Cary Downtown Farmers Market

Spring vegetables  and fruit abound at the market this week,  Spinach, kale, spring onions, greens, strawberries, and more.   Along with the seasonal crops our vendors also have tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers grown in their greenhouses.  Our Farmer’s Market bags are in to carry it all home — you can purchase one for just $2.

We have a new craft vendor this week — check out his hand turned wooden bowls.

Open Door Farms has supplied the recipe this week– Asian Braising Mix – on the recipe tab.

Our entertainment this week is Ladies of the Lake – The ladies are Alison Arnold (wooden flute/whistle), Sarah Ehrlich (fiddle), Marilyn Hartman (keyboard/piano), Sarah Kieler (hammered dulcimer), and Eileen Regan (fiddle/bodhran/guitar/vocals). They are an all-girls band who delight in the fun and excitement of Celtic traditional music.

There have been serveral question about parking – there is a large parking lot behind the library (directly across the street from the market) that is available for parking. For those that need to park close by, please use the spots in front of the orange cones on Park and Academy Streets. 

Here are this weeks specials:

• Jenny will be back with Oyster Mushrooms
• Boogie Bean Coffee  will be brewing Brazil Santos, Fair Trade Organic Sumatra, DECAF Swiss Water Colombia. Special roast is  Brazil Santos –  $10.00 per lb.  And as always, buy a pound and get a cup of coffee free.
• Open Door Farm will have: Asian braising mix (mix of arugula, chinese cabbage, japanese spinach greens and mustard greens), Southern braising mix (mix of collards, kale, mustard and spinach), Spinach ,Loose leaf salad mix ,Green/spring onions,Radishes ,Fresh Herbs (Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mint, Oregano and Garlic Chives) ,Green Curly Kale ,Green Mustard .   Check out their recipe for Asian Braising Mix.
• Sunny Hill Farm  will have Japanese Maples, Spring Onions & Gourd Bird Houses.

As a sneak preview for next week bring the whole family! Lynne Fischer will be at the market  providing awesome face painting and fun balloon animals for people of all ages.  They can also make a fun bracelet at the Queen Beads tent.

2012 Market Opening Day - a beautiful day!

For all those who came out to welcome us on our opening day — thank you!  It was a wonderful Saturday morning.  We hope to see everyone back as well as those who could not make it last week.

Yes it is strawberry season.  Check out the Recipe tab for an easy and delicious pie recipe.   Our great selection of produce vendors will have much more than strawberries.   Fresh greens, hydroponic  tomatoes and cucumbers  beets, broccoli, herbs and more will be available.  

While you are enjoying your locally roasted and freshly brewed coffee and home made bakery, stay and listen to the Orchid Quartet – The quartet consists of Max Molander (guitar, cello), Evan Alexander (banjo, mandolin, guitar), Daphne Vosberg (vocalist), and Laura Munoz (violin). Their style is rooted in folk music but they enjoy branching out into bluegrass, jazz, Latin, and other styles. All of the members live in Cary, where Max, Daphne, and Laura are attending Cary High School and Evan is a recent graduate.

Shop with our many talented craft vendors or select wondereful plants and trees to spuce up the garden.  Don’t forget man’s best friend — pick up a bag of natural dog treats.

Here is this weeks list of specials:

• Jenny’s Cupcakery will have Sweet Potato Ginger with Brown Sugar Goat Cheese frosting featuring sweet potatoes from Scotty Spahr’s Farm and Fresh Strawberry with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream featuring freshly picked strawberries from DJs Strawberry Patch along with other flavors of their tasty cupcakes.
• Boogie Bean Coffee will be brewing Tanzanian Peaberry, Disco Espresso Blend (Sumatra & Peru Blend), and DECAF Swiss Water Columbia.  As always, buy a pound, get a  cup of coffee free.  And this Saturday a 1lb bag of Tanzanian Peaberry will be $10.00 per bag.
• Sunny Hill Farm  will have Japanese Maples, Spring Onions & Gourd Bird Houses.
• Parker Farm and Vineyard will be at market this Saturday with lettuce, salad mix, kale, swiss chard, radishes, beets, green onions, fresh herbs, eggs, goats milk soap, broccoli and turnip greens.
• Stop by Salem Gardens and meet Mary Collins. She will be offering information on Heartwood Montessouri Schools Annual Earth Day. Heartwood is located in the heart of downtown Cary and very involved in the community. Salem Gardens will be donating 20% of all sales this saturday to their youth program. Look for a good assortment of perennials, including Greggii Salvia, Gaura, Caradonna Salvia, 3 varieities of Gaillardia and 2 varieties of Euphorbia. For annual color you’ll find callies in hot pink and lemondade yellow, hip hop euphorbia, various coleus, blue daze, torenia, double blooming impatiens and much more.

See you Saturday!

The market is now open on Tuesdays for the season.   Come do your midweek produce shopping every Tuesday afternoon!

• Heaven Scent will have handmade herb infused soaps for hands, shampoo and body. Also handmade lotion, salves, aromatherapy herbal packs, Herbal Bathing Salts, Herbal Lip Rx Balms, Health Books, and our 21 Day Detox and Cleanse Kit. On Tuesday, April 10, their 21 Day Detox and Cleanse Kit is on sale for $79.95, regularly $129.95. Also, all handmade soaps will be on sale 3 for $10, regularly $4.00. Heaven Scent is only at the market on Tuesdays.

Come join us to welcome the start of the market season. We have a great list of over 20 vendors and a weekly selection of musical groups to shop by. There will be 3 bakers to please your sweet tooth along with a freshly brewed cup of coffee made with locally roasted beans. There are almost 10 produce vendors and growing, so you are sure to find the seasonal vegetables and fruits you are looking for. To round out your dinner, add pork, chicken, or eggs from local farms.  Not sure how to prepare these wonderful foods? Check out the Recipe page for great ideas. 

Need plants to spruce up your yard after our not so long winter? Herbs to plant in your garden — you will find both of those items.
No need to to go to the mall or mega stores to shop for just the right gift or household items. Our local craft vendors will have a great selection of one of a kind items; jewelry, candles, childrens clothes, pottery and much more.
There will even be something for your 4-footed friends — check out the home made natural dog treats.

Don’t forget to stop by the hospitality tent and have the kids decorate a cookie!

There is plenty of parking available on Park and Academy streets as well as the library across the street.  There will be 2 spots for handicap parking marked on Park Street.

Here are some of the great products and specials our vendors will have for you on opening day.

• Parker Farm and Vineyard will have lettuce, salad mix, kale, swiss chard, arugula, radishes, beets, green onions, turnip greens, fresh herbs and eggs.
• Sunny Hill Farm will have Japanese Maples and Spring Onions.
• Boogie Bean Coffee will be selling whole bean coffee, ground coffee, hot brewed coffee, and iced coffee. Our special will be buy a pound of coffee and get a cup of coffee free.
• Salem Gardens will be in full bloom this saturday! Michele will have a variety of annuals including coleus, double impatiens, sweet potato vine, euphorbia, hot pink and yellow callies. New this year in our perennial selection are Summer Fiesta Agastashe, Red Gallo Gallardia, Lemon Ball Sedum and Fragrant Blue Hostas. Some of the old favorites will be available too including Miss Huff Lantana, Red Verbena and the Greggii series of Salvia. Coming soom…Blue Daze, Angelonia(pink, white and purple), Fan Flower and trailing Vinca. Looking forward to seeing all our “old” friends again!
• There will be a new batch of Medieval Manuscript Initial Pendants for BordeauxLaneStudio.
• QueenBeads has been working all winter on new lampwork beads and designs.
• Heaven Scent will have handmade herb infused soaps for hands, shampoo and body. Also handmade lotion, salves, aromatherapy herbal packs, Herbal Bathing Salts, Herbal Lip Rx Balms, Health Books, and our 21 Day Detox and Cleanse Kit. On Tuesday, April 10, their 21 Day Detox and Cleanse Kit is on sale for $79.95, regularly $129.95. Also, all handmade soaps will be on sale 3 for $10, regularly $4.00. Heaven Scent is only at the market on Tuesdays.

Unfortunately Jenny and her Oyster Mushrooms will not be available on opening day.   The hailstorm last weekend ruined her crop — but look for her next week with plenty to sell.

And we don’t mean just lettuce,kale, and arugula! We will have reusable shopping bags for your market goodies starting April 7. Free and filled with special offers to the first 25 customers on opening day. For those of you that come just a little later — they will be sold for $2 a piece. Come claim or buy yours in the hospitality tent. There will be Easter cookie decorating for the little ones as well.

One week left to visit Sparhr’s farm at the old location on Chatham St. 8-12:30 am.

Sneak preview on opening day products:
Parker farm and Vineyard (new vendor) will have lettuce, salad mix, kale, swiss chard, arugula, radishes, beets, green onions, turnip greens, fresh herbs and eggs.
BordeauxLaneStudio will be back with a new batch of Medieval Manuscript Initial Pendants.