Month: August 2021

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE DURHAM FARMERS MARKET!

Today we’d like to take a moment and ask you to please VOTE! for the Durham Farmers’ Market!
We’ve been feeling a lot of love from our community these days – and are so grateful for all of your support with the GoFundMe fundraising campaign – we’ve reached $7,200 towards our goal of $20,000!!!!! (To donate – visit GoFundMe.com/DFMfund)
But there is another huge way that you can support the Durham Farmers’ Market – and that is by voting for us in the American Farmland Trust celebration!!!
So please take a moment today and vote for us here: https://markets.farmland.org/market/durham-farmers-market-nc/?ltclid=
“Running from June 21 to September 19, 2021, the 13th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration showcases the essential markets across the nation making a difference for farmers, ranchers, and communities.
During this time, market shoppers and supporters can vote for their favorite market by visiting markets.farmland.org. In addition to recognizing the top markets in each region of America, the Celebration will crown an overall “People’s Choice” winner as the top-endorsed market in the country.
As we head into the second summer of the coronavirus pandemic, the role of farmers markets as both a vital venue for farmers to sell their goods and shoppers to access local, healthy food is being recognized like never before. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that farmers markets are not a luxury to communities. They are essential businesses that provide a vital service and should be celebrated.
To recognize the vital role farmers markets have played during the coronavirus pandemic, AFT is pleased to announce that we’ve increased the total cash prizes for the markets that finish in the top three of the “People’s Choice” category — $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third. These funds will be awarded to markets to go towards marketing, communications, and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.”
Thanks to all of you for showing your support of the DFM and creating this amazing community!

Vendor Highlight – Red Tail Grains!

As part of our Rent and Relief GoFundMe fundraising campaign for the Durham Farmers Market (www.GoFundMe.com/DFMfund) – we want to share with you some of the stories of our community members!
Today we are psyched to introduce you to Red Tail Grains!
Danny Cowan and George Allen are co-owners of Red Tail Grains. Danny worked on mixed vegetable farms from 2009-2014. He worked for two seasons at Maple Springs Gardens in Cedar Grove, NC. He also has a background in baking, running Three Bellows Bakery, a small wood-fired bakery in Pittsboro. He apprenticed with Rob and Monica Segovia Welsh of Chicken Bridge Bakery and thinks a lot about how grain affects bread.
George co-owned and operated Red Tail Farm, a mixed vegetable farm, in 2011-2013. Since then, in addition to the farm, he has worked professionally as a car mechanic and carpenter. George maintains and repairs all of the equipment on the farm.
Our growing practices align closely with organic growing methods and in many cases exceed organic standards. Our number one priority is to produce a high quality grain through the cultivation of healthy soils. Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are never used on the soils we grow on. Soil fertility is developed through the use of cover crops, manures, compost, and organic fertilizers. Currently we rotate winter cereals, red clover, buckwheat, millet, sunflowers, soybeans, cowpeas, and corn. We are striving towards reducing the amount of mechanical tillage we now rely upon in order to build soil organic matter, but it is quite difficult without the use of herbicides.
As we gain experience and learn from others, we hope to continue developing a holistic system that harbors diversity and accumulates organic matter. Milling flour in this way is simple and elegant: two granite stones sheer and crush the grain into an exceptional flour that contains all of the natural, vitamin-rich oils from the germ (or embryo) of the grain. Most store-bought flours are produced using roller mills, which typically remove the germ from the grain to increase shelf-life for mass markets, but which also removes vital nutrients, and delicious flavors and aromas.
Learn more about Red Tail Grains here: https://redtailgrains.com/
Please consider donating today to support the Durham Farmers’ Market: www.GoFundMe.com/DFMfund

Vendor Highlight – MoonDance Soaps!

As part of the Durham Farmers’ Market Rent and Relief Campaign (www.GoFundMe.com/DFMfund) we are sharing with all of you the stories of the community that you are helping to support!

Today we are sharing some of the story of MoonDance Soaps – crafters of fine soaps and bath and body products such as all natural loofas, amazing bug spray, lotions, and more!

“MoonDance Soaps is a small business, established 25 years ago, in Wake county, North Carolina. having recently transferred ownership from the founder, Rachel Dubois, MoonDance is now owned by a group of four friends who share a passion for being creators in their local community. Our products are a blend of art and science, merging old wisdom with new. Our mission is to create quality products, at a fair price, that allows us to sustain our business practices, we pay our employees, serve our customers, buy from our community, and take care of our environment.

We take pride in:

Manufacturing quality, cold-processed soaps in small batches

Buying high quality ingredients

Producing very little waste

Establishing and building relationships with our customers

Being a local resource for quality products in North Carolina

Being a small, owner operated business NEVER testing on animals”

To learn more, visit moondancesoaps.com // @moondancesoaps

To help sustain the vibrant community of crafters, farmers, makers, brewers, fermenters, chefs, and the customers that they nourish – please visit www.GoFundMe.com/DFMfund