THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

SUMMER IS HAPPENIN’ AT ALG!

SUNDAY, JUNE 1
PICKIN’ PARTY, FORAGING TOUR & FARM DINNER AT HEXEMAUS FARM
Lots of preparations going on right now for this weekend’s Pickin’ Party Crop Mob at Hexemaus Farm in Waynesboro. In fact, I’m here right now with Chef Charleen of Culinary Connections as she begins to make the gorgeous volunteer meal. Karen Smith of Southern Native Plantings will provide a wild foraging tour after the hard work is over and before the meal begins. This is a SOLD OUT EVENT so no more meal tickets are available; thank you so much to the 40+ volunteers who signed on! Biggest thanks to farmer Sandi Johnson and her crew for hosting!

MONDAY, JUNE 2
BENDERDIGGER!
The BenderDigger Youth Gardening project at River Island starts again this summer with Kristina Williams (of the BenderDinker) at the helm. We’re looking for volunteers to help! Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you can lend your muscle and talents to this educational program.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7
DUCK DAYS AT ICEBOX FARM
Enroll in this engaging and informative day at this beautiful farm in North Augusta. The workshop includes a complete demo of duck processing from farm to plate. Chef David McCluskey will then lead the group in making a scrumptious Duck Bog. Tickets available through ALG or directly from their website at iceboxfarm.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7
MEET THE FARMER COOKING CLASS
Join Chef Charleen at the West End Market in Augusta as she leads you in a hands-on cooking class featuring organic veggies from Addersons Fresh Produce of Keysville. In fact, meet the farmers, Sam & Loretta Adderson, too! Tickets are available through ALG or directly through Charleen’s website at chefcharleen.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 14
JOURNEE DU LAPIN WORKSHOP AT ICEBOX FARM
Here’s another fascinating farm-to-plate class, this one featuring fresh local rabbit. Tickets available through ALG on-line or on their website.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19
COOLER THAN A CUCUMBER SALAD KIDS COOKING COMPETTION AT THE EVANS TOWNE FARMERS MARKET
Calling all young chefs! Sign up to compete in our Cooler than a Cucumber Kids Cooking Competition on Thursday, June 19. Eight contestants (ages 10-16) will create their unique creations for 16 judges in pursuit of the trophy. We provide the cucumbers from a local farm; you provide the fixings. To compete, email kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

THURSDAY, JULY 17
THE GREAT SUMMER TOMATO SANDWICH CONTEST AT THE EVANS TOWNE FARMERS MARKET
Same thing, but we’re stepping it up. This one will feature local chefs and other serious adult homecooks. Eight contestants, 16 judges, one trophy! We provide the heirloom tomatoes from the Urban Ag R&D Project in Appling; you provide the fixings. Get ready for “Market Stadium” folks!!!!! To compete, send your food bio to kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

BIG THANKS!
Big thanks to Patrick and Amy Sutter for including us in their wonderful BanjoBQue Competition! And thanks to all the volunteer local food ambassadors who came out to help!

Big thanks to Ginny Franks and family at Southern Swiss Dairy for arranging to bring the Mobile Dairy Classroom to the Evans Market yesterday. It was a wonderful addition.

Big thanks (and congratulations) to our board member Landon Dawson and his new bride April for celebrating their wedding day at the Evans Towne Farmers Market yesterday. It was truly humbling to share your special day with you that way.

See you all at the markets!
-Kim

SECRETS IN THE SOIL

… Meant to mention this in the noontime blog…

SECRETS IN THE SOIL – SAT, MAY 24
Karen Smith of Southern Native Plantings will host a soil workshop at the West End Market & Bakery in Augusta tomorrow morning from 10am-11:30. Tickets are $10. Come learn from the master!!

Weblog Entry

BANJO-B-QUE – MAY 23, 24
If you find yourself at the Banjo-B-Que this weekend, in Evans, come visit the “Shadow BBQ” team! Local foods advocate Patrick Sutter and his buddies are competing in the “Backyard Category” of this nationally recognized grilling contest. Their angle? Local meats from local farmers!! Volunteer local food ambassadors will be there to help promote the movement to the 7000 folks expected to attend! Hugs to Amy Sutter, our awesome ALG board member, for keeping the team fed, loved and happy. GO SHADOW BBQ!!!!

RAISED BED GARDENING WORKSHOP – MAY 25:
There’s still time to sign up for the Raised Bed Gardening Workshop 101 on Sunday, May 25, at 3pm, at Legacy Gardens in Evans. Cost is $20 and includes a garden salad meal afterwards. Contact David directly by texting 706-877-0935.

FOOD JUSTICE TALK AT THE AIKEN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH – JUNE 1
Come join ALG for a talk on food justice as we work together to envision a more vibrant local foods movement throughout the CSRA.

PICKIN’ PARTY AT HEXEMAUS FARM – JUNE 1
This is a “sold-out” event! We’re expecting 40+ volunteer berry pickers! Registrants will receive a confirmation email with the details soon!

SUMMER TOMATO SANDWICH CONTEST – JULY 17
Calling all local chefs and would-be chefs!!!!!! ALG will host a “Summer Tomato Sandwich Contest” at the Evans Towne Farmers Market on Thursday, July 17. Heirloom tomatoes will be provided by the Urban Ag R&D project in Appling. Contestants provide the fixings! Judges are being lined-up, sponsors sought and trophies ordered. Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you’re ready to show this town what you can do with a tomato sandwich.

See you all at the markets on Tuesday and Thursday!
Kim

THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

RIVERWOOD PICK-UP LOCATION CLOSING – MAY 20
This Tuesday, May 20, will be our LAST DAY at Riverwood. It is a sad but inevitable end-of-an-era. Sales at that location have sunk below what it costs to run. We believe that other local foods options, including the Evans Towne Farmers Market, have pulled customers in multiple directions. And that’s a good thing overall!!! But it is sad to leave behind the Riverwood community where much of our start took root. Of course, the biggest hug goes to our fearless market manager Meghann, who has developed quite a fan base there. She’s gonna take some time off as a manager, but will continue with us in some form or another because, of course, she’s family now. We hope our Riverwood customers will switch over to our AJCC site, which is open 4pm-6pm, just a few miles away. If you have any questions about this transition, please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

BANJO-B-QUE – MAY 23, 24
One of the most enthusiastic advocates for local foods in our community is Patrick Sutter. And this month he’s taking it one step further! Patrick and three of his fellow grill buddies have entered their team in the “Backyard Category” of the Banjo-B-Que national contest in Evans. And get this: they’re using local beef and pork from Savannah River Farm, including a top-of-the-line Berkshire hog. Their team – called “SHADOW BBQ” – will promote and celebrate ALG and the Evans Towne Farmers Market while cooking up some serious contest entries. More than 7000 folks are expected to attend this food/music event with more than 80 teams from 28 states. Come cheer Shadow BBQ on as they cheer on our local foods movement! Order tickets at banjobque.com.

FARM FRIDAY AT WHITE HILLS POSTPONED TO MAY 23:
“Farm Friday” will start up at White Hills lavender farm in Dearing, GA, next Friday, May 23.

RAISED BED GARDENING WORKSHOP – MAY 25:
The dynamic father-son duo, Steve and David Gianino, will host another popular Raised Bed Gardening Workshop 101 on Sunday, May 25, at 3pm, at Legacy Gardens in Evans. Cost is $20 and includes a garden salad meal afterwards. Tickets can be ordered on-line through ALG or contact David directly by texting 706-877-0935.

PICKIN’ PARTY AT HEXEMAUS FARM – JUNE 1
Volunteer spots have filled up fast for this berry picking Crop Mob at Hexemaus Farm in Waynesboro on Sunday, June 1. Chef Charleen will provide the farm meal afterwards to our volunteers! There are only a few meal tickets left, so sign up soon if you’re willing to work for food! Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

SUMMER TOMATO SANDWICH CONTEST – JULY 17
Calling all local chefs and would-be chefs!!!!!! ALG will host a “Summer Tomato Sandwich Contest” at the Evans Towne Farmers Market on Thursday, July 17. Heirloom tomatoes will be provided by the Urban Ag R&D project in Appling. Contestants provide the fixings! Judges are being lined-up, sponsors sought and trophies ordered. Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you’re ready to show this town what you can do with a tomato sandwich.

See you all at the markets!
Kim

THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

FARM INTERNS NEEDED!
As your college students return for the summer, or as perhaps you yourself consider a new challenge, think about becoming a farm intern. Many of our farmers are looking for hard-working, smart, strong people to help them through the high-yield months … and all the internships offer their own unique perks. Give me a ring to talk about the different options. I’m at 706-288-7895.

Cheers!
Kim

THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

*Loads of opportunities to visit local farms this spring! *

SUNDAY, MAY 4 – URBAN FARM & GARDEN TOUR & PROGRESSIVE MEAL
We’re touring four urban farms & veggie gardens this weekend in partnership with the Sierra Club of Augusta. On tour: Urban Ag Solutions in Appling, Legacy Gardens in Evans, the Harrisburg Community Gardens & Honey Cooperative in Augusta, and Ice Box Farm in North Augusta. Sorry! This is a sold-out event. However, if you’d like to plan your group’s own urban farm tour, give us a holler at kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 9 – FARM FRIDAY
It’s “Farm Friday” at White Hills Lavender Farm in Dearing, GA. Enjoy their open house and farm tours every Friday, starting May 9. Contact Lisa at whitehillsfarm@gmail.com for times and directions.

SUNDAY, MAY 18 – RAISED BED ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOP
Back by popular demand, another raised bed and container gardening class will be held at Legacy Gardens in Evans on Sunday afternoon, May 18. This class is intentionally small to focus on your needs as a backyard grower. Tickets are $20 and can be ordered through our on-line website, or purchase directly from David Gianino at dgianino@uga.edu.

SATURDAY, MAY 17 & SATURDAY, JUNE 7 – DUCK DAYS AT ICE BOX FARM
Learn to humanely process and prepare delicious, fresh, local duck at Ice Box Farm in North Augusta. This engaging, informative workshop includes a complete demonstration of duck processing, start to finish. Chef Dave McCluskey will also demonstrate how to prepare his scrumptious Duck Bog … and you’ll get to take some home. Cost is $45; couples attend for only $75. Space is limited. Enroll through www.iceboxfarm.com.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1 – PICKIN’ PARTY CROB MOB
Hexemaus Farm will host a wild dewberry picking Crop Mob on Sunday, June 1. “What’s a crop mob?” Imagine dozens of hardworking volunteers helping out on a farm together, and then sharing a farm meal afterwards. Here’s the schedule:

2pm – Volunteer work starts.
4pm – Volunteer work ends, clean up.
4:30pm – Farm foraging tour with Karen Smith of Southern Native Plantings
6pm – Farm dinner created by Chef Charleen Tinley of Culinary Connections.

To secure your volunteer spot and meal ticket, an RSVP is required! Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

See you all at the markets on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
- Kim

THE ON LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

Two words: BENDER DINKER.
Or is that one word?
See you on the water!!!