— submitted by Tracy Madigan, Market Manager

Farmers Market Begins 2018 Season This Saturday

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will begin its 2018 season Saturday, April 21 with their second annual Spring Fling Produce, Plants & Crafts market. Featuring over 30 vendors, the market will have a variety of local spring produce, baked and canned goods, garden plants, herbs, flowers and vegetables, locally raised beef, pork and eggs plus lots of unique craft items. The event will be at the VCRFM, 210 Southpark Dr. from 8am to 2pm.

Granville County’s Harvey Hills Farm, a certified nursery, will have an assortment of herbs and vegetables for planting in your own garden including several types of heirloom tomatoes. They also sell flowers for your gardens as well as hanging baskets and potted plants. Co-owner Carrie Harvey will be on hand to offer planting advice and share her extensive horticultural knowledge. Robert and Nancy Ohlmann of Apple Hill Farm in Granville County will be bringing leafy greens and spring vegetables. The Ohlmann’s also have bedding plants and flowers. New this year for Apple Hill Farm, Nancy will be selling her handmade craft items. Bill and Camille Graves of Stone Bridge Farm will have everything you need for a delicious salad including kale, spinach, swiss chard, several types of lettuce, eggs and even some horseradish to add zing. Relatively new to our area, Bill & Camille chose Vance County for their home after retiring and began a whole new career as specialty farmers! In the few short years they have been establishing Stone Bridge Farm, they have accomplished amazing things growing distinctive, unconventional produce. If lucky, you may even be able to get some duck eggs at their booth. The Short’s Family Farm will be bringing sweet potatoes, potatoes and green house tomatoes. Depending on the weather, they may have strawberries and a few other surprises. Be sure to stop by their booth to congratulate Will on his baseball scholarship to Barton and see how much taller Hampton has grown! Don’t forget to grab some fresh local shitake and oyster mushrooms for your salad from Henderson Natural Farm. Located in Norlina and owned by James and Earlean Henderson, Henderson Natural Farm specializes in organically grown mushrooms. James offers cooking ideas and recipes centered on his delicious mushrooms. He can also enlighten you on the many healthy and nutritional benefits of mushrooms which are popular stir fried, grilled, sautéed and in soups. Calvin Adcock of Adcock Farm in Vance County has an array of canned vegetables, jellies, preserves, sauces, chow-chow, honey and fresh seasonal vegetables. Try some of Calvin’s mouthwatering products and you will see why he was chosen 2017 Vance County Small Farmer of the Year. The Vance County Master Gardeners be in attendance with an information booth, ready to answer your gardening questions or assist with planting needs.

Looking for great local meat to go with your spring vegetables and salads? The VCRFM has it! JW Creek Farms in Granville County specializes in pasture raised beef and free range chickens. Owner Janice Murphey and her husband William raise Angus Herefordshire beef. From ground beef, ribeye steaks, and tenderloins to Osso Bucco, beef kabobs, London Broil and everything in between, JW Creek Farms has the beef! Let William explain the advantages of eating pasture raised beef and share cooking instructions. Having trouble finding safe eggs at the supermarket lately? Not to worry, JW Creek has plenty of fresh safe local eggs available. Are you looking for a Boston Butt, pork tenderloin, or savory pork chops? Faulkner Family Farms sells local, pasture raised pork products including bacon, sausages and kielbasa. Located in Vance County, the Faulkner Family Farm has been in the Faulkner family since the 1870’s. The seventh generation of Faulkners currently live and work on the farm. Operated by Don Faulkner, Jr., son Gray and nephew Steven Jones, FFF offers a variety of summer and fall vegetables in addition to their pork products. They will be selling their pork at the Spring Fling Saturday and will add vegetables and melons to their offerings as the season progresses. Dixon and Sons Farms, located in Granville County, is a GAP and Organic Certified 200 + acre family farm. Owners Jason & Terry Dixon grow strawberries, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, deer corn and pasture raised pork. This Saturday the Dixon’s will be selling their pork and, if ripe, their locally famous strawberries. Yum!

Enhance your farmers market meal of fresh spring produce and meats with a bottle of wine from Vance County’s sole winery, Backroad Farms and Vineyard. Owners Dr. Eric & Deborah Price will be offering their Hicksboro Red and Williamsboro White estate wines at Saturday’s Spring Fling. This will be vintner Eric’s second year of making and selling wine, though Deborah has been tending the vines for about eight years. After many years away as a business professional, Deborah is now the fourth generation in her family to farm the lands of Backroad Farms and Vineyard. A former Master Gardner, Deborah grows seasonal vegetables and fruits. In addition to having kale, Muscadine grape cider and grape juice, Muscadine salsa, dried lavender and honey from BFV’s hives, Deborah, also a talented craftswoman, will be offering some of her crafts. Look for her luffa sponges and other surprises. Be sure to take some local wines home and raise a glass toasting spring and all the wonderful goodies available at your farmers market.

Finish off your farmers market meal with delectable sweets available at Spring Fling. Our beloved Ada Clifton of Ms. Ada’s Baked Goods, a VCRFM icon, will be selling her scrumptious baked goods at Saturday’s Spring Fling. Known for her pies, sweet breads, rolls, jellies and preserves, Ms. Ada is sure to have something for everyone’s sweet tooth. Wake County’s Cakes Delish will be on hand offering their melt-in-your-mouth good cupcakes. Baker Bertha Cepeda creates a variety of cupcakes with original flavors, often using seasonal fruits. Cakes Delish is a small family bakery specializing in custom cakes and cupcakes. Stop by their booth and have Bertha’s son, Sam, assist you in your selection. He can also take custom cake orders for every “delish-ious” occasion. Henderson’s own Yummy Little Cakes will be bringing a plethora of sweet treats to Spring Fling. Owners Valerie and Woody Davis offer mini-loaves, scones, muffins, cupcakes, miniature Victoria sponge cakes and miniature Battenberg cakes.

Treat yourself, friends and family to special one-of-a-kind handmade crafts from our many talented local craft vendors. You will find crocheted and hand sewn dish clothes, wash cloths, sponges, and towels by Angelique Clay, owner of Vance County’s The Eclectic Peacock. She also hand makes scented soaps, key fobs, padded sunglasses cases, tissue pack covers and more. Also crafting with The Eclectic Peacock is Granville County artist Tammy Atkinson. Tammy’s beautiful hand painted stemware and glassware enhance any table setting and her custom wine glasses are perfect for sipping BFV estate wines! She also makes fun bow and arrows sets for children, but don’t worry, they are cloth tipped for safe play. Original wreaths and bows made by Vance County’s Laureen Wilkins may be found at Laureen’s Creations. Specializing in seasonal and themed wreaths, Laureen will also make customized wreaths to your specifications. Have a favorite sports team and want to show your support? Laureen has college and school wreaths. For beautiful decorative home products, Mill Creek Alpaca Farm in Clarksville, Va. has fused glass and stained glass products. Crafter Terry Wooten creates unique mobiles and ornaments as well as hand painted china and porcelain items. Kenneth Fuller creates furniture from barn wood and barn roof tin at his Maul-N-Wedge Barn Wood Furniture shop in Vance County. Find chairs, benches, tables, cabinets and much more at his Spring Fling booth. Peggy Trutt of Durham’s Thread’s Connected Plus Paper will have her signature handmade purses, wallets, credit card holders, bookmarks and much more at her booth on Saturday. Her creations are not only useful, but attractive and original. You will find embroidered towels, napkins, pillows, and purses as well as ceramic trivets and cup holders for your car at Creative Gifts for Missions. Owner Alice Overton of Granville County designs and makes her crafts with a special purpose in mind. She uses her proceeds to raise money for mission trips to help others. Jackie Glover of Glover Crafts will have her original boa scarves and crocheted items at her booth. She also produces necklaces, gloves, hats, and cloths at her Vance County business. You will find bird houses, bat houses, and butterfly houses at her booth too! For original artwork, greeting cards, photography, and ornaments, Boundary Waters Farm has what you need. Vance County artist, crafter and farmer, Cindy Graham uses her many talents to create items based on her surroundings. You will find animal and farm themed items at her booth plus plants, cut flowers, seasonal vegetables and pork. It may be spring, but we still have some cool weather to contend with. Make at stop at Jerri Jones’ Jerri’s Things and find that perfect hand crocheted shawl or wrap to keep you warm. Made in Vance County, wearing her creations will make you the envy of others! Adrian Varney of Vance County will have necklaces, bracelets and candles at her Pretty Tough Stuff Designs booth. Additionally, Adrian is a skilled photographer and will be offering an array of her printed and framed works for sale. For an eclectic mix of sand blasted bottles, glass blocks, glassware, repurposed cabinets & doors, customized Yeti-style cups, hand painted signs, wind chimes and bird houses, check out Junk Drawer Designs. Owner and crafter Heidi Owens of Vance County offers these items and more at her SF booth. Gorgeous handmade semi-precious gemstone and pearl jewelry created by Warren County artisan Suzanne Chiotakis may be found at her Five Crows Over Lick Skillet booth. Choose from a vast selection of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces – all individually designed and created by Suzanne. For some of the finest hand-turned wood crafts to be found anywhere, look no further than Vance County’s own Louis Sachs. Sachs Woodcrafts LLC is located on a farm in rural Vance County. Owner Louis Sachs designs and handcrafts various and unusual wood pieces into hand-turned bowls, platters, cutting boards and other unique custom pieces. No two items are alike and are designed and numbered with the wood type, adding to their character and charm. Visit Louis Saturday at his SF booth and fall in love with his work and craftsmanship. Before you leave Spring Fling, be sure to stop by the Kerr Lake Candles and stock up on hand poured candles and wax melts. Enjoy the wonderful aromatic scents of these creations by Franklin County crafter, Ed Cottle, as you unwind at home after your fun day at Spring Fling.