CHESTERFIELD FARMERS MARKET

HAPPY HOUR

2012-02-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

GrayHaven Winery is having Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:00 at the Market. $1.00 off any glass of wine.
Stop by, do some shopping and enjoy a glass of great wine.

Made in USA --- A Reminder For 2012

2012-02-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

Remember my blog posting on November 27, 2011 about the Birth of a New Tradition? The following email arrived in my box last week and I must share it with you.

I didn't know Hallmark cards were made in China! That is also why I don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore. They are made in China and are more expensive! I buy them at Dollar Tree - 50 cents each and made in USA.

I have been looking at the blenders available on the Internet. Kitchen Aid is Made in the US. Top of my list already.

Yesterday I was in Wal Mart looking for a wastebasket. I found some made in China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I asked the lady if they had any others. She took me to another department and they had some at $2.50 made in USA. They are just as good.

Same as a kitchen rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in the USA - what a concept! - and they were $3.00 cheaper.

We are being brainwashed to believe that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not so.

One light bulb at a time...I was in Lowe's the other day and just out of curiosity, I looked at the hose attachments. They were all made in China.

The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA.

Start looking, people......In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else -- most often, their job.

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is now marked "made in Mexico." I don't buy it anymore.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico....now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger .....I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy -- was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared them: they were the same except for the price...the GE bulbs cost more than the Everyday Value brand, but the thing that surprised me the most was that the GE was made in Mexico and the Everyday Value brand was made in - you guessed it - the USA at a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

It's way past time to start finding and buying products you use every day that are made right here.

So, on to the next aisle: Bounce Dryer Sheets ...yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand cost less, and was Made In the USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years, at almost half the price.

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, tell others about it so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies - you're sending the jobs there. (We should have awakened a decade ago....)

Let's get with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the USA - it's a start!

A good place to start buying American made is at the Chesterfield Farmers Market and you don't have to read labels as all products offered are produced by the vendor.

Buy Local - Eat Fresh

Come to the Market on Saturday, Feb 11th

2012-02-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

The fun starts at noon and will go on until 7:30. Shop for a special gift for your special Valentine. Check out the previous blog for gift ideas. We have a new vendor selling dog and cat beds, dog toys and more. N & J Creations are a nice addition to the Market.

Cole Sullivan will be there to entertain you, so please come by and give him a big welcome. Get your glass of wine or cup of coffee, tea or cold drink and sit a spell and enjoy the music. Walk around and watch the vendors at work. Many of our vendors you have not met will be there so have your list of questions ready. You now, "How can you paint on a bird feather?" or "How do you get behind the wood on the windows to paint?" Although Robert of Country Side Bakery will be out of state and won't be able to be with us, Nora tells me she is baking up some surprises for us. I sure hope she does some of her great sugar cookies.

Spend a combined total of at least $30 throughout the market on this day, take your purchases to the main desk and receive a Heart mobile as our gift to you, as long as supply lasts.

They swing in the wind if placed near a window and sparkle in the sunshine. While at the market, look up and you will see some hanging.

See you on the 11th.

Valentine Special Event

2012-01-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

Save the Date: Saturday, February 11th from noon to 7:30

Where: Chesterfield Farmer's Market

Join us for wine tasting, chocolates by Kelly, cheese tasting, special treats from Country Side Bakery, coffee and tea from Koralee and more.

Find a great selection of gifts for that someone special in your life. The Basket Case has created some special heart shaped baskets. Pick one up and have Kelly fill it with her home made great tasting chocolates.

If you don't want chocolates, fill the basket with some wonderful goat milk soap from Ellis Farm. Or maybe some tea with accessories from Koralee Coffee.

Do you know someone who is always looking for those pesky reading glasses that they have laid down and forgot what they did with them? Handmades By Linda has the solution. Check out her strong and beautiful eye glass chains. A nice way to tell Mom she is still your Valentine.

Jewelry is always a nice way to say I Love You. Mary Robinson's Gem Collection has many nice selections. Handmades By Linda also has some lovely pieces. Both vendors would be happy to design something special for you....just ask.

Phil Moss will paint on a window anything of your choosing or you can select from one of the many he has displayed at the market. He also does painting on granite. Again, if you want a favorite pet or object on the granite, he will be happy to do it for you. His work is exceptional and a very popular item at our market.

Ron does some beautiful painting on feathers. A must see. They make great gifts.

We have a sun catcher on display as well as some unique pendants made from the workings of old watches. Nanci's Creations has some beautiful winter wreathes available.

Shop the market five days a week from 10 to 6. We are always adding new items so come in and see us often. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our plant/fresh flower vendor and our farmers with the fresh produce. We always have fresh farm eggs available. We have an ongoing search for new vendors with their unique and interesting products as well as food items. If you know of any vendor who would be a great addition to our growing market please ask them to contact us.

Don't forget to visit our free book swap and pick up some books. Let the little ones come in and take a book. We are always on the lookout for book donations so keep us in mind when you are cleaning out your child's library of books.

See you all at the Market Tuesday - Saturday. Don't forget Feb 11th for some fun at the market.

Blog Changes

2012-01-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

Have been busy trying to get a new look to our blog. Do let me know what you think. I still have to post more vendors with pictures. We have received a lot of interest from potential new vendors so stay turned for new products and new vendors as the season progresses. Vendors are in the process of changing their displays for our Valentine Day event on Feb 11th...do stay turned for more information. It should be a fun day. A great place to find something special for your Valentine. We also will have wine and chocolates for the traditional gifts on your list. Bring you date in for some wine tasting.

Now is the time of year to fill your freezer with some great beef. Check out what Sunny Vale Farm has to offer. Consider getting a quarter of a cow and save money. You can always share with a friend or two.

Robert and Nora from Country Side Bakery have moved into their new home and new kitchen so we can soon expect all kinds of delicious baked goods from them.

Phil Moss will be out the rest of this week due to the recent passing of his mother-in-law. We all send him our prayers and look forward to his return. If you haven't checked out his paintings on granite, it is a must see.

Koralee Coffee is in the process of getting a new display with a custom built coffee bar. A great place to get the best cup of coffee in town.

Enjoy our new blog.

After Christmas Announcements

2011-12-26T14:55:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend time with family and friends. Just got word that the Christmas Wreaths from Nanci's Creations will be on sale this week, so if you what a new wreath for next season now is the time to stop by the market and pick up one before she puts her spring items on display.

As I get more announcements from the vendors I will let you know. Ellis Farm has several new fragrances of their soaps. I tried their coffee one and it is great. Now I won't be able to pick a favorite.

I restocked the free angel shelf on Saturday so come on in, buy your bag of Koralee Coffee and pick up a free hand carved bamboo angel. They are really nice and make a great gift or to add to your collection.

If you are on holiday or won't be in before the New Year, I want to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy 2012! This past year has been good to us, to get to start our own market and then to have the opportunity to move inside year round, how blessed is that! Your support is what made it happen. Thanks to each and every one of you who supported our vendors and our move inside. Remember we are there Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

Classes will be starting soon, so come in soon and see what is available.

If you haven't been into the market since we have moved inside, do stop by and see us. We are a happy group and having a lot of fun meeting you all. Thanks for shopping local.

Market Announcements

2011-12-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

I want to thank all of you for coming into our new permanent indoor year round producer only farmer's market and supporting our vendors. I have been so busy getting things set up and organized that I have neglected this blog. I have been taking some pictures and hope to get them posted and a new look to the blog soon.

I must update you all on Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen and their wonderful donuts. As you know they have purchased a trailer so they can fry and sell their donuts inside the safety and warmth without having to be out in the cold in the fall and winter and the heat and rain in the spring and fall. Unfortunately, they had a few things left to complete on the unit to pass fire safety code, so Jay was frying outside in the cold last week and passing the donuts inside to be glazed and sold. It was really too cold to expect Jay to do that, so they have decide to have all work done now and not be at the Market until it is completed. With that in mind, please be aware there will not be donuts at the Market until sometime after the first of the year. We will certainly let you know when they will be back. In the meantime they will continue to have their new product....cookie mixes available as well as their fudge and fresh farm eggs. All can be purchased Tuesday through Saturday at our Market.

Country Side Bakery will have plenty of breakfast muffins available each morning, so stop by and enjoy one with a cup of Koralee's great tasting coffee. The Market is usually open early on the weekends.

We have a new vendor starting this week, so be sure and stop by and check out his talent. He may even show you how he creates his unique items.

Ellis Farm has introduced some new fragrances in their line of goat milk soaps. I understand they have tripled the batches of soaps they make and still can't keep up with your demand. That is wonderful as their soaps are the best. We are glad you are keeping them busy.

We are looking for an artist to paint a mural on the wall where our farmers will be located in the spring. Announcements about the contest have gone out to high school and college art departments, so we are looking forward to this exciting event and to have you all help us select the winning drawing. If you want more information how to enter a drawing, please email us or stop by the market for an application and particulars about what is required.

If you are looking for Christmas gifts that are made in Virginia, come on down to the market for a wide selection. Many of our vendors will create something special for you, so just ask.

Classes will be starting in January, so stay tuned for what will be available. If you would like to teach a class, come on in and talk to us.

See you all at the Chesterfield Farmer's Market, located in the Chesterfield Towne Center across from Coldwater Creek.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-11-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. starts the beginning of something new and exciting happening at the Chesterfield Towne Center. The first indoor, producer only, year round farmers market in the area is opening our doors. Hours will be Tuesday through Saturday every week from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. Many vendors are on a staggered start schedule due to previous commitments and other concerns. Yoder's will not start until Friday with their donuts and will only do Friday and Saturday until school is finished. We love those girls of theirs but know they must get their education. Yoder's will have fresh farm eggs, fudge and their new cookie mix inside every day. Sunny Vale Farms will start next week due to the need to get the cattle to the processing facilities. Fresh farm vegetables will start in the spring as will plants and flowers.

We have some new vendors on board with some exciting products. One vendor has the best goat milk soap that I have ever used and highly recommend it. We have a young 17 year old boy who is extremely creative and has made some beautiful pendants from the inner workings of old watches. They are a must see and a must purchase for someone special in your life. They are limited and of course each one is unique ... there will never be two alike, so if you like to give gifts or wear items that nobody will ever have, then this is the item for you.

Phil will be painting, so stop by and watch him create one of his special granite pieces. He will paint anything on the granite you want...just ask.

If you are in the decorating mood, stop by and check out the beautiful wreathes for your front door or over your mantle. Unique tree decorations are also available.

Our market is a work in progress, we will be adding, deleting and growing each week, so stop by often and watch us grow. We are always looking for new vendors, so if you are a producer of a product you think would fit us, please stop by or give us a call.

Classes will begin next month on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you have a special talent or topic that you would like to share with others, give us a call and maybe you can set up a class. Our Book Swap is still available with plenty of books.

This is the place to get a great cup of Indonesian coffee. The coffee is low in acid and gentle on the stomach. Indonesian is one of the best coffees in the world, but also little know in Virginia. Give it a try, like me, you may never drink anything else.

Country Side Bakery will have their products available tomorrow. Meredith just had a birthday, so stop by and wish her the best.

Come on by the Market tomorrow, meet the vendors and say hello. Thanks for shopping local and supporting our great vendors.

Christmas 2011 - Birth of a New Tradition

2011-11-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

I received this email this week and want to pass it on. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and will take it to heart and share with family and friends. I have added a few lines about our local market since this new tradition fits right in with what we are trying to do at the new indoor farmers market.

Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods - merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh.....Yes there is!

It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone - yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants - all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains - this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

Okay, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes and bowls. Shop at the Chesterfield Farmers Market at the Chesterfield Towne Center for unique gift ideas as well as made to order items. Get a gift certificate from Sunny Vale Farm for grass fed beef, a gift certificate for baked goods from Country Side Bakery or have a special painting made just for that special person in your life. There are so many great ideas at the Market.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. How about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

Help keep our vendors in business by supporting the Chesterfield Farmers Market. Thanks for buying Local!

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-11-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

The Farmers Market will be located inside the mall this week. Our hours will be a little different than our usual hours outside. Some vendors will be there at 6 a.m. and others will get there at the usual time of the market, 9. Vendors will stay as long as they wish, but no less than 1 p.m.

The Book Swap will be there, but not all the books. The Children's Play area will not be set up as that is a feature of the new indoor market. When cleaning out the toy boxes at your home, please keep us in mind and make a donation so the little ones can play while Mom shops.

Just got off the phone with Jay Yoder. Their new trailer won't be ready by tomorrow so they will be setting up behind the fence at our outside door.....from the parking lot you can see us next to the mall entrance by Coldwater Creek. If in doubt come into the store and we will tell you where the donuts are located.

Monday we will begin to turn our space into a permanent indoor market. We look forward to serving you all in the near future. Vegetable and plant vendors are signed up to start in the spring with their locally grown products.

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. If you brave the traffic on Friday and are out shopping, please stop by and say hello. Take a look at what is to come with our new market. Tell us what you would like to see in classes and we will try to set it up. If you know of someone who would like to teach a class, please give us the information. Classes will start in mid January and will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Market will also be open on those days so you can shop, but the farmers will only be there on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with their fresh produce. Meat, eggs, etc will be there for the 5 days the Market is open.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-11-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

Plans are just about completed for our first Christmas Market. We have some excellent vendors, many are joining us for the first time. Do check out their unique creations. We are hoping some of them will join us in our new indoor, year round farmers market opening on Dec 1 inside the Chesterfield Towne Center. I have a wonderful group assisting me with this endeavor and we are all working hard to make it a great place for you to shop for fresh farm products as well as all the unique items made by our creative vendors. Starting in January we will be offering classes on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as an art contest to find the perfect artist to paint a mural on a wall. The book swap will continue to be available for your enjoyment. During the month of December we will be adding and making changes as we learn the traffic flow to make your shopping experience with us enjoyable. We have many of your favorite farmers and artist signed on and we look forward to adding new and different products as time goes by. Always check back with us at the store, on this blog and on Facebook to keep up with our progress.

Be sure and get your free raffle tickets from the vendors for every $5.00 purchase you make. Put your name and phone number on the back as I will be making a call after each drawing. If no answer we will draw another number. All prizes must be picked up tomorrow. Giving us your phone number allows you to shop in the morning and still have an opportunity for a prize drawn at 1 o'clock. Make a day of it. Come to the market early for hot coffee and a warm donut. Check out the vendors against your list and make your purchase. Have a hot dog while shopping or go to a near by restaurant for lunch. If we call you as a winner, you can stop back at the Market and pick up your item. Good luck to all of you and thanks for shopping with us.

It has been a wonderful first season and although the weather has been an issue we are appreciative of your support and look forward to seeing you all at our new year round indoor market. If you are interested in teaching a class or would like us to organize something of interest to you, please send us an email.

Dress warm tomorrow. Remember hot drinks are available at Koralee Coffee to warm you. Nightbird will be there to entertain you and put you in the Christmas mood with his great voice.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a great Thanksgiving. Stay safe if your are traveling.
Merry Christmas to all and a great New Year in 2012.

Chesterfield Farmers Market Vendors

Vendors for Christmas Market

2011-11-10T13:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas Market is on for Friday, November 18 from 9 to 2. We have some great vendors with items for everyone on your list.

Alfredo's Beehive will be there with some local honey. Makes a great item to include in a gift basket.
Amelia Soap and Herb will have lots of soap and lotions.
Bird House Designs will offer bird houses of shapes and sizes.
Carolyn Fischetti will be there with some great knit items as well as some kitchen baskets. Sounds like a great place to stop for teacher gifts.
County Side Bakery will have fruit cakes as well as all of their usual delectable baked goods.
Dog Bite will be there to provide a quick lunch while you shop.
Forester's Golden Moment will have homemade dog treats for the canines on your list.
Gifts From Nature has been working around the clock to finish a wide selection of ideal gifts for everyone on your list.
Grayhaven Winery is the place to stop for a bottle of wine as a gift or for your Thanksgiving meal.
Handmades By Linda offers a wide range of jewelry and tree decorations in prices you can afford.
JKA Design offers hand forged sterling silver jewelry, fused dichroic glass jewelry and some other glass items all at reasonable prices.
Jolly J Kettle Korn offers delicious kettle korn by the bag to take home and enjoy. They also have some warm handmade hats that would please the outdoor girls on your list.
Koralee Coffee offers Indonesian Coffee by the bag, an assortment of black and green teas in reusable tins and hot and cold coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soda and water to drink while you shop. They will still be having the Bamboo Angels as free gifts for purchasing a bag of coffee. The angels make a nice little gift as well as a decoration on a package.
Living Art has a wide selection of succulent wreaths and tapiaries. A gift that lasts all year.
Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen will have their now famous donuts that we introduced to the community in May. They also have gift packages of fudge and candies.
Mary Robertson offers her gem collection in a wide range of styles and stones.
Nanci's Creations has a beautiful selection of wreaths and silk flower arrangements.
Pane-tings by Phil offers one of the most interesting items for someone on your list. He paints on windows and granite. I understand he has been a big hit at our regular Friday market. He will paint whatever you want on the window. They are a must see.
Pure Light Candles will be there with all the heavenly fragrances he offers with his range of soy candles. These made a great gift with a bottle of wine or as a stand alone gift.
Sunny Vale Farm will have grass fed beef for your holiday meals as well as free range eggs.
The Basket Case has a wide selection of baskets and bird cages. The basket are beautiful to give as a gift to be used for magazines, kids toys, etc or buy a smaller one and fill it with items from other vendors. Many great ideas. Let us hear what you come up with to fill your gift basket.
Tom Lowe, a special guest vendor will have a range of carved wooden items as well as some beautiful sculptures. A must see to appreciate.
Whitney Bryant Photography/Art has a wide range of photos she has taken on her travels as well as in Richmond. She is also a talented artist who paints acrylic on paper or canvas and pastels. She also has some hand painted picture frames.
Works of Art has a selection of oil paintings of landscapes, seascapes, and sill life. Her pet paintings are very popular.
2 Dye 4 has a wide selection of tye-dyed clothing items. Bonny has something for everyone on your list.

That is the current list of vendors for our Christmas Market. In addition our Market Angels have donated some wonderful gift certificates and items for our free raffle. Our Market Angels are listed on the left side of the blog. For every $5.00 you spend with a vendor you will receive a free raffle ticket. Write a phone number where you can be reached and your first name on the back of the ticket and place it in the box. When your number is drawn, we will call you on the number you have given. If you do not pick up your prize by the end of market at 2, we will draw another ticket. All items won must be picked up no later than 2 p.m. on the 18th. We have done this so you don't have to spend the whole day at the market in order to be present during the drawing. Good luck to all.

Tomorrows market is a good time to check out some of the vendors that will be there, place special orders to pick up on the 18th and make your list.

Great news! You will now have a year round indoor farmers market for all the great products available from local farmers. The Chesterfield Farmers Market will be moving inside the mall to a permanent home. In addition to the Farmers Market on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we will be open and offering classes, demos and other community events on Tuesday and Wednesday starting in January. Be sure and check us out on our opening on Dec 1, 2 and 3. More about this later.

See you all at the market tomorrow. Dress warm. Donuts will be ready about 8:30 as well the hot coffee.

Farmers Market becomes year round Indoor Market

2011-11-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Chesterfield Farmers Market, currently located in the parking lot of the Chesterfield Towne Center every Friday, is moving to its new home. Effective Dec 1, 2011, the Farmers Market will become an indoor permanent farmers market in the Chesterfield Towne Center Mall. The Farmers Market will be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tuesday and Wednesday the store will be open and starting in January classes, demonstrations and other events will be held on those days.

Come to the mall to buy a new dress or pair of shoes and stop by the Farmers Market and pick up great baked goods, fresh farm eggs, grass fed beef, fresh honey, coffee, tea, a wood creation, a great painting or photo and so much more. Everything you usually buy at the farmers market will now be available all year round. Fresh vegetables and fruits, of course will be seasonal. We will continue to have the free book swap and community guests offering free services and information to the community.

Details are being finalized as to hours and vendors, so check back for more information.

Be sure and visit the market on November 18th for our Christmas Market. Great vendors and many prizes in our free raffle. Spend $5.00 and receive a raffle ticket. It is like being rewarded for buying the gifts on your Christmas List. See you all then.

MARKET CLOSING

2011-11-04T03:41:00.000-07:00

Due to the heavy rains this morning the market will be closed. Maybe next week we will have better weather. See you all then.

Vendors: Please check your email for an important notice.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-11-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

Another week has gone by and tomorrow is Market Day. For those of you who missed the donuts last week, the Yoder's are expected back tomorrow. Unfortunately, Westmoreland Farms was hit by frost and could not salvage enough vegetables to come to market. We look forward to seeing Arnie in the spring.

This is a busy time of the season for most vendors. If they are not busy making products for the holidays they are attending holiday markets and events. We hope to have as many as possible with us tomorrow, so please come out and place your orders for the Christmas Market on Nov. 18th.

Rockwood Nature will be our special guest for the Community Tent. They have lots of information to share with you, so do stop by and see what they have to offer.

We will be making a special announcement next week concerning future plans for the Chesterfield Farmers Market. Check back early in the week to learn what we have been working on.

See you all tomorrow. Happy Shopping.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-10-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Market tomorrow should be a nice day as the rains are not suppose to come in until evening. Cold but sunny. I will be glad to be back after my absence last week. A good time to come out and get some fall veggies and plants. Grandma's Garden always has such beautiful flowers and plants, no matter the season.

I hope you all got a chance to check out the new vendor: Pane-tings by Phil Moss. I had only seen pictures but have heard his paintings are beautiful. I can't wait to see them. What a great idea for holiday gift giving.

Handmades By Linda will be with us this week. I was happy to get her call yesterday saying she could make it. She is making me a beautiful black and red necklace and earrings for the holidays. I know it will be beautiful and another great addition to my collection of Linda's creations.

Alyson with Forester's Golden Moment has broken some ribs so will not be with us for a while. That can be painful. Let's hope she recovers soon. John with Pure Light Candles will not be with us tomorrow due to a previous commitment.

As far as I know all other vendors will be there tomorrow except Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen. Jay has a pastors conference that he had to attend. He will be at SOJ on Saturday and back with us next Friday. I know he will be missed.

I will have the book swap available tomorrow. So sorry for not having it available the past two weeks. The Community Tent will have Life Net as our special guests. A great organization that is very special to me so please stop by and see what they have to offer.

We are working on some plans for the Holiday Season after the market closes on November 25th, so stay tuned for an announcement in a week or so.

Next week I will begin to make the list of vendors that will be at our Christmas Market on Nov. 18th from 9 to 2. Check out our Market Angels at the top, left side of this blog. They have donated some great items for our raffle. When you spend $5.00 at the Christmas Market you will receive a free raffle ticket. Write your name on the back of the ticket with your phone number and drop it into the raffle box. If your ticket is drawn you will be given a phone call. You will have until close of the Market on that day to pick up your winnings. If not, we will draw another ticket. All items will be given away by the end of the market day. The big gift to be drawn at 2 p.m. will be a gift basket with items from many of the vendors. It is going to be a fun day so come on out, spend an hour or two or the whole day with us. If you want to place orders with Country Side Bakery in advance to pick up pies, cakes, etc for Thanksgiving please stop by and see them.

Thanks for supporting our great vendors. We appreciate it very much. See you at Market tomorrow.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-10-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

This will be short today as I have pneumonia and can only be up for a short while at a time. I will not be at market tomorrow, but I hope you will be. If you need any help or have any questions, please see Alan at Koralee Coffee or Joel at The Basket Case. They can answer your questions about the Christmas Market and Alan has applications.

To simplify things the book swap will not be available and the Bamboo Angels will not be available at Koralee. If you buy a bag of coffee tomorrow you can pick up your angel the following week.

Christy will be there, but no guest in the Community Tent. If you have any questions please see Christy.

I know Alan and Joel will do a good job, so enjoy the market as always and thank you for supporting the vendors. Markets are all about vendors, markets are their livelihood for many of the vendors and your support is greatly appreciated.

I hope to be back next week.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-10-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

If we get any rain tomorrow it should be gone by the time the market opens, but if in doubt give me a call at 804-502-4767 after 8 to see if we are open.

I spoke with Westmoreland Produce early in the week and the truck will be up and running in time for market tomorrow. We all missed Arnie last week and will be happy to see him tomorrow.

I have an update from Mary Robertson who sells her beautiful gem collection. She asked me to let you all know that she has listened to you and your requests. She now accepts Visa, Master Card, Amex and Discover so no problem if you see something you like, but short on cash. She also listened to your request for post earrings and has a limited selection of 14 kt gold filled and sterling silver available for market tomorrow.

Kristie at Jolly J's Kettle Korn has some nice winter hats for sale. Stop by and ask what she has available tomorrow.

Don't forget to stop by for the Coffee Tasting event tomorrow at Koralee Coffee. Remember to get your free bamboo handcarved angel with every bag of coffee you purchase.

I heard from Teresa with Living Art and she will not be with us this week due to a scheduling conflict.

Donuts will be ready by 8:30. Many vendors will also be set up and ready at that time. Depending on the weather we may not have the book swap available. I won't take the chance of damaging the books due to dampness. I will have them in my vehicle, if not out. So if you are in need of a book, just ask.

Think only small children are likely to have a poisoning accident. Think again! Poisoning is second only to motor vehicle crashes as a cause of death in adults ages 30 - 50 in Virginia. Of course, children are involved in thousands of poisonings every year, too. These tragic accidents are preventable. The Virginia Poison Center will have a representative on site at the market tomorrow to answer questions and provide free information. Share their free magnets with neighbors, family and friends. See the amazing "Is it candy or medicine?" display. Bring the little ones to see this important message. You can prevent poisoning in the home. Stop by the Community Tent tomorrow to learn how you can protect your loved ones from a poisoning.

Our Christmas Market is going to be a great event with vendors, music, raffles and more. Mark your calendar for November 18th 9 to 2 for an early start on your shopping and to pick up special items for your Thanksgiving meal. Place your pie, cake, dinner roll, etc order now with Country Side Bakery and your meat order with Sunny Vale Farms. He may have poultry by then, so be sure and ask.

Next week I will post our Market Angels. Our Angels are a group of small local businesses in the area who believe in our market and shopping and dining locally. They have each donated an item or gift card for our Christmas Raffle on Nov. 18th. Please show your support by shopping and dining with them. If you own a local business and would like to show your support, please contact us by email or phone or stop by the market any Friday.

See you at the Chesterfield Farmers Market tomorrow from 9 to 1. Our vendors appreciate your support.

VENDOR SPACE AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS MARKET

2011-10-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Plans are well underway for our Christmas Market on Nov 18th. We have a group of local businesses (Market Angels) who have donated items/gift cards for our hourly raffle draw. The list will be posted soon so we hope you will visit them to help us in our efforts to encourage the community to shop/dine locally.

Our vendor spaces are filling up quickly, with only a few left to be filled. If you have an interesting product you make yourself and would be interested in vending on this one day only, please send an email to chesterfieldfarmersmkt@gmail.com, call Judi at 502-4767 or stop by the market on Friday from 9 to 1 with a sample of your product.

Mark your calendar for November 18th, make your list and bring it with you for some one of a kind, special gifts this year for everyone on your list. You just may win one of the nice gifts donated by our Market Angels. If you own a local business and would like to be a Market Angel please contact us for further information and help us encourage the community to shop and dine locally.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-10-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

The cold temps are behind us for a few days so come on out to the Market tomorrow for some great products. Alan and I went to the State Fair yesterday and spoke to several of you from the area who did not know about the market. We hope you will stop by and see us tomorrow.

Our three year old grandson, Danny, was quite impressed with the pumpkins, especially this large one. Of course he liked the rides, the baby pig he got to feed with a bottle, seeing the newly hatched chicks and lots of other things. He was a tired little boy when he got home, but happy with lots of memories.

Janice Alexander with JKA Design will be back with us tomorrow after a summer touring Europe and coping with the Virginia heat. It will be good to see her again. Check out her beautiful jewelry and add it to your gift list. Christmas is coming sooner than we hope.

For all you new readers of the blog and there are many of you each week, let me give you a view of what is available each week. Our early vendor is Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen who makes fresh donuts on site. The donuts are ready about 8:30, so stop on your way to work, or on your way
home from work if you have that late shift and treat yourself to some great donuts.

Coffee is also available at that time from Koralee Coffee. They also offer loose black and green tea by the cup or in reusable tins. There is iced coffee, iced tea, cold sodas, water and juice boxes for the little ones. Now that the weather is cooling down, hot chocolate is back on the menu.

Do you collect angels or know someone who does? Would you like an angel display for the holidays? Koralee Coffee is giving a bamboo angel free for every bag of coffee purchased in October and November....time for you to collect as many as you would like, but remember one angel for one bag of coffee. Stop by and see what is available. They are all hand carved from bamboo, made in Indonesia by locals to support a charity in Jakarta.

Further details can be found at http://www.koraleecoffee.blogspot.com

If you are in the mood for flowers, Grandma's Garden has a wide selection of fall flowers plus plants for your garden. If you want something green, check out Living Art and see what Teresa has to offer. The third selection is the wreathes and flower arrangements from Nanci's Creations. Much to choose from.

Need a gift for the new home owner, a loved ones birthday or a fall wedding, check out the following vendors: Works of Art for paintings and hand carved pens; The Basket Case for beautiful baskets of all sizes and shapes; Pure Light Candles for a wide selection of fragrances of soy candles; Gifts from Nature for wooden bowls, cutting boards and other creations; and Whitney Bryant Photography/Art for original art work and photos.

Mary Robinson's Gem Creations has a wonderful selection if you are in the mood for a new piece of jewelry. She will create a piece special for you, just ask.

Beef is available from Sunny Vale Farm as well as fresh farm eggs. Next door you will find Arnie with Westmoreland Produce. He still has a large selection of produce including spinach, green beans, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and other fall produce.

At the other end of the market you can buy bison, seafood and chickens from Boroughs Land Farm.

Country Side Bakery has breads, muffins, cookies, pies, jelly and jams, peanut butter, pizza crusts, pizza sauce and so much more. A must stop on your tour of the market.

Don't forget some dog treats from Forester's Golden Moment. A bottle of wine or a taste of wine from Grayhaven Winery may be a nice stop to make before you leave the market for the day.

Amelia Soap will not only have her soaps and lotions, etc, but also a wide selection of pumpkins. Not quite as big as the one Danny discovered at the fair, but big enough for cooking.

Janice is available to give you tips on cooking, whether it is a pie, soup or many other creations. All you have to do is ask.

Next to Janice is Alfredo's Honey. A must stop if you suffer from fall allergies. My allergies are so much better since I started taking a spoon of his honey once a day during the summer. Now I only need to take it once or twice a week and I seldom have a problem with those pesky fall allergies.

Lunch time at the market? Stop by the Dog Bite cart and have a delicious Nathan's hotdog. Evie offers a wide selection of toppings.

Before you leave the market pick up your Jolly J Kettle Korn. Great for evening TV snacking.

We have a special demonstration in the Community Tent this week. Clotho's Handspinners is a spinning guild located in Mechanicsville. There mission is to promote handspinning through education and demonstration, to preserve their cultural heritage and promote its future in Central Virginia. Tomorrow they will be demonstrating handspinning on both wheels and spindles and teach the community a little bit about how wool is turned into yarn and why they continue to do it. Stop by the Community Tent and watch a demonstration, try your hand at it or ask questions about the guild. Bring the children so they can learn how yarn is made.

Book Swap is up and available, so stop by and take a book or two. I am so pleased that you all like this book swap as much as you do. As an avid reader I love to share books and encourage reading. I have 20 grandkids and 7 great-grandkids and have always given them books for birthdays and Christmas and continue to do so. I will never forget several years ago when my now 28 year old grandson replied to me when I asked him what he wanted for his 7th birthday.
"Please Grandma, don't get me any more books." At least he read and was read to for the first 7 years.

Don't forget to mark you calendar for our Christmas Market on November 18th from 9 to 2 and start making your list.

See you all tomorrow at the Market.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-09-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

After the rains last week and having to cancel the market we are happy to be back tomorrow. Coffee and donuts will be ready by 8:30 so pick up some to take to the office. Koralee Coffee has the best coffee. How I missed it early this week. I kidnapped Alan on Sunday for a few days in the Shenandoah Valley to celebrate his birthday. I was pleased I was able to pull off the surprise and get him out of the house without him knowing he would be gone for 4 days. Unfortunately, I forgot the coffee and grinder. Monday morning I had two sips of coffee and it gave me heartburn so bad that was the last cup of coffee for me until we got home late on Wednesday. The weather was good and we enjoyed several museums as well as a trip to Harper's Ferry. If you like museums and have an interest in the Civil War, the Old Court House Civil War Museum in Winchester is one of the best we have seen. We celebrated his birthday at a British Pub and earlier in the day we had British Tea and scones at a Tea House.

I have not heard from any of the vendors to tell me they will not be there tomorrow, so expect a full house. I spoke to Charles from Walnut Hill on Saturday and he told me they are hoping to be back this week. I sure hope so, but won't know until I get there in the morning.

Westmoreland Produce should have potatoes this week as well as beans and other great produce. I hope they still have some spinach as it is so good.

I believe Janice from Amelia Soap will have a wide range of pumpkins to select from, as well as her regular line of products.

Grandma's Garden will have pansy plants this week, so if you are planning to do some planting stop by and see her. It is that time to do some fall planting so check out what she has available and what she can bring next week if you want something special.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for Nov. 18 for our Christmas Market. No need to order from all those catalogs you get in the mail. Check out all the handmade items from our vendors. You can touch them and check out the workmanship, unlike when you order from a catalog. You can also request special orders and the prices are certainly better than the catalogs. Where those items are mass produced, everything available at the Market is individually made. Check out last weeks Market Announcements for what the vendors will have available and some ideas for gifts.

Having been away for most of the week, I haven't heard who will be in the Community Tent this week....waiting for Christy to get out of work so I can hear from her. When I find out will post it on Facebook.

The Book Swap will be available. I have read some really good books that I found there. It is nice to be able to pick up a new book each week and then return it.....no need to add to my book shelves.

Koralee Coffee will have three green teas available by the cup tomorrow. Will be ordering them in the tins for the Christmas Market so this is a good opportunity to taste them prior to buying for the tea lovers on your list. Koralee will also be offering bamboo handcrafted angels free for each bag of coffee purchased, starting in October. That will give you time to collect a complete set for display in your home or as a gift. Each angel is holding a musical instrument. More about this next week.

The State Fair opens today. We will be represented in the Farmer's Market area with several of our vendors selling their products at different times during the fair schedule. Stop by and show them your support.

See you all tomorrow.

MARKET CLOSING

2011-09-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

Due to the rain and flash flood warning we have cancelled the Chesterfield Farmers Market for today.

We will see you all next week.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-09-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Do we or don't we? That is the question for tomorrow's market. I don't want to cancel if the rain is holding off until the afternoon and I don't want to have the market and vendor products get damaged. After discussions with the Board Members, we have decided to open the market as usual. If we get there and it is raining then we will call it. I suggest if you are not sure if we are there call me at 502-4767 before you come out. As of today I have not heard that any vendor plans not to be there, except of course, Walnut Hill due to flooding of their produce. Lynn should be back after a two week absence and Janice, with Amelia Soap is scheduled to return.

Thanks for welcoming our newest vendor last week. Mary Robertson is a Chesterfield County resident who has created some beautiful pieces of jewelry. If you didn't get a chance last week to stop and see her creations do so this week.

November 18, 2011, we are having a special Christmas Market. Our regular vendors will be there with their products you have been using all season and may want to share with those on your List. In addition we are inviting people we know or those who have been recommended to us who vend at other markets who have a product that would be a good addition to our vendors products. As the applications come in we will post on this blog to help you in making your list. I hope to have the list ready by October 10th.

Make your list and place your special orders now with our vendors, to be picked up on the 18th.
For every $5.00 you spend with any vendor you will receive a raffle ticket for some great prizes from local businesses. I will tell you more about this later.

Now that you have your list of people, lets take a look at what our vendors have to offer. Alfredo has great local honey and for the holidays will have some beeswax taper candles. Amelia Soap has a wide selection of soaps, lotions and therapeutic items. Wayne has great gift items with his wood selections. For the wine lover on your list, how about a bottle stopper from Wayne and a bottle of Virginia Wine from Grayhaven Winery? For that person who doesn't need anything, how about a nice basket from The Basket Case and fill it with items from Amelia Soap and Herbs. Whitney, our photographer has a wonderful selection of photos as well as paintings for the artistic person on your list. For the pet lover on your list take a look at the dog paintings Lynne offers. Remember she will paint any pet photo you have, just take it in and let her know what you want. Don't forget to include a bag of dog treats for those on your list who own a dog. Alyson has a good selection and from what I hear, the dogs love them.

Jewelry always makes a nice gift. In addition to Mary Robertson, JKA Design will be back on
October 7th and will definitely be at the Christmas Market. Handmades by Linda will be with us whenever possible between now and the end of the season.

Pure Light Candles has a wide selection of fragrances for you to choose from. John even has some smaller candles which will be nice to include in your gift basket.

Grandma's Garden has beautiful flowers and plants, Living Art has some great gift items and Nanci's Creations has a wide selection of wreaths and artificial flower arrangements ... all make great gift selections.

Koralee Coffee has Indonesian coffee beans, black and green teas in reusable tins and tea accessories....all great ideas for a gift basket. This week they will be adding an English Breakfast Decaf and an Earl Grey to their selections. They also have some green teas available by the cup. On October 14th Koralee will have a coffee tasting, so be sure and visit the market on that day. More on this later.

Bring your list to market and start getting ideas of how to fulfill it on November 18th. It is going to be a fun day. Of course you don't have to wait, buy tomorrow.

We still don't know when Walnut Hill will return, but Westmoreland Produce will be there with his wonderful vegetables. Arnie is a favorite among the vendors and we all wait each Friday to see what he will have. Love the spinach. Got some beans last week and they were excellent. I think he may have potatoes this week.

Tony was absent last week so those of you who missed him last week, do stop by and get some of his excellent beef. I also need eggs. Bison, chicken and seafood are available from Boroughs Land Farm.

Country Side Bakery will have their great pizza crusts and sauce ready for a quick dinner tomorrow. The bread freezes well so start putting some in your freezer for the winter. If you haven't checked them out, you should as they have a wide selection of products.

Evie will be there with her Nathan's hot dogs with some good toppings. Stop by for lunch tomorrow, we'd love to see you. Don't forget to pick up your Jolly J kettle korn before you leave the market.

And of course don't forget those famous donuts from Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen. They should be ready by 8:30. Great treat for your fellow workers.

Our Community Tent will be back this week with a representative from the Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center. This is an important issue in our society and we should all be aware of what help is available.

Book Swap! Not sure what will happen with this tomorrow. I certainly don't want the books to get wet. I will take them, if the weather is good I will set them out.

Check out Alan's Corner on www.koraleecoffee.blogspot.com and let Alan know what you think of it. This is his 4th week and would love to have your feedback and questions.

Remember, call before you come out tomorrow if you want to make certain we are there. I should be at the market about 7:15 and should know soon after if we are setting up or not.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-09-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that we were at the market. I got a lot done this week, but not as much as I would have liked. No pictures of my new basket from The Basket Case nor my item from Living Art. What can I say, still haven't downloaded my pictures from our vacation. Alan had a great time building sand castles with our little Danny. Grandkids are so much fun.

Tomorrow should be a nice day to be outside. A little chilly early morning but ideal for a hot cup of coffee with your fresh made donut. It will be Koralee's first market day this season offering hot chocolate, so give it a try. For the little ones we cool it down with lots of milk.

I don't know if you realize this or not, but I have a wonderful group of people helping behind the scenes. In addition to Alan and Christy, who you have met on this blog early on, Joel Burman, Wayne Hayden and Whitney Bryant are a great asset to the Board. They allow me to bounce off ideas and fuel my mind for ways to make the market even better. This past week we started plans for a gala Christmas Market on November 18th from 9 to 2. Mark your calendar for this event. By mid-October we will have a list of vendors and products.

We have a new vendor joining us tomorrow that I am really excited about. Mary Robertson, a Chesterfield County resident, will have a wide range of her hand-crafted gem creations. Mary works with sterling silver and 14 caret gold filled and semi-precious gems. She has an assortment of earrings, bracelets, anklets and necklaces. Her husband cuts and polishes stones that she uses for her wire-wrapped pendants. The price range offers something for everyone.
Please stop by her tent and welcome her to the market.

It is time to start thinking about your holiday giving. I find it helpful on the budget to start shopping early and window shopping to get ideas. Now is that time to take a look at what our vendors have and what you may find for that special someone. Please remember that several of our vendors, Gifts From Nature, Living Art, Nanci's Creations, The Basket Case, Whitney Bryant Photo/Art, Works of Art and Handmades By Linda can all make something special for your gift. Tell them what you have in mind and see what they can come up with. I have always believed that it is the thought behind the gift that is the most important. What better gift than something you have thought of and helped someone design it for you. Nobody will ever receive a duplicate of your gift and need to return it.

If you decide on a gift basket (from The Basket Case) for someone who has everything, you can pick up something each week to fill the basket such as a bottle of honey from Alfredo's, a bar of soap from Amelia Soap and Herb Co, a candle from Pure Light Candles or even a bottle of wine from GrayHaven Winery. There are so many options to filling a basket and one of my favorite gifts for giving and receiving.

I hope everyone has there electricity working now and can stock up on their meats from Sunny Vale Farm and Boroughts Land Farm. Fall vegetables are available from Westmoreland Produce. As I mentioned last week, Walnut Hill Produce will be out for sometime due to flooding of their crop.

Baked goods are available from Country Side Bakery. I think we took the last loaf of their bread out of the freezer yesterday so will have to get more tomorrow. I don't know about everyone else, but don't think I could pick a favorite from their large assortment of products. I love their pies, especially their strawberry pie and cherry and blueberry and....well you see where I am going with this. Their cookies make a good treat and with only 3 in a package you don't have to worry about over eating. I must admit that I can't eat just one. With the kids in school and all the after school activities, their pizza crusts and sauce make for a quick and easy dinner.

Magali from Grandma's Garden told me she would be having fall plants in another week or so. Her plants are so beautiful and healthy they are ideal for planting in your garden. If you ask in advance she can bring what you want the week you want to plant.

We have a number of vendors out this week, mainly due to shows they had signed up for many months ago. In addition to Walnut Hill, Amelia Soap and Herb, Forester's Golden Moment, Living Art and Works of Art will not be at Market this week. All will be back next week except Walnut Hill.

It looks like Handmades By Linda will be with us this week. We are always pleased when Linda can join us when she gets a day off from her job. Linda has some wonderful creations of jewelry. Unique to any other jewelry designer she has eyeglass chains. The one I have is sterling silver with black stones.

Don't forget your kettle korn before you leave the market and remember donuts are ready about 8:30. Stop by on your way to the office and pick up a box or two. Great way to show your co-workers you appreciate them.

Lunch is always available from our hot dog diva. Evie has the best N.Y. Nathan's hot dogs with a selection of toppings. Are you among the one-third of workers who stay in at lunch time? Studies have shown that when individuals get away from their desk, they are more productive and have more energy in the afternoon. With that in mind, why not take a twenty minute stroll in the market. It will clear you head, give you some exercise and you just might find something you like. Parking is always easy with a constant flow of customers so the waiting to be waited on is short. We have several noon time shoppers. We notice and appreciate that you care to spend your lunch break with us.

Thank you for supporting our market and don't forget to mark you calendar for the Christmas Market. If you work, plan to take a long lunch break or the day off.

See you tomorrow.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-09-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is suppose to be a beautiful day, so come on out to the market and say hello. So many of you have been without electricity for much longer than you had hoped and I know that can't be easy. I hope everything is okay now and you will be back to the Market for your favorite products.

Last week during Irene our farmers lost some of their fall produce, so things may be a little short in the next few weeks. Just heard from Walnut Hill and this week they had so much rain that they have no products to bring to market. I will let you know as soon as they will return. In the meantime Westmoreland Produce will be with us and Broughs Land Farms has vegetables with their meats and fish selections. On a positive, Janice of Amelia Soap has a large selection of pumpkins and squash she will be bringing to market this week. Stop by and see what she has to offer.

Lynne from Works of Art will not be there this week or next week due to a prior commitment. If you have any orders with her she has told me that she has been working on most of them and they are just about completed. GrayHaven Winery will not be available tomorrow due to preparation for a special event at the Winery this weekend. As of this time, I have not heard that any other vendor will not be available.

After you check out the squash and pumpkins and all the products from Amelia Soap be sure and stop by for your local honey at Alfredo's Beehive to ward off fall allergies. So far, so good with the honey and my allergies. Can't believe I am doing so well without any medicines. While you are at that end of the market check out the Living Art Teresa has to offer. Teresa is one of our vendors who was without electricity last week and unable to attend or get in touch. We are glad she is okay and will be back this week. Jolly J is next to Living Art, so don't forget your kettle korn supply for the week.

By now you must need a cup of coffee or some other drink, so head on down to Koralee Coffee and see what is on brew for the day. Juice boxes for the children are available. I guess I don't have to mention those tasty donuts from Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, do I? It seems you have all heard of them and pick up yours each week. Remember they are ready about 8:30 so you can stop on your way to work and treat your co-workers to a fresh warm donut. What a great way to start the day.

County Side Bakery always has a wide selection of baked goods, from breads, to cakes, cookies, pies, muffins and pizza crusts. They also have jam, jelly, Amish peanut butter, and more. We took a pack of pizza crusts on our vacation which made for a quick and simple dinner after the drive and unpacking. Thanks Robert and Nora.

If your canine friend hasn't had one of Forester's Golden Moment Dog Treats, it is time to stop by and see what Alyson has made this week. A lady told me that her dog will sit up and beg for one of these treats, but not for any other one she offers.

Wayne won't have any lack of dead wood to make his beautiful creations from after Irene paid us a visit. Did a favorite tree fall in your yard? Why not take a piece to Wayne and ask him to make something for you so you will always have a piece of your favorite tree. Be creative in thought and see if he can make your creation.

Grandma's Garden is filled with beautiful flowers for you to enjoy. Brighten up your home or office with a fresh bouquet this week. It won't be long and she should have some fall plants for your garden. If you want something to last forever, whether an arrangement or a wreath check out Nanci's Creations. Beautiful and long lasting!

If you were without electricity for any length of time you must need to stock up on your supply of soy candles from Pure Light Candles. More storms may be on the way until hurricane season is over and you don't want to be without some good candles. Remember they make good gifts as everyone likes nice fragrant candles.

We were happy to hear that Sunny Vale Farm did not lose any animals or chickens during the storm. There grass-fed beef and eggs are the best.

Joel Burman, our master weaver, with the Basket Case gave a demonstration at the Mom's Club on Tuesday. It was very well received. Joel has also been asked to teach a class when market season is over. We will let you know more about this at a later date if he decides to accept the offer.

Lunch at the market is available at the Dog Bite. Evie, our hotdog Diva, has Nathan hotdogs with several choices of toppings. She has even provided a small table with chairs so you can rest while you eat.

We will not have a guest in the Community Tent again this week. With the storm and vacation I have not had the opportunity to settle the issue with the tents. I do have someone that would like to be there next week and has her own tent, so will let you know more about that once it is finalized.

The Book Swap, as always, will be up and available. We are pleased that this is such a popular spot at the market. We still need Children's Books, so when cleaning out your kids closets please keep us in mind. You may make some little child very happy.

On a more serious note, we have had some issues with cars driving into the market area even though we have traffic cones up to prevent this. We want our customers, vendors and all children in the market to be safe. Please, do not drive into the market area even if there is a space where you can get in. It is against county regulations and our market policy. No vehicles are allowed in the market area from 7:30 (except vendors) until 2:00 when all vendors have packed up and left. Please help us keep everyone safe and keep your vehicle in the parking areas behind the vendors.

We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Remember, buy local and support your local vendors.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-09-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

September , a new month and a great time to visit the market for fresh farm crops. I hope everyone survived Irene without too much damage. We had a small limb blow onto our deck, no damage and we were never without electricity. From what I hear and see we were one of the lucky ones. We had a scheduled vacation for last Saturday, so postponed leaving for one day. Sunday evening arrived in Virginia Beach and had a great few days. The beach was beautiful and the weather was great. It has been a busy spring and summer for us, so the change and rest were greatly appreciated.

This blog will be short, not my usual trip around the market. We just got home within the last hour and I have much to do for market tomorrow. I did hear from Grandma's Garden that she will not be with us tomorrow and I mentioned in last week's blog that Amelia Soap and Herb will be away this week. Other than that, as far as I know all your favorite vendors will be there.

Due to broken tents we have not booked anyone into the community tent for this week or next. Hopefully by next week we can resolve that issue and begin booking again. The book swap will be there as always.

See you all at the market.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-08-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting week, starting with the earthquake. I hope you are all okay and that no damage was done to your home. The computers have been in the shop being upgraded and some bugs worked out, so haven't had a chance to download the photos I took last week. Don't you just love computers. They are suppose to make our life easier, but sometimes I wonder about that.

Like you, we have been keeping our eye on Irene all week and know that Friday is going to be a great day for the market. We will be there with all the veggies, meat, cheese, baked goods, donuts, coffee, tea, kettle korn, hot dogs, eggs that you may need for the weekend when Irene pays us a visit.

Alfredo will have his honey and with the allergy season upon us, that honey is the best. Amelia Soap always has something of interest so be sure and stop by her booth. Janice will be away next week, so better stock up tomorrow.

Be sure and stop by Pure Light Candles and pick up some great Soy candles. They burn so much longer than other candles. You may need them if Irene decides to take out the electricity. Always good to be prepared.

Donuts will be available about 8:30 so pick up some on your way to work and some to take home for the weekend. Country Side Bakery, as always will have their great breads, pizza crusts, sauces, cakes, cookies, etc. Last week they had eggs, so be sure and ask for them.

Westmoreland Farms and Walnut Hill will have lots of veggies, so be sure and stock up for the weekend and the week ahead. Let us hope the hurricane does not destroy any of their existing crops.

Sunny Vale Farm has the best beef, so be sure and talk with Tony and Chris. In the mood for chicken or seafood, stop by Boroughs Land Farm for their selections.

If you didn't stop by to have a look at Nanci's Creations last week, make a stop this week. Nancy is our newest vendor and has some beautiful silk flower arrangements and wreaths. Next week I will post some pictures. Teresa with her Living Art will not be with us this week, but will return next week. Grandma's Garden always has such beautiful flowers. Several of you have purchased flowers for weddings and other occasions. Magali is appreciative of your support and happy to have her flowers a part of your special occasions.

On the creative side of the market we have Lynne with her Works of Art and Whitney with her photographs and paintings. Take a stroll through their market galleries. Wayne is there with his wood creations. I always have to check out his selection each week He often has something new and different. I love the coffee grinder he made for us....a beautiful creation.

I did pick up my fruit basket last week from The Basket Case but have not taken a picture yet. Will do that soon so you can see it. Remember Joel can make baskets in any color and design.

Be sure and stop by Forester's Moment and pick up some dog treats as you don't want to run out during the week.

Stop by www.koraleecoffee.blogspot.com and check out Alan's Corner to see what he has to say this week. He is working on it now, so I have no idea what the topic will be. He will be brewing Lintong and Java Estate tomorrow at the market so give them a try. Iced coffee, iced tea, hot tea, soda, water and juice boxes are also available at the Koralee Coffee tent next door to Yoder's donuts.

Grayhaven will have more Virginia Wine for your pleasure, by the bottle or the glass. Bunni is a wealth of knowledge, so have a chat with her.

Please don't forget some Jolly J Kettle Korn on your way out of the market. If you are stuck in the house all weekend it will keep the kids happy.

Lunch at the market? The Dog Bite has the very best New York Nathans hotdogs with some great toppings.....all at a reasonable price. Quick lunch while you shop.

The book swap will be available, but the Community Tent will not have a guest this week. I have not been able to follow up on possible participants this past week, so may not have anyone next week either. We do have some interesting events for the Tent coming up soon. On September 6th, the Market will be participating in the Mother's Club at the Chesterfield Towne Center, so do check us out on that day.

Thanks to you all for your support. We are hoping to reach 1000 customers by the end of the month. Our average weekly customers is between 850 and 900, so please tell your family, neighbors and friends to check out this great market that is right in your backyard. No better way to shop local for fresh foods and handcrafted items than your neighborhood farmer's market.

Mark your calendar for November 18th for a special Christmas Market from 9 to 2. You won't want to miss it.

See you at the Market tomorrow.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-08-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Friday, another beautiful summer day to spend at the Chesterfield Farmers Market. We have a new vendor joining us tomorrow. Nancy Crymes will be there with her beautiful handcrafted wreaths using silk flowers. A piece to last forever. Please welcome Nancy to the market.

We are pleased to announce that Linda with Handmade's By Linda will be returning this week. If you remember last week when you stopped by to look at her beautiful creations she told you she could not be there every week due to her work schedule and that we would let you know via this blog when she could be with us. Please stop by and let her know you are glad she has returned so soon. Shown here are just a few of her pieces.
Looking for eyeglass chains? I have FINALLY found some that last and look nice with whatever I may be wearing. They are perfect for reading glasses or sunglasses. If you are lucky enough to see without prescription glasses all the time, they will work for those glasses too. Linda has them in all price range and either in silver or gold.

Our two new vendors last week, Pure Light Candles and Whitney Bryant Art and Photography were pleased with your response last week and hope you will stop by and see them each week.

Pure Light Candles owner, John Erikson offers a wide range of fragrances of his soy candles. They burn longer, right to the end and burn cleaner than non-soy candles. They leave a nice fragrance for a long time after the candle stops burning. Be sure and pick up a few for all the

rooms in your house. Ask John about his return policy of empty jars. I am a big fan of his vanilla fragrance, but like several others too. They make wonderful gifts as everyone likes candles and can find a spot for them in their home.

Whitney has a large selection of photographs that she has taken during her travels. You might find one of a place you have been and didn't snap a photo or two for yourself. She also has some beautiful art work. I love the horses she has painted.

The market is like our own little art gallery. After checking out Whitney's creations, stroll over to Works of Art where Lynne offers beautiful oil paintings of dogs, flowers and more. Remember to ask her to paint your own special photo of your dog. She does a wonderful job. The handcrafted pens are a must see. With the holidays coming a pen would make a great gift for someone special on your list. Continue the art gallery visit with a stop at Kizzie Kreations. Avian offers a third style of art with her paintings and glass and paper painted items. All three, Lynne, Whitney and Avian are a must see.

Wayne, owner of Gifts From Nature will be back this week after a much deserved vacation. He always has an interesting creation or two. Did you check out the wine stoppers he introduced a few weeks ago. They make a nice addition to your bottle of wine you pick up from Grayhaven Winery. Bunni is a fountain of knowledge about wine, so stop by and have a chat.

Joel at The Basket Case has been quite busy of late, so if you want something special made for the holidays, now is the time to place your order. I am picking up a fruit basket this week that he has designed for me. I can't wait to see it. I will post a picture next week. I want a basket of living art, so once I purchase a liner Joel will make it for me and then Teresa can fill it with her creations. Where else can I get items for my home that meet my specifications than at the Chesterfield Farmers Market. When I shop in retail stores I always have to settle for the color they have or the shape and not what I want or what I see in my mind. Joel has a wide selection to choose from, but if you don't see what you want, ask him to design it for you in the color you want to match your home decor.

I was cleaning out a kitchen cupboard the other day and found a cute little container that would be great for some of Teresa's Living Art. I will take it to her and see what she can make for me. Don't throw away something you can recycle into a beautiful creation for your home with help from Teresa.

Allergy season is back with us, so stop by and see Alfredo for your local honey. It works for me.

While there, stop by next door at Amelia Soap and Herb for all her great products: soaps, lotions, lip balm and more. She is forever coming up with something new.

Have you stopped by Grandma's Garden lately? The flowers are beautiful. Be sure and pick up a bouquet or two for your home or office. It won't be long until fall plants will be available. Do we want to think of fall! If it gets us out of the heat and lasts a long time without bringing cold weather, I say bring it on.

Look at that, half way through the blog and have not mentioned food. Guess I need to do that since we are a farmer's market and they are here with the food. What would we do without the farmers. I can't imagine eating canned vegetables. Kevin and Richard at Walnut Hill and Arnie with Westmoreland Produce work hard every day to bring their fresh, delicious veggies and fruits to market for our enjoyment. Please stop by and say thanks. They both have a large selection of vegetables to choose from. Do you know someone who can't get out to the market? Why not pick them up some fresh vegetables and put them in a basket from The Basket Case and drop them by their house. What a nice thoughtful gift.

In the market for some beef? Tony with Sunny Vale Farm has the best. It is tender and tasty. There is something to say for eating grass fed beef. Would you rather have chicken, bison or seafood this week? Drop over to Boroughs Land Farm and check out what they have to offer.
Both have eggs for sale. I know Tony sells out early so better make him your first stop.

Did you bring your dog for a walk at the market? Yeah or nay, stop by Forester's Golden Moment for a bag or two of great dog treats.

Are you at the market for a box of donuts for the office? Please take a few minutes and check out the rest of our vendors. For our more than 900 visitors every week, enjoy your donut and coffee while you shop with our vendors.

Meredith, with Country Side Bakery has a wide range of delicious products for your enjoyment. The pizza crusts are a popular item especially for busy households who don't have time to make a full meal on Friday. Just put toppings on the pizza crusts and pop into the oven, dinner ready in no time. Muffins are a favorite for breakfast or any time of the day. For those of you who haven't been to the market prior to now, they have the best breads, cookies, jams, granola, pies and more. Meredith often brings her little brother, Kendall, to the market as her assistant. He is a great little guy and a favorite with the other vendors.

If you are with us during lunch, pick up a famous New York Nathans hotdog from Dog Bite. Evie has some wonderful toppings available. Drinks are available at the market from Koralee Coffee. They have hot and iced coffee, hot and iced tea, soda, water and juice boxes. In addition they sell Indonesian coffee beans and a selection of tea. Check out Alan's Corner at www.koraleecoffee.blogspot.com It is a new addition to the blog that Alan has started to talk about coffee, Indonesia and whatever interests you. Ask questions, make comments and he will respond.

On your way out of the market pick up your kettle korn from Jolly J's so that you have plenty for the week.

This week at the Community Tent will be the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center offering free Tympanometry - a painless, quick and simple test that checks the status of the middle ear. Among other things, it can help identify excessive or impacted wax or perforations in the eardrum. It is important to identify these conditions as they can affect a child's ability to hear which may impact speech and language development. This is their third visit with us as they and we feel hearing is important to all. Please bring your children and grandchildren if you did not bring them last month. Have your middle ear checked along with the children.

The book swap is available so do pick up a book or two for your enjoyment. We have some new selections as several people have donated several boxes of books. All of your donations are appreciated and a special thanks goes out to all of you from us at the market as well as those who pick up books to enjoy. Don't forget your shut-ins. Pick up some books and take to them as I am sure they will be appreciated.

I must apologize for not posting Vendor of the Week during the past several weeks. It was too hot to do the interviews at the market so didn't have any information. Currently I am busy getting a presentation ready to present at the Mother's Club at Chesterfield Towne Center early September, but promise to get back to it soon. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our vendors as much as I have enjoyed learning about them. They all have such a unique story to tell.

See you all at the market. Our goal for the end of the month is to have 1000 of you come out to the market each Friday. We are now at 900 each week, so please bring your friends and family. Spread the word about us and let your neighbors know we are in their backyard. Fresh veggies, fruit, baked goods, coffee, tea, fresh made donuts, meat, eggs, seafood, chicken, cheese, kettle korn, fresh flowers and plants, art, photography, jewelry and so many other great items within a few miles from their door. We have free books for the taking and free services and information from community organizations. To all of you, thank you for your support. It is noted and appreciated.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-08-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Friday is here again and we have some exciting vendors at the market this week. The weather is going to be beautiful, a great day for meeting your friends at the market and bringing the little ones out to have their finger prints taken by our friends from the Masonic Lodge 211 of Midlothian. This is a repeat visit for them, so if you didn't bring your children for this vital data for your records be sure and bring them tomorrow. It takes only a few minutes. Adults are asked to fill out a short form, a picture is taken, fingerprints are processed on the computer and all is put on a disc and given to you for your records.

Our new vendor is Whitney Bryant who will have her own photographs and art work available for you to admire and purchase. Please stop by her tent and welcome her to the market. We are pleased to have photos available at our market.

In addition to Whitney we will have two more new vendors who are on our part-time list due to their work schedules. Pure Light Candles by John Eickson will be back with his soy candles. John has been selling his candles in the Richmond area for many years and will be at our market as often as possible now that the weather has cooled down some. Please visit John, show him your support with a purchase. The candles last a long time and make wonderful gifts.

One of my favorite jewelry designers will be with us this week. Handmade By Linda has been selling her creations at local markets for several years. Her creations are not only unique but very beautiful. In addition to earrings, necklaces and bracelets (many in sets) she creates beautiful chains to hold your glasses. She makes them in sterling silver and gold plated, some with gem stones and some with glass stones so there is a wide range of prices and styles. The nice thing is if they every break, she will repair them for you. Linda has taken some of my old pieces from my jewelry box and recreated them into things I would actually wear. She is the best. Stop by and welcome her to our market. Her work schedule does not allow her to be with us every week, but she is available via phone for your needs. I will always let you know when she is going to be with us either on this blog or facebook.

So what will we do this week at the market? First of all be sure and stop by Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen for your fresh made donuts. If you work, stop by on your way and pick up a box for your co-workers. They will appreciate them and your thoughtfulness. Although the market does not open until 9, the donuts are ready about 8:30. Jay and Judy Yoder arrive at the market very early and are set up when I get there just after 7. Once they arrive they start to mix the batter, let it rise and then cut and fry the donuts....can't get anything that fresh now can you, except in your Grandma's kitchen.

After you pick up your donuts or while waiting in line step next door to Koralee Coffee and get a cup of fresh brewed coffee. The Indonesian coffee is all organic and Alan is always available to answer your questions about this great coffee or stop for a chat. Alan will be chatting at Alan's Corner on the Koralee blog at www.koraleecoffee.blogspot.com very soon. So be sure and check out the blog tomorrow and there after. He will talk about coffee, Indonesia, sports, whatever is on his mind and of course will appreciate your comments, questions, suggestions, etc. This should be a fun addition to the market.

This is the best time of the year for fresh vegetables so stop by Walnut Hill Farms and Westmoreland Farms for some great vegetables. The corn is really good. The melons make a great start to your day or a snack in the afternoon.....refreshing and low in calories.

Grass-fed beef is available from Sunny Vale Farms as well as fresh eggs. Tony's beef is one of

only 39 beef producers in the state that has received the Virginia Finest Rating. Tony is also rated as one of the Finest at the Chesterfield Farmer's Market. A great guy!
If you haven't stopped by and talked with Tony or his assistant, Kris McCready, it is a must stop on your circuit at the market. If you want eggs, come early as he runs out quickly.

If you are in the mood for chicken, bison, pork or seafood stop by Boroughs Land Farm for his great selection.

Alfredo's Honey has a nice selection of local honey. It has been the best thing for my allergies. It is nice not to have to take medicine any more when a daily spoonful of honey does the trick. Isn't that what Mary Poppins told us? Take the kids by to see the bees.

While you are getting your honey, stop by Amelia Soap and Herb and check out her wonderful selections....from soaps and lotions to hand balm and theraputic items. Then slide on over to Living Art and see what Teresa has to offer. Beautiful items for your indoor garden. This is
just one of the many creations you will find.

In the mood for some baked goods, then stop by Country Side Bakery where you will find muffins, cookies, cakes, bread, pizza crusts, jams, pimento cheese, apple butter, Amish peanut butter, granola and more. Sometimes Meredith brings delicious pies, so be sure and ask.

Be sure and stop by GrayHaven Winery to check out the Virginia Wines. Have a taste or two. It is never too early as it is 5 O'clock somewhere.

Time to shop for a gift for a loved one or maybe you have been working hard and have earned a special treat. Maybe Linda has something you would like, or you need a great candle (my favorite is the vanilla), a photo from Whitney (just may find a photo that brings back great memories) or something from one of our great vendors.. The Basket Case has some wonderful baskets. Did you see the article about Joel and his granddaughter in last week's Midlothian Exchange? The writer did a great job. Grandma"s Garden always has beautiful flowers which make a great gift for a loved one, someone in the hospital or to cheer you up every day at home. Kizzie Kreations has some nice note cards, hand painted glassware, garden stones and more. A very special gift is available from Works of Art. Lynne will paint a picture of your dog or a friends dog from your photo. What better way to honor your dog than with a painting that will last from generation to generation. Lynne also has hand crafted wooden pens made by her son. They are a must see.

Speaking of dogs, don't forget to get a treat for your favorite pet at Forester's Golden Moment. Alyson makes all the treats herself and the dogs love them.

It must be just about time for lunch. Stop by the Dog Bite cart for a delicious Nathan's hot dog. Evie has some great toppings on offer. Koralee is next door with iced coffee, iced tea, sodas and juice boxes for the little ones. Evie also has chips.

Wayne with Gifts From Nature will not be there this week. We will miss him, but know that he will be back next week.

Before you leave the market stop by the Book Swap and pick up a book or two for you and for the children. We are short of children's books so if you have any lying around the house that you would like to donate they would be greatly appreciated. Your donation will help a child learn to read and or give them great pleasure. One young lad has asked for the Hardy Boys series so if you have them they already have someone interested.

On your way out of the market stop by Jolly J's Kettle Korn and get a bag or two for the week.

Have a great visit at the market, tell all your friends and come back and see us next week. We appreciate your support. Also check us out on Facebook and leave comments here or on Facebook as we love to hear from you.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-08-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

The weather is suppose to be cooler tomorrow so come on out to the market and support our great vendors. Should have a full house tomorrow as nobody has said they would not be there.

The Community Tent will host a representative from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Be sure and stop by the tent and see what they have to offer.

The Midlothian Exchange features a wonderful article on The Basket Case owner, Joel Burman and his granddaughter Leah. It is a great story about passing on talents from one generation to the next.

Sorry this weeks announcements are not as usual, but my body and the doctor are telling me to slow down and smell the coffee.

See you all at the market tomorrow.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-07-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Another hot day tomorrow so we will close the market at noon. That worked out well last week as the early hours were not too hot, you all came early for your shopping needs and were able to get out of the heat quickly.

Westmoreland Farms and Walnut Hill Farm will be there with all the vegetables you could want, plus melons. They both have a nice variety.

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen will have their wonderful donuts available about 8:30 so if you want to pick up a box on your way to work to share with your co-workers stop by the market. Many other vendors are set up at that time, but not all.

Koralee Coffee is also set up by that time, so you can get your coffee to take to work with you. If you haven't had their coffee, you are in for a treat. It is all low in acid and very smooth. A nice iced coffee is a good way to start the day in this heat. It still gives you that caffeine boost you are looking for.

Can't stop by before work? Come on over for your lunch break. Dog Bite has great New York famous Nathan hotdogs with a choice of many different toppings. Cold drinks are available next door at Koralee Coffee. Dessert is offered at County Side Bakery located across from Dog Bite. They have cookies, muffins and fudge to top off your lunch. Or take something home with you. They have cakes, pies, pizza crusts, breads, pimento cheese, and so much more. Or pick up a bag of kettle korn from Jolly J's to snack on while you work.

Had your breakfast or lunch? Now stroll down the market aisle for your Virginia Finest beef at Sunny Vale Farm. Stop and visit with Tony and Chris. They also have fresh eggs...not a lot each week, so get there early so you won't be disappointed.

After you get your meat, veggies and kettle korn stop by and have a look at the beautiful Living Art that Teresa has to offer. Many great ideas for your home or as a gift....a gift to live forever.
Circle on around for some honey from Alfredo's and some soap from Amelia Soap and Herb.

Next stop on your market tour is The Basket Case, one of my favorite spots. Joel just told me he has purchased some new supplies, including enough dye to make your basket any color you like. Remember he can make a basket the colors of your favorite sports team or college. What a great gift idea for the sports "nut" in your life....a special basket in team colors to hold the remote, chips and drinks and more to sit by the chair.

Forester's Golden Moment has some great treats for your favorite dog. Kizzie Kreations has a lot of beautiful gift items that she makes herself. Avian is a local creative artist. If you haven't seen her creations stop by and take a look.

I love flowers and Grandma's Garden has a great selection. They brighten up the market and will do the same for your home.

Now it is time to stop by GrayHaven Winery and find out about Virginia Wine. Wine is sold by the bottle and is available for tasting. While there be sure and ask Wayne about his wood pieces next door at Gifts From Nature. He is always creating something new.

Boroughs Land Farms offers meat and chicken, as well as seafood. He also has some cheese and eggs and vegetables. Graces Forestry Products offers wood products for cooking: woodchips, chunks and strips. They have cedar aroma products as well as custom made signs.

This weeks guest at the Community Tent will be Dorindo Bredbenner with Raising Green Richmond Kids. She will have eco-friendly art activity for the kids and provide information on having a greener and healthier lifestyle. Stop by and see her. Be sure and take the kids.

The book swap will be available. Thanks for all the donations. With this hot weather pick up some books, stay inside and read, drink lots of water.

Remember come early tomorrow to avoid the later heat. Plenty of liquids are available while at the market at Koralee Coffee - bottled water, sodas, juice boxes, iced tea and coffee. Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen has lemonade and Jolly J's has sodas. Plenty to choose from and plenty to keep you hydrated.

Look forward to seeing you all at the Chesterfield Farmers Market. Your support of the vendors will keep them coming back and providing you with healthy food and great crafts in your own neighborhood. Shop local, shop fresh.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-07-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

In spite of the weather, tomorrow is going to be a great day at the market. We will have a special guest this week to entertain us. Bethany Bidgood, street musician/teacher and entertainer will play bluegrass and Irish music while you shop. Bethany is an extraordinary young woman. She has been playing the violin for 11 years studying with Leigh Latchum, concert master of Danville Symphony Orchestra. She and her sister, Mary, have been entertaining at weddings for many years. They are both members of the Danville Symphony Orchestra. Bethany graduated from Danville Community College in 2010 and is now a student at VCU. In 2003, she and her family, started "Give A Kid A Bear" for young victims of domestic violence. Please come by the market tomorrow and show your support for this wonderful young lady.

The weekend is going to be extremely hot, so come early to the market for your weekly meats, eggs, veggies and other products. Parking is easy, only a few short steps from car to vendors which makes for an easy in and out....less time in the heat. With a bottle of water or other cold drink you can spend 30 minutes shopping and survive the heat. Remember to dress in light clothing and drink, drink, drink. I can't repeat that enough.

The vendors will be there in the heat, for you, so come early and show your support. If it gets too unbearable we will close at noon, so keep that in mind when you plan your visit.

Due to the heat, Boroughs Land Farm will not be there. He will be back next week. Be sure and check out the vendor of the week, Gifts From Nature, on this blog and at the Market. He has some great gift items.

Alfredo will be back with his honey, after an unexpected absence last week. Amelia Soap has been busy this week making more of her great products. Be sure and check to see if she has anything new.

County Side Bakery has a lot to choose from, from breads to pizza crusts or muffins, cookies and cakes. Don't forget their great pies. Away from the baked items they have several flavors of granola, pimento cheese, jams and more.

Breakfast time? Stop by Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, for their now famous fresh made donuts. For those who don't know about these donuts, everything is done on site. The dough is fixed and set to rise after they arrive at the market. They are fried and glazed while you watch. But, don't lose out, come early so you won't be disappointed. Every week there are people there at 1 expecting donuts and have to be turned away.

Ready for lunch? Nothing better than Nathan's hotdogs from Dog Bite. She has a good selection of toppings. A great treat before heading home.

Drinks are available from Koralee Coffee. They will have an extra supply of iced cold water tomorrow to make sure everyone is kept hydrated. Of course a nice cold iced coffee or iced tea is a good choice with your donut or muffin and your hot dog. In addition to drinks, they have the best coffee beans from Indonesia. It is all Arabica beans and best of all, no broker and no chemicals.....straight from the farm to you.

Don't forget to take home some treats for your dog or maybe that new puppy you just adopted. Alyson at Forester's Golden Moment has a nice selection to please even the fussiest dog.

Check out the new signs from Graces Forestry Products. Kathy tells me she hopes to have them this week. You can select to have your name or any saying you would like as they do custom work.

Grandma's Garden will have some beautiful flowers for you to brighten up your home for the week. Magali has fresh cut flowers as well as arrangements and plants. If you are looking for a living wreath, stop by Living Art and see what Teresa has to offer.

While you are at Living Art, pick up your kettle korn at Jolly J's. It is the best kettle korn that I have found in the Richmond area. If you haven't tried it, they offer samples.

A wide selection of veggies and in season berries are available from Westmoreland Farms and Walnut Hill Farm. They are located at each end of the market so be sure and check them both to see what is available.

Having a get together this weekend and need some wine? GrayHaven Winery has a nice selection of Virginia wines. Stop by and talk with Bunni. Tasting is available.

Sunny Vale Farm will be on site with their grass fed all natural beef. Get there early as they run out of eggs very quickly.

Kizzie Kreations have some wonderful and unusual gift items. Avian can make things to your specifications, so do ask. Don't forget The Basket Case with those absolutely wonderful baskets. The Midlothian Exchange is working on an article about Joel and his craft. We hope it will be in next weeks issue.

If you need a painting from Works of Art, stop by and see Lynne tomorrow as she will be away the following week. Don't forget that she also takes orders.

This weeks guests in the Community Tent are members of the Chesterfield County Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Stop by and give them your thanks for the services they provide the community. The little ones can see a fire truck up close and personal.

Thank you all for your support of the book swap. So many of you have brought boxes of books to share with the community. It is greatly appreciated by the market staff as well as all the readers in the community. We are happy to see so much activity each week at the book swap.

Thank you for shopping locally and supporting the Market. See you tomorrow.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-07-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

From a military academy, to fire fighting, to race car driving, to creating items from fallen trees has been the path traveled by Wayne to bring him to the Chesterfield Farmers Market.

Wayne Hayden, owner of Gifts From Nature was born in Richmond and raised in the Northern Neck. After graduating from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, he attended Ferrum College before earning his degree in Business Administration from Averett University.

Wayne and his wife, Evelyn live in Quinton, Virginia. They have three daughters and three grandchildren. One of the daughters, Heather, is often at the market helping her Dad and meeting the customers.

Wayne was a member of the Henrico County Fire Department until his retirement several years ago. He then decided to try racing cars for fun and enjoyment. He placed 2nd in Southeast U.S. in his class.

As a hobby during the 1970's Wayne restored antiques and today still does caning, which is almost a lost art.

When a large maple tree in his in-laws yard had to be cut down he went out and bought a lathe and a band saw to see what he could do with the maple wood so it would not go to waste. From a dead tree came the birth of Gifts From Nature.

There is a story behind each piece that Wayne designs, whether it is a small bowl such as this one, a large bowl, boxes or other creations.

Black lines shows disease as seen in some of his work. It is a great story that he can take a diseased tree and turn it into many useful objects. They are true gifts from nature.

The bowls are of different sizes and can be used for many different things. Cutting boards can be made to your specifications. Boxes for trinkets have been painted in bright colors.

After making a lot of different products, Wayne had to find an outlet to sell his creations. One day last winter his wife was at our house picking up her usual bags of Koralee Coffee when we were telling her about the new market we had been asked to start at the Chesterfield Towne Center. He called for more information and the rest is history.

Wayne is new to Farmer's Markets this year and enjoys vending. He likes meeting different people and sharing his stories about the wood.

If you have a tree come down in your yard and want to have something made from it, talk to Wayne. He will make customs pieces from your wood or he can supply the wood for a design of yours.

We are glad Wayne has chosen our market to make his vending debut. Please stop by and show him your support.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-07-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

What a great day for Market tomorrow....no rain and no extreme heat. Come on out early and enjoy donuts and coffee while you visit at the Book Swap and the Community Tent before visiting the great vendors we have every Friday at the Chesterfield Farmers Market. As of now it looks like we will have a full house except for Living Art. Teresa had a wonderful first day last week and enjoyed talking with so many of you. Unfortunately, she has a previous commitment tomorrow, but tells me she will be back next week and for the rest of the market season. If you didn't see her products last week here is a sample of what she offers.

Vegetables and melons are available from our farmers. They have plenty to choose from so stop by Westmoreland Farm and Walnut Hill Farm for your weekly supply. Don't forget to pick up your eggs and beef from Sunny Vale Farm and chicken and seafood from Boroughs Land Farm.

Alfredo will be there with local honey and his friends the bees. The children enjoy seeing the bees. Next door is Janice with her wonderful soaps and lotions. She always has some interesting products. Stroll along and take a look at Lynne's Works of Art.

Are you looking for a gift? The market gives you a lot of choices to find the perfect gift. Of course one of my favorites is a basket from The Basket Case, especially if it is filled with lots of goodies available from other vendors. Gifts from Nature has a great selection as does Kizzie Kreations. A basket filled with food products whether from County Side Kitchen, donuts or fudge from Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen, a large bag of kettle korn from Jolly J's, a bottle of wine from Grayhaven Winery or tea or coffee from Koralee Coffee is always well received. Be creative and see what you can come up with to fill the perfect basket.

Lunch time! Head on over to Dog Bite for the best hot dog with a selection of toppings. All week I look forward to Friday when I can have a donut from Yoder's and a hot dog from Eva.

Alyson is back this week with her dog treats, so if your dog has been missing them now is the time to stock up, although Alyson does tell me she will be there every Friday until the end of the season.

Graces Forestry Products offers cedar "aroma" products, firewood, wood chips and more. Do stop and talk with Kathy and Leigh.

The always appreciated, can't go wrong gift can be found at Grandma's Garden. Magali has beautiful cut flowers, arrangements in containers and plants.

The Book Swap has many new books that were donated last week, so check them out. Might find a good read.

The Scottish Rite Children Language Center will be there tomorrow from 9 to 1 to test your children's middle ear for fluid, wax buildup and more. This test is free and painless. Please see the following blog entry for more information.

Come on out and enjoy this great little market that offers everything you could want and more.
Bring the children, your neighbors and friends and meet the vendors. See you at the market.

COMMUNITY TENT GUEST ON FRIDAY

2011-07-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

This Friday, the 15th, Robin and Laurie from the Scottish Rite Children Language Center will be available to conduct Tympanometry testing. It is a painless, quick and simple test that checks the status of your child's eardrum and middle ear. Among other things, Tympanometry can help identify the presence of fluid in the middle ear, perhaps from an ear infection. It can also help identify excessive or impacted wax or perforations in the eardrum. It is important to identify these conditions, as they can affect a child's ability to hear, which may impact speech and language development. Please bring your children to the Market on Friday for this important, free test. Pass the word on to your friends, family and neighbors.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-07-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

We may get some rain tomorrow afternoon, so come on out early to the market and get your veggies, meats, eggs, cheese, seafood, coffee, baked goods, donuts and all your needs for the week.

We have another new vendor to introduce tomorrow with a beautiful product. Teresa Peckens of Living Art offers succulent wreaths and topiaries living roof birdhouses. Such a great idea for your home or as a gift. Please stop by and say hello to Teresa. She will be next to Alfredo's Honey and Jolly J Kettle Korn.

Graces Forestry Products will be back tomorrow after a great time last week. Leigh was pleased with your response and interest. He has wood products for cooking - wood chips/chunks/strips, cedar "aroma" products, packaged organic compost, premium hardwood mulch and bundled campfire wood. If you missed him last week, be sure and stop by and say hello.

Kizzie's Kreations joined our Market last week with her unique artistic creations. At one point while I was there a customer placed a special order for a an item in the color and design of her choice. Do remember that when you stop and look at her great items if you don't see exactly what you want.

Amelia Soap and Herb Co. is back this week. With summer upon us it may be necessary to check out her new bug lotion. No chemicals and no bugs while enjoying the outdoors.

Did you check out the vendor of the week (following post), Sunny Vale Farms? Tony has the best of the best beef every week at the Market for your enjoyment. What some seafood to go with that beef? Check out Boroughs Land Farm at the other end of the market. Robert also has chickens, bison and goat cheese.

Time to pick up breakfast head on over to Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen for a fresh made donut or County Side Bakery for a muffin or cookies all to go with your cup of organic Indonesia coffee from Koralee Coffee. Alan brews the coffee when he gets to the market so you know it is fresh and hot. He also has hot tea, iced coffee and iced tea, cold sodas, water and juice boxes for the little ones.

Next to Koralee Coffee is Dog Bite if you are looking for lunch. Eva has the best hotdogs with delicious toppings. Come on over during your lunch hour, get a hotdogs, a drink from Koralee, some cookies from Country Side Bakery and browse the market. I guarantee you will go home with something of value, whether it be something to eat, a great gift for your loved ones or self, a book for your summer reading, flowers for your desk or a piece of the new Living Art available exclusively at the Market.

Veggies are available from Westmoreland Farms and Walnut Hill Farms located at each end of the market. They have tomatoes, corn, beans, carrots, squash, potatoes, melon and more. Boroughs Land Farm also has a small selection of vegetables. He and Sunny Vale Farm have fresh eggs.

Grayhaven Winery has Virginia wines for tasting as well as to purchase. It's never too early for a taste or two.

Let the kids check out the bees at Alfredo's Beehive while you taste the honey. Great stuff.

I always enjoy stopping by The Basket Case, one of my favorite products. Baskets are so versatile and fit into any decor.

Another fun vendor is Gifts from Nature. He always has something new and interesting. There is a story behind each piece he makes so be sure and ask Wayne about the wood.

Lynn from Works of Art usually has a story about her different paintings and how she came to paint a particular painting. A Farmer's Market is so full of knowledge, a great place to feed the mind.

Be sure and take time to smell the flowers at Grandma"s Garden. The Garden brings color to the market and to your home. Great way to liven up your desk at the office also.

Stop by the Book Swap and find a good read. There are new books available as I took a box last week and a lovely lady dropped off two bags of books. We want to thank all of you who drop off books as it provides a great service to the market shoppers.

This week a representative from the Chesterfield County
Mental Health Department will be our guest in the Community Tent. Stop by and see what they have to offer the residents of Chesterfield.

Next week, July 15th we have a very special event going on at the Community Tent and would like to ask you all to help get the word out to all parents. Robin and Laurie from The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center will be providing free Tympanometry, a painless, quick and simple test that checks the eardrum and middle ear, to all children. Look for more information on this topic next week and please bring your children and tell your friends and family.

Feed the mind and the body when you shop at the Chesterfield Farmers Market. Thank you for supporting our vendors. See you at the market.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-07-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

Tony Daul, of Sunny Vale Farm, is our vendor of the week. Tony is a special person well liked and respected by all.

Sunny Vale Farm, owned and operated by Tony and Laurie Daul is located in Amelia.

Tony, born in Wisconsin became a Virginian when he was 13 years old and the family made a move to the south. He graduated from Colonial Heights High School and Richard Bland Junior College. He and his wife, have two daughters and 3 grandsons. Their younger daughter will be attending law school in the fall.

Tony's parents business ventures and his college classes in business gave him a good basis for having his own businesses over the years. For 13 years he owned a distributorship with Murray Biscuit Co, servicing many local stores. He then purchased a franchise with Service Master and quickly built his business to employ 50 workers. During this time Tony also restored homes for resale. After 13 years with Service Master he sold his company and purchased Sunny Vale Farm.

Tony chose to retain the name of the farm, but not as a dairy farm. It was the house and barns that attracted the Daul's to this 60 acre farm. Horses was his choice, not dairy cows, as they opened a full horse boarding facility as well as offering riding lessons by a certified riding instructor.

Two years ago Tony purchased his first calfs to venture into the meat business. He continues to buy calfs that have been raised to his strict specifications. He buys them at about 300 lbs and raises them until they are 1000 lbs or two years old before processing them.

Sunny Vale Farm Black Angus beef is free of any hormones and antibiotics. The cattle are fed hay, grass, corn and grain. All meat is USDA inspected, vacuum sealed and frozen.

You will see Kris McCready at the Chesterfield Farmers Market to assist Tony and to take his place if Tony in not available.

Sunny Vale Farm is one of only 39 fresh meat producers in Virginia who have earned the right to display the Virginia's Finest logo.

Tony's beef is "the best of the best".

Letter and Certificate are available for viewing on Tony's table at the market.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-06-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

This week went by really fast as did the month of June. July 1, Friday, Market Day. Stop by and welcome our newest vendors. Kizzie Kreations will be joining us for the first time tomorrow. Avian Mills is a gifted artist. She has some unusual gift items. Magali with Grandma's Garden has beautiful plants and cut flowers as well as some gift arrangements. I will be picking up a beautiful plant for my grandson's Memorial Garden I am planting in my yard. Our other new vendor is Dog Bite. Eva started last week and serves the best Nathan hotdogs. I know what I am having for lunch tomorrow.

We were glad to see Alfredo back last week with his honey. He is feeling a little better so be sure and stop by and cheer him along his road to recovery.

Boroughs Land Farms will be with us, offering his meal specials as well as seafood, bison, beef, chicken, eggs, cheese and a limited amount of veggies.

Speaking of veggies, we have two great vendors who have lots of great veggie choices for you. Walnut Hill and Westmoreland Produce. Beans, onions, carrots, beets, tomatoes, cukes, squash and more. Hopefully they will have berries as that depends on the weather and their crop.

Our very own Virginia's Finest, Sunny Vale Farm, classified as the "best of the best" will be here with great beef. Pick up some steaks for your July 4th cookout.

Country Side Bakery will have a wide selection of baked goods....cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, bread, pizza crusts as well as fudge, pimento cheese, apple butter, granola and more.

If you are in the mood for a great donut, stop by Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen and have one for breakfast or take home a dozen. Get a cup of the very best coffee at Koralee Coffee to go with your donut. They are a full drink vendor if coffee is not your choice at the moment. Take home a bag of their coffee beans to make your favorite drinks at home, whether it is a cup of hot coffee or a delicious cold drink with your favorite mixing, it is best if you start with Indonesian coffee. We will be starting a weekly "chat" on koraleecoffee.blogspot.com soon so will post some of our favorite coffee drinks there.

Gray Haven Winery has wine tasting of Virginia wines, so stop by and have a taste. No matter the hour in Virginia, it is 5 P.M. somewhere so enjoy your tastings.

Did you check out this blog for Jolly J's lesson in making their great kettle korn? If not, give it a read. If you haven't tried their korn, it is time you do. It is a great treat while watching TV, reading a book or doing nothing but munching on the kettle korn.

Birthday, wedding, graduation or "just because you are thought of" gifts are available at several of our vendors. Looking for art work check out Works of Art or Kizzie Kreations. What about a handcrafted pen? Work of Arts is the place to go. There is my favorite: a beautiful handmade basket from The Basket Case. Joel's baskets don't stay long on his table at the Charlottesville City Market where Joel is a popular vendor. The Caar Real Estate Weekly in the Charlottesville area included Joel and his baskets in a recent article. Baskets are so versatile as they can be used for many things and can sit anywhere in your home. What to use one for fruit, tell Joel and he will prepare it special so the fruit does not damage the wicker. Gifts From Nature has some beautiful bowls and other wooden pieces to choose from. Flowers always make a great gift, so be sure and check out one of our newest vendors, Grandma's Garden. As the grandmother of 20, I love the name of that business.

Need a gift or just a treat for that special "pal" of yours? Head on over to Forester's Golden Moment and check out what Alyson has to offer.

Two missing vendors this week are Amelia Soap and Herb Co. and JKA Design, both have previous commitments and will be with us next week.

Our guest in the Community Tent will be representatives from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Stop by and check out their literature and what they offer to the community.

Christy was ill last week so the Book Swap was unavailable. We look forward to having her back with us tomorrow and the great selection of books available. Be sure and pick up one for your weekly read. It is time I selected a few more from my book shelves and donated to the swap....look for some new ones tomorrow. We want to thank everyone who has brought in books and continue to do so. It is greatly appreciated as the Book Swap is a very popular site at the market. I love it when I see people taking books. I would never want to think that people don't read any more, especially children.

I would like to thank all of you who have written or spoken to me about how much you enjoy this blog. It is one of my favorite duties at the market and I appreciate that you like it and enjoy my attempts of keeping you all informed of what is happening at our market. Our readership continues to grow each week and that too we appreciate. Thank you all for your support, especially of the vendors.

See you at the market.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-06-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Jolly J Kettle Korn, our vendor of the week is owned and operated by Kristie Jones and Art DeMario. Art comes to Virginia from Huntingdon, PA where he graduated from High School and attended Junita College majoring in sociology, psychology and radio broadcasting. After graduating he, with a friend, opened a store selling turquoise jewelry and custom leather goods that he created. During this time he met a teacher from Johnstown College who encouraged him to enroll in the 2 years certification program in jewelry design and manufacturing. Upon completion of this program he decided to escape the snow and cold and moved to sunny Virginia. For the next 10 years he worked for a jewelry company in Petersburg.

While Art was busy moving towards his career, Kristie was born and raised in Amelia County, VA. She graduated from Amelia Academy and then went on to attend Richard Bland College and Longwood College with a concentration on business. She took a class in jewelry design and joined Best Products where she became a certified jeweler. By the time Kristie had joined Best Buy, her stone cutting skills were perfected as can be seen in some of the jewelry displayed at the Jolly J tent and on this blog site. Kristie's Dad had a hobby of collecting and cutting the stones found in Amelia County while she was growing up. After several years of begging him to let her cut a stone, he finally gave in to his nine year old daughter and her love of cutting stones began.

In 1991, just as Art left his job to go out on his own designing and repairing jewelry, Kristie joined the same company where Art had worked for 10 years. It didn't take her long to decide she did not want to work there and began looking in the yellow pages for a new employer. Art took one look at her work and put her on the payroll. When Kristie turned to the yellow pages she was looking for employment, not a husband, but in time found both. She jokes that she found the love of her life in the yellow pages.

Although Art still does jewelry repairs, he and Kristie decided to start a business that would be fun and something they could do to interact with the public. In 2010 Jolly J Kettle Korn was started where they could sell their delicious Kettle Korn at festivals and farmer's markets. In addition to the Chesterfield Farmer's Market they sell at Chula Farmer's Market and can be found each year at John Tyler Community College's Fool For Art.

Kristie and Art have chosen to use the best ingredients starting with mushrooms style popcorn, pure corn oil, cane sugar and small amount of salt. Once the 160 qt kettle is hot they corn is popped to perfection. It then is dumped onto the sifting table where unpopped kernels are removed.

Stop by and visit with our vendor of the week -- buy some kettle korn and arrange to have that piece of jewelry fixed that has been sitting in your jewelry box for years with a broken clasp.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-06-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

Have you not been able to visit the market because of your work schedule? No time for lunch and to shop? That can all change tomorrow with the addition of Dog Bite as the newest vendor to join our list of great vendors. Eva Jones hails from Atlantic City, New Jersey and has brought the famous New York Nathan hotdogs and all the fixings with her. A quick lunch to enjoy while you shop for your weekly fresh veggies, meats, cheese and more.

These are a few selections available from Walnut Hill Farm. Nothing like a fresh
tomato on a hot day. I like mine with a splash of salt. A cool cucumber is a great addition to your salad.

Westmoreland Farms will have cherry tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers and more.

When I heard from the farmers this week they were not sure about berries due to some severe weather they had been experiencing. We will just have to wait and see. Last week I got some great blackberries.

I spoke with Alfredo last week and although he is in severe pain from a back injury he plans to be there tomorrow. I am out of honey and my allergies are giving me some bad moments. I have found the honey is better than my daily medication which I no longer take.

If you are in need of some beef, stop by Sunny Vale Farm and see what Tony has available. Good beef. Check out his certification letter from the state of Virginia.

Looking for seafood, bison, pork or chicken stop by Boroughs Land Farms. Robert has only been with us a couple of weeks, but is already a popular spot on the circuit. Both he and Tony have fresh eggs.

Country Side Bakery will have bread, loaf cakes, pies, cookies, granola, muffins, apple butter, pizza crusts(for a quick dinner tomorrow night---just add your toppings and pop in the oven for 18 minutes.), dinner rolls, chocolate with peanut butter fudge and so much more. If you haven't tried their baked goods, stop by on Friday.

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen will be there bright and early making their by now famous fresh made donuts. Last week they were so busy that Christy had to step in and give them a hand. While she was getting a lesson in donut making I was getting a lesson in making Jolly J's Kettle Korn. See the following blog.

GrayHaven Winery will be there with their Virginia wines. If you haven't given it a try, stop by and see what Virginia has to offer.

Koralee Coffee has organic coffee from Indonesia. Tomorrow they will be brewing Java Estate ( a dark roast) and Breakfast Blend ( a medium roast). Haven't tried the coffee, stop by and ask for a taste. Coffee is available as hot or iced. The hot is brewed on site, while the iced is made on Thursday and left to chill all night. Not a coffee lover, try the Indonsian Black iced tea. Of course if you prefer hot, that can be made on site from either the Indonsian Black or Boston Harbour Black tea ( from Sri Lanka and Darjeeling). Water, sodas and juice boxes are available.

Stop by Jolly J's Kettle Korn for your weekly supply of great tasting kettle korn and mention that you saw their profile on this blog. They have a great story to tell.

Bought your food and drinks for the week, now move onto the vendors with their wonderful creations, starting with Joel and his hand crafted baskets. They are well made to last for a lifetime and very reasonable.

Janice with Amelia Soap & Herb will be there with all her wonderful products. I recently purchased a bar of her lily of the valley soap and I feel like I am in a garden every time I open the shower door. The fragrance stays forever. Love it.

Gifts From Nature has a special offer this week....a great deal. Spend a minimum of $65 and receive a small bowl for free. You can select from a variety of bowls.

Forester's Golden Moment will have your favorite dog treats available.

Fresh flowers and flowering plants will be available to brighten up your home. They can be purchased by the bouquet, in a basket or in a pot.

JKA Design and Works of Art will not be at market tomorrow due to other commitments.

Bring the kids down to the Community Tent for a demo on a 911 Simulator so they can learn what to do in case of an emergency. We are pleased that the Chesterfield County Police Department will be our guests this week.

Visit the Book Swap for your summer read.

See you all at the market. Thank you for buying local and supporting our vendors.

THE MAKING OF KETTLE KORN

2011-06-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

The vendor of the week: Jolly J Kettle Korn owners Art and Kristie showed me the art of making kettle korn. This picture shows Kristie popping the mushroom style popcorn in the hot
pure corn oil they use when making the kettle korn. The 160 qt kettle is transported to the market and festivals in a large trailer.

Kristie turns up the kettle to dump the popped corn onto the sifting table. She then sifts out the unpopped kernels.

This process is hot and Kristie wears protective glasses to prevent oil splatter or kernels flying into her eyes. She also wears a protective band on her wrist to prevent burns from oil splatter.

Now Art takes over as he seasons the korn and then scoops up the hot korn and puts into the large plastic bags. The bags are tied and then placed on the table for the customer. Two size bags are available.

The kettle korn is made fresh on site so stop by and watch how it is made, take a sample taste and purchase a bag or two to take home.

Kristie tells me she makes the fancy hat she and Art wear as well as the smock she is wearing to keep in line with the Jolly J name. At festivals they decorate their tent and wear colorful shirts and hats.

Art wanted to do something that was fun and enjoyable . I think you will agree that he has found it.

A great couple and a popular vendor at the Chesterfield Farmer's Market.

We are glad they have chosen us as a place to have fun and hope you agree. Let them know you saw this spot on the blog.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-06-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last market day to shop for Dad, so come early and take a look at what the vendors have to offer.

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen will be back with those delicious donuts made on site. Pick up some for tomorrow, nice and warm and some extra for the week. I put them in sandwich bags and pop in the freezer. When I want one it thaws in just a few minutes and is a quick treat for breakfast or any time of the day.

Alfredo's Beehive will not be with us again tomorrow. Alfredo was hospitalized for a brief time last week and is on the mend. He should be back next Friday. Please remember him in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

Amelia Soap & Herb will have some great gift ideas for Dad, so stop by and check them out. Take a look at Wayne's beautiful wooden creations. Ask if he has any specials for Dad. Did you order a painting from Lynn at Works of Art for Dad? Don't forget to stop by and pick it up.
Joel from The Basket Case will be on hand with his great baskets. If you haven't seen his work, do stop by and take a look. They are well made to last for a lifetime. Just ask, Joel can create a basket just for you in any color you want.

This week John from Pure Light Candles will be with us. His candles are the best. His work schedule does not allow him to be with us every week, so ask when he will be there and watch this blog for his schedule.

Need meat for Dad's Sunday cookout. Stop by Sunny Vale Farm for his great beef. I got a phone call the other day from a lady who had bought a roast from him last week and wanted to let me know it was the best piece of beef she had ever tasted. She works on Friday, but said it was worth getting over there and plans to take some time to get more of Tony's beef. I like getting these kinds of phone calls to let the vendors know they have good products and are appreciated.

Would Dad prefer chicken, pork, bison or seafood? Stop by our newest vendor, Boroughs Land Farms and check out his nice range of products.

Westmoreland Farms and Walnut Hill Farms will be there with plenty of vegetables for your cookout.

Country Side Bakery will have dinner rolls, hamburger rolls, cakes, pies, cookies and more for your Dad's day. Be sure and ask if they have any Strawberry pie available since it is not on display but in the cooler.

GrayHaven Winery has Virginia wine available for tasting and by the bottle. A nice bottle of wine makes a great gift. I believe Joel is designing a wine basket to go with the wine. Can't wait to see that.

Art and Kristie will be there with their delicious kettle korn. Take a look at Kristie's handcrafted jewelry she has on display. Some are made from local stones and very beautiful.

Koralee Coffee not only has Indonesian Organic Coffee beans for sale, but also fresh brewed hot and iced coffee; iced tea made from Indonesian tea (sweet or unsweet), water, soda and juice boxes for the little ones. In this heat we must drink plenty of liquids.

As I mentioned last week, JKA Designs will not be with us for the next three weeks due to other commitments. We will miss Janice and look forward to her return. In the meantime I am working with the schedules of two guest vendors who create beautiful jewelry and hope they will be able to join us soon. Both have different styles for your gift giving or wearing.

Forester's Golden Moment will be away for the weekend and not able to join us tomorrow.

In the Community Tent will be a representative of the Better Business Bureau. Don't be taken in by shoddy businesses or be a victim of a scam. Check out how you can protect yourself and what to do if you have become a victim.

I am so pleased to see so much activity each week at the Book Swap table. Reading is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. Stop by and pick up your weekly read.

Sorry for the lack of vendors of the week on this blog for the past couple of weeks, but things have been so busy at the market that I haven't had time to do any interviews. I hope to get to it this week so there will be one posted next week. We have some wonderful vendors with unique stories to tell. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoy writing them and getting to know our vendors.

We need some volunteers each week to help vendors set up and pack up, sit at vendor booths when they need a break and other jobs. If you know of any young people who would be interested please ask them to stop by the market or give me a call at 502 4767. Markets are fun places.

See you tomorrow at the market.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-06-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

Temperature should break tonight so tomorrow should be a great day at the market. Come early.
We have Robert Boroughs from Boroughs Land Farms joining us tomorrow. He specializes in U.S.D.A. inspected all-natural meats: bison, beef, chicken, and pork. In addition he has fresh seafood. The Boroughs Farm also offers eggs, cheese and more. Please give him a big welcome and show him your support. Robert is new to area markets, but not to Richmond as he has been supplying several local restaurants for years.

Remember your Dad, there are only two more market shopping days before Dad's special day. Check out some of the great gift ideas from our vendors: Amelia Soap and Herb Co, Gifts From Nature, GrayHaven Winery, Koralee Coffee, Pure Light Candles, The Basket Case and Works of Art.

Allergies are still in the air, so don't forget to pick up some honey from Alfredo's Beehive.
Country Side Bakery will have the best Strawberry Pies. I had never had a strawberry pie until last week when Nora gave me one. Let me tell you, it was out of this world. Alan and I both liked it very much. Light and refreshing, not a heavy desert.

Forester's Golden Moment has some great dog treats for your best friend, so stop by and take a look. Ladies, if you have your eye on a piece of jewelry from JKA Design, you might want to get it tomorrow as Janice has a previous engagement for the next three weeks and won't be with us. We will miss her and look forward to her returning in early July.

Jolly J's Kettle Korn makes a nice evening treat for the kids while watching TV or a break after a swim. Be sure and pick some up while at the market.

Koralee Coffee will have refreshing iced coffee and iced tea for these hot days as well as cold coke or pepsi and water. Not to forget the kids, they also have cold juice boxes available.

For all you donut lovers, I must tell you that Mrs. Yoder and her wonderful donut makers will not be there tomorrow. They have a previous commitment. They will return next week. If you didn't know, the donuts can be frozen. I brought some home last Friday and put them in individual freezer bags and popped into the freezer. The next day when I was getting ready for the market I took one out and took it with me. When I got ready to eat it later it was the same delicious donut, only not warm, that I had on Friday.

Sunny Vale Farm has grass fed all natural beef for those outdoor cookouts on Dad's Day. He also has eggs in limited quantity, so get there early.

Our two farmers: Walnut Hill and Westmoreland Produce have all in season produce you could want. I will tell you their new potatoes are delicious as our their green beans.

The Community Tent will feature Toni and Randal from Paradise Home Care who will be doing free blood pressure readings and Glucose level readings, so be sure and stop by and check out a vital part of your good health. They will also have information on Paradise Home Care solutions for your loved ones.

Don't forget to stop by the Book Swap for a good summer read. Thank you for supporting your neighborhood farmers market, our local producers and for buying local.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-06-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday is here already, so time for news of the market. The hot weather is suppose to break tonight so tomorrow should be a great day at the market.....low 80's.

We understand you all loved the donuts made at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen and will be back for more this week. Jay plans to be there early to get a head start on the making, but please remember the market does not open until 9.

Donal Moore of American Rain Harvester will be there with his rain barrels and some new products he has been working on. Stop by and check them out.

Deer Run Farm, our vendor of the week, will be there with his produce. Each week he has more and more to offer. Our other two produce farmers - Walnut Hill and Westmoreland Produce will be there with plenty of produce to provide you with all the veggies you could want. Three great farms to provide you with locally grown and hand picked products. These young men work hard from sunup to sundown planting, weeding and harvesting and then bring the products to your local farmer's market, so please support them and give them your thanks.

Now that you have your produce, head on over to Sunny Vale Farm for your meat and eggs. If you left your shopping bag at home, check out the nice baskets from The Basket Case. Don't even have to put it away when you get home as it would look nice sitting on your kitchen counter. Don't forget Joel can make them in any color and any style.

Father's Day is only a few weeks away so if you want something special for him head on over and talk to Lynne at Works of Art. She can paint a special picture for him of his favorite pet. Maybe the dog he had when he was a child and all he has are memories and a photo. The photo can be made into a great oil painting.

Speaking of pets, stop at Forester's Golden Moment for some dog treats for your favorite pal.

Other gift ideas for Dad can be found at Gifts From Nature who has some interesting creations from wood. Amelia Soap and Herb has a selection of Father's Day Gifts as well as lotions and soaps for the whole family.

Don't forget the honey on your list of must have for the week. Country Side Bakery will be thee with all their delicious baked goods. Pizza nite on Friday? Pick up your crusts that you can add your own toppings and pop in the oven...easy and quick. Movie night? Pick up kettle korn from Jolly J's.

Ladies are you in the mood for a new pair of earrings to match that new summer dress you just bought? Check out what JKA Design has as well as the pieces at Jolly J's. Both have some great buys.

When you get your donuts, be sure and get your cup of coffee or tea at Koralee Coffee to round out your morning. If you arrive later in the day the iced coffee is cool and refreshing. Not a coffee drinker then try the refreshing iced tea made from an Indoneian black tea. Check out the blog at koraleecoffee.blogspot.com and vote for your favorite coffee.

Expert Metal Works is taking some time off and will not be at the market for a while. If you are interested in some of his pieces please let me know.

Tomorrow we will have a new vendor so please welcome GrayHaven Winery. Bunnie will be there every week for the duration of the market. They sell Virginia wine by the bottle, glass or tastings. Tastings are $1.00 or $3.00 if you want to keep the glass. New whites are available so stop by and have a taste.

This weeks guest in the Community Tent will be representatives from the American Heart Association. Have questions or concerns about yourself or your loved ones, stop by and ask questions and pick up some literature.

Stop by the Book Swap and leave a book and/or pick up a book. Pool and beach time is a great time to relax with a good read.

See you at the market and thanks for supporting the market and our vendors.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-05-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Start your Holiday Weekend early and have an extra day of fun and relaxation. Get your weeks shopping done on Friday and get an early start on Saturday. Friday at the market is going to be an exciting day with the introduction of fresh made donuts. Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen will be making donuts, right on the spot, so what better place to have your breakfast.

Pick up your donuts, get a cup of coffee from Koralee Coffee and head over to the Community Tent to meet Allana Maiden from the local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Their mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS accomplishes this by funding carefully selected research and by providing a range of educational and support services to patients, their families and healthcare professionals. They also provide financial assistance to patients; this amounted to more than $200,000 in Virginia last year. LLS believe research is the key to finding cures for all cancers. Since their first funding in 1954, they have invested over $750 million in research, including approximately $72 million in their most recent fiscal year. They fund their mission through campaigns like Team in Training, Light The Night, Man and Woman of the Year, Leukemia Cup Regatta and School & Youth programs. Please stop by and talk with Allana as to how you can get involved. This organization is extremely important to me. In July 2009 I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and underwent chemo treatments. The LLS was my lifeline for information as well as financial assistance.

After you enjoy your donuts and coffee and visited the Community Tent, visit with our vendors, check out their products and do your weekly shopping....vegetables, meat, eggs, baked goods, etc.

Kristie from Jolly J'sKettle Korn is bringing her jewelry to the market. It is all handcrafted out of sterling silver and some local stones. Stop by and not only have the opportunity to pick up a lovely piece of one of a kind jewelry, but also that famous kettle korn to take home with you.

More pictures can be see on the left of the blog.

Works of Art, the vendor of the week last week will have a selection of oil paintings of chickens, roosters, Tuckahoe Plantation sheep scenes and Sunflowers.

Alfredo's Honey has become my new best friend. I have never liked honey...too sweet for me. A friend was at the market last week to buy honey as her daughter had told her that she had started eating a spoon of local honey every day for her allergies (in New Jersey) and she saw a big improvement. So my friend decided to try it. Now, I have suffered from allergies all year long for the past 40 years and have taken medicine twice a day most days. I got some honey last week from Alfredo and not only was it good (not too sweet) but haven't needed my allergy medicine since. Since I hate taking any kind of medicine this honey is a life saver for me. I have read that it doesn't work for everybody, but it is worth a try. Thank you Alfredo.

Amelia Soap and Herb Co. has some great Father's Day items, so be sure and check them out. Holiday week-end is a time for cook outs and spending a lot of time outdoors so take a look at the new Fly Away Bug Lotion Janice has created. If it is as good as her soaps, it is a winner.

Country Side Bakery will be there with all their delicious breads, muffins, pizza crusts, cookies, granola and more. If you haven't tried their Pimento Cheese, ask for a taste. Makes a nice addition to your holiday meals.

Deer Run Farm have some wonderful vegetables and strawberries....freshly picked.

Expert Metal Works has some beautiful sculptures for your garden. Make a great Father's Day gift, housewarming gift or no occasion gift.

Forester's Golden Moment will be back this week, so don't forget Man's Best Friend. They deserve something special each week too.

Speaking of Father's Day, check out the items from Gifts From Nature. All hand crafted, unique and beautiful.

Hey ladies, what to treat yourself to a nice piece of silver jewelry. JKA Design is the place to go.

Janice will even create something just for you, tell her what you would like and be totally unique.

Sunny Vale Farm has the best meat as well as fresh eggs. Now that we have eaten his beef I don't think we will be able to eat beef from any place else. Best I have tasted.

The Basket Case: what can I say. I love his baskets. He has a little basket that hangs on the wall to be used for keys...great idea for Dad on his day. Hang it by the door and he will never have to look for his keys again.

I heard from Walnut Hill yesterday to let me know they would have sugar snap peas, red and gold beats, shelled peas and squash along with all their other vegetables.

Westmoreland Farms emailed me to say they would have baby summer squash, sugar snap peas, lettuce, beets, greens and strawberries, along with all their produce.

Lots to buy from our great vendors.

Don't forget to pick up a good read at the book swap. I have a few more books to drop off this week and they were very enjoyable. Stop by and take a look.

See you at the market and thanks for shopping local and supporting our market.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MEREDITH TROYER

2011-05-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Meredith Ann Troyer, daughter of Robert and Nora Troyer on her high school graduation from the Oak Grove Mennonite School on May 19, 2011.

Meredith will continue to work in her parent's bakery making all those wonderful items we can purchase each week. You may see Meredith at the different markets helping the customers.

Alan and I were honored to be invited to this important event and to share it with Meredith and her family. Of course Alan never gives up an opportunity to have his picture taken with three beautiful young ladies.

Julie, Meredith, Alan and Bethany. All of the girls work in the bakery and take turns working with their parents at markets.

Not to be undone, the two young men in the family, Kendall and Benson can often be seen at the Market lending a hand.

When at the Chesterfield Farmers Market or South of the James Market stop by and say hello to this wonderful family.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-05-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day so head on down to the Chesterfield Farmers Market and enjoy the weather, meet your friends, get a cup of fresh brewed coffee from Indonesia or tea, pick up a muffin from Country Side Bakery and walk around and meet the vendors.

These are just a sample of the veggies and strawberries that are available. A large selection is available from Deer Run Farm, Walnut Hill and Westmoreland Farms.

Country Side Bakery will be there with all their wonderful baked items. This week they will be introducing a new product...dinner rolls. I was lucky to get some from Nora for a try...wow, we loved them. I pulled them apart and put them back into the bag and tossed in the freezer. When we wanted a couple for dinner only had to pop them into the oven for a few minutes and they were fresh and crispy. A sweet roll, but not too sweet. They also have hamburger rolls which I will sample soon, but know I won't be disappointed. No preservatives which is the selling point for me.

We want to welcome back Alfredo's Honey. He and Barbara have been on a three week trip to Colombia. They certainly have been missed as every week people asked where he was. Stop by and say hello and pick up some honey.

Now that bug season is upon us, Amelia Soap and Herb Company has a new product...Bug Away Lotion. It is excellent for keeping all those pesky flies, ticks, etc away so you can enjoy your time outside. A 4 oz bottle sells for $8.00.

Expert Metal Works returns this week after being away for a show last week out of the area. I still have my eye on some of his great garden sculptures. If you haven't seen them, be sure and check them out. A great Father's Day gift.

Forester's Golden Moment will be there with dog treats for your best friend. Doesn't your dog deserve something special?

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen has some great fudge. Check out this blog next week as I will be posting information about a new product the Yoder's will have available. .. Fresh donuts made on site! Can you wait? I will be first in line to give them a try.

Gifts From Nature always has something new on offer, so stop by and see what it is this week. He has some great gift ideas.

Need a new piece of jewelry for yourself or for a gift? Check out what JKA Design has to offer. Her items are stylish, different and fun to wear.

The ever popular kettle korn is available from Jolly J's. Stop by and take a couple of bags home for the week. The kids love it.

It is going to be warm tomorrow so visit Koralee Coffee for a cool refreshing drink of iced coffee, iced tea, water, soda or juice boxes for the kids. Koralee Coffee is a small company importing organic coffee beans from Merdeka Coffee in Indonesia and only selling at Farmer's Markets. The coffee comes straight from the little farmers all over Indonesia so they all taste different. Low in acid so do not upset the stomach, not bitter and only Arabica beans. "For every fabulous cup of Merdeka Coffee you drink, you are helping contribute to farmers who are working hard to improve the quality of life for their family, community and the coffee industry." Stop by and visit with Alan and enjoy a great cup of coffee.

Sunny Vale Farm offers some great beef. We picked up a roast last Friday for Sunday dinner and I must admit it was the best beef I have ever tasted. If you haven't met Tony, do stop by. He is a great guy.

Basket weaving is almost a lost art, but not at The Basket Case. Joel designs some beautiful baskets which will last forever. I know, you can pick up a basket made by machine, but take a look at the craftsmanship...big difference. It may last a couple of years where Joel's will last forever. He has a couple of baskets that would make great farmer's market baskets that even has a strap to hang on your shoulder. They would also make a great addition to your kitchen for potatoes, onions, etc. There are so many uses for baskets. If you are thinking of the environment even the reusable bags you take to market or the grocery store will wear out and have to be tossed, but not a basket from The Basket Case.

Lynn Fuller from Works of Art is our vendor of the week, so read all about her in the following post.

Life Net will be at the Community Tent tomorrow. A wonderful organization that does so much in the community. Stop by and learn about all their programs. It is not just about donating organs and tissues. The support they offer to families is without end. Do take a few minutes to visit with them.

Stop by the Book Swap and pick up a book. I just finished a couple of books that I had picked up and really enjoyed. Somehow I had missed them when they were first published. Today I will be dropping off a couple of books that we recently purchased and having read we have no space on the shelves. I have to clean out my books again so will be bringing more soon. This is a place to find something you haven't read or an information book you may want. My daughter-in-law found a garden book which is what she wanted to help with her yard at her new home. Last time I looked there were some interesting sports reads also. There is something for everyone and best of all they are free. Read, enjoy and share with friends.

I am always roaming around the market so please say hello.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-05-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Chesterfield Farmers Market is pleased to present our market artist, Lynn Fuller. Lynn hails from Pittsburgh, PA where she developed her artistic talents when given a kiln at the age of 14. Young Lynn dabbled with ceramics by making ashtrays and other small items.

This budding artist put her art on the back burner while attending Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania where she earned a BA degree in English.

Her passion for teaching led to a 24 year career teaching in public schools in Florida and Virginia. Returning to school she earned a Masters of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her teaching career included eight years working in special education at the middle school level.

While living in Groton Connecticut she took classes in all areas of art and discovered she liked working with oils the best. Landscapes, portraits, seascapes, still life, heirloom home portraits and pet portraits are her passion.
Lynn studied art under professional artists in Groton, Conn., Oahu, Hawaii and Springfield, Virginia.

Lynn and her husband, who reside in Goochland are the parents of seven children and grandparents of 16.

In addition to paintings for sale at the market, Lynn does commissioned work on site or from photographs. If you bring her a photo of your home or pet, she will create a beautiful oil painting for you.

In addition to the oils that Lynn paints and sells she also has on display for sale, beautiful pens handcrafted by her son. Pictures can be seen on this blog. Be sure and stop by and say hello to Lynn and take a look at her beautiful paintings.

By the way, ignore the message on Lynn's tee shirt....she is just as sweet as ever.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-05-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Free up your weekend...shop on Friday. Farmers with fresh produce from the garden! Come out to the Market tomorrow morning, start your day with a fresh brewed cup of Indonesian coffee from Koralee Coffee and a muffin from County Side Bakery. Visit with the farmers and select some great vegetables in season, including some strawberries for breakfast on Saturday morning. Sunny Vale Farm has a wide selection of beef for your Sunday dinner.

The Virginia Blood Service will be at the Community Tent to answer your questions and provide literature you can read at home. Visit the Book Swap table and pick up a good read for the week ahead for you and your children.

Have you had a chance to talk with Donald about his rain barrels? Stop by and have a look...a great addition to your yard and a great way to save on water. Remember those hot days will be with us soon and we will be looking for extra water for our plants and yards.

Gifts from Nature always has something new each week, so be sure and visit with Wayne. With graduations coming up you may find a great gift. Speaking of graduations, Works of Art has outstanding pens that make perfect gifts.

Expert Metal Works will not be at Market tomorrow. He has a show in northern Virginia to attend. JKA Designs will not be there due to a family illness.

Please stop by and welcome Walnut Hill Farms as our newest vendor. We are glad they will be with us.

See you all tomorrow for an early start to your weekend.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-05-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of Cinco DeMayo, Deer Run Farm will offer a special on Cilantro: Buy one get one free.

This is the last day to shop for your Mom, so stop by and select something special for her as there is much to choose from. Review last weeks Market Announcements for what the vendors have available.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society will be at the Community Tent to answer your questions and to provide literature.

Don't forget to stop by the Book Swap table and select a good read for the week.

Come on out to the Market and get your fresh picked produce, meat, chicken, eggs, baked goods, coffee, tea and much more. The sun is going to shine, so come out and enjoy the day and meet the vendors.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-05-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Alyson Lacy, vendor of the week, is a Mary Mount High School graduate who earned a degree from VCU in English with a minor in Women's Studies. After graduation, Alyson worked in sales in her hometown of Richmond prior to moving to Colorado to attend the University of Denver Law School. Upon deciding the law was not the direction she wanted to pursue, she returned to Richmond and chance got her into the dog treat business.

Forester, Alyson's beloved best friend, wasn't too excited about the dog treats she was giving him, so Alyson decided to try making them. After four months of experimenting with different recipes she gave some as Christmas gifts. These gifts were well received and Forester gave her the thumbs up. Her next step was to see how they would be received by the general public. Alyson made enough to hold a successful fund raiser for a young friend who was battling leukemia.

A year ago last month, Forester's Golden Moment was launched at local markets.

Alyson uses all natural ingredients found in her kitchen, with no added preservatives, in all her dog treats.

Current flavors available: Chicken, Beef, Honey, Cheddar,Tuna and Peanut Butter.

Most items have a shelf life of 6 to 7 months. Forester's Golden Moment dog treats are great as training treats.

You can find Alyson at the Chesterfield Farmers Market every Friday from 9 to 1. She also sells at other local markets and special events. Stop by for a visit and learn more about these great treats for your special best friend.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-04-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Two Farmer's Market shopping days left before Mother's Day. This is the place to find unusual gifts as well as Mom's favorite plants. Hanging Baskets make wonderful gifts .....something Mom can look at every day and remember how lucky she is to be your Mom.

Gifts from Nature is having a one day sale on Friday. All bowls 20% off. That is a great deal. These beautiful bowls can be used for many things.

Each bowl is made by Wayne Hayden from beautiful pieces of wood.

Amelia Soap and Herb Co. has many gifts for your Mom. Check out her items as Vendor of the Week. Gypsy Eye has beautiful jewelry that any Mom would be proud to wear. Jane can even customize a piece special for your Mom. JKA Designs will be there next week for your shopping needs. Shady Nook Alpacas also has some lovely items for your Mom.

Does Mom enjoy her garden and like to keep her yard special? How about a creative lawn metal sculpture from Expert Metal Works or a rain barrel from the American Rain Harvester. That is a great way to catch the spring rain to use during those hot days of summer to water your garden and those wonderful tomato plants.

Want to be really creative this year ask Lynne Fuller of Works of Art to paint a special picture for Mom. Or cook Mom a special meal of beef or chicken fresh from the Farmers Market. Koralee Coffee has Indonesia Coffee beans and several selections of black and green teas as well as some tea accessories.

Does Mom have a sweet tooth? Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen has a wide selection of fudge. And the Country Side Bakery has cookies, cakes, pies and lots more. Jolly J has large bags of kettle korn Mom can enjoy in the evening when watching her favorite TV shows.

Alfredo Honey is on holiday for the next 3 weeks. Hope you got your honey before they left. They will be back on May 20th. JKA Designs and The Basket Case will not be available on Friday as they are setting up for Arts in the Park this weekend. Be sure and stop by and see them if you go to Arts in the Park. It is a fun show.

Each week we get more vegetables as the weather improves. This week we will have locally grown Strawberries as well as spinach, kale, collard greens, radishes,spring onions and several types of lettuce as well as the plants so you can grown your own vegetables in your back yard. Nothing better than going out into the yard and picking a tomato for your salad. Tomato plants are still available from our growers, as well as other plants. Now is the time to plant so be sure and pick up your bedding plants and make your garden beautiful once again.

The Community tent will not be there this week, but back next week with the American Cancer Society. We have some interesting organizations booked for May and June so stay turned for our calendar to be printed next week. If you know of an organization that would like to be a part of our Community Tent please have them email or call us.

The book swap is always there, so stop by and pick up a good read. Have a book to share, please leave it at the tent.

Suggestions, wishes, needs, let us know and we will see what we can do. This is a Community Market and you are the Community so let us hear from you.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK

2011-04-26T14:05:00.000-07:00


AMELIA SOAP & HERB CO.

We are pleased that our market can offer such a great product to all our customers. To say thank you to Janice, we are happy to honor her as the weekly featured vendor.

Janice McKinney, owner of Amelia Soap and Herb Co. was born and raised in Virginia. She graduated from Thomas Dale High School in Chester and went on to take classes at John Tyler Community College, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and VA State where she pursued a degree in Computer Programming.

From 1976 to 1978, Janice was fortunate to do some extensive traveling in Europe.

In 1997, Janice and a friend started a jewelry business doing juried craft shows and local markets. Once she started offering her soap and herbal products, she found that they sold better than the jewelry. In order to expand her soap line she gave up designing jewelry and concentrated on her soap and herbal products She made them in her kitchen and continues to do so today. Eight years ago she introduced her therapeutic products.

Janice not only grows the herbs she uses in her products, put also has a great vegetable garden. One day we hope to convince her to bring her vegetables to market.

Some of Amelia Soap and Herb favorites among market shoppers is her Bay Rum Soap which is excellent as a man's shaving soap. The Honeysuckle soap has a true fragrance made with the flower and fused water. The oatmeal milk and honey is not only good for sensitive skin, but also acts as an exfoliate.

Do you hate those kitchen odors on your hands? After cooking with onions, garlic and fish, clean your hands with Amelia Soap and Herb's Kitchen Hand Soap to wash them away.

Does your dog or cat have fleas? use the Fly Away Flea Soap and make your pet happy. Janice says she uses it as a bug repellent in the summer. Wouldn't that be a great way to protect your kids without those awful bug repellents with all those chemicals

Are you a gardener and look at your hands and think, what can I do to make them better? Think no more. Get down to the Farmers Market on Friday and buy some of the great Gardener's Hand Soap made from pumice and sand that Janice has available. She has also made up a Gardener's Hand Kit to make your life a little easier. It includes the much needed soap, Simpler Hand Balm, Gloves and a Nail Brush...all for only $14.00. Wouldn't a mother like that on her special day on May 8th!

The Simple Hand Balm is not only good for your hands after gardening, but keeps them soft all year round. It is also good for those dry winter feet before doing sandals for summer wear.

No matter what your concern, stop by the Amerlia

Soap and Herb Company and see what solution Janice has

for you.

Janice is married to Zane, who often helps out at the market.

They have one son and a ten year old grandson.

Come to the market, stop by and see Janice. Be sure and tell her you saw this blog. Visit our FaceBook page and tell us what you think of soaps from the Amelia Soap and Herb Company. We'd love to hear from you.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-04-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Another cool day predicted tomorrow, but don't let that stop you from visiting the market for your Easter purchases. We have some great sales from our vendors. If you still have your April Discount card be sure and bring them with you. Adlyn Farms offers $2.00 off a purchase totaling $10 or more. JKA Designs offers 10% off any one item. Forester's Golden Moment has $2.00 off one large bag of dog treats. If you don't have a discount card, ask some of the vendors as there are a few still available.

Windmill Outback Nursery/Expert Metal Works has a special on his beautiful blooming zinna plants. They usually sell at $4.00...tomorrow only you can get them for $3.00. Strawberry baskets at $10 each, plus an assortment of echinacea, rudbeckia and a few new Eucalptus varieties available. Great Easter gifts!

Amelia Soap and Herb Co will have Gardener's Hand Soap, made with pumice and sand to keep those gardening hands clean and conditioned. They will also have their Gardener's Hand Kits available this week. Stop by and check out the Mother's Day items.

The following vendors will not be at the market tomorrow due to travel plans, illness, etc. Ault's Farm, Gypsy Eye, Night Sky Farm, and Shady Nook Alpacas. They will be back on the 29th.

In the Community Tent on Friday will be a representative from the Virginia Anatomical Program to explain the benefits of the program and to answer your questions. This is a very important program in our state, so please stop by and learn more about what they offer.

Books are available for the taking at the Book Swap tent so stop by and pick up a good read for the weekend.

Happy Easter to all!

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-04-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 15th there will be some interesting things going on at the Market. First of all in the Community Tent will be free fingerprinting for the children. A special thanks to Masonic Lodge 211 of Midlothian for providing this service for the children in the community.

Check out the Vendor of the Week on this blog and stop by Alfredo's Honey to show him your support. Honey is great for colds, sore throats, allergies and many other things.

Gifts From Nature has a special this week you may want to take a look at. Wayne has made some Valet Trays for the man in your life. They are made from Eastern Red Cedar and are approximately 7.5 to 8 inches wide. Sale price is $25 plus tax. Great place for the guys to put all their "stuff" from their pockets at night to keep from scratching the ladies fine furniture.

Vacationing Vendors: Sungrove Studios and Jolly J's Kettle Korn. They will both be back next week.

Check out www.richmondmagazine.com for an article on the Chesterfield Farmers Market.

Weather should be warmer tomorrow for a beautiful day at the Market. Bring the kids for fingerprinting and your shopping bags to fill with all the delightful items available. Easter is coming so stop by The Basket Case for a basket and Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen for some home made fudge.
Ladies check out the hats and bags at Shady Nook Alpacas and the beautiful jewelry at JKA Designs and Gypsy Eye.

Make up a basket for someone special in your life who is avoiding sweets this year. Instead pick up a basket from Joel and fill it with soap from Amelia Soap and Herb, a nice candle from Pure Light Candles, maybe a piece of jewelry or a plant from Expert Metal Works. There is something for everyone at the market. For the dog owner, stop by Forester's Golden Moment and pick up a treat or two.

Adlyn Farm and Deer Run Farm will have eggs and greens as well as plants for your garden. Ault's Farm will be back this week with their chicken, pork and eggs and Sunny Vale Farm will have their beef. County Side Bakery is a great stop for all your baked goods: bread, pizza crusts, pies, cookies, cheese dip and much more.

Night Sky Farm has goat and cow cheese and fresh eggs so stop by and say hello to Jennifer. As always, stop by Koralee Coffee, say hello to Alan and enjoy a cup of Indonesia coffee or tea. For every fabulous cup of Merdeka Coffe you drink, you are helping contribute to farmers who are working hard to improve the quality of life for their family, community and the coffee industry in Indonesia.

See you at the market.

VENDOR OF THE WEEK - ALFREDO'S HONEY

2011-04-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Alfredo Neuman, Beekeeper, our vendor of the week, arrived in the United States from Colombia 43 years ago. Although he helped his brother, who was a beekeeper in Colombia, he chose to pursue a career as an engineering inspector. His career took him from Colombia, to Miami and Boston before settling in Virginia about 10 years ago.

When Alfredo first moved to Manakin-Sabot he had a produce stand where he sold produce and honey. As he increased his beehives, he began selling only honey. His bees live on an organic 700 acre farm and consequently are free from pesticides and insecticides. They feed on plants that are naturally fertilized.

Local honey is good for allergies, coughs and sore throats. Barbara, Aldredo's wife, told me she has heard of people putting honey on poison ivy to stop the itch.

Be sure and visit Alfredo's Honey cart at the Market and meet our vendor of the week. Bring the children to see the bees and the honey combs.

COMMUNITY TENT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH

2011-04-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

The Chesterfield Farmers Market Community Circle Tent will feature the Masonic Lodge 211 of
Midlothian preparing fingerprint kits for the children of the community. The process takes only a few minutes and if the data is ever needed you will have it. The parent will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire. A five minute video will be made of each child and digital fingerprints will be taken. All of this is put on a disc and given to the parents. Bring your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews for this free data disc. Pass the word to your family, friends and neighbors so we can protect all the children of the community. Market is open from 9 to 1.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-04-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Sungrove Studios will not be at the market tomorrow or the 15th. Graham will be back on April 22.
Ault's Farm will not be at the market tomorrow. Chris is retiring after 20 years with her company and tomorrow is her luncheon. Congratulations Chris! We will see you next week.

The Tooth Fairy will be at the Community Tent so bring the children to the market from 9 to 1. Dr. Gokli will have some helpful advise on getting those little ones to brush.

Easter is almost here so be sure and stop by The Basket Case and pick up a basket to fill. If you fill it yourself the basket becomes more personal to the one who receives it and Mom, you can control the candy content.

Speaking of candy, Mrs. Yoders Kitchen has some great ideas for the baskets. Their chocolate peanut butter eggs are really good.

Eggs for Coloring: Adlyn Farm, Ault's Farm, Deer Run Farm, Night Sky Farm and Sunny Vale Farm all have eggs available.

Weather is still not as warm as I would like tomorrow, so be sure and dress for the changes. Hot drinks are available from Koralee Coffee to warm you up....coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

COMMUNITY TENT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 8

2011-04-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Meera A Gokli, DDS with the Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Virginia and the Tooth Fairy will be visiting the market this Friday from 9 to 1. Be sure and stop by the Community Tent and get some great information about keeping those toothies clean and healthy.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENTS

2011-03-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Due to illness, Adlyn Farm will not be vending this Friday, April 1. They should be there next week with plenty of plants and early greens. Linda is sorry to miss you all and hope you will visit her booth next week.

Shady Nook Alpacas will have a new product available: 16 lb bag of 100% alpaca manure selling for $15.00. It is ideal for all your plants - vegetable, garden and trees. Large amounts are available by calling Shady Nook Alpaca at 804-598-5497.

Jane Harrison-Survello of Gypsy Eye has been working hard to provide you with a wide selection of jewelry, so please stop by and see what she has to offer.

Just spoke to Nora with County Side Bakery and she tells me she has been busy making their famous pizza crusts today, as well as some other great treats to add to their line of baked items. Don't have time for breakfast, try one of their fabulous muffins.

It will be cold tomorrow, so dress warm and stop by Koralee Coffee for a hot cup of coffee, black or green tea or hot chocolate. For every fabulous cup of Koralee's Merdeka Coffee you drink, you are helping contribute to farmers who are working hard to improve the quality of life for their family, community and the coffee industry.

See you all tomorrow.

COMMUNITY TENT PROGRAM

2011-03-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Robin Olivier, from The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center, will be at the Community Tent on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 9 to 1.

The mission of this non-profit organization is to provide speech, language and hearing services to children from birth to 18 years of age. Fees for services are based on families ability to pay.

Literature will be available and Robin will answer your questions. Stop by the Community Tent and learn more about the services available to the children in the community.

Meet the Community Circle Manager

2011-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

Christy Wilkinson

Christy is the Manager of the Community Circle. If you have a topic of interest to share with the community, looking to donate large amount of books or looking to volunteer to organize the proposed activity tent for children, please email Christy at chesterfieldfarmersmkt@gmail.com or give her a call at (804)
647-8736. She will be happy to help you with any of the above.

Opening Day Discount Card

2011-03-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

If you have received one of these cards for opening day on April 1, 2011, please be advised that all
vendors are participating.

Chesterfield Towne Center Mother's Club

2011-03-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Chesterfield Farmers Market received great response and interest from the Chesterfield Towne Center Mother's Club on Tuesday. Opening day discount coupons and a weekly special for each Friday in April were given to all who attended the event. A Virginia Grown bag, filled with items donated by several vendors was won in a draw by Kristen Kelly. Her daughter was really excited about the metal pink pig designed by vendor Michael Gillespie, owner of Expert Metal Works. We look forward to seeing you all on April 1 from 9 to 1. The vendors are excited about sharing their knowledge and their products with you.

Market and Blog in process of being designed

2010-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

We are working on this blog as well as our vendors for the new market opening on April 1, 2011. Please check back to see our progress.