FamilyFarmers Janet and Francis Webster and daughter make farming a family affair. Growing hydroponic greens, a bounty of produce and flowers from their garden in nearby Fairlawn, selling at the market was easy.
It’s leisurely on opening day of the Radford Farmers’ Market and Sheila Puckett of Fairlawn and Donna Deaner of Alpenglow Farm in Riner, in camp chairs and the shade of their neighboring tents, are chatting surrounded by honey, fresh eggs, organic kale chips, bunches of mint and a decanter of fresh lemonade.
University studies indicate that a farmer harvesting greens on an early spring morning and selling them to someone in town a few hours later fits with many farm philosophies of direct interaction with its customers, fulfilling a farm’s economic as well as personal goals, and at 10 a.m. in sun and a light breeze, there hasn’t been a customer all morning, but no one seems to mind.
The Radford Farmers’ Market seems designed to support this kind of casual affair.
“You fill out an application. You can pay by the week or you can pay by the season,” Sheila, who’s been selling here for 13 years, said. “When we wanna [sic] go on vacation, we do. It’s not something that ties you down.”
Homemade lemonade and organic kale chips are the two things she sells the most.
Deaner agrees. Her Alpenglow Farm tent sells breads, muffins, cookies and mixes layered brown sugar, nuts and flour in conical bags festive like party hats.
“We do it for the fun and friendship and we have regular customers,” she said.
“And I have 60 chickens. So come buy fresh eggs!” Puckett added and they laugh.
Despite the human touch between a muddy-handed farmer and hungry town, national studies indicate that farmers’ markets are inefficient and that farmers would rather spend their time farming.
But here at the Radford market, farmers figure out ways to help each other.
“I have a garden, and I enjoy baking,” Deaner said. “I do all the baking, breads and cookies. Then, I sell local honey for my cousins and alpaca yarn for a friend, and eggs for my neighbor. It’s a 1-stop shop,” she said.
She and Sheila both laugh. The two determine how long they’ve been selling at the market by life events.
“How long you been here, Donna?”
“2002, maybe. Me and Craig got married in 2004, so…”
Puckett and Deaner remember more bustling times and the market may be moving to a new location to encourage greater foot traffic.
“It used to be really hoppin’,” Deaner said. “When we first moved here, we filled this lot. It may take all summer. Who knows, you just gotta try. You just never know till you do it.”
In the tent next door, surrounded by vases of pale blue irises that smell like clean water, Janet and Francis Webster sell hydroponic greens so local you can almost see their Fairlawn greenhouse just across the New River.
“We sell kale and romaine and pak choi later as the season goes on,” Francis said. “You can practically see our house from here.”
“We’ve been growing stuff at our house for 30 years, and we just had extra, and it’s real close,” Janet said.
Nearby, Gracie’s Gardens Todd Gordon, who farms in Riner, is selling spring greens, pink radishes and young seedlings. He says it’s important for a farmer to talk to his customers.
“You can’t spread the wealth and knowledge if you don’t get out there,” he said.
That morning, several customers had been vendors themselves. At Gracie’s, Kerri Farley of New River Nature Photography is buying “White Wonder” tomatoes, which are opaque and Cherokee Purple heirlooms.
Megan Brillheart, buying bunches of wet kale had sold painting and crocheted hats while she was a student. She’s wearing one now talking to Gordon.
When they were vendor neighbors, she painted his pretty yellow “Gracie’s Garden” sign for him.
They’re talking about Radford’s recent economic development push and increasingly busy downtown social scene.
“This town is about to take off,” she said.
And by 11, customers are arriving.
Nick Roch, branch manager of Wells-Fargo walked to the farmers’ market.
“Maybe some flowers for my girlfriend,” he said.
Next Saturday is the official ribbon cutting.
