Soggy fields in and around Cary are being prepped for Spring

Cary, N. C. – Michele McKinley of the Western Wake Farmers Market contacted the CaryCitizen this week to give us an update on the upcoming season for the WWFM. Maybe it was an answer to my prayers to take me away from the cold and rain and snow.

The market will reopen for its second season on Saturday, April 3.   Said Market Manager Kim Hunter, “Even though the market has been closed for the winter, we are busy working with vendors and community partners to make our market even better this year.”  Here’s a peek at some of the work behind the scenes to prepare for the market’s spring opening.

The Vendors

Farmers across North Carolina are planning their spring and summer crops. Strawberry plants have been in ground for several months, and farmers are nurturing seedlings in their greenhouses as they prepare for spring planting.  Meanwhile, market organizers are reviewing vendor applications and visiting vendors at their farms and businesses.

If there are any vendors that you would like to see at the WWFM, Michele tells us that you should contact the market by sending an email to  info@WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org.

Helping the Hungry

Last year, market vendors generously donated produce and more to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which stopped by the market each week at closing time to pick up donations. The Food Shuttle then made deliveries to area food pantries and community centers to prepare the perishable foods for the hungry.

For the 2010 season, market organizers hope to expand giving through a new Farmer FoodShare Program, modeled after one volunteer’s efforts at the Carrboro Farmers Market last year. This program helps shoppers get involved each week by purchasing extra produce, eggs, breads, etc. and dropping them off at the market’s Donation Station. The market will continue to partner with the Food Shuttle to deliver these foods to those in need.

In addition, the WWFM has applied to the Leaflight Foundation’s 21^st Century Farmers’ Market, which would allow the farmers’ market to process EBT (electronic benefits transfer), credit and debit transactions. The EBT replaces the paper food stamps of years ago and allows qualified recipients to shop for healthy, fresh foods at the market. Other shoppers reap the benefit of being able to use a credit or debit card at the market, rather than just cash and checks.

“The 21^st Century Farmers’ Market program is such a great way to help local farmers and those who need access to healthy foods, rather than processed, boxed and canned foods,” said WWFM President Juliann Zoetmulder. “Supporting small family farms and providing access to local foods for all people is really important to the farmers’ market board members. We hope to be accepted for the program this spring but will let everyone know when that happens.”

Education and Communications

The farmers’ market continues to update its web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, with information on eating local.

In addition to news about local food events and policy, the market strives to highlight national discussion about the local food movement, sustainability and the importance of small farms and make that relevant on a local level here in Western Wake County. Educating people about eating local is one of the WWFM’s goals.

Market organizers also are working to enhance the web site with more vendor information, archiving, photos and recipes before the market opens. In the meantime, Cary citizens may sign up for the WWFM’s free e-newsletter, Western Wake Eats, for more market and local food news.

Area Sponsorship Grows

The staff at The Umstead Hotel and Spa and Herons are also working closely with the WWFM to help raise funds for the upcoming season.

The Umstead, a WWFM sponsor, will host a fundraiser showcasing local foods from market vendors on Friday, May 21, 6-8 pm.  Details are still in the works, but tickets will be on sale for this special event that celebrates seasonal, local produce as well as local meats, breads, cheese and other products from farmers’ market vendors.

Guests will have a great opportunity to visit with our farmers and artisans and learn more about how and why they farm and do business the way they do, plus enjoy local music and great food at the beautiful Umstead Hotel.  Whole Foods Market of Cary and Great Harvest Bread Co. also are lending their support to the market with donations and fundraising opportunities this spring and summer.

“Support from businesses around town has been so essential to building the sense of community around the market and furthering its mission,” Zoetmulder said. “We’ve posted information on sponsorship levels and benefits for the 2010 season at our web site and look forward to partnering with more local businesses that share our passion for local food access, hunger prevention and education.”

Mark Your Calendar:  April 3

Starting April 3, the market will be open every Saturday through November 20, rain or shine, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht will join vendors on opening day.

Spring is just around the corner!

With special thanks to Michele McKinley for the update and the photos.

Farmers' market vendors hoop houses are used to nurture seeds before the weather warms

Fall Produce Display

By Michele McKinley

Cary, N.C.  With a chill in the air the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) ended the 2009 season on Saturday November 21. Market Manager Kim Hunter rang the closing bell.  The workers, organizers, vendors and entertainers enjoyed a short celebration of the inaugural year’s success.

What had begun as a seedling of an idea among a group of Cary moms grew into a community venue for friends and families every Saturday since May.  The WWFM, which featured more than 32 vendors from within 125 miles of the marketplace, served not only as a focal point for local foods but local musicians with a lot of talent and experts who shared information about the benefits of eating locally.  This new market is part of a nationwide increase in farmers’ markets this year.  In October, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the number of farmers’ markets in the United States increased 13 percent from a year earlier. 

“More and more, people want to be connected to their food sources,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, president of the market’s board. “The success of our first-year market shows that this matters to people.  And we’re so glad that our vendors took a leap of faith to start this market so that all of us in Western Wake County could get to know our farmers, support them and eat healthy foods.” 

A number of factors are likely contributors to the growing demand for markets like this one:  fall-out from the economy, numerous food recalls from tainted produce and meats, and growing environmental concerns about the repercussions of shipping foods thousands of miles.  Whatever the reason, the market enjoyed a great following with shoppers returning week after week.

“When we started talking about this market just about a year ago, we simply wanted to feed our families with healthy foods grown locally,” said Amy Lee, vice president of the market.  “And what we’ve got now is a great place to stroll around with a cup of coffee or a lemonade and shop each week.  Plus we’re keeping our food dollars local to support family farms, educating our community about sustainable farming and other green topics, and helping get food to those in need.  We are all really excited about how the WWFM has ‘grown’ this first year.”

 The market will reopen April 3.  In the meantime, the market web site will continue to feature local food news, vendor updates and more.  See you at the market next spring!

Market vendors toast the success of this year's market season and future of the Western Wake Farmers' Market

Cary, NC – On Saturday, the Gracious Harvest Community Garden was inaugurated with its first work day in downtown Cary.

The community garden, a project of First United Methodist Church, is open to all. For a nominal fee ($10), families put in four hours a month of labor and walk away with their share of the harvest. A portion of the bounty is given to needy families in the community as well.

A crew of about 20 built raised beds and filled them with soil and mulch under the crisp autumn sky. The one-acre plot has been loaned for this use by the Yarborough family. Water is courtesy of the Ogle family who live in the historic Guess-Ogle house. Both families are next door to the garden.

The garden is located behind the pink Guess-Ogle House (S. Academy) and accessible from the Waldo Street parking lot. There’s even a special section for kids.

CaryCitizen plans to return and take a few pictures as the garden grows. We’ll let you know who to contact if you’d like to participate. If you can’t wait, contact First United Methodist Church for more details.

You can also become a fan of Gracious Harvest Community Garden on Facebook.

Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Farmer’s Market to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

Start your holiday shopping at the Fall Craft Festival at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market on Sat., Nov. 7 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Carpenter Village Marketplace, 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Rd. in Cary. Shoppers are encouraged to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items for the market’s Thanksgiving Food Drive. All donations will go to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which has seen a great increase in need for assistance this year.More than 40 local artists and crafters from our community will showcase and sell their handcrafted works, including pottery, jewelry, ornaments, cards, oil paintings, prints, photography, baby and kids’ gifts, baskets and more.

Jewelry maker Sarah Parker Heermann of Silverkiln Studio, uses pure silver, bronze and copper for her unique designs. Heermann, who will be equipped to take fingerprints on Saturday to make custom jewelry, strives to make eco-friendly jewelry.  Shari Fowler of Iberian Inspirations makes organic body polishes and lotions, and Ben Tuorto of Vesta Fiery Gourmet Toppings will sell his fresh, natural, chile-based topping. Tuorto uses a variety of chili peppers from his own garden and local farmers as the base for these gourmet toppings.  These are just a few of the types of products that will be featured at the Fall Craft Festival. 

 

An ATM will be available at the market, and all the usual farmers’ market vendors will be there too.Get a hot coffee and a sweet treat from our vendors, and enjoy the shopping!

Open Saturday mornings through Nov. 21 at Carpenter Village Marketplace in Cary, the Western Wake Farmers’ Market features more than 30 farmers and artisans. Offerings include NC-caught seafood, meats from grass-fed and free-range animals, seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, fresh and aged cheeses, artisan breads and pastries, sweets, jewelry, hand-made skin care and cleaning products, flowers and more.

All market goods are grown, harvested or crafted within 125 miles of the marketplace. Why does eating local matter?

“Most food products in the grocery store travel an average of 1,500 miles,” said Juliann Zoetmulder, WWFM president. “The environmental cost of that travel is staggering, not to mention the loss of nutritional value and flavor. Because all our vendors are local, the food retains more of its nutrients, the environmental impact is minimal, and we help local economies by supporting our farmers,” she said.

Part of the market’s mission is for the community to become educated about and benefit from locally grown food. To that end, each week an expert is in the Education Tent. Educators have included chefs cooking locally, nutritionists, composting and gardening experts, and recycling and solar energy enthusiasts, among others. Plus, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle picks up donations at the end of each market.

The WWFM showcases local musicians as well, who play the market on a pro bono basis. There is an incredible pool of local talent with varying styles, from pop to jazz, blues to rock. The live weekly music adds another dimension of flavor at the market.

The market’s web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, regularly features new articles on local food topics, events, vendor information, what’s in season, and more. Western Wake Eats, the market’s free weekly e-newsletter, highlights what is offered at market in a given week, as well as the featured educator and musician of the week.

The WWFM is open 8 a.m.-12:00 noon currently, but market hours change in November, so check the web site. On Nov. 7, the market will feature its Fall Craft Festival and Thanksgiving Food Drive with local artists and crafters selling their products. Shoppers are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Area artists and crafters must submit applications (on the market’s home page) for the festival by Oct. 26.

Get fresh, nourishing, tasty local produce at the Western Wake Market and support the community as well. There’s no better way to start your Saturday.

Mayor Weinbrecht and the gang at WWFM

Photos courtesy of Western Wake Farmer’s Market

Upchurch is a famous name in Cary. There’s Carpenter Upchurch Road and Upchurch Meadow Road. There’s also Upchurch Farm.

William Upchurch runs the family establishment, working a day job with NC Agriculture to help pay the bills. Our picture earlier this year of the soybean crop was taken at William’s farm.

But farming today certainly isn’t what it was 25 years ago, especially in Cary. Corn Mazes, U Pick Strawberries and Christmas trees have replaced cotton and tobacco. On Upchurch Farm, they grow pumpkins to sell in the fall.

Everyone needs a pumpkin for Halloween, but what’s so special about Upchurch’s pumpkins? They’re grown right here in Cary. Here’s your chance to support local agriculture.

During the week, there’s an “honor system” pay station. But if you go on Saturdays, you can meet William and maybe help out with the farm chores (I actually saw this happen).

Upchurch Farm is located on Louis Stephens Drive near the corner of Carpenter-Upchurch Road. Big red barn. You can’t miss it. Tell William that CaryCitizen sent you.

Upchurch also sells Indian corn, bales of hay, wheat stalks and gourds for all your autumnal needs. Photos by Hal Goodtree.

Entrance to Phillips Corn Maze. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

There are a lot of benefits to having an agricultural sector in town. Fresh food. Fresh Air. Don’t forget the pleasures of a good Corn Maze.

What’s a Corn Maze, you say? Corn Maize? The best ones are intricately cut designs or illustrations utilizing a corn field as the canvas. One interacts with the installation by walking through the pathways. Or running.

Check out Phillips Corn Maze on Good Hope Church Road. It’s a tribute to NCSU coach Kay Yow.

Phillips Corn Maze

But Phillips Corn Maze is a whole lot more than just getting lost in the tall stalks for a couple hours (not a bad thing in itself). There’s also a huge pumpkin patch, 20 foot pipe slide, cow, train, and duck races, face painting, a kiddie corn maze and a hay jump, too.

We brought 8 kids: 5 teenagers, a 12, 10, and 8 year old. All of them had a great time. Because there were ten of us we were given a group discount. We were there for 3.5 hours and finally dragged them away with the promise of ice cream. The bigger kids want to back one night and do the maze with flashlights in the dark. They did the maze three times. First time just to work through it. Second time to see who could run it the fastest. Third, they were in there playing tag. In addition to the maze they loved the corn cannon and the corn pit. All 8 of the kids were wallowing around in the corn taking turns getting buried. -  ldaudist on Raleigh/CitySearch

Corn Mazes, U Pick Em strawberries, Christmas trees and more are just some of the ways enterprising farmers keep the barn open in a changing economy. Green Acres in Cary also has a Corn Maze and it’s own Fall Festival.

Support agriculture in Cary and take the whole family out for a great afternoon or evening in the fresh country air at Phillips or Green Acres, now through November 1st.

The big rooster is your landmark for Phillips Corn Maze. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Soybeans growing tall in Cary. Staff photo by Hal Goodtree

CaryCitizen is pleased to report that the soybean crop is looking good at farms across western Cary.

With all the subdivisions and mixed-use developments, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that Cary ever was a farm town. In fact, it still is.

A couple of dozen small farms still dot the town, mostly toward the west. Where cotton and tobacco used to grow, farmers cultivate strawberries, corn and more.

So it’s good to see the soybeans thriving at the crossroads of Carpenter-Upchurch and Louis Stephens Roads. Let’s hope agriculture continues be a part of our community.

Special thanks to the Johnston County Nursery Marketing Association and Tim Britton at NCSU for identifying the crop.