THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN!

THIS WEEKEND:

CLEAN-OUT-THE-GREENHOUSE SALE – SAT, JULY 26
Southern Native Plantings at Longwood Plantation will host a Clean-Out-the-Greenhouse-and-Nursery Plant Sale this weekend. Edibles, non-edibles and some fruit trees will be going for a steal at this beautiful location in Newington, GA. Karen says it’s not too late to put in some late-summer Plum or Yellow Brandywine tomatoes. Or bring your truck to bring home a 4-year-old Pineapple Pear Tree for planting this fall. Of course, everything’s grown in that magical, all-natural soil mix that they also create at the plantation. If you time it right, you won’t miss a 1pm Honey Extraction Demo by Rob Liakos from Hen Pecked Farm. The sale runs 10am-4pm tomorrow only. Use this address to get there: 4296 Springfield Road, Newington, GA.

COMING UP SOON:
NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK – AUG 3-9
National Farmers Market Week is fast approaching. Here’s what we’ve got in the works:

SCHOOL DAY SOIREE – TUES, AUG 5
The Veggie Truck Farmers Market will throw a “School Day Soiree” on Tuesday, Aug 5. Come sample veggie finger sandwiches by Chef Charleen Tinley and sip on fancy fruity drinks with volunteers from Augusta Locally Grown. We’ll have a college student veggie pasta cook-off, bingo for school supplies, a “Farmers Market Hat” contest, and a market tote bag give-away. The Veggie Truck Farmers Market is located across from the Kroc Center in Harrisburg. And yes: WE DOUBLE EBT thanks to our awesome partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia! To volunteer or compete in the cook-off that day, please contact AJ Evans at evans.austinj@gmail.com.

MARKET TOTE BAG GIVE-AWAY – THUR, AUG 7
The Evans Towne Farmers Market will give away super cute and very practical market tote bags on Thursday, Aug 7 in celebration of National Farmers Market Week. Bags will be free to the first 75 patrons who attend. (One per family, please.) Each tote will include a free raffle ticket for a chance to win our cornucopian door prize. Big thanks to AgGeorgia Farm Credit for sponsoring this event. You must be present to win!

RAMEN NOODLE REVOLUTION: A COLLEGE STUDENT CONTEST – THUR, AUG 14
In our third round of “Market Stadium” this year, local college students will compete to transform those nasty ramen noodles packets into something fabulous, using fresh, local ingredients. Hosted by the Evans Towne Farmers Market, the contest will feature 7 college-enrolled contestants who are serious about cooking. There are a few spots left and no fee to compete. We supply the ramen and an outdoor “kitchen” tent. You supply the additional ingredients and equipment. Seven competitors, four judges, one trophy. Big thanks in advance to the GRU student volunteer set-up crew! Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org to sign up!

BENDERDIGGER YOUTH GARDENING PROJECT – JULY – NOVEMBER
The BenderDigger Youth Gardening Project at the River Island Community in Evans has a few more spots open for budding young veggie farmers, ages 6-13. This very-hands-on, Monday evening educational program is run by Kristina Williams of the BenderDinker, in partnership with Augusta Locally Grown. Visit www.benderdigger.com for details. Contact benderdinker@gmail.com to enroll.

COMING THIS FALL …

RAISED BED WINTER GARDEN WORKSHOP & GARDEN MEAL – SAT, SEPT 6
Learn the finer points of winter vegetable gardening with the dynamic father-son team at Legacy Gardens: Steve & David Gianino. Located in Evans, the hands-on, in-depth workshop starts at 2pm. A wholesome, simple dinner will be served in the garden afterwards. Don’t be shy to bring questions specific to your own plot; from basic to advanced, all are welcome. The men will also offer organically-grown seedling starts for sale, including kale, broccoli, chard and cabbage … perfect for the winter garden. Workshop tickets are $20. A donation to ALG from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Aiken is being used to offer scholarships for this workshop to those who find the ticket price a hardship. Please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org to apply for scholarship. Tickets are available through our on-line market or contact David directly at legacygardener@yahoo.com.

URBAN FARM TOUR & PROGRESSIVE MEAL – SUN, SEPT 7
We’ll be touring and enjoying a progressive meal at a series of urban farms this fall, with a focus on the east side of the Savannah River. Bottle Tree Farm of Augusta and Icebox Farm of North Augusta are already on the tour; we’re firming up other locations now. As enlightening as it will be delicious, this is a great way to share an autumn daytrip with a special someone. Details and ticket sales announced soon.

TASTES OF EARTH: AN EDUCATIONAL FARM & SITE TOUR, FOLLOWED BY AN ELEGANT FARM DINNER – SAT, OCT 4
Southern Native Plantings at Longwood Plantation will partner with Culinary Connections to host an Educational Greenhouse, Nursery & Soil Education Tour followed by an Elegant Farm Dinner by Chef Charleen. Imagine sipping scoppernong wine sangria while you learn the finer points of native plant propagation in an organically certified greenhouse. Plan to nibble roasted okra with kale dip and pickled crudités while hearing about the vital role that soils plays in the nutritional value of your food. A five-course menu for the sit-down dinner nestled in a native plant habitat behind a fruit tree grove will soon be announced; tickets go on sale soon.

Augusta Locally Grown will provide table service for the meal, with the promise of a free meal in exchange to 10 volunteers. If you can commit to a full day of fun, hard work, please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org.