10 Reasons to Visit the Farmer's Market | Boone, NC

This is such an exciting time of the year for me because I've been waiting months for the growing season to begin again. I'll admit that my household's healthy eating habits have been in decline since winter began. There's really no excuse either. It's not like we can't go and buy veggies at the grocery store, but it's just not the same. The quality is far less superior than what we can obtain directly from the local farmers in our town. You'd be surprised by the noticeable difference.

Last week I talked about “Celebrating Spring” and how I plan on getting outside and taking photographs of some of my favorite subjects, flowers. Over the past week, I have been doing just that. However, I celebrated spring in a different way recently by heading to the opening weekend of the Watauga County Farmer's Market here in Boone, NC. Judging by the amount of other shoppers shuffling around the stalls, they really missed the weekly market, too! 

{10 Reasons to Visit the Farmer's Market}

1. Support the Local Economy – Investing your dollars back into the community by shopping at the Farmer's Market helps to keep small farms thriving while also supporting sustainable growing practices.
   
   
2. Get to Know your Farmer – Having the ability to cultivate a relationship with our local growers is an opportunity that I relish. I feel a deeper connection to the food that I am putting in my body as a result of the friendships we have forged. 
   
   
3. Freshest Food Available – One of the greatest benefits to shopping at the farmer's market is having the ability to obtain fruits and vegetables that were picked just the day before or, in some cases, that same morning! The same surely can't be said for something shipped from California.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. More Bang for your Buck – There are many misconceptions about how expensive produce from the Farmer's Market can be. In my experience, I have found that shopping at the local market is significantly cheaper than the grocery store. Buying directly from the farmer cuts out the middleman (putting money straight into their pockets) and it also eliminates additional expenses incurred from shipping items from miles away.
   
   
5. Organic Options a Plenty – Organic is not a gimmick for farmers who genuinely care about the environment and are aware of how harmful pesticides can be to it and our bodies. Many of the growers at our farmers market don't chemically treat their crops and they've been doing it that way before eco-friendly became a buzz word. Just be sure to clarify before assuming they organically grow their crops.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Connecting with the Community – One of my favorite things about going to the farmer's market is the chance to see some friendly faces. There are many times when trips to the market will include more socializing than shopping! The Watauga County Farmer's Market has such a lively atmosphere, it's a great way to spend a Saturday morning regardless of whether or not you need to shop :D
   
   
7. Better for the Environment – Shopping at the Farmer's Market will prevent you from purchasing items that have been shipped in from miles and miles away. It's more sustainable due to the fact that less resources are used, such as those required for packaging and fuel. Plain and simple, food that is grown in your community doesn't have to travel as far, which puts less stress on the environment.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Try New Things – Seeing all of the bountiful baskets overflowing with fresh produce may be a great way to encourage you to eat more fruits and veggies. But it's also a good way to expand your culinary horizons, too. You're bound to find something you weren't familiar with that piques your interest. Don't be afraid to experiment with uncommon items!
   
   
9. Reduce Supermarket Shopping – Going to the Farmer's Market can significantly reduce how often you venture to the grocery store, which can help save you money and assist you in making healthier choices as well. Grocery stores are filled with processed foods that aren't good for you, so it's better to avoid them as much as possible. 
   
   
10. Much Much More – Along with fresh fruits and veggies, specialty items can be found at the Farmer's Market as well. You can find basket makers, flower growers, bakers, photographers, the best coffee in Boone, and a whole lot more!

There are so many great reasons to venture to your local Farmer's Market. It offers a unique shopping experience to say the least. I could probably keep going with this list if I thought about it long enough, but I'll stop here.

Do you go to the Farmer's Market? 

Please share your experience in the comments!

Want to know if there is a farmers market in your area? Go to localharvest.org and with a zip code entry, you will get a list of local farmers and other sustainably grown food vendors.

Related Links:

• Fresher Food For Less - Details about CSA's {Community Supported Agriculture}
• Celebrating Spring with Shutterfly {A Giveaway}
• Food, Fresh Air & Fun on the Farm - Open House @ Creeksong Farms

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Celebrating Spring with Shutterfly {Giveaway}

While it has most definitely warmed up here in the High Country, the weather still likes to yo-yo. Some days it's nice enough to keep the doors open, which the kitties really like, while other days, it's downright icy. Although not cold enough to warrant our monitor heater being turned back on. It's been at least a month or more since we shut it down, and I'm determined not to turn it back on at all to save oil. So far, our temperatures here in Boone, NC haven't dipped back down that far (knock on wood). Who knows, though, maybe we'll get one last snow?! I would be perfectly fine with that so long as it didn't kill all the precious plants people have begun growing, seeing them freeze is a crying shame.

After enduring frigid temperatures and snowfall during the harsh months of winter, spring is a highly welcomed and anticipated season for many folks across the country. A number of us are sometimes left aching for an inkling of days with warmer weather because those at lower elevations get to experience spring sooner than we do. It's torturous, and I find myself getting a little jealous of those enjoying warmer temperatures earlier in the season. What makes the transition even more difficult is seeing all the beautiful photographs of the blossoms blooming, because I am eagerly awaiting my turn to take some flower photos, too. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting a glimpse of what we will soon have coming our way, but it's such a tease! (I'm not the most patient individual)

As far as I'm concerned, we have officially crossed over into spring! The flowering trees, flip flops, and festivals are all sure signs that we are finished with the frosty days of winter. Whether or not it does decide to come back and pester us one last time, I'm over it. It's that simple. I'll stay focused on all the wonderful things I want to plan for the months ahead instead of worrying about what may or may not happen. Boone's weather has always had a mind of its own anyway, so being flexible (and prepared) is a must if you live up here in the mountains.

That's part of what makes being in Boone so awesome, though. This town is unpredictable and full of surprises! It's beautiful up here no matter what season it happens be. However, spring is so much sweeter since it follows the wintry weather most of us are desperately seeking a break from. I love spring and I'm celebrating it the best way that I know how; it involves a lot of time in the sun and being on the lookout for flowers!

Flowers are my favorite. I could take photographs of flowers for hours on end. Seriously, you let me loose in a garden, and you might be waiting days before I return. Some of the usual flowering trees that I like to revisit were just too quick for me to capture this year, but I'm keeping a close eye out now. One thing I keep reminding myself of is to enjoy spring while it lasts because it'll be gone before you know it!

The coming of spring brings many things (not just flowers), there are occasions to celebrate, new beginnings (and endings) to commemorate, along with other thrilling announcements to share with family and friends. Reasons to celebrate are all around!

How will you celebrate spring this year? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

This post is sponsored by Shutterfly for their Spring Announcements promotion. They will be providing a special giveaway that I am giddy about awarding. One winner will receive a Shutterfly promo code that is good for 50 5x7 flat or folded announcements/cards OR one 8x8 20-page photobook! You could use it for Mother's Day Cards, Birth Announcements, or any other occasion they have to offer. I'm excited about making a photobook, personally, because I have yet to do this with the plethora of images I'm hoarding on my hard drives. 

To ENTER the Shutterfly giveaway, all you have to do is leave your answer to this question in the comment section, “How will you celebrate spring this year?”. Extra entries (1 each) can be received by following Wayfaring Wanderer on Facebook or Twitter. Another entry can be gained from sharing a spring related photo (anything you choose) on the Wayfaring Wanderer FB wall. To let me know you have completed any of these steps for extra entries, just leave a message in the comment section of this post. Please be sure to include the pertinent information that I will need to contact you in case you are the winner. Thank you & Good luck! This giveaway is now CLOSED, the winner is announced HERE.

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Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival | Pittsboro, NC

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Music could be heard echoing in the distance from practically any direction you walked, the strong, smoky scent of a hundred (or more) campfires permeated the air, and an electric vibe was being emitted from every happy-go-lucky festival goer we passed. The atmosphere was an extremely lively one from the get-go. I was super excited to be attending the Shakori Hills Music Festival for the very first time. While it did have its fair share of ups and downs during the 4-day event, in the end, I was glad that we attended because I had an absolute blast.

Friday, however, was another story. We were drenched with buckets of rain nearly all day long. I enjoyed it at first because I was excited about getting a chance to wear my wellies (rain boots). However, I grew weary of being waterlogged very quickly. For the most part, I stayed dry due to the raincoat, rain boots, & umbrella I carried with me, but it was much colder than we anticipated and it chilled you to the bone. Refuge from the rain could be found under one of two large tents set up with stages for music or we could choose to huddle under our tarp back at the campsite for a brief reprieve or the warmest option was to thaw out near the public fire pit when a seat opened up. Only the brave bothered to endure the downpour, not many other people were out that day. Truth be told, Friday was a little miserable on account of the rain, but we stuck it out nonetheless.

By the time we reached the mid-point of the music festival, Cody and I had already heard several outstanding bands, eaten more than our fair share of food from the vendors, and walked almost a million miles passing out recycling bags to the many campers in need. On top of this being my first time at this grassroots festival, it was also my first time volunteering to get free admission with any festival. Our job (mine and Cody's) was to pass out recycling bags to all of the campers staying at this festival, there were literally hundreds of people and they covered a rather large area. Aside from the blisters I got from trudging through the mud in my rainboots, we enjoyed our jobs and hope to do it again next year.

When we weren't working (3hrs a day) or listening to the amazing music, Cody and I could most likely be found grabbing some grub from one of the many food vendors. We were given a couple suggestions about what to get from our friends who have been to this festival before. A “Veggie Thing” from the Sugar Shack (pictured in the collage above) was one item we heard people raving about that we couldn't resist trying. It was a tortilla packed with fresh raw veggies, salsa, and a chutney-like sauce that gave it a little zing. For something so basic and simple, it was incredible! We ate two of them over the course of our 4-day stay. In fact, we ate a TON of stuff throughout the festival; I won't give you a list of everything because it's too embarrassing. I will say, though, that we didn't try anything that we didn't really like, it was all very tasty!

After tearing ourselves away from the area where vendors were dishing out delicious food, we moseyed on over to a nearby stage where the music was being played. In all, there were two outdoor stages (one large and one medium sized) and two large circus-style tents. A band always seemed to be playing somewhere between the various venues. They started early in the morning (9am) and played until late in the evening (1am). I didn't realize that I would be in for such an abrupt awakening the next morning; next time, I'll be sure to bring some earplugs! Out of the 60 some odd bands that were playing during the Shakori Hills festival, there were only 5 or 6 that I had even heard of, which ended up being ideal because I wasn't concerned about seeing a certain band at a specific time. Instead, I could just stumble upon whoever crossed my path. This made for some delightful discoveries along the way, like accidentally catching the sultry songstress Nikki Talley (and her band) in action or hearing the rhythmic beats bellowing from the stage when UMALALI played. You could end up just about anywhere and have the opportunity to hear some fantastic music.

One of the most notable performances for me was seeing Arrested Development, a blast from the past. They were extremely entertaining, mainly, because their music conjures some old-school memories for me from the early 90's, but also because they just put on a really stupendous show. I couldn't take my eyes off one of the back-up singers who had an amazing amount of energy, she stole the show as she flipped and danced and bounced all over the stage. Another memorable musical experience came from one of my new favorite performers, Langhorne Slim. If you recall, I got to see Langhorne Slim when they came to Boone, NC a couple months ago, so getting to see him again (and so soon) was a special treat, especially since this show was 10x better than the one I saw at Boone Saloon!

I'm extremely thankful that Friday's flood didn't stick around the entire weekend. Had mother nature not intervened and bestowed upon us brighter days on Saturday and Sunday, it may have ended up being a waterlogged weekend. I can only imagine how it could have soured me for future festivals. I'm glad that's not the case, though, because I enjoyed my first overnight festival experience. I mean, what's not to love about a family friendly grassroots music festival filled with dancing, friends, food, and fun on a farm out in the middle of nowhere in Pittsboro, NC?!? Yeah, I don't know, you tell me :D I enjoyed it so much that we are already planning on doing another one called Floyd Fest with friends this coming summer!

What's your take on music festivals? Love 'em? Hate 'em? 

Please share your thoughts in the comments! 

Related Links:

• Previous Post: Langhorne Slim Unplugged | Boone, NC
  
• Website: Shakori Hills Music Festival 
• Connect with Wayfaring Wanderer on Facebook 

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