Black Mountain Tailgate Market, Mills River Farmers’ Market, and Lenoir Open Today!

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

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Favorite Markets Opening…Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday!

It is official. The markets have strawberries, and they ARE delicious (see the previous post!).

Lots of your favorite markets open this week…including Asheville City

Yes! Strawberries. Don't miss out.

South, Montford, Spruce Pine, Flat Rock, Big Ivy, Mills River, and Black Mountain Tailgate Market.

And the Weaverville Tailgate Market is celebrating spring with a visiting chef, Ed Cohan of Green Sage, Scribbles the clown, a potting table for kids, and Madison County’s wonderful Extension Agent, Elizabeth Ayers, will be at the market to answer your gardening questions.

Opens WEDNESDAY, May 2 ~
Asheville City Market South, Biltmore Park Town Square, 2-6, moves outdoors this week

Montford Farmers Market, Asheville Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot, 36 Montford Avenue, 2-6

Spruce Pine Farmers Market,  Oak Avenue on the porch of Wildflower’s Health Food Store, 2-5

Opens THURSDAY, May 3 ~

Flat Rock Tailgate Market, behind Hand & Hand Gallery, Greenville Highway, Thursdays, 3-6

Opens SATURDAY, May 5 ~

Big Ivy Tailgate Market, old Fire Station parking lot, Barnardsville, Saturdays, 10-12, Opens May 5, 2012

Black Mountain Tailgate Market, behind the First Baptist Church at 130 Montreat Road in Black Mountain, Saturdays, 9-12, May 5

Mills River Tailgate Market, 5046 Boylston Highway, Saturdays, 8-12, May 5 to October

Get Your 'Mater Plants

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More Market Openings, Visit to West Asheville Market, Congrats to Gaelan

• MARKETS OPENING this coming week:

 

Greenlife Sunday Market opens this Sunday, May 1, 11-3

Wednesday Coop Market opens this Wednesday, May 4, 2-6:30

Asheville City Market – South, opens this Wednesday, May 4, 2-6

Flat Rock Tailgate Market opens this Thursday, May 5, 3-6

Big Ivy Tailgate Market opens this Saturday, May 7, 10-12

Mills River Tailgate Market opens this Saturday, May 7, 8-12

Marshall Island Farmers Market opens Sunday, May 8,12-4

• ALREADY OPEN:

 

Madison County Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market, Saturdays, 9-1

 

Asheville City Market, 161 S. Charlotte Street, Saturdays, 8-1

 

Henderson County Tailgate Market, Saturdays, 7-12

 

North Asheville Tailgate Market, UNCA, Saturdays, 8-12

 

Yancey County Farmer’s Market, Saturdays, 8:30 -12:30

 

Haywood Historic Farmers Market, Wednesdays & Saturdays, 8-1

 

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

 

Weaverville Tailgate Market, Wednesdays, 2:30 – 6:30

For other location details and other market info click here: http://tailgatemarketfanclub.wordpress.com/market-list/

• CONGRATULATIONS to the Knife and Fork Team (from Spruce Pine) with Gaelan Corozine of Green Toe Ground Farm. They won their recent bout in the WNC Chef’s Challenge match, and their next heat is on May 23^rd.  Come root for Gaelan! Check out the details at www.wncmagazine.com/wineandfood/challenge.

• TUESDAY was amazing, starting with a local breakfast at Over Easy followed by a hike to Catawba Falls to walk the big breakfast off. This time of year the woods were glowing with baby green foliage. We identified many native plants along the way, including Tiarella, Solomon’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal, Rattlesnake Plantain, Yellowroot, Asters, Buckeye, Ferns, and Dwarf Crested Iris. The walk culminated at the upper falls where an enormous Red Buckeye (in bloom) rose from a soil-less tumble of giant rocks in the middle on the creek.

 

Next Stop:  I hadn’t been to the West Asheville Tailgate Market since their move to the Grace Baptist Church parking lot on Haywood Road. Usually I am working on Tuesday. The market had a great feeling and was WAY bigger than it used to be. First I got a bear claw pastry from Darci (Loaf Child Bakery). Lots of butter layered in the pastry with an almond filling. Yep! It was delicious. Then we bought some watercress from Long Valley Farm, which combined with greens from my garden for a salad at dinnertime. Laura Bower had beautiful veggie starts. Got a loaf of rye bread from the Simple Bread guy (it made a great sandwich today).

West Asheville Tailgate Market Goodies

We talked to the hotdog guy for a little while. They are called Hardcastle Hotdogs and ~ can you believe this? They are homemade with ingredients from Hickory Nut Gap Meats. He builds your hotdog to order. If you are a hotdog eater, these might be the best ever. Next to the hotdog stand was a Popsicle maker. We got Coconut-Lemongrass, and Pear-Vanilla-Honey Popsicles. Laura got the last Dark Chocolate-Seasalt Popsicle. So OK, we were filling up on sweets right before dinner.

I sampled some of the Roots & Branches Crackers. Honestly, I had no intention of buying crackers, but they were so doggone good I couldn’t resist. We were about to drive off when we decided that we HAD to have some goat chevre to go along with those crackers. Jumped back out and got some Dillicious Chevre from Three Graces Dairy.

I really enjoyed this market. Check it out yourself next Tuesday. It runs from 3:30 to 6:30.

• More:

CANNING & PRESERVING MADE EASY ~ WORKSHOP

May 17 from 1 to 4:30

Learn more about canning or just brush up on the latest information on home food preservation from canning to freezing to drying. This workshop is an introduction to canning, pickling, jams and jellies, freezing, drying and storage. $10. For more info call 828-649-2792. Madison County Cooperative Extension Service.

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Happy 10th Birthday to Wednesday Co-op Market ~ Opens Today!

It’s Cinco de Mayo, and the official opening day of the Wednesday Co-op Market. The Wednesday Co-op Market is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary, and that is a very happy thing.  You definitely should become a regular at this wonderful market ~ if you aren’t already one.  Market hours are 2 – 6:30, making it the perfect after-school / after-work opportunity to stock back up on groovin’ local food.  It is located downtown, just above the French Broad Food Co-op, and down from Barley’s, on Biltmore Avenue, in the Build-It-Naturally parking lot at 76 Biltmore Avenue.

Originally, this market evolved to address the demand for mid-week access to all our farm favorites.  It has been super-popular since its inception ten years ago, and features your much-loved farmers and vendors from the Saturday

Great Week for Greens!

markets, plus some additional vendors.  Veggies at the Wednesday Co-op Market are naturally-grown, and free of synthetic pesticides/ fertilizers.  This market also features NC Seafood, goat cheeses, grass-fed beef, eggs, honey, wood-fired breads, and more.  The same location hosts a great Holiday Market in November / December.

Asheville City Market ~ South also opens today from 2-6.  It is located at Biltmore Park Town Square in South Asheville.

From Weaverville Tailgate Market: Weaverville Tailgate Market is celebrating Cinco de Mayo this week, so we’re gonna have a tacquito bar for you to sample, featuring market ingredients generously provided by our vendors.  We’ve got some good cooks tucked under those tents, be sure to come by and grab a bite.

With the combination of rain and warm weather, produce from our local farms should be kicking in beautifully.  We will see lots more of everything this week, especially greens & lettuces.  Think about your Friday dinner menu, and party agenda, as you are wandering the Tailgate Market.  Have a more relaxed Friday evening by planning ahead and getting your goodies today.

Veggie Starts & Tomato Plants

Gardeners: The frost date is Mother’s Day.  Veggie starts are ready.  Really healthy tomato plants, veggies, and herbs are available at every market (look for organic).  The weather will be perfect for planting.  Start small, and remember ~ you don’t need an acre, or even a 4×8 raised bed. Plant something in a pot and put it on your deck.  Turn your kids on to “growing their own”. Who can resist eating cherry tomatoes right off the vine, or nibbling on a little parsley or basil while cruising the yard?  Plant some carrots or radishes just to experience the miracle of harvesting food firsthand.

Happy 10^th Birthday to the Wednesday Co-op Market! We’ll be there.

MID-WEEK MARKETS ~

TUESDAY:

West Asheville Tailgate Market, Haywood Rd., West Asheville, Grace Baptist Church parking lot, Tuesday, 3:30-6:30

WEDNESDAY:

Asheville City Market – South, Town Sq. Blvd. at Biltmore Park Town Square, Wednesday, May 5, 2-6

Wednesday Co-op Market,  Build-It-Naturally parking lot at 76 Biltmore Avenue, Wednesday, 2-6:30

Weaverville Tailgate Market, upper parking lot above Lake Louise, Merrimon Avenue, Wednesday, 2:30 – 6:30

THURSDAY:

Flat Rock Tailgate Market, behind Hand & Hand Gallery, Greenville Hwy., Thursday, April 22, 3-6

Mission Hospital Tailgate Market, Thursday, Opens on May 13, 10-2

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North Asheville Tailgate & City Market Open Saturday

Hurrah!  We are READY to see some farmers on a regular basis. Kick off the Tailgate Market season, and show your enthusiasm by showing up this Saturday, April 17^th.  Both North Asheville Tailgate Market and Asheville City Market open tomorrow and they will be the happening place. I am pretty sure that the Henderson County Tailgate Market on King Street opens this Saturday as

Leaning Willow Farm

well.  This coming week, the West Asheville Tailgate opens on Wednesday afternoon (April 20); and the Flat Rock Tailgate opens on Thursday afternoon, April 22.  Wherever your neighborhood is ~ show up, come out, and get happy!

Last Saturday: I made it to the Madison County Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market just in the nick of time.  Luckily they are open until 1 o’clock.  Everyone was cheerful and friendly, and some of the vendors had plans to attend Sunday on the Island in Marshall, or the Weaverville Tailgate Market on Wednesday afternoon.  I had fun talking to a bunch of people, including my friend Kathy in the parking lot.

Sunset Valley

Three Graces Dairy

AND I got some goodies too. I got kale plants for my garden from Lisa of Leaning Willow. She had some real pretty multi-colored eggs, even green ones.  Checked out the Wild Spice Mountain Organic Soaps.  Loafchild Bakery was there, along with other bakers and sweets-makers.  I conversed with Mr. John Watkins about edible plants.  He sells rare plants, and had some muscadines he said were hardy in the mountains, along with a bunch of cool edibles and oddities.  I sampled chevre from Three Graces Dairy, and settled on the Bees Knees…with lavender and bee pollen added to the chevre.  Saw my friend Brittany with her awesome perennials for sale.  A guy named Asher had

Enchanted Valley Plants

sturdy handmade tools (like hoes), and leather goods he made with an old Singer pump sewing machine.  I think he’s off-the-grid.  Sue Mickey of Appleberry Cove Farm had goat milk for sale as animal feed.  If you know any baby animals that have lost their mother, this milk will be the perfect substitute.  Dewain Mackey of Mackey Farm, was there with meat, hydroponic lettuces, eggs and more.  Got some eggs.  By this time people were beginning to pack up, so it’s off to other adventures…like planting my baby kale plants and (ugg!) laundry.

Bonus: The Madison market info-table had a handout naming which weeds provide us with which vitamins and minerals.  According to the handout ~ calcium can be gotten from chamomile, chives, cleavers, coltsfoot, horsetail, meadowsweet, plantain, sorrel, purslane, and elderberries.  They also had a Cooperative Extension handout on Composting for Home Gardens.  Extension rocks!  NC Cooperative Extension is an amazing resource, and you should check out your county’s NC Cooperative Extension office, in person

Gagliano's

and online if you haven’t already.

OK, so let’s do it Tailgate Market Fans. Make a crowd on Saturday.  Bring home some greens and goodies.  Get sticky eating a giant cinnamon roll.  Have a good time knowing it’s only gonna get better every week.

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