Ring that Bell, The Vienna Farmers Market is Open (on May 4 at 8 a.m.)

We hope some of you have missed the market. We hope many of you have missed it enough to follow us the few blocks over to 301 Center Street South/the Faith Baptist Church parking lots. And while we are at we are so thankful for Faith Baptist Church for hosting us at our new location. Pastor Dave Matthews, the church administrator, Shannon Matthews and the whole congregation deserve a great big hug, a smile and a thank you from all of us the entire season long.

Spring is here and it’s time to celebrate. Some rejoice in not having to wear layer after layer of clothing, others in going to area festivals or in watching the Kentucky Derby. Lots of us love to shop for lovely plants like the flowering plants and tomato and herb plants on sale at the market this weekend. But for me I think of the first Saturday in May as the time when that market bell will ring signaling the start of the market. At last neighbors will meet and greet one another at the market after a cold and breezy winter.  Time to get outside and bike or walk over to the Farmers Market and talk about the upcoming town election (Tuesday, May 7) or just shop and gossip and meet some new friends while you watch TJ Michaels create some balloon art or are waiting for your crepe, donut or pit beef sandwich order.

One thing is for sure the market is opening this Saturday at 8 a.m. when yep that bell rings and at long last after a six month break, we can all taste again the delicious luscious taste of hope—spring strawberries, the first stalks of asparagus, new potatoes, Swiss chard, new lettuces, squashes, spring onions, beets, sun chokes, spinach, radishes, Asian and Bosc pears plus this year we have organic, foraged, and just regular mushrooms (stop by and ask the experts). Make sure to grab some apples, fresh squeezed cider, sheep cheese, sausage and free range or organic meat while you are at it too!  All these wonderful early treats of the season will be at the market this Saturday. Come early for the strawberries just coming into season and only at Westmoreland and Lois’ Produce. This is the beginning of the season everyone—the best is yet to come. Are you looking forward to the next six months at the market—to taste, sample, sniff, shop, cook and eat?  We're looking forward to seeing you all at the market this spring/summer and fall. The farmers market is proudly sponsored and operated by the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna. See you at the market and here on this space at the Patch--next week Farmer SJ