’s markets, but vendors are no less passionate about their wares. Brian Bean is hawking lamb chops from Lava Lake Lamb made out of lamb that have eaten the natural forbs of mountain pastures surrounding Sun Valley
The lamb is perfect for the holidays, he said.
One vendor is selling the popular Brick Oven pies, while another offers Creamy Chicken Enchiladas in aluminum foil tubs ready for the oven, along with pear and peach syrup. And this week Shin Hasegawa will have his Pioneer Nama sake for sale.
Brenda Stanton is offering Purely Popped caramel and cheese popcorn that she says is perfect for munching when the relatives come for the holidays.
“The popcorn also can be put in tins and given as gifts,” she said.
Stanton got her start making energy bars with her son. But there were so many energy bars out there she switched to popcorn.
“I’m experimenting with caramel oyster crackers,” she said.