Beautiful Tomatoes

market-going even sweeter.

In view of the weird spring I would advise gardeners to keep an eye on the weather, but the frost date has past and it is officially safe to plant your veggie garden. Tailgate Markets are full of beautiful plant starts. Take this opportunity to buy some transplants, tuck them into your garden soil, and grow some of your very own cool crops at home…like ‘Fairytale’ Eggplant, ‘Carmen’ Peppers, and unusual tomatoes.

Gotta love Western North Carolina. There is a Farmer’s Tailgate Market every day of the week except Monday!

Tailgate Market Schedule Update…

JUST OPENED on Friday, May 17: East Asheville Tailgate Market: Fridays, 3-6 pm

OPEN THIS SATURDAY, May 18: Waynesville Tailgate Market: Wednesdays/Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

OPENING NEXT SATURDAY, May 25: Bakersville Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

SATURDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Asheville City Market: April 6, Saturdays, 8 am-1 pm

Black Mountain Tailgate Market: May 4, Saturdays, 9 am-12 pm

Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: April 20, Wednesdays/Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

Henderson County Tailgate Market: Saturdays, 7 am-12 pm

Historic Marion Tailgate Market: May 14, Tuesdays 3-6 pm, Saturdays, 9 am-12 pm

Leicester Farmers Market: March 30, Saturdays, 9 am-2 pm

Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market: April 6, Saturdays, 9 am-1 pm

Mills River Farmers Market: May 4, Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

North Asheville Tailgate Market: April 13, Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

Transylvania Tailgate Market: April 20, Saturdays, 8 am-12:30 pm

SUNDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Sundays On The Island, Marshall, Sundays, 12-4

TUESDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Historic Marion Tailgate Market: May 14, Tuesdays 3-6 pm, Saturdays, 9 am-12 pm

West Asheville Tailgate Market: April 9, Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 pm

WEDNESDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Asheville City Market South: April 3, Wednesdays, 1-5 pm

French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market: April 3, Wednesdays, 2-6 pm

Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: April 20, Wednesdays/Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

Montford Farmers Market: May 1, Wednesdays, 2-6 pm

Spruce Pine Farmers Market: May 1, Wednesdays, 2-5 pm

Weaverville Tailgate Market: April 10, Wednesdays, 2:30-6:30 pm

THURSDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Flat Rock Tailgate Market: May 2, Thursdays, 3-6 pm

Oakley Farmers Market: May 9, Thursdays, 3:30-6:30 pm

FRIDAY FARMER’S TAILGATE MARKETS:

Yancey County Farmers Market: April 20, Saturdays, 8:30 am-12:30 pm

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

Good news for local food lovers. Three – yes THREE – more markets open this Saturday, May 4, and in three different communities.

The Black Mountain Tailgate Market sits under beautiful shade trees and serves a wide swath of folks. They feature a diverse group of farmers & vendors, including Looking Glass Creamery, Foothills Family Farm, and Jake’s Farm. Their market is held behind the First Baptist Church at 130 Montreat Road in Black Mountain on Saturdays from 9-12.

The Mills River Farmers’ Market opens this Saturday from 8-12 at 5046 Boylston Highway in Mills River. I have never been to this market, but I have seen lots of pretty pictures on Facebook. I know Jeanine Davis and Paul Shoemaker sell there sometimes.

It’s a special market day in Lenoir, NC. The Lenoir Downtown Farmers Market is celebrating its opening day with Lighting Up The Skies, an event that takes place this Saturday, May 4 from 10 am to 7 pm with fireworks at dark, and cool demonstrations during the day at the market (like a shiitake mushroom demo).

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

 LATER IN THE WEEK:

The Oakley Farmers Market opens this coming Thursday, May 9, from 3:30 to 6:30. Just today, I heard that Oakley is a really sweet, friendly market.

Flat Rock Tailgate Market is now open on Thursdays from 3-6.

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

Full Sun Farm Tomatoes at the Montford Farmers Market (too early for tomatoes now but lots of other goodies!)

Get you some. Today. Welcome the Montford Farmers Market back to town this Wednesday and every Wednesday until about Thanksgiving time. This wonderful market is held behind the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Building on Montford Avenue…just off I-240. It is a quick stop, and if you live in Montford …think about supporting this market EVERY Wednesday. Get the neighborhood spirit going and keeping it going all season. Support your neighborhood market…wherever you live.

Also opening today:

Spruce Pine Farmers Market – at Pollyanna’s Porch in downtown Spruce Pine – Wednesdays, 2-5 pm.

LOCAL FOOD TODAY! Wednesday Markets now open or opening today:

Asheville City Market – SOUTH: Wednesdays, 1-5 pm

French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market: Wednesdays, 2-6 pm

Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: Wednesdays/Saturdays, 8 am-12 pm

Montford Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 2-6 pm

Spruce Pine Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 2-5 pm

Weaverville Tailgate Market: Wednesdays, 2:30-6:30 pm

Flat Iron on Wall Street, Asheville – Photo by kramercottageschool.blogspot.com

Wall Street this afternoon (where the big iron is downtown) to celebrate local food from 2-6 p.m.

Here is what’s happening:

• Live music from the Galen Kipar Project (2:30-4:30).

• A kid’s strawberry salsa cooking demo and activity area through our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, including face painting and story time once an hour with Malaprop’s, Spellbound, and Buncombe County Library.

• A farmers market featuring farmers who sell to the Wall Street restaurants (many of their farm-fresh items will be cooked up that very day and night), including Sunburst Trout Farms, Rise Up Rooted Farm, Looking Glass Creamery, Farm & Sparrow, Imladris Farm, and Hickory Nut Gap Farm.

• Raffles for awesome local food prizes.

• Steven Tengelsen will demonstrate the making of end grain counter top chopping blocks.

• During the Fest…Appalachian Grown Wall Street eateries Early Girl Eatery, The Market Place, MG Road, Cucina 24, and Laughing Seed Cafe will donate a portion of their sales to ASAP.

Relatively weed-free. That’s what I thought until I generated a huge pile of weeds in my garden. What a thrill to be outside today – soaking up the warm air – working in my garden. I even harvested some dinner as I cleaned up the last of my winter garden. Potatoes, lettuce, and onions…those fresh potatoes are cooking as I write.

One Last Harvest From My Winter Garden

Couldn’t resist grabbing a minute to lay down on the earth and watch the white puffy clouds traveling the blue sky. Robins hopped in the grass, safely distant and waiting for my departure to explore the potential for worms in the newly-bare dirt. A soft grey bird boldly flew down and started pecking. I become a statue. She adventured toward me checking for tidbits, an immature mocking bird.

Awed by the magic of the day, the bird & insect song, the bumblebee hedging along the honeysuckle-covered fence, the horsetail equisetum that rooted in my vase, the dogwood flowers I picked in my yard, and the optimism of planting a spring garden – I am mystified by bombs in Boston and how we have come to this. I want to know the recipe for healing our country and whatever seems to have gone so wrong with our world.

I feel lucky for my own fearless childhood where bad things (except me getting in trouble) were not on my radar screen. I can’t help but wonder if the people who do these crazy things would be so crazy if they spent more time outside. Without even trying we are surrounded by Beauty. No matter where we live there is always the sky, the sun, the rain, birds flying, plants sprouting in the sidewalk.

I am beginning to think that the human race is the worse invasive species on the planet. Not because of our numbers, but because of our greedy care-less attitudes. We are all so busy. It’s sincerely hard to snatch moments of calm and serenity, to slow things down a notch, and find ourselves blown away by the wonder of creation. I wish I could ensure that kids went outside everyday, or I wish I knew THE answer. I don’t.

But things like local farmer’s markets do weight the game towards personal relationships with our food and the people

Dinner From The Last Winter Harvest

who grow it. Even if we don’t consciously sense this, I think our bodies know the difference and they thrive on food grown with love and care. Let’s get out there and embrace this season of new fruits from our earth. Visit the market. Plant your own garden. Bring magic and wonder to your children any way you can. Celebrate that we are here. Share the love.

Click here for the farmer’s Tailgate Market 2013 schedule.

More thoughts…on hearing this morning’s news…it sounds a bit naïve to suggest that people like this would be transformed by exposure to the outdoors. Its crazy the way we humans are; killing our own on a regular basis. Seems the whole planet needs some serious grounding in the basics of what truly matters during our short lifetimes. All the while though, the Beauty surrounds us with such unimaginable complexity. It’s there, waiting, always ready to show us the way.

And at work today, my boss Wilma Penland wrote this about Earth Day for our eNewsletter – but it fits these thoughts perfectly:  “Studies from around the world have shown that when adults interact with nature and plants, they have less stress and depression in their lives and that children are less hyperactive and more creative. Research has also shown there is less crime in cities with parks and nature areas.”

Saturday, April 13 from 8-12:  

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

It’s opening day for the North Asheville Tailgate Market! The weatherpeople are predicting 68 degrees and sunny. Can you believe that after our recent weather?

This wonderful market is one of the most popular in the Asheville area. It is located in a parking lot on the UNCA campus. It’s easily accessible and has a great selection of mostly long-term vendors. Like most area tailgate markets, everything at this market is locally grown/produced.

You will find vegetables, vegetable starts, herbs, plants, cheeses, meats, eggs, artisan breads, baked goods, chocolates, honey, handmade soaps & body products, pottery, jewelry, crafts, jams, condiments, homemade sauces & dressings, a food truck with empanadas, music, and a feeling of excitement in the air. Have a happy spring adventure (maybe there are sticky buns in your future). Get out and visit the North Asheville Tailgate Market – or your neighborhood farmer’s tailgate market – this Saturday.

Asheville Area Farmer’s Tailgate Markets that are

ALREADY OPEN in 2013:

SATURDAY –

Asheville City Market: Saturdays, 8 am-1 pm

Asheville City Market South: Wednesdays, 1-5 pm

Leicester Farmers Market: Saturdays 9 am-2 pm

Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market: Saturdays 9 am-1 pm

North Asheville Tailgate Market: Saturdays 8 am-12 pm (opening this Saturday)

TUESDAY –

West Asheville Tailgate Market: Tuesdays 3:30-6:30 pm

WEDNESDAY –

French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market: Wednesdays 2-6 pm

Weaverville Tailgate Market: Wednesdays 2:30-6:30 pm

For more details about the markets visit: http://tailgatemarketfanclub.wordpress.com/market-list/

For more details about the farmers visit: http://tailgatemarketfanclub.wordpress.com/farms-etc/

Gaining Ground Farm

Asheville City Market South and the French Broad Food Coop Wednesday Market open this coming Wednesday, April 3 – both from 2-6. The Asheville City Market (on Charlotte Street from 8-1) and the Madison County Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market (in Mars Hill from 9-1) both open next Saturday, April 6. West Asheville Tailgate Market’s opening day is Tuesday, April 9 from 2:30-6:30. At UNCA, the North Asheville Tailgate Market opens on Saturday, April 13 from 8-12.

We have had a serious bout of unrelenting cold weather. Even last night temperatures fell into the 20’s, so farm crops will come in a little later this year. BUT if you have been attending the winter tailgate markets, you know that – even over the winter – vendors have offered a wonderful diversity of local foods for local-lovers.

List of Market Openings for 2013:

Asheville City Market: April 6, Saturdays, 8 am-1 pm

Asheville City Market South: April 3, Wednesdays, 1-5 pm

Bakersville Farmers Market: May 25, Saturdays 8 am-12 pm

Black Mountain Tailgate Market: May 4, Saturdays 9 am-12 pm

East Asheville Tailgate Market: May 17, Fridays 3-6 pm

Flat Rock Tailgate Market: May 2, Thursdays 3-6 pm

French Broad Food Co-op Wednesday Tailgate Market: April 3, Wednesdays 2-6 pm

Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market: April 20, Wednesdays/Saturdays 8 am-12 pm

Henderson County Tailgate Market: early spring TBA, Saturdays 7 am-12 pm

Historic Marion Tailgate Market: May 14, Tuesdays 3-6 pm, Saturdays 9 am-12 pm

Leicester Farmers Market: March 30, Saturdays 9 am-2 pm

Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market: April 6, Saturdays 9 am-1 pm

Mills River Farmers Market: May 4, Saturdays 8 am-12 pm

Montford Farmers Market: May 1, Wednesdays 2-6 pm

North Asheville Tailgate Market: April 13, Saturdays 8 am-12 pm

Oakley Farmers Market: May 9, Thursdays 3:30-6:30 pm

Spruce Pine Farmers Market: May 1, Wednesdays 2-5 pm

Transylvania Tailgate Market: April 20, Saturdays 8 am-12:30 pm

Waynesville Tailgate Market: May 15, Wednesdays/Saturdays 8 am-12 pm

Weaverville Tailgate Market: April 10, Wednesdays 2:30-6:30 pm

West Asheville Tailgate Market: April 9, Tuesdays 3:30-6:30 pm

Yancey County Farmers Market: April 20, Saturdays 8:30 am-12:30 pm

ASAP’s CSA Fair is a super-efficient way to check out a bunch of local farms all at one time, and access their CSA programs.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Usually you get a box of seasonal produce (fresh from the farm!) weekly during the season – but the box can also include meats, cheeses, eggs, flowers, and more. Many farmers will tailor your subscription to your family’s specific needs. Some farmers are also offering smaller boxes, or other creative sign-up options. Some folks get together and split a CSA share.

Meet the farmer face-to-face. Ask questions. Find out what sort of farming practices they use (are they organic?). All the farmers listed here deliver to an Asheville/Buncombe County location. If you are ready to sign up, bring your checkbook and do it! There will be cooking demos and activities for kids too.

WHEN: March 21, 3-6 pm
WHERE: Haywood Park Hotel Atrium in downtown, 46 Haywood Street/One Battery Park Avenue (across from Malaprops, sort of)
WHO: All participating farms have pickup locations in Asheville, as well as other areas (see below)

PARTICIPATING FARMS:

A Way of Life Farm (Bostic)

Aardvark Farm (Burnsville)

Bee Tree Farm (Marshall)

Blue Meadow Farms (Hendersonville)

Cane Creek Asparagus & Company CSA (Fairview)

Dry Ridge Farm (Mars Hill)

Earth Echoes Herbal CSA (Old Fort)

Fiddlesticks Farm (Old Fort)

First Blossom Farm (Leicester)

Firefly Farm (Burnsville)

Flying Cloud Farm (Fairview)

Flying Fish CSA/Wildwood Herbal (Weaverville)

Full Sun Farm, LLC (Leicester)

Gaining Ground Farm (Leicester)

Gladheart Farm (Asheville)

Ivy Creek Family Farm (Barnardsville)

Jake’s Farm (Candler)

Long Valley Eco-biotic Farm (Marshall)

New Moon Herbs Farm (Fairview)

Whispersholler Farms, LLC  (Arden)

Winter Sun Farms at Blue Ridge Food Ventures (Candler)

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: http://asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair/

RED WINE VINEGAR    

Making Red Wine Vinegar

Supplies include:

1 Large Glass Jar (1/2 gallon at least)

1 Bottle of Red Wine (doesn’t matter what kind…cheap is fine according to Meredith)

Vinegar Mother

Meredith’s Directions:

Pour the wine into the jar and float the vinegar mother on top. Cover the jar with a couple of washcloths and secure with a rubber band. Allow to sit at room temperature (or a little cooler, like a basement) for one month. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor.

Very do-able, right? It was super easy; starting the red wine vinegar took less than 5 minutes. Now all I have to do is wait a month while the vinegar mother does her job. Thank you Meredith!

Among other things…Meredith McKissick is the Executive Director of the Organic Growers School, the owner of Sweet Earth Flower Farm, co-owner of Crooked Creek Farm/ Foothills Family Farm, mother of two young sons, and a great cook who does a LOT of cooking from scratch.