GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist has written a blog about science since 4 August 2004 (the early years are archived 
tags: Seattle Washington, Ballard Farmer's Market, photoessay, autumn bounty, harvest
Raspberries.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
When I was in Seattle, a couple friends and I went to the Ballard Farmer's Market, which is much much larger than when I last lived in Seattle.
The day was bright and warm, the air was lightly scented with seaweed and fish, and the autumn harvest was a photographer's dream! I could have spent days here with my camera. I really liked the contrast between the splotchy colors and curved lines in this vegetables;
Autumn bounty.
Ballard Farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
The rich colors and the luscious roundness of these peaches are so appealing, don't you think?
Peaches.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
Image: GrrlScientist 26 September 2008 [larger view].
The variations in the colors and markings of these squashes is quite appealing;
Squash.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
And this stack of carrots was almost beyond belief: they transfixed me so I took many dozens of photographs, trying to capture their secrets (I don't think I succeeded, though);
Carrots.
Ballard Farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
Okay, here's one more image of those carrots, just because I was so fascinated by them;
Autumn Harvest.
Ballard Farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
One of my most favorite things in the world is fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes. Even though I am allergic to them, I still eat them every spring in Manhattan (along with a handfull of antihistamines). I could barely resist the charms of these Seattle-grown vine-ripened cherry tomatoes;
Cherry tomatoes.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
This appealed to me because of the bright colors, textures and lines;
Lines.
Ballard Farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
This man raises shellfishes, and was trying to convince me that farm-raised geoduck is not as awful as the wild geoduck I ate, which was like fish-flavored rubber;
Seattle shellfish farmer.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
Interestingly, freshly ground and specially mixed spices were also available at the Farmer's Market. Don't these look wonderful? Can't you almost smell the spices just by looking at this picture?
Spices.
Ballard farmer's Market, Seattle, Washington.
Tomorrow evening, I will publish part two of this photoessay.
Humanities & Social Science
Education & Careers
Comments
Wonderful photos!
Posted by: kenju | October 7, 2008 12:06 AM
Great to see a blog on Ballard...my hood and all. Lots of scientist types here in Ballar so I'll make sure to spread the word on your blog.
Posted by: Sean Schmidt | October 7, 2008 1:10 AM
Lines? Is this some American term? It looks like Chard to me. (in the 8th photo)
As beautiful as those photos are, it's slightly depressing to compare with how my vegetables and tomatoes turned out this year - but I guess that's partly my fault for planting them so late.
Posted by: Horwood Beer-Master | October 7, 2008 7:42 AM
thank you very much, sean!
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | October 7, 2008 9:06 AM
The Ballard farmers market on Sb!
I've lived at three different residences in the neighborhood during my years in Seattle.
I remember the first farmer's market off 24th Ave a few years back. Glad to see it has grown and moved into the Historic Ballard area.
Posted by: yogi-one | October 7, 2008 11:41 AM
When I lived in Ballard years ago there was no farmer's market -- we took the bus all the way downtown to the Pike Place Market to get our fresh veggies and seafood. Glad to see it's thriving!
Posted by: Dave Munger | October 7, 2008 4:48 PM
Amazing pictures! keep up the good work.
Posted by: A | October 7, 2008 10:13 PM
Produce, grown and presented by a person who loves the life of the soil, is a thing of beauty. Thanks for taking and sharing the photos.
Posted by: RM | October 8, 2008 9:21 AM
Aw, you're making me homesick. Did you get to see the flying salmon of the Farmer's Market? When I was a kid, in the early 1970s, people got to mingle with the merchandise more than they do now. My very first scientific experiment ever--and I couldn't have been more than five years old at the time--was a survey of the squishiness of different species of salmon eyes. The customers aren't allowed to poke fish eyes anymore, alas.
I never did try geoduck; I couldn't bear to even think of consuming anything that phallic-looking.
Posted by: Prof. Bleen | October 9, 2008 12:22 AM
Beware the baby carrots........
Posted by: EyeNoU | October 9, 2008 8:35 AM