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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Farmers Market Brimming With Fresh Produce

This time of year, the vendors at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market have to squeeze together just a bit to accommodate the tables of fresh produce, baked goods and more that are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The bay doors are full,” said Market Manager Pat Ayscue. “We kind of slip and slide a little closer to each other this time of year.”

In addition to the sweet corn, butterbeans, peas and more, there’s a new local producer who’s bringing in peaches. “He fills the back of his truck up, and they are so delicious!” Ayscue said.

Come on out to the market on Saturday, July 26 to celebrate the birthday of long-time vendor Calvin Adcock.

There will most likely be a cake with candles, but who knows – there could be candles in a birthday watermelon – the market also is celebrating Watermelon Day that day.

“Everybody loves and appreciates Mr. Adcock so much…it just all works together really well for both days to be together,” Ayscue said. “He’s a real inspiration to us all.”

To mark Watermelon Day, Ayscue said she’ll be giving away free watermelons every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon.

It’s shaping up to be a great watermelon harvest, she said, unlike last year when untimely drought and then heavy rains took tolls on the summertime favorite.

“Last year was a rough season on watermelons,” Ayscue said. “This season is looking really good…this year, we’ve hit it just right.”

Be on the lookout for Sugar Baby, Charleston Gray and Jubilee varieties.

Eligible customers can stretch their produce budget with the Senior Voucher and Double Bucks programs. EBT is accepted as well.

“If you use your EBT card at our market, I can match that with Double Bucks to stretch your food dollars,” she said.

The Senior Voucher program is a state program, and Ayscue said the vouchers can be used at any farmers market that is certified.

Artis Crews with Green Rural Redevelopment Organization will be at the market this Saturday to sign up seniors for the voucher program.

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TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Lines Up Events In July And Beyond

As summer heats up, so too does the events calendar in Granville County – there’s plenty to do, from outdoor activities to those inside air-conditioned environs.

Grab a ticket for the weekend performance of Drinking Habits 2: Caught in the Act, a production of Granville Little Theatre. The curtain rises at 7 p.m. for evening performances run from Thursday, July 10 to Saturday, July 12 and there’s a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, July 13. The comedy is the sequel to last season’s Drinking Habits, featuring the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing, and the antics involved as they try to save an orphanage.

“It’s guaranteed to be a good time,” said Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen.

The show takes place at the Ox Theatre, located inside the Oxford City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St.

Find a link to tickets at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

Stroll along the sidewalks of downtown Oxford to snatch up some cool summer discounts at the July 12 Tent Sale. A number of businesses are scheduled to take part in a 21st century version of the old-fashioned Sidewalk Sale. Bliss Nutrition, C Squared, Nan’s, Home Decorator Shoppe, Angel Wings Book Store and Bistro, The Hub on Main, Southern Style Mercantile and Makynlee
& Co. will have some discounted prices on some really great items, Allen said. The sales are sure to be hot on the outside, but customers can find some great deals – and some A/C – inside, too, she said.

The Oxford Armory Farmer’s Market is hosting its own version of an Iron Chef competition on Saturday, July 12. Three groups will compete for bragging rights as they use local produce found at the market. This event is being held in partnership with the Culinary Arts program at Vance-Granville Community College.

The market, located on the grounds of the former National Guard Armory at 105 W. Spring St., launched in May. Its summer hours are 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

A couple of weeks later, on July 26, come to the market to take part in an event that pairs yoga and animal adoption. The Pose, Paws, Adopt event will include yoga and adoptable animals from the Granville County Animal Shelter from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

“All fees for the yoga class will be donated to the animal shelter or toward your adoption fee,” Allen said.

This is one example of partnership that Allen finds delightful.

“That’s what I love so much,” she said, “the collaboration to make these things happen. It’s not just an entity standing alone, but making those partnerships with different businesses, organizations and nonprofits” that not only attracts visitors, but also has a positive impact in the local community.

Here’s a quick rundown of other activities in July and beyond:

  • Creedmoor’s City Tavern, 404 N. Main St., hosts the First Annual 90’s Field Day on Saturday, July 12, where Allen says “you get to act like a big kid for the day.” Check out all the details at https://www.facebook.com/CreedmoorCityTavern
  • The Town of Butner hosts Groovin’ at the Gazebo on Saturday, July 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be lawn games, food trucks and fun for the whole family. Bryan’s Hill Band will perform on the brand-new performance stage at the park, located at 416 Central Ave.
  • Clement Farm presents the inaugural “Watermelon Crawl” event on Saturday, July 26 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Another family-friendly event that includes music by Blake Howell and all things watermelon. Tickets are $5, and kids 12 and under get in free. You can even learn how to do the Watermelon Crawl line dance. When you’re not dancin’ you may want to sit, so Allen said to bring a lawn chair. Clement Farm is located at 5081 Lucy Averette Rd. off Old Hwy. 75.
  • The 2nd annual Next Door Music Festival cranks up on Saturday, Aug. 16 for a full day of music, from Americana to emo and everything in between. Six bands will perform throughout the day, and 100 percent of the proceeds goes to Families Living Violence Free. The featured band is Ohio-based Noise Beneath the Floor. The festival will be staged on the grounds of the Armory from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then the crowd will head over to Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. for an “after-party” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Mark your calendars for Sept. 12-13 for the annual Hot Sauce Festival in downtown Oxford
  • Circle Sept. 20, when musicians take over downtown Creedmoor for the annual Creedmoor Music Festival
  • The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford Homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 11

Read more about these events and more at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

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4-H Logo

Cooperative Extension with Micah Sharpe: All Things 4-H

Micah Sharpe, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Joy Othoo, a rising senior at NC State University majoring in Agroecology and Community Food Systems and an intern with the Vance County Cooperative Extension, joins Micah Sharpe on this edition of All Things 4-H to discuss her time in Vance County with her internship.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Two-Spotted Spider Mites

Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Two-Spotted spider mites can invade landscape plants quickly in hot dry conditions.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Home and Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is now open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Today they have tomatoes, snapbeans, beets, cabbages, yellow squash, zucchini squash, red irish potatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and peaches.
  • The 2025 Landowners and Heirs Property Workshop will be on July 24th, 2025 from 8am to 4:30pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.
  • Check for flooded rows after storms have passed open ends of rows to let excess water out.
  • Check soil for moisture before watering plants.
  • Cooperative Extension has excellent publications on canning and freezing your garden harvest.
  • Do not prune back azaleas now or you will lose next year’s blooms.
  • If you have harvested your irish potatoes, plant some other vegetable in that location.
  • Do garden chores early morning or late evening.
  • Let your children and grandchildren help in the garden and teach them now, they are our future gardeners.
  • Service your lawn mower according to the owners manual.
  • Check the harvest interval before spraying any fruits or vegetables that you are planning to harvest soon.
  • Keep your garden journal up to date.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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