Two special events will take place on the plaza area of the Westover Farmers Market this coming Sunday. Capitol Kettle Corn will arrive as a new market vendor, providing several varieties of popcorn for those who love a good salty/sweet treat. Nearby, in front of the Westover Library entrance, the Westover librarian (Shari Henry) along with the librarian from the Aurora Hills branch library (Sarah Daviau) will highlight special library initiatives. One  is Lit Up, a new effort to create  outreach opportunities for “metro renters” (often people in their 20s and 30s) to increase their use of the library. The librarians will be on hand with Lit Up coasters and more information. They will also have available gardening and nutrition books for market customers to check out. For those of you who haven’t joined the library yet, they will also have on-site registration library cards. Popcorn and a few good books to read: doesn’t get much better.  See you Sunday.

Need some adventure to spice up your August?  We need a few volunteers this weekend to spread the good word about Westover Farmers Market and to help run this Sunday’s raffle.  If you can spare a few hours, please contact us at [email protected].

Jill, one of our regular market patrons, shared an interesting idea worth passing on: Farm to Party.  Jill writes:

For my birthday I’ve invited friends to celebrate with me at what I’m calling Farm to Party. I will be sourcing the food and drinks locally. Many items will be coming from vendors at the Westover Farmers Market. This party is a way to let my friends know how important I believe it is to eat fresh local natural foods. We’ll have a great time because the food will be fresh and delicious and I’ll have the evening to talk about how much I’ve enjoyed planning the party, in part from getting to know many of the farmers and vendors better. I see this party having a positive impact on my friends, the market vendors, and more. I’m not only educating my friends and supporting my community, I’m also raising funds for a good cause.

In lieu of birthday gifts, my guests can make a donation to the Farmer-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. The FTCLDF (http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/) protects the rights of the nation’s family farms, artisan food producers, consumers and affiliate communities to engage in direct commerce free of interference from federal, state and local government. It protects the rights of farmers and artisan producers to make their products available and the rights of consumers to access the foods of their choice from the source of their choice. I’m excited about my Farm to Party event and the positive impact it will have on others. Everyone should do what they can to support the local farming community and the farmers markets they depend upon.

Thanks Jill!

Have ideas about other ways to tie the farmers market to a party or other event you’re throwing?  Feel free to drop us a line to share your thoughts.

Westover Farmers Market and the Westover Library are pleased to sponsor a book signing this Sunday, July 14, by Forrest Pritchard, Northern Virginia farmer, farmers market vendor, and author. He recently published Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm. Copies of his book will be available for sale at the market, and Mr. Pritchard will be there to sign them from 9 a.m. till noon. The signing station will likely be in front of the Westover Library.

From the book flyer: “Gaining Ground” is Pritchard’s humorous, poetic, heartwarming – and very timely – memoir of his efforts to save his family’s farm, Smith Meadows. What ensues—through hilarious encounters with all manner of livestock and colorful local characters—is a crash course in sustainable agriculture. Pritchard’s biggest ally is his renegade father, who initially questions his son’s career choice and eschews organic foods for sugary mainstream fare. But just when the farm starts to turn heads at local markets, his father’s health takes a turn for the worse. “Gaining Ground” has been named a Top Ten Book for Summer 2013 by Publishers Weekly

Forrest Pritchard is a professional farmer, writer and public speaker. He has been published in national magazines (Mid American Review, New Delta Review, Acres USA, etc.), and his farm, Smith Meadows, has been featured on NPR and the Washington Post. One of the first “grass finished” farms in the country, Smith Meadows has sold at leading farmers’ markets in Washington DC for fifteen years.

So come down Sunday morning, support your local vendors, and meet and greet Forrest Pritchard.

Exciting times tomorrow at Westover Farmers Market: a raffle!  Here’s how it works: spend $5 for goods at any of the excellent vendors.  In return, you will receive a raffle ticket.  Fill out said ticket with your name and phone number, drop it in the jar at the farmer’s market booth, and wait breathlessly by the phone for our call after drawings are held at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Winners will receive a basket of goodies donated by vendors.  Come, shop, hang, raffle.

We’re approaching high season at the market.  Each week the bounty of fresh produce grows.  And in case you hadn’t noticed, each week there appear to be more…tree sweaters on some of the small trees around the Westover library.  No, they don’t have summer blues and it is not commentary on all the rain we’ve been having.  The Westover librarian reports: “We partnered with Rosslyn BID and the Artisphere to provide space and stitchers for their recent Yarn Bomb public art project – the goal was two-fold: first to provide a public art experience to bring the community together and give people a venue for their art, and second to draw attention to the Artisphere and help promote it. They had some pieces left and asked if we wanted them and, of course, I said yes.”  So there you have it.

This week at the market Virginia Hospital Center will be doing free body fat testing and providing other information about health services.  Please stop by their booth to say hello.

This Sunday will see the addition of two new vendors to the market: Gina’s Pacific Jam and Jellies and the Above Ground Winery.

Our new fruit jellies vendor will be located on the plaza. Gina is a natural at preparing exceptional jams and jellies since she comes from a family rich in culinary skills. She perfected the art of cooking while a young girl in the Philippines. Gina has enjoyed making preserves and other culinary delights for over 30 years. Her motto is, “Let the fruit speak for itself.” She selects only the finest ingredients, using organic fruits gathered from local farms whenever possible. Gina produces a variety of jellies and jams: Mango, Pineapple, Strawberry, Plum, Peach, Apple, Watermelon, and Apricot. Her Hot Pepper Jelly is considered second to none. Come have a taste and experience the bliss of Gina’s Pacific Jam and Jellies.

Above Ground Winery is one of the growing number of wineries located in Loudoun County, Virginia. The winery’s owners have combined a history of family farming, a passion for Virginia, and a love of travel to create a wide range of wines and cider crafted in Northern Virginia and made available at several local farmers markets. From Chardonnay to Bordeaux blends to something sweet and hard apple cider, the winery continues to develop wines suited for everyone. Come by for a tasting at its stall in front of the Wells Fargo Bank in Westover.

Two weeks ago Marion’s Smart Delights began selling gluten-free, allergen-free, Kosher, and vegan baked goods. They are baked with gluten-free certified, Kosher certified mixes that include nutritious whole grains, that are reduced in sugar, low sodium and uniquely delicious. Marion’s is the place to shop if you want cookies, muffins, lemon bars and other goodies without worrying about gluten, allergens, or unhealthy amounts of sugar and sodium.

Last Sunday we welcomed this year’s cut flower vendor to our market. Good Gardener (Amy Gardner DeGood) comes to us from Madison County, Virginia. Good Gardener specializes in locally and sustainably-grown flowers. Good Gardener offers more than 30 varieties of flowers, harvested by hand at just the right time to “stay in your vase fresh.” Take home the fun and color of your local farmer’s market every week from June through October, and enjoy all of the benefits that fresh cut flowers bring to your home.

Both Marion’s Smart Delights and Good Gardener are located on the plaza area of our market. Check out what they have to offer!

Staring this Sunday, Spring Gap Mountain Creamery will supply WFM patrons with some delectable cheeses.  Makers of aged, raw cow’s milk cheeses, Spring Gap was founded in early 2009 in Paw Paw, WV.  You’ll find five cheeses at their stall: West Virginia Blue, Jersey Gold (gouda), Shenandoah Sunrise (tomme), Sophie’s Select (cheddar) and Farmhouse Feta from milk from pasture-raised Jersey cows.  Enjoy.

Asparagus! Strawberries! The annual cycle of seasonal fruits and vegetables is underway at the Westover Farmers Market! Several returning farmers at last week’s market brought these locally grown delectable to sell, and there should be even more produce this coming Sunday.

Vegetable producers have returned. They include Lois’s Produce, Penn Farm, Twin Springs Fruit Farm and Over the Mountain Farm. Also back is Ole Pioneer’s Kitchen with its many types of sausage and Chef Eloy’s Kickin Salsa. The new vendors at the market last week included Nourish Market and Fresh Joseph’s. The latter sells not just fresh orange juice squeezed on site at the market but also fresh mozzarella cheese and home-baked scones. This coming week should see the arrival of Delicias del Sur offering Peruvian-style empanadas and several types of Peruvian desserts. Also due is Chase Your Tail Bakery, which sells a line of locally produced dog treats for our four-legged friends. Most new vendors are located up on the plaza in front of the Westover Library and Reed School.

Finally, since Sunday is Mother’s Day, check out the chocolates for sale at Allie & Trish Sweets up on the plaza!  See you Sunday bright and early.