The Weblog
This page contains news, event information, a copy of the weekly email and other items added by the market managers. Be sure and check back frequently. Thank you for supporting Lilburn Locally Grown.
The Market is Open - Happy Shopping!
This post expired on April 27, 2023.
Greetings All:
Wow! News about our Market is spreading ‘far and wide’ – well maybe not ‘far’ but definitely widely within our area! We have you great folks to thank for sharing the Market with friends and family! Thank you! Mary and I are so blessed to have the great customers we have and the passionate, dedicated and tireless Farmers/Growers and Artisans who provide us with quality products which promote our health and wellness!
Now – If you want to skip reading my musings, which do include Market News, Weekly Specials, Farmer of the Week information, news about upcoming Events and Classes, little known facts and tidbits about ‘this and that’ then click Take me to the Market. You can access this and other Newsletters/Blog postings by clicking on the Weblog tab on the website!
For those of you still with me, grab a cup of coffee (or favorite beverage of choice) and forge ahead!
Both Mary and I are thrilled that Betsy Blankenship has become our Market volunteer. Betsy is very instrumental in helping us set-up, sort and organize products by customer so that when you arrive, it is easy to find your order quickly! By trade, Betsy designs kitchens – so she knows about organization and her creative side enhances our displays at Market! Thank you, Betsy! If your kitchen is in need of an update, allow Betsy to show you what your ideal kitchen can look like with her artistic abilities and efficient designs! You can contact Betsy either at 678.468.8126 or via betsyblankenship@hotmail.com. (No, she is NOT available on Thursday from 2:00 until 7:30!)
Julie Brink works tirelessly in making sure our flyers get placed in appropriate places of business to help us get the word out about the Market. She has saved both Mary and I countless hours and miles! Thank you, Julie! Your efforts are much appreciated!
Market pickup this past Thursday was VERY busy! We had 2 Farmers of the Week and people got to meet and speak with them about their products. Dena of Good Shepherd Herbals shared her knowledge of herbs, medicinal teas, salves and tinctures and had products to share and sell. As some of you know, I have a terrible time with sciatica which causes a great pain in my hip and leg – but, Dena’s Trauma Balm really helps! I have been using her Breathe Easy Blend medicinal Tea also to help relieve those nasty allergies! Thank you Dena!
Gwendolyn and Brennan of Phoenix Gardens were also at Market with Heirloom Seedlings, eggs and lots of information about the Naturally Grown certification and how they farm! Thank you both! People enjoyed meeting our Farmers of the Week and a good time was had by all!
Heirloom Living Market connects you to the Farmers/Growers and Artisans in the Local – or near local community to obtain the resources that you want for you and your family’s health and well-being. Mary and I seek out the “best of the best” to offer their products to us every week. It is a balancing act of sorts to make sure that you have what you want and need and that each Farmer/Grower/Artisan has enough orders to ensure their participation is profitable.
Greg of Heritage Farm has let us know that he will offer his Beef, Pork, Lamb, Goat Cheese products on a bi-weekly basis. At present, the Market does not generate the number of orders to make it feasible to deliver to us on a weekly basis. We are confident that with continued growth, we will be able to return to a weekly ordering and delivery schedule in the near future. So, we have the advantage of keeping Greg’s wonderful products available; however, planning is key! This week, there are no offerings from Heritage Farm. Next week all products will be available for delivery at May 9th Market pickup! Check your freezer and plan ahead! We are blessed to have Heritage Farm as a provider of top-notch quality grass-fed Beef, Pork, Lamb and other products! Mary and I both appreciate Greg’s willingness to work with us!
Our mission for the Market is providing our customers with nutrient-dense, fresh, local, seasonal, GMO/chemical and pesticide FREE foods and products and giving you the opportunity to meet the people that are producing the food we are eating! In addition, we believe that education is key in helping folks transition to a nutrient-dense, healthy diet. It is a adventure, to be sure! Whether you are just starting your journey or have been on it for a time, there is always something to learn!
…And that is my (fairly smooth) segue into announcing the first of our educational and fun classes!
GMO…OMG…What the World Am I Eating?!? promises to be an hour full of great information, hand-outs, good discussion and reference materials! The class will focus on the definition of GMO, the difference between Organic and GMO, where GMO’s hide in everyday products and how to avoid those traps. The cost of the class is $5 if you add it to your shopping cart or $10 if you simply show up for class! There are 2 dates available: May 7th or 14th! Both classes will start at 7:00 p.m. at Gwinnett Gymnastics Center! When you reserve your spot, please put your preferred date in the Comments Section Both Mary and I will be tag-teaming for this class! Find the class listed under Event Reservations on the Market page.
Want to try your hand at making cheese? Mary, our resident expert Cheese Maker is offering Cheese Making 101 on May 11th! You will learn how to make Chevere, Mozzarella and Ricotta and take the fruits of your labor home with you! This is the first in a series of classes Mary will be offering! Participation in other Cheese Making classes make this one a “must-do”. Here you will learn the basics, the principles of the art of making cheese! Class size is limited to 6 people, so reserve your spot early! The fee for the class is $50 which includes supplies! What do you need to bring? A stainless steel pot to take home the Chevere, your self, notebook and pen! Mary will email all participants with all the details! I will be there – as a helper and student! Find this class listed under Event Reservations on the Market page.
Weekly Specials: Goat Milk from Little Tot’s Estate will be available Buy One – Get One Free again this week! This is the last week of the Special Offer – some of the Does will be ‘dried out’ and availability will be less in the coming weeks! If you, or your pets have always wondered what Goat Milk is all about – I strongly advise taking advantage of this absolutely fantastic deal on the best Goat Milk I have ever tasted! (All Goat Milk is labeled for ‘Pet Consumption’ as required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and is the only way raw milk can legally be sold in the state of Georgia.) An update on the Black Lab and Goat Milk – no thievery took place this past week and he is happy with his morning and evening portions!
Phoenix Gardens is offering 6 Heirloom Veggie Seedlings or 3 Herb Seedlings at $10.00! The seedlings are good sized and ready to plant. Four different varieties of Tomatoes, eight different Herbs and 2 varieties of Summer Squash will be welcome additions to your harvest this summer! This is a fantastic opportunity to get GMO-Free seedlings! Be sure and indicate the NAMES of the seedlings you would like in the COMMENT section!
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! A Mother’s Day Gift Bag from Good Shepherd Herbals contains many goodies (3 goat milk soaps in yummy scents, a jar of Beulah Balm and a bag of Wise Woman Tea) – a $37 value for $30! This is a perfect gift for Mom!
Patchwork Pastures has several Mother’s Day offerings! Give Mom the gift of relaxation – Bath Salts of Epsom or Dead Sea Salts scented with aromatic therapeutic doTerra oils will go a long way too soothe and rejuvenate! (Hint: Then leave her be so she can relish her ‘alone time’ and enjoy her escape from life’s daily stressors!) Prices range from $8.50 to $25.00 depending on the oil combinations and type of salt. Or perhaps you would rather surprise Mom with a bundle of Grilling/Roasting/Rub Spice Blends – and let Dad fire up the grill and give Mom the day off! A bundle of 3 of these flavorful Blends is $20.00 and a Bundle of 6 Blends is $38.00. Mary also offers natural salts containing the vital minerals we need to survive and thrive – whether it is the Pink Himalayan Salt, Celtic Sea Salt or anyone of her flavor infused salts, you can’t go wrong. My 2 current favorites are the Thai Ginger and the Spicy Curry! Added to a Red Lentil Soup the Thai Ginger gives it a gentle, warming quality that enhances flavor and really makes this soup shine. The Spicy Curry is perfect with Lamb!
Due to the final push to get all planting and Spring tasks accomplished, we will not be meeting any of our Farmers this week. We will have a Farmer’s Sale Table which will feature delicious goodies from My Daily Bread and the Mother’s Day Gifts Specials available from Good Shepherd Herbals and Patchwork Pastures! In addition, we will also have information about upcoming classes and will be taking reservations.
This past week Mary and I had the opportunity to talk with Mary Beth Sellars of Joyful Noise Acres Farm and catch up on all the news on her homestead! Her fat and sassy chickens will be sent to the USDA processor on May 13th! Mary Beth will be offering the opportunity to pre-order whole chickens and/or parts next week. She will also be offering a 12 to 14 pound Bulk Package with some Pork included. For those of us who make Bone Broth – Chicken Feet, Backs and Necks and organ meats will also be available! Look for all the particulars next week in the Newsletter and on the Market Page!
We are working with Rusty and Lucy to arrange a Farm Tour of Little Tot’s Estate! We will tour the farm, interact with the goats and help with some chores that Rusty will assign. If you have any interest in participating, please email us at heirloomlivingmarket@gmail.com or let us know by putting I am interested in the upcoming tour to LTE. in the Comment Section when you check out! We will keep you posted on date, time and the particulars! …Talk about getting to know your Farmer!
Mary and I are passionate about our commitment to the Market. We manage the opportunity to bring together Local Farmers/Growers/Artisans with you the community! When it is all said and done – it comes down to the fact that the Market “belongs” to you! Tell us what additional products you want to purchase from the Market! We will do the leg work, vet the potential Farmer/Grower/Artisan and invite them to the Market. Support your Local Economy and get the items you want for you and your family! Let your voice be heard! Whether it is a product you want or an idea to improve the market, contact us! You can reach us by email at heirloomlivingmarket@gmail.com! We are here to serve ~ and grateful to be so blessed!
Now, it is time to let you get back to your life! Thanks for taking the time to read the information and my musings! (there will be a quiz on Thursday!) Before you go, scoot on over to the Market and get your shopping done!
We will see you Thursday at Gwinnett Gymnastics Center between 4:30pm and 7:30 pm!
As always, Mary will have a couple of recipes featuring products she has purchased from the Market!
Have a wonderful week!
Joyful thoughts and bountiful blessings!
~Maryanne and Mary
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