Renae Picarsic
Come visit the Pocahontas County Farmers Market’s three convenient locations. The Green Bank Market, held each Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m., is located in the parking lot of Henry’s Quick Stop. If you live in the Snowshoe area or are just visiting, the Linwood Market is a great way to start your weekend. The market, located in the parking lot of the Linwood library at the base of Snowshoe Mountain, is open every Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The Marlinton Market, located near the First Avenue Mini Park, is open every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon.
Saturday, June 27, Kim McComb will be at the Marlinton Market to do a wool spinning demonstration.
Now that summer is finally here, there will be a lot more produce available at all three of our markets. With warmer temperatures and some rainy days, tomatoes and peppers will soon be ready. Heads of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are looking more beautiful than ever. Strawberries are filling up our gardens and slowly ripening. In just a few weeks you will be able to find a lot of berries at the market. Pocahontas County is full of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. Berry season is by far my favorite part of summer, and I cannot wait. You will still find some leafy greens at the market; however most varieties don’t care for the hot weather. Stop by any of three markets this week and you will find cucumbers, Hungarian hot wax peppers, banana peppers, green bell peppers, beets, kale, spinach, cabbage, rainbow chard, some greens, freshly cut herbs and much more.
Fresh herbs are beneficial in many ways. You can make teas, tinctures, oils, healing formulas or dehydrate them for later use. Herbs contain antioxidants, essential oils and vitamins which helps our bodies fight against germs, toxins and helps boost immunity levels. Some herbs have been found to lower blood sugar levels, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. There are many medicinal uses for herbs as well as culinary.
The Farmers Market is proud to have a wide variety of vendors. While we like to focus on our gardens, we are much more than just produce. We have local meats, seafood, eggs, baked goods, artisan breads, pepperoni rolls, specialty cookies, granola, freshly ground flours, molasses, lard, vanilla extracts, maple syrup, jams, jellies, charcoal, flowers, unique fabrics, quilts, potato bakers, sewing accessories, specialty yarns, hand-knitted apparel, soaps, jewelry, flower arrangements, nature paintings and colorful tie dyes.
We also have PCFM totes, cookbooks and T-shirts, proceeds from which help support the market.
Pioneer Days is right around the corner. Saturday, July 11, the Marlinton Farmers Market will be located on Fourth Avenue behind the depot, and Erin Lore will be on-hand to do face painting.
We are looking for musicians to play at the Farmers Market. If you or someone you know would be interested in playing at the market please stop by the Market Manager’s table for more information.
