Last Saturday morning, I took a cruise up I-10 to Boerne Stage Road and dropped by the farmers market at the Leon Springs Baptist Church parking lot. On a sunny morning it was easy to park and not yet steamy hot, so I could enjoy making the rounds of vendors.

Even at a distance, the plants and flowers displayed were a welcome eyeful of color in our currently dusty landscape. There were two tents with beautiful, healthy looking herbs, Hibiscus, and an intriguing flowering plant named a Rangoon Creeper.

I met Mario Obledo as I photographed some of the produce. He is the vice president of the Hill Country Farmers Market Association, the organization that promotes this market and three other markets in the area (see below for details). I learned that the Leon Springs market is year-round, 2 1/2 years into its growth and development, still with room for new additions and new ideas.

Every day you hear about “going green,” and at The Green Brownie company they are doing green in brownies! No, this isn’t a St. Patrick’s Day gimmick; these are delicious treats made with all-organic ingredients so you can feel good about indulging. Owner Tracy Carlson told me that they even used packaging that is eco-friendly. If you are in a more playful mood, the stand also has Brownies-on-a-stick (they are cute) as well as gluten-free brownies.

But the vision that most of us hold about a farmers market includes lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. As it should be, there were three well-stocked displays of bright, fresh, produce. I saw some good looking squash that were named Sunburst and White Scalloped, very much like a pattypan squash, at Bob Mishler’s Uncertain Farms. Lots of people were buying peaches and tomatoes, cucumbers and okra, potatoes and green beans, plums, bell peppers, jam, wow!

But there were baked breads, pecans (even pecan oils at Circle H Orchards), and some super yummy granola at Cowgirl Granola. Heather Hunter, the Head Cowgirl, has been making her toasty, oaty, nutty, tasty, amazing granola for about 8 years. She is out at Leon Springs every week, as well as the other three markets in the association. You can also contact her at cowgirlenterprises@gmail.com.

There is usually a grass-fed beef dealer, but he was out-of-town that morning. He’s expected back soon; meanwhile, there are other vendors with free-range eggs and various goodies to keep you busy until then.

I have been to a few farmers markets in our area and in other states — and even other countries. Leon Springs is not the biggest, but it has a good variety, easy to get service, and just a friendly, can-do, attitude. Go see for yourself and try something new!

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Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Leon Springs Baptist Church
24133 Boerne Stage Road (behind the H-E-B)

The other markets affiliated are:

• Boerne, Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Road, Boerne TX  Wednesdays 2-6 p.m., now through Nov. 18
• Bulverde-Spring Branch, The Branches Church, 4594 Highway 281 North, Bulverde, TX  Saturdays, 2:30-5:30 p.m., year-round.
• Helotes-Grey Forest, Helotes Hills United Methodist Church, 13222 Bandera Road, Helotes, TX  2nd & 4th Fridays, 3-6 p.m., now through Nov. 13

Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, near Elmendorf, will observe Father’s Day on Saturday, offering tours and treats featuring this healthful, delicious fruit with an ancient history. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., come down to the ranch to see thousands of olive trees and learn about the varieties that grow well in Texas. Tours are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sandy Oaks nursery offers 20 varieties of olive trees for sale, for those who want to grow their own.

Dad can have a glass of sangria, kids can have pizza snacks and everyone can sample olive leaf tea. Taste olive oil and specially made treats made with olive oil, such as olive oil brownies. Check out the shop for everything from extra virgin olive oil, fig balsamic vinegar and to Sandy Oaks’ made-on-site lotions, healing salves, salt scrub and aromatic oil.

From now through Saturday, anyone who purchases more than $40 worth of merchandise in the gift shop will receive a gift of either truffles or olive oil brownies.

Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard (www.sandyoaks.com), owned by Saundra C. Winokur, is located at 25195 Mathis Road, off U.S. Highway 37 about 20 minutes south of San Antonio. Take the Hardy Road Exit and turn east (left, if coming from San Antonio.) Go to Mathis Road, turn left, and Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard is on your left about a third of a mile up Mathis Road. Look for the big iron gate.