ASAP's Weekly Farmers Market Report - March 12, 2021

Fresh at Farmers Markets

As sunny days increase and the temperatures rise (mostly) above freezing, many of us are itching to start our own garden plots. In addition to offering an abundance of local food, farmers tailgate markets are also a great place to get plant starts or even pick up a few gardening tips.


So far we’ve seen plant starts available from Wildwood Herbal : [link removed] at ASAP Farmers Market : [link removed] and Finally Farm : [link removed] at River Arts District Farmers Market : [link removed]. Right now you’ll find early-season varieties like strawberries, snow peas, lettuce, kale, chard, collards, and an assortment of herbs. Both farms grow using organic practices. As we move fully into spring and more markets open for the season, there will be additional farms with starts available. Expect warmer-weather vegetable plants, like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, in late April and early May. 


Starting a garden with kids? ASAP Farmers Market is handing out seed packets to kids for the next few weeks until supplies run out. Just stop by the market information table to get some (along with other resources from ASAP’s Growing Minds : [link removed] program). There are swiss chard and collard greens seeds available, which can be directly sown in the garden around the first of April or started indoors right now.


Buying scallions at market? If you didn’t hop on the quarantine trend of regrowing your produce last year, now is the time to give it try! You can replant the root ends (leave about an inch of bulb for best results) directly in your garden in an area with at least six hours of sunlight. Or try regrowing them in a jar of water on a sunny windowsill. You should see new growth within a few days.


There are a few other signs at markets that spring is coming, including the first spring garlic we’ve spotted this year from Lee’s One Fortune Farm : [link removed]. There are also radishes, carrots, turnips, lettuce, salad mixes, cabbage, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, Chinese broccoli, kale, collards, apples, mushrooms, and more. In addition to produce, markets have meat, fish, bread, rice, prepared foods, fermented products, baked treats, and much more. 

Farmers tailgate markets take place throughout the region, even in the winter. You can find information about farms, tailgate markets, and farm stands, including locations and hours, by visiting ASAP’s online Local Food Guide : [link removed].

School Garden Workshop

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Interested in starting a garden at your school? Looking for new ways to engage students during COVID? Join our Growing Minds team on March 25, 4–5:30 p.m., for a virtual school gardening workshop and networking session. It's free and open to preschool and K-12 educators and families. Sign up to get the Zoom link. : [link removed]
 

Also, the deadline for our spring farm to school funding is March 15! Funding is available for school gardens, farm field trips, farmer classroom visits, taste tests, and literature. Find details and apply. : [link removed] Us

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appalachiangrown.org : [link removed] | fromhere.org : [link removed]
asapconnections.org : [link removed] | growing- : [link removed] : [link removed]
 
Donate to support local food, strong farms, and healthy communities today! : [link removed]
 
ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.

Upcoming Events

3/13-3/21
28th Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference : [link removed]
 
3/13
Polk Winter Farmer’s Market : [link removed]
 
3/15
Film SEEDs: Bed Preparation : [link removed]
 
3/16
PPP 2.0 Information Update : [link removed]
 

3/23
Holistic Crop Management Webinar Series : [link removed]
 

3/25
School Gardening Workshop & Networking Session : [link removed]
 

Find more upcoming events (or post your own) at fromhere.org : [link removed].

ASAP on the Air

A CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) ensures that your kitchen is stocked with farm-fresh, seasonal food. But sometimes, members find themselves challenged by out-of-the-ordinary vegetables. On t : [link removed] week's episode of Growing Local : [link removed], learn how to cook up creative meals from your CSA with help from Vannah Roddy of Encompass Farm : [link removed]. 

You can listen to all Growing Local episodes on SoundCloud : [link removed], iTunes : [link removed], or on ASAP's website : [link removed] & Farm News

The Asheville Citizen Times : [link removed] features a new report from ASAP's Local Food Research Center looking back on the challenges farmers faced in 2020.
 

Also in the Citizen Times, Mackensy Lunsford rounds up : [link removed] some local favorites to fill your pantry, including items from Dry Ridge Farm and Creasman Farms.
 

The Franny's Farm property is for sale, reports WLOS : [link removed]. Owner Franny Tacy is looking for an owner-operator who would continue to operate it as Franny's Farm.



ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) - 306 W. Haywood Street - Asheville - NC - 28801

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