Old Macdonald Had a Farm....

I wish I had a green thumb. I've tried...I really have. I've planted tomatoes, peppers, herbs, daisies, .... you name it. However, I am far from a gardener. That's why I admire those around me who have such a innate talent to grow lovely gardens of flowers and food.

I grew up around gardeners. Both sets of grandparents had large, beautiful gardens that were full of beans and corn and melons. I remember many summers sitting by my grandfather and grandmother stringing beans just plucked from the garden. I also have very fond memories of eating the fruits (literally and figuratively) of those labors. Sunday dinners of mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn, as well as of a variety of other veggies, were the norm.

I've often wanted to attend a farmer's market. I've thought so often of driving by, picking up those foods that were in my grandparents' gardens, and recreating those Sunday lunches for my family. I have so many friends that proclaim the goodness of eating local and organic produce. Driving to pick up Eddie at school, I would see the weekly farmer's market set up across the street and think about how someday I was going to buy my vegetables there instead of the market. Often driving along I-40 I would look at the Triad Farmer's Market next to the road and think, "Someday I'm going to stop there." Finally, I decided to make someday today.

If you're looking for a great, inexpensive day trip, visit a farmer's market. I finally stopped at Yadkinville's and picked up fresh tomatoes and cantaloupe. And the prices were far more reasonable than what I pay in the supermarket. Later, when we visited the Triad Farmer's Market, our family was blown away with the variety of products and produce. Eddie was fascinated by purple potatoes, black tomatoes, and a variety of other foods he had never even known existed. Things weren't just limited to fruits and veggies, either. I was fascinated by the variety of cheeses, breads, and salsas I saw created by local entrepreneurs. What made everything better was the opportunity to sample so many products -- watermelon, jerky, cucumbers, dips, peaches. It was a delicious, interesting, fun day.

For children (and adults) who often fight against trying new foods or eating their vegetables, a day at the farmer's market can make food fun again. By talking to local farmers, kids can have their questions answered which makes new foods a little less intimdating. Who knows? Perhaps a visit to the farmer's market can inspire a new hobby for your family -- gardening.

And the price is always right. Of course, there is no fee for entrance to the farmer's market. You decide how much or how little you spend. And the foods I purchased were far less than what I would spend at the grocery store, so it helped keep my weekly grocery bill down, too.

So if you're looking for a fun, inexpensive day trip, visit Old MacDonald and the local farmers at a farmer's market.