avalyhe que valyhe!
Come what may, Farm Olympics and market walk-ins!
Walking into the Farmer’s Market…
Paper bags encircling the room, coolers lining the hallway, the kitchen brimming with strawberries, plants and flowers ensconced in the walkway and foyer - if you stepped foot into the Sewanee Community Center last week, you may have been asked, “DID YOU ORDER POTATOES?!”
The market has used many methods to fulfill orders over the years. Seasoned customers will remember bringing a tote bag to pack their own orders from tables of produce and farm goods. The pandemic brought us the drive-through option, and the managerial shift is piloting a hybrid procedure streamlining time and effort to lessen reliance on volunteer labor and mitigate traffic back-up.
This week we are trading in our highlighting system for a check-mark column that will denote whether the items have yet been packed into the bags, which are alphabetized clockwise, by last name, in the main room of the community center. If you are walking in to pick up your order, you won’t have to guess what the highlighting means - you will be able to clearly see what is already packed into your bag and what isn’t.
Meat and cheese are kept in coolers until an order is carried out the door. The coolers are arranged by farm, which is apparent on your packing slip so you know where to look for the bag labeled with your name and item. If you order strawberries, you will be able to select your gallon or quart(s) from the kitchen. Bouquets are placed on the table at the entrance, and plants will be found on the front porch and/or benches. As the season grows, there will be corn and melons et al added to the smorgasbord splayed along the walkway. We hope that we will have enough food runners to help customers check their orders! Thank-you for working with us to help orchestrate a succulent success this summer!
The Second Ever Farm Olympics!
June 8th starting at 2 pm at Cove Creek Farm in Monteagle.
Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers works to support young and aspiring farmers through community-building, resource and knowledge sharing, and advocacy. While much of that work centers on building farmer networks and collaborations, we recognize that for many that leaves a deep competitiveness buried within. We must release it! That is why we are thrilled to host the second ever Farm Olympics where farmers and non-farmers (maybe you?) will compete for the Farm Olympics Cup, spread awareness about the serious challenges that young farmers face, and raise money to help our chapter address those issues.
This years’ events include the Kubota of Chattanooga Transplant Race, the South Cumberland Regional Land Trust Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament; The American Farmland Trust Obstacles to Land Access Race; The Sequatchie Cove Farm Multigenerational Egg Toss; The Land Trust for Tennessee Plant Identification Quiz; the Shifted Strong Hay Bale Toss; the Cove Creek Classic Fence Race; the Cumberland Forest School Kids Water Trough Relay, as well as the Grace Frank Group Egg Juggle, and the Lupi’s Pizza Pies Pie Judging event.
Competitive events will be followed by a farm to picnic blanket feast featuring Cove Creek pork and side dishes from Mac’s Kitchen and Bar, and LUNCH as well as other local farms. After dinner there will be a silent auction with products from our farmers and supporters; and the Hungry for Community Hoe Down - a contra dance featuring fiddlin’ Bob Townsend and his band.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children (discounts are available for members - ask me more via email - setnyf@gmail.com) available at https://southeasttennesseeyoungfarmers.com/events .
Made possible with generous support from American Farmland Trust, Kent Ballow, Cove Creek Farm, Grace Frank Group, Hungry for Community (a project of the Grundy County Arts Council), Kubota of Chattanooga, Lupi's Pizza Pies, Patagonia Nashville, Sequatchie Cove Farm, Shifted, The Land Trust for Tennessee, The South Cumberland Regional Land Trust and Jumpoff Community Land Trust, Cumberland Forest School, Furnish Me Vintage, Mac’s Kitchen and Bar, Niedlov’s Bakery and Cafe, Stewards Unlimited, Alter Eco Farms, Art of Wellness, Bread and Butter, Calliope Restaurant, Cumberland Folk School, Growing Roots, Lodge Cast Iron, LUNCH, Rooted Here / the South Cumberland Farmers Market, Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Spice Trail, Summer Fields, The Marugg Company, Yip Fitness, and Yoga with Helen.
Click Here to get your Tickets via Eventbrite
2023 Farm Olympics at Cove Creek Farms
Classic Fence Race and Transplant Race
Kids Water Trough Relay
Pie Judging Event
Thai travaill for to sauf thair lifis:
Bot werd, that to the end ay driffis
The warldis thingis, sua thame travalit,
That thai on twa halfis war assalit.
Within with fyr, that thame sa brulyheit;
Without with folk, that thaim sa tulyheit,
That thai brynt magre thairis the yhet,
Bot for the fyre, that wes so het,
Thai durst nocht enter swa in hy.
Thar folk thar-for thai can rely,
And went to rest, for it wes nycht;
Till on the morn that day wes lycht.
-From John Barbour’s The Bruce, “Here the King of England collects his Men in Scotland.”
Thank-you, as always, for supporting the South Cumberland Farmer’s Market!