The Weblog
This weblog contains LocallyGrown.net news and the weblog entries from all the markets currently using the system.
To visit the authoring market’s website, click on the market name located in the entry’s title.
United States Virgin Islands: VI Locally Grown Market: Week of January 12, 2015
Good afternoon!
We apologize for the late opening of our Market this week! The VI Locally Grown market is now open for orders. Thanks for supporting your local farmers and craft makers!
Don’t miss out on Ridge to Reef farm’s mouthwatering mango fed local organic pork cuts, available for purchase at the market. We have also added Surinam Cherries!
The new location for the market is a beautiful experience within itself. If you haven’t had a chance to see the Lawaetz Museum property at Little La Grange on Mahogany road, the market is a great opportunity to support your local farmers and enjoy the a local heritage site for St. Croix.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
-Castiel and your VI Locally Grown producers
Heirloom Living Market Lilburn: There is still time to order...Market closes at 8:00pm
Greetings All:
Just a reminder that Market closes at 8:00pm tonight.
Offerings you may want to check out!
Greg of Heritage Farm has Smoked Ham and Lamb Chops on Special this week. Bacon is Sold out; however, I did happen to purchase some extra last week! This Hickory Smoked Bacon is over-the-top in flavor! Check with your Market Coordinator at pickup if you are interested.
Carrell Farms has delicious Water Buffalo offerings! Try some Soup Bones for wonderful Bone Broth! Add in the Ox Tail for an especially delicious treat!
I spoke with Tammy of Peacefield Farm and they are ‘on break’ this week as they wait for Mother Nature to work her magic with the greens, lettuces, tomatoes and other goodies that are planted! The cold snap slowed things down a bit! They will be back soon!
Jay Parsons of Dances With Bees is offering a Bee Keeping Class. Jay is a Master Bee Keeper with a wealth of knowledge! His Apiaries are Certified Naturally Grown Want to start your own hive? Now is your chance to learn all about bees, their importance in our lives, how to keep and care for them and harvest your own Honey! Great opportunity!
Check your Grocery List and get your orders in before 8:00pm this evening for delivery on Thursday!
The Veggie Patch
Milk
Cedar Rock Dairy (Cow)
Little Tots Estate (Goat)
Eggs
Rocky Acres
Golden Farms
Little Tots Estate (Organic, Soy Free, pastured chickens) on Farmers’ Sale Table only
Bakery
Bakery on Brooks
My Daily Bread
Grass Fed Meats
Carrell Farms
Heritage Farm
Microgreens
Cedar Seeder
Honey
Dances With Bees
Natural Products
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
So-Koi
Handmade Items
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Peacefield Farm
So-Koi
Flours/Grains/Salt
My Daily Bread
So-Koi
Just a heads-up…this week at Market Kefir, Elderberry Syrup and Organic Quinoa will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table. There is a limited amount of Kefir, so if you know you would like some, please send me an email.
Marie of Bakery on Brooks has created a Gluten-Free Pancake Mix especially for our Market! This will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table this week with the recipe on the package! Be sure and check it out!
Azure Standard
Azure Standard Pickup Date: Friday, January 16th at 6:30pm
Pickup Location: 963 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, GA
Drop #: 796431
Drop Name: Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville
Drop Coordinator: Maryanne Vaeth
Contact Information: Email Drop Coordinator
Phone: 404-432-4337
Please Note: There is a second ordering deadline this month for delivery on February 2nd. Get your orders in by January 27th. Going forward our regular delivery day will be the Monday after the ordering deadline at 11:15 am. Look for more details next week!
This Group on Facebook will keep you up to date on the “happenings” with this service!
Azure Standard Lawrenceville Drop Information: My Azure Standard Drop Lawrenceville
Thanks for your support! See you Thursday!
~Maryanne
Heirloom Living Market Hamilton Mill: There is still time to order...Market closes at 8:00pm
Greetings All:
Just a reminder that Market closes at 8:00pm tonight.
Offerings you may want to check out!
Greg of Heritage Farm has Smoked Ham and Lamb Chops on Special this week. Bacon is Sold out; however, I did happen to purchase some extra last week! This Hickory Smoked Bacon is over-the-top in flavor! Check with your Market Coordinator at pickup if you are interested.
Carrell Farms has delicious Water Buffalo offerings! Try some Soup Bones for wonderful Bone Broth! Add in the Ox Tail for an especially delicious treat!
I spoke with Tammy of Peacefield Farm and they are ‘on break’ this week as they wait for Mother Nature to work her magic with the greens, lettuces, tomatoes and other goodies that are planted! The cold snap slowed things down a bit! They will be back soon!
Jay Parsons of Dances With Bees is offering a Bee Keeping Class. Jay is a Master Bee Keeper with a wealth of knowledge! His Apiaries are Certified Naturally Grown Want to start your own hive? Now is your chance to learn all about bees, their importance in our lives, how to keep and care for them and harvest your own Honey! Great opportunity!
Check your Grocery List and get your orders in before 8:00pm this evening for delivery on Thursday!
The Veggie Patch
Milk
Cedar Rock Dairy (Cow)
Little Tots Estate (Goat)
Eggs
Rocky Acres
Golden Farms
Little Tots Estate (Organic, Soy Free, pastured chickens) on Farmers’ Sale Table only
Bakery
Bakery on Brooks
My Daily Bread
Grass Fed Meats
Carrell Farms
Heritage Farm
Microgreens
Cedar Seeder
Honey
Dances With Bees
Natural Products
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
So-Koi
Handmade Items
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Peacefield Farm
So-Koi
Flours/Grains/Salt
My Daily Bread
So-Koi
Just a heads-up…this week at Market Kefir, Elderberry Syrup and Organic Quinoa will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table. There is a limited amount of Kefir, so if you know you would like some, please send me an email.
Marie of Bakery on Brooks has created a Gluten-Free Pancake Mix especially for our Market! This will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table this week with the recipe on the package! Be sure and check it out!
Azure Standard
Azure Standard Pickup Date: Friday, January 16th at 6:30pm
Pickup Location: 963 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, GA
Drop #: 796431
Drop Name: Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville
Drop Coordinator: Maryanne Vaeth
Contact Information: Email Drop Coordinator
Phone: 404-432-4337
Please Note: There is a second ordering deadline this month for delivery on February 2nd. Get your orders in by January 27th. Going forward our regular delivery day will be the Monday after the ordering deadline at 11:15 am. Look for more details next week!
This Group on Facebook will keep you up to date on the “happenings” with this service!
Azure Standard Lawrenceville Drop Information: My Azure Standard Drop Lawrenceville
Thanks for your support! See you Thursday!
~Maryanne
Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville : There is still time to order...Market Closes at 8:00pm!
Greetings All:
Just a reminder that Market closes at 8:00pm tonight.
Offerings you may want to check out!
Greg of Heritage Farm has Smoked Ham and Lamb Chops on Special this week. Bacon is Sold out; however, I did happen to purchase some extra last week! This Hickory Smoked Bacon is over-the-top in flavor! Check with your Market Coordinator at pickup if you are interested.
Carrell Farms has delicious Water Buffalo offerings! Try some Soup Bones for wonderful Bone Broth! Add in the Ox Tail for an especially delicious treat!
I spoke with Tammy of Peacefield Farm and they are ‘on break’ this week as they wait for Mother Nature to work her magic with the greens, lettuces, tomatoes and other goodies that are planted! The cold snap slowed things down a bit! They will be back soon!
Jay Parsons of Dances With Bees is offering a Bee Keeping Class. Jay is a Master Bee Keeper with a wealth of knowledge! His Apiaries are Certified Naturally Grown Want to start your own hive? Now is your chance to learn all about bees, their importance in our lives, how to keep and care for them and harvest your own Honey! Great opportunity!
Check your Grocery List and get your orders in before 8:00pm this evening for delivery on Thursday!
The Veggie Patch
Milk
Cedar Rock Dairy (Cow)
Little Tots Estate (Goat)
Eggs
Rocky Acres
Golden Farms
Little Tots Estate (Organic, Soy Free, pastured chickens) on Farmers’ Sale Table only
Bakery
Bakery on Brooks
My Daily Bread
Grass Fed Meats
Carrell Farms
Heritage Farm
Microgreens
Cedar Seeder
Honey
Dances With Bees
Natural Products
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
So-Koi
Handmade Items
Carrell Farms
Dances With Bees
Peacefield Farm
So-Koi
Flours/Grains/Salt
My Daily Bread
So-Koi
Just a heads-up…this week at Market Kefir, Elderberry Syrup and Organic Quinoa will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table. There is a limited amount of Kefir, so if you know you would like some, please send me an email.
Marie of Bakery on Brooks has created a Gluten-Free Pancake Mix especially for our Market! This will be available on the Farmers’ Sale Table this week with the recipe on the package! Be sure and check it out!
Azure Standard
Azure Standard Pickup Date: Friday, January 16th at 6:30pm
Pickup Location: 963 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, GA
Drop #: 796431
Drop Name: Heirloom Living Market Lawrenceville
Drop Coordinator: Maryanne Vaeth
Contact Information: Email Drop Coordinator
Phone: 404-432-4337
Please Note: There is a second ordering deadline this month for delivery on February 2nd. Get your orders in by January 27th. Going forward our regular delivery day will be the Monday after the ordering deadline at 11:15 am. Look for more details next week!
This Group on Facebook will keep you up to date on the “happenings” with this service!
Azure Standard Lawrenceville Drop Information: My Azure Standard Drop Lawrenceville
Thanks for your support! See you Thursday!
~Maryanne
Atlanta Locally Grown: Weblog Entry
I hope this finds you all doing well. The market is open and ready for orders.
This week we have lots of great seasonal produce available. We also have a few hog shares available. We will start taking reservations for our next round of processing this week so you can make plans for the freezer, they will be ready mid February.
The market is open until 8pm on Wednesday, we will see you Saturday at your selected delivery location, Brookhaven, Piedmont or Sandy Springs farmers markets. Some will be in touch with you reguarding delivery times.
Thank you for all your support,
Brady
Conyers Locally Grown: Available for Friday January 16
I hope this finds you all doing well. The market is open and ready for orders.
This week we have lots of great seasonal produce available. We also have a few hog shares available. We will start taking reservations for our next round of processing this week so you can make plans for the freezer, they will be ready mid February.
The market is open until 8pm on Wednesday, we will see you on Friday between 5-7 at Copy Central.
Thank you for all your support,
Brady
Princeton Farm Fresh: The Market is Open
This past week our farmily hosted the Caldwell County Leadership team to our farm. I get such a kick out of meeting folks and telling them about our farm and how much we are learning and loving what we do. Everyday is a learning experience for us newbies on the farm. We have been doing this farm thing for several years now, but I still feel we have so much to learn. You know what though? I don’t care…. I enjoy the learning process, the constant problem solving that goes on with farming, and the beautiful products that come from all the hard work we do. It makes me so proud. Anyway, I will quit gushing for now!
I look forward to seeing you on Friday,
Angela
Athens Locally Grown: ALG Open for January 15
Athens Locally Grown
How to contact us:
Our Website: athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/athenslocallygrown
On Thursdays: Here’s a map.
Market News
I’m devoting the newsletter these first few weeks of the year to documenting in detail just how ALG works. I’ll spend some time next week talking about how growers get allowed in the market, and what standards they have to meet. But this week, I’ll get into the details of how the market sustains itself financially. Many of you ask about that from time to time, and I’m happy to oblige.
Before I do, a note for the week. I’ve been focused most of this week getting things ready for a week-long trip to Mobile, Alabama for the annual conference of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG). About 1300 growers from across the country will be gathering to share knowledge and bring new ideas back home with them. I’m on the conference staff, and they keep me hopping, but I always look forward to going. I’ve left our Thursday market here in the hands of our many capable regular volunteers, so I’d imagine you’ll never even notice I’m not there. There are a few things they can’t do, such as looking up account history and resolving old payment issues, so you can send those queries to me via email or wait until the following week. Also, Doug’s Salmon keeps his fish at my house in a freezer, and I bring his sales in to market for him. Since I’ll be gone, the fish will not be available to purchase this week. It’ll all be back next week, though.
Now, to the financials. First off, we’re legally a sole proprietorship, and the market is owned and operated by me. In years past, it was rolled into my farm, and reported on our Schedule F in addition to our regular tax forms. For now, while the gardens have dwindled, it’s an item on my Schedule A, like many other small home businesses. When the market started in 2002, it was named “Locally Grown Cooperative”, but it was never legally organized as a co-op. Dan & Kris Miller, the founders from Heirloom Organics farm in Watkinsville, were always sure to run things in a cooperative spirit, and since they handed the business to me in 2004 (I’ve sold as a grower since day one), I’ve tried to do the same thing. I’ve renamed it to “Athens Locally Grown”, but you’ll still hear a number of people refer to us as “the co-op”.
We’re not a non-profit, either, but we’ve structured things so that over time the market can just barely cover its own expenses. Just like all of our member farms are sustainable growers, the market itself needs to be sustainable. So how do we cover its expenses? One small way is through the memberships you pay. The $25 a year you give to the market is enough (to put it bluntly) to cover the costs of having you as a customer: banking fees from depositing your checks, paper and ink for printing, web hosting fees, and that sort of thing. What’s left over goes to helping fund farm tours, food donations to like-minded area groups and events, etc. We currently have 335 paid members out of the 3810 active accounts on the website.
By far the bulk of our funding comes from the growers themselves. They generally pay a 10% commission on their sales through the site. This money covers the many coolers we use, the tables and shelves used to spread out and organize your orders, the truck we bought at the end of 2007, gasoline, the food allowance we offer our volunteers, rent and utilities at Ben’s Bikes, etc. During the slow parts of the year, the sales are usually not enough to cover our weekly costs, but in the busy times (late fall and early spring, for us) there is extra. If we plan things out well, it pretty much all evens out in the end.
Last year, the total sales and memberships combined through the market amounted to $235,091. This is actually a bit of a decline from last year, but the continual rise of so many other markets in the area is the biggest reason for that. We used to be the largest farmers market in this part of the state, but only because the others were so small. Now, not only are there several very large area farmers makers throughout the week, but there are many other locallygrown markets serving customers that used to drive to Athens. About 90% of the sales went straight to our growers, and the rest went to a food allowance for our volunteers ($200 to $300 a week), rent ($300/month), web hosting, and transportation. The “profit” gets counted as personal income on my tax forms, and comes out to roughly $2000. I haven’t yet calculated milage allowances and other minor expenses, and I expect that the profit total will pretty much come out to zero when I do. It almost always does.
The growers get paid out of the shared cashbox for their previous week’s sales when they drop off their items, during the hour before we open the market. Then, you arrive and pay into the cashbox for your order. We used to then rush to the bank to deposit the money to cover the checks we just wrote to the growers, but now the growers get paid the following week (money you pay via credit cards takes up to a week to reach our account). As explained elsewhere on the website, you are really ordering directly from and paying the growers yourself, but our shared cashbox system makes things convenient for you and them. (Imagine if you ordered from ten growers having to write ten checks when you picked up your items!) This shared cashbox system has so far satisfied the tax man, but it does mean that if you place an order and then never arrive to pick it up, we’re left holding the bag. For that reason, you are responsible for paying for orders not picked up, and that amount is automatically added on to your next order for your convenience. On the books right now (going back to 2007) is about $3769 of produce ordered but never picked up and so far never paid for at all (or picked up but paid for with bad checks). That might seem like a lot (and it is), but considering that the market’s sales total, that’s not so bad. In fact, it’s about a sixth of the US retail industry’s “shrinkage” rate, and almost all of it is owed by only ten people. Only $600 came from this last year. On the flip side, $4135 has been pre-paid into the cash box by people who pay online via credit card or who write large checks in person, and then draw down on that balance over time.
There were 6505 orders placed last year, so that averages to $36.15 spent per order. There are no good studies on this number, but I’ve seen a few surveys conducted by the USDA indicate that the average customer spends $25 per trip to a farmers market. We continue to far exceed that average, which I think says a lot about the advantages ALG offers over the traditional market. And to your dedication to supporting our growers.
So, in probably far too much detail, that’s how we operate financially. Our market might be more expensive to run than a traditional “booths and tables” farmers market, but that price buys a system that’s simple, time-saving, flexible, and in my opinion, just better. There’s no money in the bank, but the market is paying for itself and that’s my primary financial goal. If you’d like to talk with me in person about this or any other aspects of ALG, I’d love to do so. Just pull me aside when you come by to pick up your order.
Thank you so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown, all of our growers, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!
Other Area Farmers Markets
The Athens Farmers Market has closed for the winter. You can watch for news during the offseason on their website. The other area markets are also all closed for the season, I believe. If you know of any winter markets operating, please let me know. And they might all be closed, but we’ll be here all year round!
All of these other markets are separate from ALG (including the Athens Farmers Market) but many growers sell at multiple markets. Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!
Northeast Georgia Locally Grown: Locally Grown - Availability for January 14th, 2015
Hey Local Food Lovers,
Oh, it was good to be back on Local Food this week. Tonight for dinner we had some of Mill Gap Farms broccoli raab and The Veggie Patch’s napa cabbage. Last night we had some of BG Farms Ribeye’s with some beautiful broccoli crowns from The Veggie Patch. Then since we had some leftover steak last night it was steak and KP Farms eggs for breakfast. Beyond good!
I love getting a great recipe idea from our Locally Grown FACEBOOK posts. The one I saw today from Leslie Montemayor was ironic because I already own Jamie Alred’s cookbook “Field Kitchen” but I’ve yet to make a single dish yet. The sunchoke soup with broccoli raab is perfect for the season we are in! I was short one pound of the sunchokes so they are in my basket as I speak so I can follow in Leslie’s footsteps while making a dish that many of you may have tried as Jamie has offered the soup for sale through the market a couple of weeks in the past.
We hope that in 2015 we get on average one good recipe a week from our customers! Not only does it help to inspire all of us on some new things to eat, it really makes the farmers feel good to see their food whipped up into a wonderful experience on your plate. You can post them to the RECIPES section of this website or to our Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/NGLGmarket
I’m gonna keep it nice and simple tonight! Thanks for eating local in the new year and we hope you enjoy all this week’s great offerings.
EAT WELL,
Justin, Chuck, Amy, Teri and Andrew
and the rest of the NGLG crew
Dawson Local Harvest: The Winter Harvest
Fresh, Tasty Produce for your Winter Table!
The DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST for January 16th
HI EVERYBODY!
Still have plenty of Produce coming in for your table this Winter. Take a look at the Menu for this Week!
THE MARKET IS NOW OPEN!
REMEMBER! You can order until Tuesday night at 8pm. Pick up your order at Leilani’s Gardens Friday afternoons from 4 to 7pm.
You’ll find the DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST at http://dawsonville.locallygrown.net
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible! We guarantee your satisfaction with all products in the DAWSON LOCAL HARVEST.
Have a happy and healthy week!
Alan Vining
Market Manager