Monday, April 26, 2010

LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL

Recently, a plot owner sent this article link to me discussing "4 Good Reasons to Buy Local Food:" http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1473

It is worth your time to read it as it greatly justifies buying local produce. The question now is - where do you buy local produce? For your convenience, I have a put together a list to help link you to our local Upstate food resources.

Carolina First Saturday Market
South Main St. and McBee Ave.
May 1st - Oct. 30th
Saturdays, 8am - noon
Easley Farmers Market
205 N. First St. Easley
April 17-Oct. 2nd
Saturdays, 8am-noon

Fountain Inn Saturday Farmers Market
102 Depot St., Fountain Inn
June 5th - Oct. 30th
Saturdays, 8am - noon

Greenville State Farmers Market
1354 Rutherford Road, Greenville
Open year Round
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm
Tomato Vine
4120 Old Buncombe Rd., Greenville (Berea area)
Open year round
Mon-Sat. 8:30am-8pm; Sunday 9-7pm
Traveler's Rest Saturday Farmers Market
1 Center St., Traveler's Rest (behind Sunrift Adventures)
May - October
Saturdays, 9am-noon
Whole Food Tuesday Local Farmers Market
1140 Woodruff Rd., Greenville
May 4th - Oct. 26th
Tuesdays, 10am - 2pm


Additionally, here is a brief description and contact information for local farms in the Upstate area, many who specialize in berries, dairy or specific meats. As it is peak season for many things, you may find some useful info below. Be sure to call first to check conditions.
(adapted from the Happy Berry website (http://www.thehappyberry.com/otherfarms.html)

Eric Hunter is located between Easley and Dacusville or off of 183 between Pickens and Greenville. 864 859 2978. hunterfarms@bellsouth.net. (They have vegetables and flowers also.)
The Hardy family is located near Anderson. 854 224 5441. In addition to strawberries, they will have other berries, they are adding Peaches and they have built a store where they are selling whole wheat you can grind yourself. hardyberryfarm@aol.com.
Beechwood Farm
The Ledford’s are located near Marietta SC. The farm address is 204 Bates Bridge Road, Slater, SC 29683, if you want to Mapquest(TM) it. Their phone is 864 836 6075. They do not have a web site or an email that they check. They will have vegetables in season.
Rose Hill Plantation
The Corey’s are located near Powdersville at 1910 Three Bridges Rd. Their phone is 864 306 0303 and email is 1corey@bellsouth.net. They have greenhouse strawberries as well as vegetables and flowers.
Happy Cow Creamery is a unique on-the-farm milk bottling operation offering high quality fresh milk directly from its own dairy cows. Their milk is non-homogenized milk that is pasteurized at 145 degrees instead of 165 degrees used in flash pasteurization. Whole Milk, Chocolate Milk and Cultured Buttermilk are just a few of the products offered at the on-site-store. Strawberries too. Located south of Greenville: 864 243 4801
Split Creek Farm Grade A Goat Dairy is in a barn designed and built by the owners to include the milking and cheese operations and a kid nursery. A retail gift shop featuring goat milk products and folk art is open to the public. Anderson, SC: 864 287 3921
Zehr's Peach Orchard
While we sometimes have peaches from the Zehr (pronounced zare) Peach Orchard for sale at The Happy Berry, to go directly to the source, you'll find them in Sandy Springs (near Anderson): 864 261 8658.
We also sometimes have peaches from the Calahams for sale at The Happy Berry, or you can go directly to the source,off Crawford Rd in Belton South Carolina: 864 338 0810, email scfarmer@charter.net.
Emerald Farm is a working dairy farm with a walk-through herb garden, Soap Factory and Gift Shop where all natural Saanen goat milksoap and body products are made, Natural Food Store and Train and Hobby Shop, bound to stimulate interests of all ages. Picnic or just rest a while in the pavilion by the pond and get closer to nature. Located on the edge of the city of Greenwood, SC: (864) 223-2247 or 1(888) 747-9246.
Perdue's Mountain Fruit Farm
Growing a wide variety of fresh fruits, Taylors/Traveler's Rest, Greenville County, SC: Office(864) 244-5809; Farm Market(864) 895-5002; Email: perdueapple@aol.com
May-Lan Tree Plantation originally began as a harvest your own Christmas tree farm. It now offers both fall and spring activities. Cooley Bridge Road, Pelzer, SC: (864) 243-3092
New Hope Farm A working farm near Walhalla,SC, they offer tours by appointment, shearing dates, broom making, hay rides and the like. Please call ahead: 864 718 8365
A commercial honey packaging facility operating over 400 colonies of honeybees in the Upstate. In addition, they offer a full line of beekeeping supplies, a market full of honey products, and shelves that are stacked with good, pure nature foods; organic meats and produce, milk and buttermilk from a local dairy, Amish cheeses and bulk grains. Visit to see nature's miracle, gain an interesting and pleasurable hobby, and educate the children.
Greenbrier Farms
John and Joyce Palmer raise pastured beef, goats and chickens, and age and process it locally. They focus on quality not quantity. Their raising process is designed to enhance the environment. Located at 772 Hester Store Rd, Easley SC 29640, Email Greenbrierconst@aol.com or call 864 859 0125 [No Website]
1360 South Saluda Road off of Hwy 11 near Table Rock State Park near Cleveland SC 29635. Offering tours and tasting daily and enjoy wine, cheese and music on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. Call 864 878 5307 or contact vickijayne@bellsouth.net
Ronald Martin Dairy
Located at 460 Dairy Farm Rd, Westminster, SC, 29693 phone 864 972 9829, Cell 864 710 1663. Grade A All Natural Raw Milk in gallons and half gallons available at the farm. Also sell at Pickens Flea Market on Wednesday mornings. No email or web site. Permit Number 1-37-09
O6 Farm Services. Doug Morrison, Gap Hill road, Six Mile SC 29682 has hay for sale. Email RDM95573@BELLSOUTH.NET, phones 864 868 4517 barn and 864 868 4516 House
Bio-Way Farm
Chris Sermons,197 Bio Way, Ware shoals, SC 29692, 864 992 6987. Email biowayfarm@gmail.com A certified organic farm using permaculture design principles. Asparagus, edible greens, forest gardens and perennial polyculture.
Big Sky Farm
Jerry Munns, 801 Princeton Hwy, Honea Path, SC 29654 864 369 0988. Email Jmunns@bellsouth.net. Meat and Dairy goat farm with rabbits, emus, turkeys, chickens, peafowl, and pheasants.
Western Starr Farm
Terry and Tara Wyatt, 1851 Rainey Rd, Starr SC 29684, 864 352 3211, wsfarm@wctel.net. Fresh Lamb.
Geoff Zehnder, 864 656 6644, Email zehender@clemson.edu. 5 acres of certified organic seasonal vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. Products sold through CSA [community supported Ag]and local farm markets.
Pasture Poultry (eggs & meat), Grass Fed Beef, and Fresh Churned Raw Buttermilk. Christina & Bob Persson, 488 N Barton Rd, Taylors, SC 29687. Call (864) 895-6751 or email healthyfarms@bellsouth.net
The Merry Christmas Tree Farm Featuring (You Cut) Leyland Cypress, Eastern White Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, Clemson Greenspire, Carolina Blue Sapphire, and (Freshly Cut) Fraser Fir from NC mountains. Located in upstate South Carolina between Liberty and Central. Thanksgiving until December 23: 864 639 6492.
For a selection of fresh farm produce. On the corner of 137 and John Holliday Rd, Six Mile SC: 864 868 3105 fax 868 4582 sharecoop@bellsouth.net
Walker Century Farms
Purebred Devon cattle for sale. Grass-fed beef. Call or email, visitors always welcome. Bill & Nancy Walker. 1130 Shackleburg Road, Anderson, SC 29621. Phones: (864) 226-2668 (home), (864) 940-4593 (Nancy's cell). Email wwalker207@bellsouth.net.
They have pastured chevon the healthy red meat. USDA inspected and certified. They have packages of chops,steaks, roasts, ribs and tenderloin as well as stew meat and ground. They sell whole and half cabritos too. Located in Westminister SC 29693 Phones: 864 647 8993 or 710 3703

Take the time to visit one of these farmes/mearkets and stock up on your favorite seasonal produce, local dairy products and meats, knowing that you are not only making a local effort, but a global one as well.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Master Gardener Plant Sale

This is an annual event supported by Upstate Master Gardeners

The plants that will be available for sale at very reasonable prices: annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, ground coverings, ferns. Most all of the plants will have been grown by Master Gardeners themselves and there will be several Master Gardeners available to answer any questions you may have. In addition, there will be a load on vegetables (many heirlooms) and herbs which have always been among the best sellers in years past! Many of the decorative plants and vegetables are not available at our local nurseries or stores.

Gardener's Tag Sale: this event is run as part of the Plant Sale. "Gently used" gardening tools, decorative items, books, magazines, etc. at very reasonable prices. This is a fun event and there are many great "finds".

Date: Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Time: 8 - 11 AM - But come early for the best selection!

Location: University Center, on Pleasantburg Dr. The sale will be behind the building, in the vicinity of the old Belk Store.

Payment: Cash or Check only


This sale will be in rain or shine!