Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 15, 2008 issue
Compiled by Kathleen McFadden and David Brewer
The heavy rains and high winds washed over the Blue Ridge during the last several days, but things are blooming across the High Country. Saturday mornings are beginning to heat up and the markets are adding new plants and vegetables each week. Don’t forget that early birds get the best selection, so set your alarms early and head to the markets bright and early.
The market enjoyed another great Saturday with only a little wind and chill. The harsh weather did bring some needed rain to the crops. Shoppers can expect to find an abundance of lettuce, spinach, spring onions, asparagus, and new potatoes. The freshness of spring greens of spring greens harvested just hours before is a treat you don't want to miss.
The Watauga County Farmers' Market is also a great place to find vegetable, herb and flowering plants that have been carefully tended to by the grower and already acclimated to Boone weather. Don and Roger Owens will bring more of their garden-ready plants including three types of thyme and oregano, four different sages and three types of basil. Roger and Don will also have dill, chives, cucumber and squash plants, as well as plenty of heirloom tomato starts.
Ryan Abrams has plenty of dill, basil and cilantro plants and he also has sunflowers, all different types of morning glories, lemon balm and four types of mint. Erik Selvey offers many unusual varieties of perennial plants along with popular favorites such as ferns, yellow coreopsis and blue hostas.
Don't forget to stock up on everyone's favorite hot sauce, salsa and BBQ sauce from Fire From the Mountain. Each sauce is made with Dorene Jankowski's apple wood-smoked peppers.
The Watauga County Farmers’ Market is at Horn in the West in Boone rain or shine. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call Market Manager Karen Bauman at 828-355-4918 or click to www.wcfm.info for more info.
The Ashe County Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and is located on the Backstreet in downtown West Jefferson. Farmers, artists and crafts people convene to sell products that are home grown and hand made in Ashe County. You will find an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, herbs and flowers raised on rich mountain soil.
The little town of Todd has a new, weekday farmers’ market. The Todd Sustainable Market is Thursday afternoons from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Todd Mercantile. The market features locally grown produce, grass-fed meat, handcrafted lotions and soaps, fresh-baked bread, pastries and cookies, and artisan crafts. For more information about the Todd Sustainable Market or to sell at the market, contact Stacy Martin at 336-709-6541 or yellowwolffarm@yahoo.com.
The High Country Farmers' Market is coming to Boone! The market will open on Sunday, May 25, in the parking lot of the Watauga County Human Services Center at 132 Poplar Grove Road. Hours are 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The location has lots of parking and bicycle parking, covered and open seating and even an accessible ATM. Lots of fresh produce, bedding plants and perennials, fresh-cut flowers, plenty of baked goodies, jams and jellies, culinary vinegars, handmade soaps and body products, and more will be available.
For more info, contact Bill Moretz at 828-264-3424 or Carol Miller at 336-385-9419 or pfvinegars@yahoo.com