Know Your Farms LLC, a Davidson start-up company that helps link consumers with local meat and produce, will host its first Farm Tour on Saturday, Sept. 19. Nine farms within 30 miles of Davidson have agreed to open their barn doors to the public from 2 to 7 p.m.

The self-directed tour is open to the public, and you’re free to choose which farms to visit and in what order. Organizers from Know Your Farms say it will be a day to “soak up the beautiful countryside, and take a hayride with the kids, get to know our local farmers.” Read the full story

To the editor:

The planning concept for the mixed-use parking deck as presented in Tuesday’s Town Board meeting looks at first glance to cover the town’s parking need for commuters and shoppers in a functional and attractive way. (July 15, “Parking deck/office building proposed downtown.”)  I am concerned, though, that the concept as presented does not seem to give adequate consideration to the character and future of the Davidson Farmers Market which the parking deck would displace. Read the full story

We Davidsonians love our farmer’s market. Just take a look at the size of the crowds that come downtown next to Town Hall every Saturday morning to buy fresh produce, meats, flowers and more. Now, Davidson Farmers Market is hoping that love can translate into a cash payoff, in a national online contest called “Love Your Farmers Market.” Read the full story

Thursday morning’s edition of “Charlotte Talks” on public radio station WFAE-FM featured a discussion of local food, and the new book “A Nation of Farmers” by Cabarrus author and farmer Aaron Newton. It looks at the dangers of our globalized food system. Also on the program was our Davidson neighbor Christy Shi, a Davidson Planning Board member and local food proponent who runs a food-buying network called Know Your Farms.

Listen to “Charlotte Talks” again this evening at 9 p.m., or listen to the archived edition below, or on WFAE.org. Read the full story

Rooter, a 7-month-old potbelly pig, paid a visit to the Davidson Farmers Market Saturday morning. Owner Nina Amick gives him a treat after he showed his skill at spinning around. Another photo below. (David Boraks photo)

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Jessica Newton has been a grange member most of her life. “I never grew up on a farm, I’ve always lived in a town, and I’ve always been a member,” she says. Now as a Davidson resident and membership director for the N.C. State Grange, she’ll be at Davidson Farmers Market Saturday talking up starting a chapter of the grange here in town. Read the full story

Event at Beaver Dam offers rare regional foods in 10 courses

Slow Food Carolina Piedmont Region press release

Critically endangered foods, such as meat from the Red Wattle Hog and the American Chinchilla Rabbit as well as fruits like American Heirloom Pears, will be the focal point of a unique dining experience this May, The Ark of Taste: A Slow Food Feast.

Ten top North Carolina chefs will present 10 courses, each featuring a rare regional food at a celebratory dinner on Saturday, May 16, 6 p.m., at Beaver Dam Park, off Davidson-Concord Road. The event is a fund-raiser for the local Slow Food chapter and local farmer’s markets, including Davidson Farmers Market. Read the full story

Natalie Veres and Cassie Parsons run Grateful Growers farm. They'll be at the May 16 slow food feast and are regulars at the Davidson Farmers Market. ( David Boraks photo)

An organization of local-food enthusiasts called Slow Food Carolina Piedmont Region plans a local food feast and fund-raiser Saturday, May 16, in Davidson to help pay for its own activities and to support local farmers’ markets. The USA Ark of Taste event at Davidson’s Beaver Dam park will feature top North Carolina chefs and a local chocolatier preparing a 10-course meal of local food. (Details below.)

In other food-related news:

• Spring vegetables will be available as Davidson Farmer’s Market hosts another winter tailgate market Saturday morning, 9-11, in the parking lot next to Town Hall.
• Davidson Outdoors will host a “Wild Food Class” with expert Mark Warren on April 18 and 19 at the college.

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