It's really a treat to visit local farmers at work and in their environment. What they are doing, in all kinds of weather, to be sure that we have fresh, local food is just amazing. They are tough and hard-working and incredibly resourceful. A few rainy Fridays ago, Operations Manager Jennifer Gibbs and I visited two farms in Pittsboro: Garden Gems, which was at market last year, and Beausol Gardens, one of our new vendors for 2010.Despite a bone-chilling cold, rainy morning and deep mud all over the farm, Gertrude Jones at Garden Gems (at right) showed us where she is growing thousands of flowers for the season. From tulips to lilies, from snapdragons to zinnias and countless other varieties, she is nurturing seedlings and bulbs in the hoop houses on her farm until it's time to put them in the ground. We also saw the fields where her asparagus is growing. It takes three years before a good asparagus crop produces, so it's a real farmers' market treat this spring.
Beausol Gardens, which was once home to a cotton farm, will bring a variety of flowers to market this year
as well, along with edamame, lettuce, greens, peas, beets, tomatoes, eggplant, squash and much more. Harry LeBlanc has been farming full-time since 2003 and is focused this year on keeping the unused land on his farm in full production. Farming organically, he is experimenting with jicama and tomatillos this year, so keep your eye out for those at market. Harry is in the photo at left with Katie, who will be selling at the market this year for Beausol Gardens. Katie, a Cary resident, left her job to work full time on the farm and is passionate about the foods grown locally. 
Beausol Gardens, which was once home to a cotton farm, will bring a variety of flowers to market this year
as well, along with edamame, lettuce, greens, peas, beets, tomatoes, eggplant, squash and much more. Harry LeBlanc has been farming full-time since 2003 and is focused this year on keeping the unused land on his farm in full production. Farming organically, he is experimenting with jicama and tomatillos this year, so keep your eye out for those at market. Harry is in the photo at left with Katie, who will be selling at the market this year for Beausol Gardens. Katie, a Cary resident, left her job to work full time on the farm and is passionate about the foods grown locally. 
This rainy, unseasonably cold winter has been a challenge for North Carolina farmers. Using greenhouses and hoop houses, like the one at Garden Gems (right) helps the farmers deal with extreme temperatures and conditions. The young plants in this photo have undoubtedly grown quite a bit in the weeks since we visited the farm. Warmer days are coming, and along with it, beautiful spring flowers and produce. We are getting closer to the April 3 market opening!
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