Durham Farmers' Market | A Community Within A Community

The Durham Farmers' Market is such an interesting marketplace. I went over the weekend with my mother-in-law, much to her delight, and was thoroughly charmed by the vendors, excited over the selection, and proud to see members who accepted WIC tokens. It truly was a community built and supported within itself.

At the entrance I found Harry LeBlanc from Pittsboro, and the beautiful flowers of his Beausol Gardens. "I actually grow mostly vegetables organically," he noted, "but most of the veggies go to our CSA." So he had only flowers on hand ... and I say "just" sarcastically. Beausol Gardens offered bachelor buttons, scabiosa, rudbeckia, yarrow, verbena, foxglove, hollyhocks, hydrangea, peonies, strawflowers, larkspur, lupines and so much more.

From there I moved on to the Chapel Hill Creamery, and Portia McKnight. She and the creamery have been producing cheese for about six years, and they milk a small herd of Jersey cows. "We make about eight different kinds of cheese," she said. Portia's cows are healthy, and happy. "We believe that the organic inputs (fertilizers) will create better soil health, therefore better pasture health, therefore better animal health." But healthy and happy cows aren't the only reason Chapel Hill Creamery has such yummy cheese. "Jersey cows make less milk than other breeds, but the milk is exceptionally rich and delicious." Mmm ...

Another really interesting farmer I met was George O'Neal of the Lil Farm, who accepted WIC tokens. The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as the WIC. According to the USDA Food & Nutrition Service, "The WIC Program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk." So make sure you stop by to visit George when you're there.

I got some tasty, fat tomatoes from Amy and Ray Sugg of Bonlee Grown Farm. My mother-in-law has some beautiful pansies she got from the Suggs earlier in the season. Finally, we stopped at the Wild Scallions Farm, out of Rougemont, for some cucumbers that were out of this world. Then we topped off our trip for brunch at Guglhupf ... ah, divine.

All in all, a very successful day at the downtown Durham Farmers Market. It's just a quick drive, and I guarantee it's worth your time. The Market is held every Saturday, rain or shine, from 8 AM - noon.

• Make sure you check out the slideshow link,
  The Durham Farmers' Market!