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Local News - June 2002 |
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Red Romaine & bluegrass are made to market By BETH TOBIN, Correspondent June 5, 2002 - HUNTERSVILLE — Shoppers may like the comfort of air-conditioned grocery shopping, but just about any would trade that for the pleasure of finding fresh local goods in a shaded open air market, while listening to a live bluegrass band,. “I’ve bought zucchini, cucumbers, carrots and garlic,” shopper Julie McDonnel says Saturday. “I’ve been coming here for years, because it’s really locally grown , they don’t sell oranges here because you don’t normally grow oranges in Huntersville.” McDonnel says she cooks frequently. Not so, for first time shopper Nancy Holland. “I just love fresh vegetables, even if a lot of what I eat is packaged, the vegetables aren’t.” The Huntersville Farmers’ Market sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation, is located at Main and Maxwell Park just after Town Hall and before the railroad tracks. It’s a collection of growers and local vendors who set up under a covered shed. It’s not big, which is appealing to many. You just pull right up to the shed , get out and there everything is. There are homemade quilts and covers, bird houses, pottery, healthcare products, plants, and even an informal group of musicians who like to come there not only to entertain, but to practice. You also can strike up a conversation with the growers who have years of experience and advice for anyone attempting to grow a garden. “Pray a lot and have a lot of patience,” advises Olin Williams, “because there is a lot you can’t control.” He tells a story about how one year there was ample water but still no vegetable crop. “There was no bees for pollinization. You can do all you want, but if the good Lord don’t make the right things go the right way, it don’t happen.” Williams throws in an extra squash for retired teacher and Davidson resident, Betty Guignard. “Don’t do that,” Guignard fusses. “I don’t want another one.” Oh just hush up.” Williams replies. “I really want to shop at an organic farm,” says Guignard, “I moved back here from Sarasota, Florida because they don’t have real trees and dirt there.” Grower O.D. Benson has been going to farmers’ markets for fifteen years. “I was born in the garden” he smiles. According to Benson we can expect tomatoes to do very well this year. Although many of the growers are long-time farmers who make it their livelihood, Patsy and Bobby Houston have full time jobs with area corporations. “I guess I’m a part-time piddlin’ farmer,” says Bobby. “I had to go to farming since development in Huntersville moved so fast we had to sell our cows.” The Houstons have about five acres under cultivation and stay really busy. “I just put up 214 jars of strawberry jam, “says Patsy who works full time for Federal Express. She has a variety of canned jams, jellies for sale as well as some not-so-common market vegetables for sale. “I’ve got pearl onions, and a small variety of onions which are sweet , like Vidalias.” Their red romaine lettuce looked especially healthy. A big thick bunch sold for only a dollar a pound. “It’s really a great tasting Romaine, not so bitter,” says Bobby Houston. “You won’t see this in a grocery store, “shopper Ivy Rongo says as she admired it. The market is held each Saturday and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call Becky Tolle, at 704-766-2227.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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