Athens Locally Grown

How to contact us:
Our Website: athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/athenslocallygrown
On Thursdays: Here’s a map.

Market News

Could it be true? Is the end of winter really here? Thursday marks the Spring Equinox and the official end of winter. The average last frost for the Athens area is this week, too. Given how this winter has been, though, I wouldn’t rule out one last blast (it looks like Tuesday will get right down to freezing, but rain will probably keep the frost away). We also have some radically different microclimates in our area, too — my house along the Broad River in Franklin County regularly gets frost right into the second week of May.

Still, it’s lose enough that you can start putting more hardy young plants out without worrying every night about covering them up. Fruiting summer plants are another matter, though. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and similar plants really hate nights below 50 degrees, and putting them out now un-protected would almost certainly stunt them for good. The days are warming up enough now that you could keep them out in the sun during the day and move them inside at night, so they’re nice and strong for planting in the gardens in a few weeks. There are 80 varieties of veggie and herb live plants listed on the ALG website this week, so you can get your garden off to a great start now with locally grown seedlings from our growers. They’re the same seedlings they start for their own gardens, not seeds started far away in some massive commercial greenhouse complex and shipped here.

Another great way to get seeds and discover new varieties is by attending a seed swap. My favorite one, and one of my favorite events of the entire year, is coming up in just a couple weeks: the totally free 17th Annual Old-Timey Seed Swap, April 5th 2014 from 1pm-6pm, at 10 Legacy Rd in Crawford, GA. Here’s some information on that.

“Join us for a casual potluck gathering and seed swap! Yes, it’s that time already… Help us welcome springtime with the 17th Annual Old Timey Seed Swap! Originally organized by UGA Anthropology and Professor Dr. Bob Rhoades in 1998, this is a celebration of heirloom seeds, local food sources, traditional agriculture, and good conversation as folks share stories and swap seeds.

“Why swap seeds? There are hundreds of varieties of heirloom seeds throughout the South and many of them have fascinating histories linked to families through generations of seed saving. Since the 1900’s however, thousands of varieties of heirloom vegetables, flowers and fruit have disappeared. Once lost, these varieties can never be recovered —their important genes and a piece of American history are lost forever. Swapping seeds helps preserve the varieties that remain so they can be used in the future- we need them!

“Bring your heirloom seeds to swap, picnic blanket or chairs, musical instruments for jamming…and help us out with a potluck dish! Location: same place it’s always been, Grove Creek Farm, in the field with the tall cabin- look for signs.

“Educators and vendors including: UGA Master Gardeners to help answer seed saving and gardening questions, primitive technology expert Scott Jones of Media Prehistoria will be there with his fascinating array of ancient tools, Horticulturist Daniella Adams will perform several seed saving demonstrations and have literature available, the Oglethorpe County Bee Club, and local farmers selling their crafts.

“Directions: Turn at the red light in Crawford (North St) and go less than 2 mi. Turn right on Legacy Rd. Look for signs. Only good dogs on leashes please! Contact us for more information at grovecreekfarm@gmail.com”

Thanks so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown, all of our growers, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!

Other Area Farmers Markets

The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Athens Farmers Market has closed for the winter, but will return next month. You can watch for news during the offseason on their website. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned are also all closed for the season. We’ll be here all year round, however!

All of these other markets are separate from ALG (including the Athens Farmers Market) but many growers sell at multiple markets. Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!