The folks at Watauga County Farmers' Market would like to thank everyone who helped us have a very successful season. There was tremendous support for the market starting on opening day in May. We especially would like to thank those who braved the cold and even snow to visit the holiday markets in November.

The selection available at the market has increased a good deal recently. There are quite a few new organic farmers growing for the market. The selection of local meats has grown to include beef, pork, and lamb. Free range egg production is up tremendously over last year. Our food vendors and crafters are always looking for ways to improve their wares and provide you with interesting choices.

We will be working hard over the winter to improve any issues that may detract from your market experience. The acceptance of EBT cards at the market is another long term project that will be starting up in May. Not all farmers will accept EBT, at least at first, but we hope the community will benefit and support this important program.

Anyone wishing to sell crafts at the 2009 market must attend the craft jury session on January 10. This will be held at the Agricultural Center. Setup is from 9 to 9:30 am with no one being admitted after 9:30. Crafts are to be picked up again at 11:30. Everyone who wishes to sell crafts at the 2009 market must participate in this jury. Please give Karen a call at 1-828-355-4918 or send an email if you have questions. Please pre-register to participate.

Thank you again for making it such a great year.

Watauga County Farmers' Market would like to thank everyone who braved the snow to spend last Saturday morning with us. We hope you were pleased with the nice variety of vendors who were present. There should be even more vendors at the market this Saturday, and we hope that everyone will be able to stop by and enjoy all the things we have prepared.

There were plenty of trees and wreaths at the last market. Rene Donker will have more organic Fraser Firs, roping and wreaths. David and Kathy Blackburn will have premium Fraser Fir trees, wreaths, garland and centerpieces and white pine garland. David and Kathy have a limited number of organic trees that can be ordered and delivered to the farmers market. They will not cut or bring any of the organic trees unless someone calls and orders one. The Blackburns will make and deliver to the market any special or large quantity orders, and will also deliver Fraser Fir trees to homes and businesses in the Boone and Blowing Rock area. See them at the market, call 336-846-5249 or send an email.

Susan Graham has plenty of hand woven scarves, hand knitted, felted mittens and hand felted handbags as well as "wooly" Christmas ornaments. Chris Teague has made table centerpiece arrangements and wreathes decorated with dried flowers and exotic accent evergreens. Chris will also have four kinds of heirloom apples. Eric Border will be at the market this Saturday with an amazing variety of hand made copper cookie cutters.

There will be plenty of hand cooked treats including Joan Knox's sourdough bread and fried pies, chipotle salsa, smoked habanero and serrano sauce, and BBQ sauce from fire From the Mountain, and Renee Blacken's pumpkin spice, honey almond and cranberry coconut granola made with organic grains. Renee will also have molasses, whole grain organic bread and hand knitted items.

Charles Church will be back with garlic, butternut squash, Swiss chard, parsley, carrots, onions, apples and sweet sorghum molasses. Bill Moretz will be bringing butternut squash, Peruvian Purple fingerling potatoes, pumpkins, apples, dried apples, honey, jams and jelly.

All of the local meat vendors will return for this market. Jason Brooks and Jeff Thomas will have plenty of grass fed beef, Sally Thiel will have free range chickens from Rose Mountain Farm, Cynthia Lowrence will have pork, Dawn Rhudy will have lamb and fresh eggs, and Charles Church will have pork cuts including ribs, fatback, ham roasts and pork chops.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday November 29 from 10 until 2 at the Horn in the West in Boone, the same location as our usual market. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be having the first holiday market of the season this Saturday, November 22 from 10 to 2. We are expecting more vendors this year and you will have a wide selection to choose from.

Cold weather has slowed many of the local vegetables, but Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig of Tumbling Shoals Farm will be harvesting a nice variety of fresh treats including kale, collards, mustard, carrots, chard, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, salad mix, spinach, arugula, mesclin and salad turnips. Charles Church will have four kinds of potatoes: Yukon Gold, Rose Finn, Apple Fingerling and Red Norland. Charles will also have garlic, butternut squash, Swiss chard, parsley, carrots, onions, apples and sweet sorghum molasses. Eugene McGuire and James Wagner will have fresh eggs from free range chickens.

Deb Lowe will have decorative half bushels and tray pack boxes of Brushy Mountain apples ready for holiday gifts. Liza Plaster of Ripshin Goat Dairy will have chocolate goat cheese truffles, both plain and with her own organically grown black walnuts.

There will be a wide variety of local meets at the market. Jason Brooks will have plenty of grass fed beef, Sally Thiel will have free range chickens from Rose Mountain Farm, Cynthia Lowrence will have pork, Dawn Rhudy will have lamb, and Charles Church will have pork cuts including ribs, fatback, ham roasts and pork chops.

A great selection of local handmade crafts will be at the market this Saturday. Brad Hinckley will be bringing sterling earrings made with gemstones and rocks, rings, necklaces, homemade books and wood and metal furniture along with onions and garlic. Tom Wooten will have hand forged wrought iron home and garden decor including elegant hanging planters, brackets and tables. Billy Joe Ward will have lots of handmade wooden toys, bird feeders and houses, ornaments, and many other items you will not find anywhere else. There will be many more hand crafters at the market including most of the regular craft vendors.

There will also be trees and wreaths at this Saturday's market. Rene Donker will have organic Fraser Firs, roping and wreaths. David and Kathy Blackburn will have premium Fraser Fir trees, wreaths, garland and centerpieces and white pine garland. David and Kathy have a limited number of organic trees that can be ordered and delivered to the farmers market. They will not cut or bring any of the organic trees unless someone calls and orders one. The Blackburns will make and deliver to the market any special or large quantity orders, and will also deliver Fraser Fir trees to homes and businesses in the Boone and Blowing Rock area. See them at the market, call 336-846-5249 or send an email.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings on November 22 and 29 at the Horn in the West in Boone, the same location as our usual market. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

The folks at Watauga County Farmers' Market would like to thank everyone for a wonderful season. Regular Saturday markets ended in October, but there will be a holiday market on the Saturday before and after Thanksgiving. There will be plenty of baked goods, local meats, fine hand crafts, trees and wreaths, and late season vegetables. Plans are in place for EBT cards to be accepted at these two markets. Please call market manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 with any questions.

This Saturday, October 25, will be the last regular day for Watauga County Farmers' Market in 2008. There will also be a special holiday market on the Saturdays before and after Thanksgiving. There are plenty of good things to choose from, and we hope everyone will be able to come out and join the fun.

Joe Martin will have an apple press on the market site this Saturday. He will be offering to press your apples into cider during market hours. The best cider is made with a mixture of tart and sweet apples, and Bill Moretz will have plenty of Senshu, Golden Russet and Empire apples for you to choose from.

Frost has come to some of the farms in colder areas, but Don and Roger Owens are still growing strong with sweet and hot banana peppers. Jalapenos, bell peppers, pink and red tomatoes, half runner beans, eggplant and turnips. Nearby, Reba Greene will have Indian corn, white sweet potatoes, and Kennebecs. http://wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org

Charles Church will have plenty of certified organic produce this Saturday and at both holiday markets. Charles will have four kinds of potatoes: Kennebecs, red potatoes, Yukon Golds, and Fingerlings. He will also have plenty of butternut squash, onion, garlic, Swiss chard, parsley, carrots, ad also pork sausage, ribs, roast and fat back.

Ripshin Goat Dairy will have goat milk Camembert at this Saturday's market along with the regular fresh goat chèvre in plain or a variety of flavors. Sissy Moore will have a variety of jams and jellies including pumpkin butter and apple butter.

It's time to prepare for winter with felted wool hats, mittens, and hand woven scarves all hand made by Susan Graham.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone, and the holiday markets will be at the same location. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

Vendors at Watauga County Farmers' Market will still have plenty to offer on these last two weeks of the regular market. There have been some light frosts here in the mountains, but so far crops in some of the warmer regions have escaped serious damage. Local farmers will continue to have hardy varieties in spite of the weather, and there will be lots of good things to choose from Saturday.

Dawn Rudy is the newest vendor at the market, and she will be offering local lamb at the market this week. Cheryl Piracci will have the compulsory mint jelly. Jason Brooks will have his popular assortment of grass fed and grass finished steaks and roasts, and plenty of ground beef.

Dorene Jankowski has a real nice selection of local vegetables including pumpkins, leaf and Buttercrunch lettuce, fennel bulbs right along with her famous hot sauce, salsa and BBQ sauce made with homegrown apple smoked peppers. David Sengel will have organic Asian greens and celery, and Jerry Harvey will have plenty of great looking carving and pie pumpkins.

Joe Martin will have an apple press on the market site on October 25. He will be offering to press your apples into cider during market hours. There will be plenty of sweet and tart apples available that day, including Deb Lowe's Stayman, Golden, Fuji, and Granny Smith apples.

Be sure to check out all of the fine hand crafts while you are there including Becki Henderson-Gow's functional stoneware and Raku pottery.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be holding a Holiday Market on the Saturdays before and after Thanksgiving, November 22 and 29, from 10 until 2. We will have plenty of gift ideas, baked goods and treats, fall crops and local greenery. We hope to see you all there!

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone, and the holiday markets will be at the same location. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be holding a Holiday Market on the Saturdays before and after Thanksgiving, November 22 and 29, from 10 until 2. We will have plenty of gift ideas, baked goods and treats, and local greenery. We hope to see you all there!

The market will be celebrating Appalachian Craft Day this Saturday, the 11th. There will be demonstrations of local crafting techniques including spinning and weaving by the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild, and musical entertainment will be provided by Southern Exposure.

This Saturday should bring another great day at the market. There has not been any frost yet to speak of, so you will find a good assortment of home grown tomatoes right along with the flavors of autumn. Jeff Thomas will have different varieties of sweet and hot peppers along with some great looking Swiss chard and plenty of different cuts of his natural beef.

Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig will be harvesting plenty of greens this weekend including kale, arugula and Mesclun mix. Reba Green will have white sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, and lots of colorful Indian corn. Jerry Harvey will have some real nice looking carving pumpkins as well as tasty pie pumpkins.

Charles Church's harvest is still going strong. Charles will have Butternut squash, all kinds of taters, flatleaf parsley, garlic, chard and onions, and plenty of his local natural pork.

Billy Joe Ward has completely restocked his wooden toy selection. Billy Joe is always glad to demonstrate his moon winders, spinning tops, limberjacks, dancing men and cup and bell tossers. He also will have a new wooden plant stand to offer soon.

The Bald Guy will be serving up flavored addictions at the market this week. Everyone, please make it a point to remind him to be at the Holiday Market.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone. There will also be a Holiday Market on the Saturdays before and after Thanksgiving from 10 to 2. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

The folks at Watauga County Farmers' Market would like to thank everybody who braved the drizzle to support the market this past Saturday. The market will be open all four Saturdays in October, rain or shine, or even in the snow if need be. The outlook for Saturday the 4th calls for a nice day, and we hope to see you at the market.

There are plenty of good things left to harvest. Robert Church will have a good supply of Irish potatoes on hand as well as several varieties of apples including Wolf River, JonaGold, and Macintosh. Jerry Harvey may possibly have more yellow and white sweet corn, but he will certainly have plenty of pie pumpkins to bring to market.

The flavors of summer have not left, and Don Owens will have red, striped, pink and yellow tomatoes this weekend, yellow and zucchini squash, bell and hot peppers. Cheryl Piracci will have San Marzano tomatoes and quick marinara sauce recipes to go with them. Cheryl also will have her homemade pesto, pistachio orange biscotti, and even her own special garlic jam. Charles Church will be busy harvesting potatoes, onions, garlic, chard and butternut and spaghetti squash. Charles will also have humanely raised pork to offer.

There will be plenty of home baked treats for you to enjoy at the market or later at home. Rebecca Kaenzig will have caramel apple cake along with her fresh brewed coffee this Saturday. James Wilkes will have lots of baked goods including whole grain bread, and also his local honey to go with it. Bald Guy Brew will be back this week with eco-friendly coffee and coffee beans.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

Cooler temperatures seem to have settled into the area for the time being. The harvest continues on local farms, with crops ripening up to and most times even after frost arrives. The selection of apple varieties increases greatly at this time of year, and Deb Lowe plans on having apple varieties Gala, Golden, Red Delicious, Stark Delicious, Jonagold, Wolf River, Courtland and Empire on hand this Saturday. Deb will also be offering raspberries, pears, and even some yellow peaches at the market.

Jerry Harvey will have a good supply of white and yellow corn, and will be bringing plenty of carving and pie pumpkins as well. David Sengel will have fresh organic celery, and a good assortment of peppers including Serrano, Thai, and Habanero Peppers. Matt Cooper will be harvesting Swiss chard, Dyno Kale, basil, green bell peppers, Fingerling potatoes, tomatillos, and Gala apples. Matt will also have bright arrangements of marigolds and zinnias to offer.

Richard Boylan has grown some tasty French Breakfast radishes which will be ready for market this weekend, along with kale, arugula, leaf lettuce, and a wide variety of herbs including cilantro, rosemary, thyme and Mint. Richard also has bottled herb tinctures made from his own high quality ingredients. Charles Church fills out the menu planning with natural pork, plenty of local potatoes, various squash including Butternut winter squash, onions, garlic, and honey made and collected on his farm in Valle Crucis.

Carol Miller has preserved the flavors of summer in her culinary vinegars, and for a limited time only will be offering specialty fruit preserves including brandy-blackberry and brandy-peach preserves. Carol also has baking mixes suitable for holiday gift-giving.

Local artists at Watauga County Farmers' Market are constantly working to bring you the finest crafts available. Be sure to check out April Graham's handcrafted jewelry including necklaces made with fossilized walrus ivory, fire agate, and arrowheads. Mary Prewett has painted gourds and custom signs, cute stuffed bears, and crochet items including hats, scarves, and purses. Tom Wooten will also be at the market this Saturday with his hand forged steel and bronze plant hangers.

There will be a workshop and conference on natural products at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone on Friday, November 14. There will be two tracks: one for businesses involved in Natural Products and one for consumers of Natural Products. Call Joe Furman at (828) 264-3082 or send an email to joe.furman@ncmail.net for more information.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 for more information. We will be there rain or shine!

The folks at Watauga County Farmers' Market are pleased to announce out annual Customer Appreciation Day for this Saturday, September 20. This event will be starting earlier in the day this year, possibly as early as 7:30, to allow us to thank those who arrive early in the day to support the market. BSA Troop 109 led by Troopmaster Arvil Sale will be serving up some fine treats for everyone. We hope to see you there!

There are plenty of other reasons to stop by the market this Saturday. There are still plenty of tasty homegrown tomatoes to be found. Don Owens will have red, stripey and pin tomatoes in addition to yellow squash, eggplants, pumpkins including Cushaws, and Turk's Turban gourds. Don also has a wide variety of peppers including sweet and hot banana peppers, bells, Poblanos and Jalapenos. Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig of Tumbling Shoals Farm will have Beefsteak, Arkansas Traveler and Green Zebra tomatoes for this market, and also sweet peppers of all colors, acorn and butternut squash, arugula and spicy greens. Sally Thiel and Joe martin will be harvesting Brandywine, Hughes, and Cherokee Purple tomatoes, and will also be offering samples to help you choose your favorite variety. Sally and Joe will also have plenty of sweet bells and Fingerling potatoes on hand.

There is still plenty of corn being sighted at the market, and Jerry Harvey will have the varieties Silver King, yellow sweet and bicolor corn this weekend. Green beans are also still available, and Sue Thomas will be bringing Venture green beans as well as turnip greens, mustard, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and yellow squash.

Susan Wright and Brent Cochran of Shady Grove Gardens will have more cut sunflowers this weekend, and also selections of Hydrangea, lilies, and globe amaranth.

Don Cox of Bald Guy Brew is continuing to seek out new ways to make the world a batter place to live. Be sure to stop by and ask him about how you can contribute to the well being of others while enjoying a freshly roasted cup of coffee.

Don't forget about all of the fine crafts available at the market every week, including artful pottery pieces including Becki Henderson-Gow with her functional wheel thrown and Raku pottery, and Caron Baker Wike with food safe giant leaf bowls and hundred year old lace pottery.

Watauga County Farmers' Market will be open on Saturday mornings through the end of October at the Horn in the West in Boone. Turn next to First Citizens Bank on Highway 105 Extension and go to the top of the hill. Call WCFM manager Karen Bauman at 1-828-355-4918 or send an email for more information. We will be there rain or shine!