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

I’m starting to have flashbacks to last summer when I look at the weather forecast for the coming week. It’s rain as far as the weatherman can see. All that rain can be great, if there is time between showers for it all to soak in and for the sun to come out for a little bit to help the plants photosynthesize. The trouble we had last summer was it just didn’t stop, and the quality of the summer harvest really took a hit. With so much water, fruit started to taste bland, from blueberries to tomatoes. Squash would soften and rot before it could get harvested. Corn stalks fell right over as the dirt liquified under their roots. After years of extreme drought, everyone was excited by the rain at first, but by this point in the summer it had really made for a challenging season.

I’m hoping that this week is just a wet spell, a little monsoon, and the sun will still get some time to keep things in balance. Just enough to make my biking to work messy but not enough to negatively impact the growers and their crops.

In the meantime, there are 1050 items listed for sale at ALG this week. I’m sure you’re eager to get to shopping, so go have at ’em!

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

This week is “Tomatoes at Terrapin”! July 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30 (yeah, right during ALG pickups, so I won’t be there unfortunately) is a fundraiser for the Athens Nurses Clinic where attendees get to help the clinic continue their cause of providing free medical services by eating deliciously fresh, locally grown tomato sandwiches and drinking refreshing, locally brewed Terrapin Beer! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the amazing tomatoes that local farmers donate to the event and help those who need their services. And there will also be live music! This year there is a great lineup of MrJordanMrTonks, Betsy Franck, the Wildcats, and the Megaband to listen to while eating those sandwiches and enjoying a beer. Bring your chairs, blankets, and kids! Tickets are $20 in advance and $24 at the door. (Under 21 $10; Kids under 10 $5). Get your advance tickets here: http://athensnursesclinic.org/wp/tomatoes-terrapin/get-tt-tickets/

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

Hello! I returned back to town today after being away all week, and everything seems just as I left it. I’ve looked around for local food-related events happening this week to tell you about, but didn’t see any. So, I’ll just keep things short and let you all go right to ordering.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

Hello, all! I’ve not much to report this week. I’m out of the state, to put my mom to rest in the Florida Keys, a place she fell in love with late in life. I won’t be at the ALG pickups on Thursday, but our team of wonderful volunteers will keep everything running in my absence.

It is a holiday week, and a number of growers have taken the week off from ALG. I know a bunch of you are also out of town, so hopefully the balance of supply and demand is still good, even with the reduced number of items available. The volunteers will see you on Thursday, and I’ll see you when I return the following week. Enjoy your Independence Day!

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

Anyone setting foot outside this weekend could tell you this without looking at a calendar, but we’re now officially in summer. This heat is really brutal on the tender spring crops, and most of the farms in the immediate Athens area have moved on to concentrate on the summer goodies really coming in heavily now. Some farms, such as Burnell Farm, is experimenting with shade cloth and misting systems to grow broccoli for a little while longer, and our member farms up in the mountains aren’t quite as hot as it is here, and are able to keep the spring things growing for a little longer.

We’re lucky to have the mountains so close by. The farms up there tend to be smaller than those closer in, but their growing season differs just enough that their presence at our market really increases the diversity offered all year ’round. This coming weekend is the perfect time to take a little day trip up there and see firsthand the network of farms that is reviving in the area. The 2014 Georgia Mountains Farm Tour, the third year for this annual tour, is Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th from 1-6pm each day. The tour features 16 locations throughout Habersham, Rabun, White, Stephens, Franklin counties and beyond; including community gardens, a honey bee farm, a working grist mill, fruit orchards and optional meal stops with local foods prepared by acclaimed local chefs.

Participants on the tour purchase one weekend pass that allows a carload of attendees to visit as many tour locations as they choose each day of the tour. Among the products featured from the 14 farms on the tour are numerous fruits and vegetables; pasture-raised eggs; grass-fed beef; honey; and water wheel milled organic grains. Other highlights include a farm demonstrating the lost art of horse-powered equipment and several farms using hoop houses for season extension.

In addition to being able to purchase farm products during the tour, many of the farms will have prepared foods to sample, or guests can enjoy a farm-to-table meal at one of the featured meal stops. On Saturday, chef Jeff Morris of the Copper Pot Restaurant in Clarkesville will prepare seasonal snack plates using vegetables harvested from and served in their home garden starting at 11:00 am. On Sunday, Jamie Allred, the acclaimed Executive Chef at the new Fortify Kitchen & Bar in Clayton will feature numerous products from farms on the tour for brunch from 11:00a-3:00p (reservations recommended). Belle’s Diner at Chattooga Belle Farms in Long Creek, SC will also be open for lunch on Sunday from 11:00a – 2:00p. Meals are optional and are purchased separately. Meal stops open two hours before the other tour locations open so that guests can maximize their afternoon tour time. Tour guests should pack extra water, coolers, and be prepared for the weather (sun hats and sunscreen are strongly encouraged!).

Cost of the tour is $35 per carload for weekend passes purchased from any farm on the tour or online. The tour brochure with farm descriptions can be found on the GMFN website: http://georgiamfn.blogspot.com/. Passes can be purchased online starting May 14, 2014 via http://georgiamfn.blogspot.com/, http://www.soque.org and through the Northeast Georgia Locally Grown market, http://northeastgeorgia.locallygrown.net. In person purchases (cash or check only) will be possible starting May 21, 2014 at the SRWA office (downtown Clarkesville), Habersham Chamber of Commerce in Cornelia, Simply Homegrown farmers market in Clayton and Clarkesville Farmers Market on Saturdays. For those on a budget or who would like to show even greater support for local farmers, you can volunteer to help with the tour. For volunteering one day, volunteers receive a complimentary farm tour t-shirt and a pass to attend the other day for free.

Proceeds from weekend pass and t-shirt sales benefit the Georgia Mountains Farmers Network and their future collaborative projects. The tour is sponsored by Georgia Organics, Habersham Chamber of Commerce, Habersham Electric Membership Corporation, North Georgia Turf, Simply Homegrown Farmers Market, and Ingles.

Farm tour locations for the 2014 tour are: White County – LoganBerry Heritage Farm, Nacoochee Valley Farm; Habersham County – Melon Head Farm, Indian Ridge Farm, MTN Honey, Liberty Farm**, Copper Pot Gardens; Rabun County – Mill Gap Farm**, Sylvan Falls Mill, Old School Garden, Fortify Kitchen & Bar**; Stephens/Franklin Counties – Shade Creek Farm**, Taylor Creek Farm, Jan & Zen’s Garden, and in neighboring states – Chattooga Belle Farm (Longcreek, SC) and Leah Lakes Farm (Otto, NC). Farms with a ** are only participating on one day. See the tour’s website for the full schedule.

For additional information visit http://georgiamfn.blogspot.com/, email gmfnfarmtour@gmail.com or call 706-754-9382.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

Save the date! On July 17 the Athens Nurses Clinic is hosting the 5th annual Tomatoes at Terrapin. Join supporters of the free clinic for a fun-filled night of music, locally grown tomato sandwiches, and Terrapin beer.

Founded in 1991, the Athens Nurses’ Clinic provides primary health care to the homeless and uninsured in Clarke County and surrounding areas. The clinic treats acute and chronic illness and provides dental services, hygiene kits, and over-the-counter and/or prescription medications. Currently, the clinic treats about 1,200 individual patients per year. The clinic has gone through some remarkable changes within the past few months – including implementing a successful diabetes management program and educating 1,500 women regarding breast health. Now they are preparing to move to a new building to accommodate the amount of patients coming in.

The fundraiser this year will help the clinic purchase new medical equipment so they can continue giving quality healthcare to low-income and uninsured residents in Athens. Tickets will soon be available around town, including through ALG.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

First this week, I’m the bearer of sad news. Early Thursday morning Jim McBride, known around town as “Farmer Jim”, passed away in his sleep after a very long and painful illness. Jim’s Farm out in Winterville was widely regarded as the producer of the area’s finest blueberries, gems among the riches of excellent blueberries grown around town. Jim came to town about a decade ago from the west coast, drawn to town by the climate, the people, and the burgeoning food scene that was developing here. Jim was especially supporting of Athens Locally Grown and my vision for the software system I was creating to keep it going. He encouraged me back when it was a finicky website I cobbled together to re-write it from scratch as a set of tools that could be used by communities across the country to reproduce we we boult here. His support helped me push through a full grueling year of getting up at four in the morning every day so I could program, before going to work for eight hours, and then going back home to work in the gardens into the evening. Now, there are hundreds of communities across North America using locallygrown.net to get food from small farms to the kitchens of local households, and I’ll always remember Jim’s encouragement that helped make this happen. He was a character for sure, but always generous in every way he could be. He will be missed.

If you’re looking for something to do this Thursday after picking up your ALG order, may I suggest an evening of Pacific Island cooking combined with Georgia herbalism? Filipino chef and poet Pasckie Pascua will be teaching by preparing a meal focused on Mung Bean Soup, a popular staple dish of the region. Christina Wagoner will be on hand to talk about new uses for culinary herbs you may already be familiar with. The event is hosted by Mama Bird’s Granola and Kitchen downtown. For more information, please take a look here: http://superhomeypoetwok.blogspot.com/2014/05/island-cooking-demo-and-herbalism.html.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

Hello, and welcome to June! There’s not much new to report this week. Summer veggies are really starting to come in now, and the recent rains and cool nights have kept the spring items around a little longer. We’re at the change of the season now, and everything is very weather dependent. Just a little too much heat will end the spring items, and just not enough sun will keep the summer goodies from ripening. Right now, it looks like we’re getting things just right for both, but all that could change a week from now.

We’ve depleted our supply of salmon and halibut from Doug’s Wild Alaskan Salmon. Doug and his family are now on their boats, catching fish by hand while the summer weather makes it possible for them to do so. We may not get a fresh supply until the boats get put back in the dock at the end of August, but there’s a chance they’ll send us some mid-summer ahead of their own return. I’ll keep you informed.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

It’s a holiday Monday, where we remember those fallen in our wars. It’s also the symbolic beginning of summer, marked with cookouts and other outdoor activities. If you’re out there, grilling your locally grown burgers and veggies, please remember those who have left us.

This week also marks a new milestone in the development of our local food system. It used to be that a lot of grain was grown in our area, and the remains of the tiny mills that serviced those farmers still dot our landscape and place names (Watson Mill out in Comer is one well-known example). It’s been a long time since there was a steady supply of local wheat, however. DaySpring Farm out if Danielsville is hoping to change all that. Their first harvest of organic wheat is in, and they’re working on opening a milling operation to make their flour available to everyone. While they get that going, they’ve delivered some of their wheat to Angel Cooper at The Comerian who has baked it into beautiful loaves of bread and is offering it both sliced and whole here through Athens Locally Grown. They even use their own organic starter culture, so even the yeast is local. We can’t live on bread alone, but you ought to at least give this all-local bread a try.

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the week here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!

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

I don’t know about you, but I’ve really having a hard time telling what month we’re in right now, much less what season. I broke down and turned the heat back on in the house this weekend, just for a few minutes. The rain is welcome (it’s important to get as much in the ground as we possibly can before the summer heat comes), but it’s a cold, cold rain making being outdoors not much fun at all.

Even though the days have been cold and wet, the sun is getting up earlier and staying out longer, and the summer veggies are responding to that. You’ll find the first of the squash and cucumbers listed this week, and there will be lots more coming along shortly. The leafy greens are loving the weather, so the spring veggies are hanging on strong even as the summer goodies are coming in. IT’s a great time to be shopping at ALG and your other local farmers markets, and things will be getting even better in the coming weeks. Enjoy it, and eat well!

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 Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park and Wednesday afternoons downtown at city hall. You can catch the news on their website. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

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!