Local Farmers Markets

We are lucky to be living in Cobb County because there are so many local Farmers Markets available to visit. Even better, they aren't all in operation at the same time. There is bound to be one somewhere near you which is open on a day and time that works well for you.

Farmers Markets vary in what they offer. They run from offering only food  to  the opposite end of the spectrum where they offer food, plants, art, craft work, live chickens & rabbits, soap,  cooking demonstrations, music, etc. Each market is unique and fun to visit.

The Granddaddy of them all (locally) is the Marietta Square Farmers Market  It is open Saturday year round (9:00am to 12:00pm) and also has Sunday hours April through November (12:00 to 3:00 pm)

Photo provided by Marietta Square Farmers Market

Many other communities offer Farmers Markets besides the ones I've provided links for here. Just search online and you'll find many more. If I'm traveling, I always try to see if there will be one open where I'm going because I always find something interesting.

Acworth Farmers Market
Friday (7:00 am - 11:00 am)   Opens May 24 - Closes Oct 25

Kennesaw Farmers Market
Tuesday (7:00 am - 1:00 pm) Opens May 7 - Closes Oct 29

Paulding County Farm Bureau Farmers Market
Friday (3:00 - 7:00 pm) Opens April 6 - Closes end of November.
They also have Tuesday night hours during the middle of the growing season.
They are at the intersection of Hwy 92 and Dallas Hwy, across the street from Stars & Strikes There location is just a couple miles west of the garden.

Spreading Oaks Farm at the Paulding County Farm Bureau Farmers Market

(Photo provided by market)

 

Dallas Farmers Market
Saturday (8:00 am - 1:00 pm)  year round weather permitting 

Mableton Farmers Market Thursday (8:30 am - 12:30 pm) Opens May 23 - Closes Sept 5 Typical scene from any farmers market - this one is from the Paulding County  Farm Bureau Farmer's Market (photo provided by the market)   If you are interested in finding U-picks and farms that sell to the public, here are several other resources you can use. Local Harvest A great site to find local farms and farmers markets that sell meat, eggs, produce, etc to the public. as well as U-pick's, CSA's, etc. Pick Your Own.org I've used this site quite a few times to find places locally and nationally as well. Farmers & Consumers Market Bulletin You can subscribe to the Georgia Farmers & Consumers Market Bulletin. I've found some wonderful plants and items through it.

Saturday Workday with Door Prizes and Bluebird Fundraiser

This Thursday, April 25^th and Saturday, April 27^thare our April work days. Thursday is from 10:00 to 12:00 and Saturday is from 10:00 to 12:00 also.  So far, here is the list of things we've come up with that needs to be worked on.

· Weeding (ongoing and forever)

· Weed pollinator beds before mulching

· Mulch pollinator beds with mini-pine nuggets

· Spread free or purchased mulch in garden common areas

· Move the compost/dirt pile and sift it as we move it

· Round-up along outside of fence (Thursday only)

· Till the sunflower border area (Saturday only)

· Plant sunflower border area (Saturday only)

· Weed eat/cut onions and Round-up remaining stems

· Weed around sign and plant 4 or 5 Caldwell Pink roses around the GMP sign

· Plant 4 Celeste figs in 1 gallon containers on the upper terrace

· Give the shed a good sweeping and cleaning

· Remove blooms & fruits from the fruit trees (Saturday only)
    (The fruits need to be removed so the trees develop a good healthy root system the first year in the ground)

 

As you can see there is a lot to do and we probably won’t get it all done on Thursday and Saturday unless YOU come help us.   Even if you can only come out for an hour, your contribution of time and effort will be greatly appreciated.

 

On Saturday after the workday is over at 12:00, we will be having a Bluebird Lunch Fundraiser for the Bluebird Trail.  Mike and Sue will be providing a delicious selection of food.  For further details, check the link to the Bluebird Lunch Fundraiser post.

Friends of a Feather -Bluebird Fundraiser

On Saturday at the end of the workday (12:00 noon), there will be a lunch fundraiser for the Bluebird Trail.

The baby blue birds are hungry and your support is very much needed.

We will be providing a delicious selection of food including several salads. We will be doing it like a Bar-b-Que plate fundraiser taking donations for each plate.

Help us help the mother blue birds feed their young.

Mike & Sue

Lavender Lemonade

Hey Everyone,

Just the hint of the 80 degree weather last week had me thinking about planting the lavender.  This is one of my favorite recipes for the long hot days of summer.  
Simply delightful!

Lavender Lemonade – Cooking Light Magazine

Does this not scream, plant me?

Ingredients:

4 cups water, divided

¼ cup chopped fresh lavender leaves

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 6 – 8 lemons)

Lavender stems and/or flowers

Preparation:

Using a small saucepan, bring 1-cup water to a boil.  Pour boiling water over the chopped lavender leaves, cover, and steep for 30 minutes.   Strain the lavender mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher; discard the used leaves.

Combine 3 cups water and sugar in a medium saucepan.  Bring the mixture to a boil, and cook 1 minute or until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Mix the lavender water, sugar syrup, and lemon juice in a pitcher.  Cover and chill. 

Serve over ice.  For a special touch, garnish lemonade with lavender flower stems or freeze lavender flowers into ice cubes.   Another nice touch is to add just a couple drops of food coloring.  Blue & red make purple or simply green is beautiful.

Hope you enjoy,

Denise, Beds 25 & 29 

Medication Disposal Day

picture from the CobbLine Newsletter

If you don't subscribe to CobbLine, the weekly eNewsletter that is sent out, you miss out on hearing about important community efforts. This weekend - Saturday only between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm they are having a Medication Disposal Day.

Everyone needs to weed out and purge medications - over the counter and prescription as well as vitamins.  But how do you properly dispose of them. Tossing them in the trash is unsafe. Flushing them down the toilet is also unsafe and bad for the environment when it gets into the rivers and water table.

The best way to dispose of unwanted medications is take them to one of Cobb County's Medication Disposal Day's. You just drive up and hand it over. You don't even have to get out of the vehicle. The first time I went I took stuff from my house, my mom's and my sister's.

If you have time this Saturday I hope you take advantage of this opportunity to purge your medicine cabinet in a safe way. Mother Earth will appreciate it.