Missing Your Market Friends Yet?

I know we are! Here's a little something to make a dark winter's eve a little brighter...

Hope to see many of our Cheverly Community Market friends there!

Thank you!

A million thanks to everyone -- the vendors, the many volunteers, and our many friends and neighbors who came to our first Holiday Market to support local business! We had a wonderful time and hope that you did, too. The Market takes a break now until the Spring, when fresh, beautiful produce is once again plentiful. In the meantime, check out our photos on flickr, visit our blog for an occasional post, and visit our recipe page for great food to make at home. And if you're looking for more information about food and where it comes from, look at our reading list...lots of good books to curl up with this winter. See you in the Spring. And remember...

Buy local. Eat local. Give local.

Message about Christmas Tree sales

Don Tyler, our fantastic Christmas Tree manager, passed on this information last night:

THANK YOU ALL!! We have had 47 people express interest up to this point! We had to place our order before all of the interest came in so we have ordered only 50 trees. We have 30 Firs and 20 Pines coming. That being said, I will work to hold trees for those who have expressed interest until noon, but after that we will need to just sell out. I suggest that early will be better than late for pickup. The market opens for sales at 10:00am. I will be setting up the trees outside of the community center. Look for the sign! Payment is preferable by check -- please make checks payable to the Cheverly Community Market.

I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Happy Holidays!!

Don

Thanks to everyone for responding -- that's fantastic. The scent of 50 Christmas trees is going to be amazing! If you ordered a tree, just make sure to get to Market early!

Vendor Update: Al Pong

There was a great article on one of our wonderful vendors, Al Pong, in the Howard County Times recently. Al grows all sorts of wonderful, unusual (or at least unusual to this area) plants at his Fulton, Maryland, orchard. Al will have pears and Chinese tree peonies at Holiday Market -- they'd make lovely, thoughtful and memorable gifts!

More Vendor Updates!

Our Holiday Market vendor list just keeps growing...

Stanton's Mill will be coming!

Jason Twigg will make the four-hour trek from Grantsville. He'll have all the various stone ground flours -- buckwheat, spelt, cornmeal, graham (whole wheat), rye and grits, as well as the buckwheat pancake mix and hush puppy mixes. They will keep for months in the freezer so stock up on enough to last until next spring. A basket of these flours (and a bottle of maple syrup, read below!) would make a great gift for someone who likes to bake or wants to learn. They'll keep for months in the freezer, so stock up on enough to last until next spring. Jason is also planning on bringing down some great apple butter from his neighbor, Sam Beachy & Sons Small Engine Repair and Cider Mill. This is the only cider mill in Somerset County and produces 50,000 gallons of cider and 10,000 gallons of Apple Butter each year in the traditional methods with modern food processing requirements Last but not least, Cheverly Community Market will sell limited quantities of Maryland Maple Syrup from S & S Maple Camp in Cumberland MD. Imagine waking up on a cold winter's morning and making a batch of Buckwheat Pancakes topped with Maple Syrup -- both from Maryland! We have over 25 vendors for Holiday Market -- you'll be able to find something for (nearly) everyone on your gift list, and lots of great treats for yourself to boot!

New Vendor Profile: Cookie Karma

Laurie Green's family has lived in Cheverly for 25 years and she's been baking cookies even longer than that. In fact, according to Laurie, cannot not bake cookies. When her friend, Lynn Mantello, told her she had cookie karma, her business was born. Laurie's is chocolate chip, but she also bakes very tasty oatmeal craisin, (including a gluten-free version), sugar and Mexican wedding cookies. Please visit her at Holiday Market this Saturday -- enjoy free samples, purchase cookies or place an order for the holidays. You can also contact Laurie here.

Yunmy things to tide you over a you shop this Saturday

There won't be any need to leave Holiday Market this Saturday for lunch -- we'll have delicious chili and baked potatoes, plus all sorts of tasty additions so you can enjoy your Holiday Market lunch just the way you like it! We'll also have cranberry spritzers -- a perfect compliment to this lunch (and a great thirst quencher if you're joining the carolers!)

Get Your Christmas Tree at Holiday Market!

Cheverly Community Market will be selling freshly cut Christmas Trees from a tree farmer in Buckeystown, Maryland, this Saturday at Holiday Market!

Unlike most trees in the commercial lots, they will be freshly cut in the coming week. We hope you'll choose to make your Christmas tree even more "Green" by buying fresh and local! As added incentive, your purchase will help support the Cheverly Community Market. We will receive about $10 from each tree sold, which will help the Market in the coming season.

Prices:

Scotch Pines: 6-8 feet will priced between $25 and $40

Spruce and Firs: 6-8 foot will be priced between $45 and $55.

If you are interested in buying a tree through Cheverly Community Market, please e-mail Don Tyler at (Don.Tyler@fightingmonkey.com). Don has graciously and generously agreed to manage the Christmas Tree Sales this year. Since we cannot return any unsold trees, it would be VERY helpful for us to know in advance how many people are interested in buying trees. PLEASE e-mail him so we can get a sense of how many trees to buy in advance. You do not need to pay in advance; this is just to help us place our order.

Look Who's Coming to Holiday Market!

We have over 20 confirmed vendors for Saturday's Holiday Market, and the list just keeps growing! Look who we have so far:

Baked Goods: Cookie Karma, Firehook Bakery (Cheverly BreadBasket), Moctec, Tripple Springs Farm

Cheese: Cherry Glen Goat Cheese, Eves Cheese

Christmas Trees: Tanner's Enchanted Forest (proceeds benefit Cheverly Community Market)

Chocolate & Ice Cream: Krishon Chocolates, Simple Pleasures Ice Cream Cafe

Coffee & Tea: Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Teas, Cheverly United Methodist Church Fair Trade Coffees

Condiments: Martha's Jams, Tripple Springs Farm

Gifts: Auto Graphics Silk Screening & Embroidery, Cheverly United Methodist Church, Mystic Water Soaps, New Starts Farm, Profusions of Glass, Rose Fennel Pottery, Snug Comforts

Meats & Seafood: Clan Stewart, Circle C Oysters

Musicians: Linda Priebe

Plants & Produce: Al Pong, New Starts Farm, Willow Oak Herbs

Wine: Basignani Winery

We'll also have live music from the Market's house band, The Hot Noodles, Christmas carolers, a special visit from Mrs. Claus, and hot soup, sandwiches, drinks and other tasty treats to fortify you for an exciting day at Holiday Market.

Buy Local. Eat Local. Give Local.

Vendor Update: Tripple Springs Farm

Tripple Springs Farm's Mary Honablew will have award-winning canned goods made from lovely fresh fruits and vegetables, including jellies, jams, pickles, preserves, butters, relishes and cakes at Holiday Market, as well as award-winning baked goods such a Kentucky Bourbon Cakes, Traditional Fruit Cakes and several variety of cookies. Tripple Springs is an eight-acre family farm located in Baden, Maryland that produces vegetables, fruits, cut flowers and herbs. Additionally, they make homemade, from-scratch baked and canned goods. Tripple Springs has won over 20 Grand Champion ribbons in canning and baking. They strongly believe in sustainably grown foods, and because they eat this way, they encourage others to do the same. Mary C. Honablew, a family farm manager at Tripple Springs, has been producing fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables since 1990. While living and working on the farm, she's also been been canning, and her efforts have been rewarded with at least one "Best of Show" from each of the five Southern Maryland County Fairs since 1990 for canning and baking. Tripple Springs Farm also operates a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, on the farm. Stop by on Saturday and talk to Mary if you're interested in learning more about this program.

Vendor Update: Basignani Winery

Fantastic News! Despite having a full weekend of Christmas activities at their winery, Basignani Winery will join us for Holiday Market. They make 10 wines and have benefited greatly from having the famous wine critic Robert Parker as their next-door neighbor and friend. Basignani Winery is in the heart of Maryland horse country north of Baltimore, and their label is sold mostly there -- it is harder to find in the D.C. area, but well worth the effort! We are thrilled to bring them to you at Holiday Market this year!

Vendor Update: Mezzo-Soprano Linda Priebe

Cheverly's Linda Priebe transports her listeners with her gleaming copper voice. Her soaring sound, from its rich depths to its brilliant heights, is matched by her gifts as a passionate and moving performer.

Her new CD, "Land of the Midnight Son: Norwegian Christmas in America", is getting rave reviews and can be heard on the radio in the United States. The mezzo has a rare gift for touching and moving hearts. Her rich and brilliant voice brings joy to listeners throughout the U.S. and in Europe.

Meet Linda and buy her excellent CD at Holiday Market. You can also visit her website to learn more about her art and impressive career.

Vendor Update: Andrews & Dunham

You know Charles Andrews as a member of Cheverly Community Market's own house band, The Hot Noodles. You know Erik Dunham as a friendly face at the Market (his wife, Kelly, is also a Hot Noodle.) Charles and Erik have been working to launch their dream tea company for a long time, and they are pleased to join us for Holiday Market:

"We started this Damn Fine Tea company because we're obsessed with tea. Honestly, we're pretty enthusiastic about all sorts of things but tea is one of the few that we both agree on. It tastes great, it makes you feel good, it's good for you. Hey, it's even legal. We drink a lot of tea, and we're always on the lookout for the good stuff. For Holiday Market we're offering a great morning black tea from Sri Lanka , a smooth afternoon elixir from Nepal , and a very fine green tea from China to round out your evening. Morning, noon, and night, we’ve got you covered."

Visit Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea online, and make sure to visit Erik in person at Holiday Market! Tea makes a great, thoughtful gift, as well as a wonderful, soothing treat during these cold months.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

We're asking people involved in Cheverly Community Market -- vendors, volunteers and friends -- what they're thankful for this holiday. In a time of uncertainty and stress, it's good to remember those everyday things that make you grateful, and we'll post these messages throughout the next few weeks.

"I'm thankful for my lovely and talented wife, Kelly Fisher."

Erik Dunham, co-owner of Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

"I'm always thankful for Kathryn and our nutty kids, and I'm thankful (and amazed) to have found such a great town where I haven't just gotten to know our neighbors but have joined with them in so many pursuits. From Erik and our tea business, to Dan on the CHVBlog, to Kelly & Nate in the Hot Noodles, to the many Brians of Soul Revolver, and to whatever comes next."

Charles Andrews, co-owner of Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea and member of The Hot Noodles

"I'm so thankful for my wonderful family and friends, and for our fantastic community. Cheverly really is a unique place -- some people think that towns like this don't really exist, but here we are."

Kathryn Andrews, webmaster for Cheverly Community Market

What about you? What are you thankful for this year? We'd love to hear from you!

Vendor update: Snug Comforts' vintage-inspired wares

New vendor and Cheverlyian Joy Pritchett of Snug Comforts joins us for our first Holiday Market:

Joy Pritchett of Cheverly and Sheldon Schwitek of Kalamazoo bring you designs that are unique, flirty and modern-country. Sheldon, working in his Kalamazoo studio, brings a design background to the creation of every purse and product. Both Joy and Sheldon have a personal passion for textiles and both scour the land -- far and wide -- searching for vintage and vintage-inspired fabrics. If it's vintage we can turn it into beautiful!

Visit Snug Comforts online to see all the neat things they do! And make sure to stop by Snug Comforts' table next Saturday to do some holiday shopping!

Vendor Update: New Starts Farm

Tom Baldwin of New Starts Farm sent this update on some of the things he plans to bring to Holiday Market next Saturday:

I will bring Talavera Pottery (fair trade ) from a family-run business in a small Mexican town. This will include Christmas tree ornaments. I build my bird houses from things I find in the woods and from old farm wood and rusty tin. Most of the ones I have now I have made from cedar (bought) and finished with cedar shakes from an old house . I also use old belt buckles, nails, copper (not much around anymore) , rusty hardware, barbed wire -- whatever I can find. My niece (13 years old), Megan Ginder, is my artist in residence for the fancier ones. She is a Cheverly resident and student at St. Ambrose School. I am trying to arrange for some Poinsettias ... I will let you know soon if this works out.
Sounds great! Tom is one of the great vendors who will offer fantastic food, plants and gifts at Holiday Market. Be sure to visit him in the Community Center next Saturday, December 13!

First Vendor Announcements for Holiday Market!

Wow! Here's our first vendor list for Holiday Market -- and there are more to come! We have A LOT of new local vendors for this very special event: Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Teas: High-quality teas from Charles Andrews and Erik Dunham, Cheverly's most obsessed tea fanatics. Auto Graphics Silk Screening and Embroidery : Cheverly residents Emanuel and Ali Colon got an idea over 20 years ago and ran with it. They realized that people like monogrammed or personalized apparel, so they purchased an embroidery machine and learned how to use it. The rest, as they say, is history. Cookie Karma: Laurie Green brings yummy, yummy cookies for you to enjoy or give as gifts Mary Honablew of Tripplesprings Farm in Baden, Maryland Mezzo Soprano Linda Priebe: Cheverly resident Linda Priebe will be selling her CD of Holiday Music. Linda has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. Joy Pritchett Handbags: Cheverly's Joy Pritchett makes lovely handbags out of vintage fabrics Many of our favorite regulars are on board, too: Al Pong - Chinese Tree Peonies and Asian Pears Cheverly United Methodist Church Clan Stewart Circle C Oysters Eves Cheese Firehook Bakery Krishon Chocolate Martha’s Jams Moctec Mystic Water Soap Profusions of Glass Rose Fennel Pottery Simple Pleasures Ice Cream Willow Oak Herbs Eric Johnson of Krishon says he's bringing truffles (NEW Black Cherry/Walnut, Cranberry/Cumin, as well as our favorite standbys). Karamels, Bark and Goddess Bars will all be on tap. AND fresh, Hot Cha-cha Chocolate! If you haven't had this hot chocolate, you have not actually experienced hot chocolate. It is that good!

Holiday Market is coming soon!

Download the flyer and share it with friends!

Holiday Market is Nearly Here!

Buy local this holiday season! Join us for our first-ever Holiday Market on Saturday, December 13, 10:00am-4:00pm. The Market will be held INDOORS at the Cheverly Community Center. Many of our regular vendors will be on hand, as well as some terrific new ones! Check our website and our blog as you prepare your menu and shopping lists. We'll post vendor updates --complete with descriptions of the items they plan to have on hand -- so you can plan ahead. The vendors are bringing some really fantastic treasures, just in time for the holidays! *We'll have hot soup, sandwiches, drinks and other tasty treats that you can snack on as you do your shopping and support the artists and vendors and keep your money local. *The Hot Noodles -- Cheverly Community Market's house band -- will keep spirits bright throughout the day. The whole band will be there! *Mrs. Claus will make her rounds around lunchtime to see who's been naughty or nice. (We know you've been nice!) Save some room for cookies and hot cocoa! *We hope you'll support the market by buying your fresh cut, local Christmas tree from Prince George's County's Tanner's Enchanted Forest. We appreciate your support for the Market when you choose to buy a local tree through us! * Lots of great things -- perfect for holiday gifts -- including baked goods, local meats, Christmas ornaments, soaps, facial items, dried wreaths, tea, jams, candies, chocolate and knitted items. Bring your holiday gift list and fill it at the Holiday Market!

See you Saturday, December 13 at Holiday Market!

Final Market of the Year

The Thanksgiving Market was terrific -- heartfelt thanks to the many vendors and volunteers who made it wonderful, and to all of our friends and neighbors for showing up and supporting these great people. This Thanksgiving, we are truly thankful for all of you, and for the support you've shown the Market in our first full year. It's been a fantastic learning experience, and we're looking forward to next season. But first... Our final Market of the year is only two weeks away! Cheverly Community Market's first Holiday Market will take place Saturday, December 13, 10:00am-4:00pm inside at the Cheverly Community Center. Over the next two weeks, we'll announce all the vendors (including some big surprises!), as well as post some new recipes, a few interviews about what this time of year means to different people you know from the Market, and more.

Thanksgiving Market Complete Vendor List

What a great group of vendors.

We are very pleased to bring them to you!

WINERIES Basignani Winery Elk Run Winery PRODUCE, HERBS, FLOWERS & PLANTS Jug Bay New Starts Farm Al and May Pong Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm MEATS & SEAFOOD Circle C Oysters Clan Stewart Farm CONDIMENTS Martha's Jams Golden Leaf Farms CHEESE Cherry Glen Goat Cheese BREADS & PASTRIES Cheverly Breadbasket/Firehook Bakery COFFEE Cheverly United Methodist Church DESSERTS Krishon Chocolate Simple Pleasures Ice Cream Budgie Bird Kitchens GIFTS/ARTISANS Pax River Alpacas Rose Fennel Pottery Mystic Water Soaps Profusions of Glass Krishon Chocolate Cheverly United Methodist Church coffee and fair trade gifts ...and special musical guests Kara Tyler & Brian Jarboe

Even more great vendors coming to Saturday's Thanksgiving Market!

Wow -- the vend0r list for this weekend just gets better and better! We have a new late addition and a very special announcement...

Golden Leaf Farms is coming to the Market this week with their delicious honey. Stock up since supplies are limited. You may not see their honey again until late summer of 2009! (Suggestion for Thanksgiving morning breakfast: toasted fresh bread from Cheverly breadbasket, a dollop of fresh goat cheese from Cherry Glen and lovely honey drizzled over the whole lot. You can't do better! Cheverly Breadbasket is proud to announce a new partnership with Firehook Bakery! Firehook Bakery is committed to supplying our local, small community market with artisanal organic breads. All the following breads -- made with custom-ground organic flours -- will be available this Saturday (this is only a partial list ... we'll have even more varieties plus delicious pastries for you!) : 7 Grain sandwich loaf A seven grain loaf made with organic white, whole wheat, and rye flours, barley, corn, oats, millet, and flax seeds. Other ingredients include honey, eggs, butter, and sea salt. Great for all kinds of sandwiches or sliced with your favorite jam. Baguette Our basic sourdough white bread is chewy, crusty, and lightly tangy. It consists only of organic white flour, wheat germ, wheat bran, sea salt and water, making it perfect for any occasion Batard Our basic sourdough white bread is chewy, crusty, and lightly tangy. It consists only of organic white flour, wheat germ, wheat bran, sea salt and water, making it perfect for any occasion Cheese A savory Italian cheese bread, rich with parmesan and pecorino romano. Superb with pasta, salads, or dipped in flavorful olive oil. Ingredients: organic white flour, parmesan, pecorino, olive oil, sea salt Chili Cheese Southwestern inspired flavors of spicy smoked jalapeños in adobo sauce paired with parmesan cheese make this a deliciously zesty snack. Ingredients: organic white flour, parmesan and pecorino, chipotle chilies, olive oil, sea salt. Multigrain This healthy high-fiber bread is packed with grains and seeds and topped with deliciously crunchy flax seeds. Ingredients: organic whole wheat and rye flours, cracked wheat, cracked rye, barley, corn, oats, sunflower seeds, millet, sea salt. Semolina Covered with toasted unhulled sesame seeds, this golden Sicilian bread can be served with pastas, soups, salads, and steaks. Ingredients: semolina flour, organic white flour, sea salt. Whole Wheat A basic, no-nonsense sourdough whole wheat loaf. Ingredients: organic whole wheat and white organic flours, water, sea salt.

We're very excited about this new partnership and look forward to supplying our Cheverly friends and neighbors with these great breads and pastries.

Finally, we've also found out that those Thanksgiving necessities -- cranberries, garlic and mushrooms, as well as bundles of fresh sage, Italian parsley and thyme -- will be available at our Market this Saturday. We really do have everything you need to make an absolutely spectacular Thanksgiving feast next week...as well as great gifts and treats to enjoy as the weather gets cool! The complete vendor list will be published Friday. We really do have everything you need to make an absolutely spectacular Thanksgiving feast next week...as well as great gifts and treats to enjoy as the weather gets cool! See you Saturday at Thanksgiving Market!

More vendors added to Saturday's Thanksgiving Market lineup!

Two favorites of Cheverly Community Market -- Clan Stewart Farm and Cherry Glen Goat Cheese -- will be on hand this Saturday. We're delighted that they'll be on hand, and we're sure you will be, too!

Clan Stewart Farm, nestled in central Pennsylvania, has been operating since 1793. They offer sustainably farmed beef, pork and lamb, including fantastic steaks, bacon, sausages, chops and more. And Terry Moist even has dog bones -- we hear they're highly coveted and very popular with Cheverly's canine community.

Another great Cheverly favorite -- Cherry Glen Goat Cheese will be available this Saturday, too. These cheeses are heavenly -- delicious with toast and jam, in a savory treat or just about any other way you can think to use them. We'll have a great selection for you to choose from. And here's another great gift suggestion: how about some goat cheese, bread, and a bottle of wine? Get everything you need at Saturday's Thanksgiving Market!

Another great vendor added for Saturday!

This just in: Krishon Chocolate is coming to Thanksgiving Market! We're thrilled to bring this fantastic product to you. Chocolatier Eric Johnson reports that Zena and Liz will have very special seasonal truffles (Cranberry/Cumin and Earl Grey), as well as Turtles, Karamels, Glorious Goddess Bars and their delicious Chocolate Bark (and a holiday variation: Holiday Bark with Thinner Mint!) Krishon makes extraordinary chocolate creations using the finest ingredients. These confections make a wonderful addition to your holiday dessert table or a very thoughtful gift if you're at someone else's table this Thanksgiving! Visit Krishon Chocolate on the web at www.krishon.com.

Good things galore at our Thanksgiving Market this Saturday!

Thanksgiving brings all sorts of special treats...and one of the most special Cheverly town treats at this time of year is Cheverly Community Market's 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Market. You'll find all the makings for a truly local Thanksgiving: wine, flower arrangements, greens, seafood, meats, sweet potatoes, homemade pies, cakes, ice creams and more. And if you're planning to be a guest over Thanksgiving (or you're one of those storied early holiday shoppers) pick up specialty soaps, jewelry, tablecloths, table centerpieces and pottery -- they all make lovely gifts unlike anything else the lucky people on your gift list are likely to receive! Among the vendors for Thanksgiving Market:

Basignani and Elk Run Wineries will be both offer wines to pair with the Thanksgiving meal. (A bottle of wine makes a great house gift, too!) Elk Run's Bob Cecil returns to the Market with the very popular Annapolis Sunset and Sweet Katherine, and look for their gold-medal award winning Gewurztraminer. They'll also have some new t-shirts and pullover "hoodies". Circle C Oysters will have fresh live oysters. Now that's a Maryland tradition! Pax River Alpacas will be bring their gentle, fury Alpacas to pet while you select from their specialty yarns (still time to knit for the holidays...or give yarn to the knitters in your life) and unique felt crafts.

Martha's Jams Martha Allen is busy mixing up jars of cranberry chutney in addition to all her other popular jams and preserves. A jar of jam or chutney and a loaf of bread would make a great Thanksgiving morning treat! Jug Bay Scott Hertzberg’s green thumb really shines when it comes to greens – he’s bringing a large selection of seasonal greens, squash and sweet potatoes. Get your vegetables for Thanksgiving and stock up on these great keepers for the cold weather ahead. Simple Pleasures Ice Cream Simple Pleasures is bringing holiday flavors:Vanilla, Egg Nog, Peppermint, Rum Raisin and Sweet potato Pecan. The ice cream will be packaged in quart containers and customers can order in advance. In addition to the ice cream, our pastry chef ( a graduate of Johnson Wales University, one of the top culinary schools in the country) is offering three holiday cakes: Lemon Pound Cake, Pineapple Coconut and Sweet Potato Cake, available for $27.00 each. These cakes can be pre-ordered as well by email, telephone, or fax. Our telephone is 301-809-6988 shop, fax 301-809-6988 , and email: info@simplepleasuresicecafe.com or russgirls3@iglide.net. Budgie Bird Kitchens Claire will take orders for Golden Harvest Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie with Gingersnap Crust, German Apple Streusel Pie and Apple Spice Pie, in addition to Pumpkin Bread, Gingerbread Loaf Cakes, an assortment of cookies, scones and her famous Southern-Style Biscuits. Al and May Pong bring Asian pears, Chinese tree peonies, sweet olive, camellia, citrus trees. These would be a lovely addition to any home, and gifts that would be appreciated for years to come. New Starts Farm Tom Baldwin has cut flowers, all-cedar homemade bird houses and feeders and some Talvera outdoor pottery and Christmas ornaments. Fantastic gifts for nature lovers! Rose Fennel Pottery Cheverly artist Rose Fennel brings her functional, beautiful pottery mugs, bowls, plates and dinnerware to us. Rose's work is fantastic and makes great gifts (or give yourself a special treat!)

Mystic Water Soaps Handmade soaps and ready-to-go gifts for under $10, new perfume oils, a soap cake and herb-filled dream pillows. Here's a gift suggestion: A small dish from Rose Fennel Pottery with a bar or two of these lovely handcrafted soaps -- you can't go wrong! Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm Get your dried or fresh bundles, arrangements, teas and seasonings. Throughout the growing season, they harvest herbs and everlastings for many crafting and medicinal needs. The rafters are full of distinctive flowers and fragrant herbs! Willow Oak offers their own dried flowers and herbs for sale as bunches, wreaths, tussie mussies, arrangements, swags and more. Learn more about this new vendor to Cheverly Community Market at their website. Profusions of Glass Give a very special gift this holiday season. Riverdale Park artist Tina Van Pelt creates beautiful fused glass jewelry, dishes and bowls by hand. She fashions unique pieces of wearable art using a variety of American Bullseye glass, dichroic glass and Italian Murano millefiori glass and including gold, silver and copper foil and wire. Learn more about this new Cheverly Community Market vendor at Profusions of Glass.

And enjoy a very special musical performance from Cheverly's own Kara Tyler and Brian Jarboe while you drink your fair trade organic coffee from Cheverly Methodist Church, nibble a pastry (or two...who's counting?) from the Cheverly Breadbasket) and catch up with your friends and neighbors.

See you at Thanksgiving Market!

Thanksgiving Market is almost here!

Four New Recipes!

'Tis the season...for pumpkins! And beautiful stews and soups using the best autumn produce. We have four great new recipes posted on the website. Scott Eichinger brings pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin risotto and pumpkin couscous to the table, while Kelly Fisher invites us to try a lovely late autumn roasted vegetable stew. Your house is sure to smell wonderful with any of these recipes and your tummy will thank you, too! We're gearing up for our second annual Thanksgiving Market, Saturday, November 22. Get ready to order your turkeys and pies, and stock up on the ingredients you'll need for a meal everyone will be truly thankful for. More details coming next week. In the meantime, cook!

Happy Halloween!

Coming Up Next: Thanksgiving Market

Yes, Thanksgiving seems like it's a long way off, but Halloween is at the end of the week, which means that Thanksgiving is really just around the corner! And that means that it's time to start planning a great feast. Cheverly Community Market is here to help.

Mark your calendar now: our second annual Thanksgiving Market will take place Saturday, November 22. We'll be inside the Community Center and there will be treats (those luscious pastries from Uptown Bakers, terrific coffee from Cheverly United Methodist Church and more) to help you stave off hunger as you shop for your Thanksgiving meal. You'll be able to order pies and turkeys, buy the best local, fresh produce, breads and wines and stock up on gifts for the holidays ahead. We think this is a really special Market, and hope you'll join us.

UPDATE: Due to weather, HarvestMarket HAS BEEN CANCELLED

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Unfortunately, it appears that Cheverly will be hit by some heavy rains Friday night and Saturday. Because we don't have an indoor option this Saturday (due to the Flea Market) we, reluctantly, must cancel this weekend's HarvestMarket. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that you'll join us on Saturday, November 22 for the Thanksgiving Market. Thanksgiving Market is indoors at the Community Center, so rain or shine (or frost!) we'll be up and running!

This weekend, come see what makes Cheverly Community Market such a treasure (and pick up a few treasures of your own while your with us!) Basignani Winery joins us this weekend – we haven’t seen them in awhile, so this is a real treat! The Basignani vineyards are in Butler County – horse country north of Baltimore. They’ve been making exceptional wines for 15 years. Make sure to buy a bottle or two (or a case…the holidays are coming!) Pax River Alpacas will bring amazing yarns and felted gifts to the Market this weekend, as well as a few very special guests (alpacas!) Alpaca yarn is especially soft and a great choice for knitting up gifts! Al Pong will be coming again – you may have met him about two months ago at the market. He has beautiful plants, and this week he’ll bring Chinese Tree Peony plants. The Hot Noodles, Cheverly Community Market’s very own house band, will be bringing the mid-temp rock with a full line-up (all four members!) Jug Bay Farms can cover all your pumpkin needs for the week ahead! In addition to traditional orange pumpkins, Scott will have gourds, indian corn, acorn squash, sweet potatoes, greens and maybe some beans. And a very special treat: Jug Bay will have a limited supply of BLUE pumpkins They are an Australian variety and great for baking. Krishon Chocolates will be back this Saturday with a wonderful new confection: a new kind of caramel -- coconut. Eric makes these caramels using the best ingredients: Fair Trade organic evaporated cane juice, organic corn syrup, Trickling Springs cream (and Eric’s very own fresh butter), coconut oil, coconut cream, dark chocolate and rolled in toasted coconut. Of course, Eric will bring truffles, his signature Goddess Bars and bark as well. Great gifts…great Saturday afternoon treat! Budgie Bird Kitchens’ Claire Flintoff has been busy baking chocolate-ginger cookies and pumpkin bread, as well as pecan pie (samples – you can order full pecan pies at the Market and, if you live in Cheverly, she will deliver!) Cheverly United Methodist Church will have tea, hot chocolate and apple cider this week, plus that great free/fair trade organic coffee (and with the chilly weather, a cwarm cup will certainly be a treat!) They’ll also have a limited supply of Dutch Garden bulbs. Pre-orders will be available for pick up at the CUMC Coffee Booth, or email Melanie Hartwig-Davis. Circle C Oysters, Martha's Jams, Mystic Water Soaps and Cherry Glen Goat Cheese will have wonderful treats for your home, table and body. Moctec tortillas and chips and fresh bread and pastries from Uptown Bakers will complete the lineup for HarvestMarket. This will be an amazing Market. Bring your friends and family – make sure to come early – enjoy a breakfast treat (or two), a hot beverage (or two) and great local music, choose the perfect pumpkin for the best jack-o-lantern you’ve ever made, and take care of your shopping (and stocking up on holiday gifts!) … and do it all right in your own neighborhood. Truly a unique Cheverly experience! See you at the Market!

The Alpacas Are Coming! The Alpacas Are Coming!

One especially nice thing about the cooler temperatures? The alpacas are back at Cheverly Community Market! Come meet these beautiful creatures, buy some lovely yarn, a needle-felting kit or cute felted pumpkins this Saturday during HarvestMarket. Pax River Alpacas introduces Paca Barn Yarn. Luxuriously soft, locally grown, 100% alpaca yarns in natural colors. Alpaca yarns are super warm, light weight and non-allergenic. Alpaca/Merino and flash blends available. You can meet the alpacas at the Virtual Barn on their website.

Harvest Market this Saturday!

Join us next Saturday for a very special harvestmarket featuring our wonderful regular vendors, as well as wine, alpacas and a performance by the Hot Noodles (full band!) There will be cider, coffee, treats and gifts (start stocking up for the holidays!) and pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! And, of course, the very best fresh local meat, oysters, produce and bread available!

A full vendor list will be published here on Thursday. And we have lots of great things to share with you on the Market blog this week, so come back and visit soon.

See you at the harvestmarket!

There's a lot to do this weekend!

Although there's no Cheverly Community Market this Saturday, you can still visit some of our vendors at some great events this weekend: In addition to the HarvestFest pumpkin patch at C&E Farms and the St. Mary's Oyster Festival, Scott Hertzberg of Jug Bay Farms will be at Mount Airy Mansion's Autumn Festival this weekend. It's quite an event -- artisans, food, hayrides...all sorts of great stuff. Visit their website for complete details, and make sure to stop by and say hello to Scott! We'll see you next weekend at our HarvestFestival, Saturday, October 25, 8:00am-noon. The alpacas will be with us (it's finally cool enough for them), wineries and Charles & Kelly will be joined by the other members of the Hot Noodles for a full show! We'll be in the trees in front of the Community Center -- make sure to visit the Flea Market going on inside the Community Center that morning! A full list of vendors will be posted here and on the website on Thursday. In the meantime, check the blog this week for recipes, vendor profiles and more fun stuff.

See you at the Market!

Looking for a fun outing this weekend?

Do we have something for you! It's time for the St. Mary's Oyster Festival, this Saturday and Sunday, October 18&19 at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds. Our very favorite oyster rancher, Rich Pelz of Circle C Oyster Ranch will be there, and so will many fellow bi-valve aficionados. There's a cookoff, lots of entertainment and great food, and shucking contests. Get complete information and directions on the festival website ... and enjoy those oysters! My mouth is watering just thinking about all those lovely oysters! Note: I've just revisited their website -- the National Oyster Shucking Contest and Cookoff will be taking place this weekend...this is a big deal, folks!

While you're waiting for the next Market...

why not go out for a night on the town (Takoma Park) and catch two members of Cheverly Community Market's very own house band, the Hot Noodles? It's an early night, so you'll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for our very special HarvestMarket the next morning!

See you Friday at Savory Cafe and Saturday morning -- bright and early -- at the Market!

Harvestfest Pumpkin Patch @ C&E Farm

If you've visited the Market, you've no doubt met Emma Dudley of C&E Farm. Mrs. Dudley brings the lovely herbs and other plants, beautiful Jerusalem artichokes and other plants to us. During Saturdays (10:00am-4:00pm) in October, C&E Farm is celebrating their Harvestfest with a great pumpkin patch, including face painting, small animals, hayrides and, of course, fresh produce. C&E Farm will also host groups by appointment on weekdays, so if you're looking for a great fall outing for your school or community group, consider a trip to the Dudley's farm! You can read more about C&E Farm on our vendor page, and read our vendor profile of Emma Dudley here.

C&E Farm

11415 Old Pond Drive

Glenn Dale, Maryland 20769

telephone: 301-352-2958

New Photos on Flickr

What a fun Market this morning...and once the bread arrived, it got even better! New photos are posted on flickr. Have a story you'd like to share from this morning's Market? A recipe? Email us -- we'd love to share them with everyone! Next Market (Saturday, October 25, 8:00-11:00am) we'll celebrate Halloween and all things fall with a Harvest Market. Get your pumpkins and more! We'll have some great recipes posted on our website in the next few weeks, as well as special features about herbs and profiles of people you've seen at the Market here on our blog. Keep coming back for more news and info from the Cheverly Community Market.

See you at the Market!

Did you lose these?

These glasses were left at the Market this morning.

Are they yours?

Call Arvind & Crystal Lal (301-773-0635 ).

Back to Basics at Saturday's Cheverly Community Market

It's been stressful few weeks in our country. Wall Street bailouts (or not -- we still don't know), the elections, the change of season... We're looking for something familiar, comfortable, and community-oriented this weekend to remind us about the good things in America. And we have the perfect suggestion: get local this Saturday morning. No debates, no soundbites and you won't need to hand over your retirement funds. Spend your money in your community, meet your friends and neighbors, stock up on staples for these first chilly fall weeks, share a breakfast treat and soothe your rattled mind and soul with great music from the Market's very own house band, the Hot Noodles.

Vendors this weekend:

Jug Bay Scott Hertzberg and his team bring more great vegetables for your fall meals.

C&E Farms Take home some of Emma Dudley's herbs to add to fall stews, and get a plant or two to beautify your home.

New Starts Farm Tom Baldwin has more lovely produce for you -- lovely squashes that are great roated and served with a creamy polenta.

Circle C Oysters Get the very best oysters in Maryland from Rich Pelz. You can't beat 'em.

Clan Stewart Terry Moist has beautiful meats, perfect for fall meals -- and don't forget the dog bones!

Martha's Jams Martha brings wonderful jams to us each Market. Ask her about cooking with them -- she has some great tips and ideas to share.

Cherry Glen Goat Cheese Goat cheese is delicious on warm toast with a little of Martha's jam! Or try the blue on a thinly sliced, toasted baguette with caramelized onions.

Budgie Bird Bakery Claire continues to bake delicious pies, breads and cookies. Make sure to visit her early -- she sells out quickly (but she does take orders!)

Methodist Church Coffee Enjoy great free/fair trade coffee and make sure to check out the crafts...the holidays are coming and it's a great time to stock up on gifts.

Cheverly Breadbasket Get your bread, tortillas, and rolls for the week, and enjoy those beautiful pastries at the Market this Saturday morning.

In a time of great upheaval, some things don't change: Our vendors' prices are still very fair (and the products are wonderful). The vendors are still hard-working and honest. The food is still wholesome.

Come support your local economy, take stock in community spirit, debate what you'll prepare for dinner, and elect to support the Community Market.

See you this Saturday at the Market!

New Recipes from KidMarket

We had a great time at KidMarket and hope that you did, too! In case you missed Scott Eichinger, here are his fantastic recipes for homemade peanut butter, applesauce and pizza dough (all kid favorites!) I have it on good authority (my own seven-year old son and peanut butter aficionado) that Scott's peanut butter is the best that you will ever taste. Try these recipes with your kids and let us know how they turn out! We're gearing up for this weekend's Market -- details on vendors and more are coming very soon... See you Saturday at the Market!

KidMarket Was Great!

Thanks to everyone who came out for Cheverly Community Market's very first KidMarket -- we had so much fun! Between face painting, a hike at Lower Beaverdam, making jewelry and t-shirts, getting cool wooden swords, eating cupcakes and ice cream, and completing the Treasure Map, we're all pretty tired!

We also want to thank all the community groups, vendors and volunteers who worked so hard to make this special event a great success. We hope you all had fun, too!

Photos are up on flickr.

Did you take photos at the Market? Want to share them? Join our flickr pool!

We'd also love to publish your Market stories on the blog -- email your story about what you did, what you made with your Market goodies, etc.

This week and next, we'll post recipes for Scott's homemade peanut butter, pizza dough and applesauce, an article about nutrition for teens, some Market profiles and more on the blog. Fall is gearing up to be an exciting time for Cheverly Community Market -- come back and visit!

See you Saturday, October 5, at the next Market.

Special KidMarket Activities

Tomorrow, Cheverly Community Market begins what we hope will become an annual tradition -- KidMarket. In addition to the great treats that our regular vendors bring each Market, Cheverly schools and family-focused groups will join us for this very special morning. Visit their tables, which will be set up in the grass just in front of the Community Center: Cheverly Parents Resource Center (CPRC): make potato print t-shirts and little flags (and renew your CPRC membership!) Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Elementary: face painting -- your face as a work of art! St. Ambrose School: Make your own jewelry at Beadingham Palace. Proceeds will benefit Endangered Species Weekday Nursery: Buy a square on the sidewalk and create a masterpiece with chalk Mother's Day Out: Make paper airplanes and learn about this fantastic early childhood learning program Cheverly Advocates for Public Schools (CAPS): get a pencil and learn what you can do to help our local public schools Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek will sponsor a hike at 9am lead by Gabe Horchler. Hikers of all ages can meet at 9 at the Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek table. Cheverly Women's Club will have a craft table where kids can make pinwheels Music by Cheverly Community Market's very own house band -- the Hot Noodles! Market Chef Scott Eichinger will demonstrate making peanut butter and an easy pizza dough. The Market is creating a kids reading corner featuring books on goats next to the Cherry Glenn Goat Cheese Table. Make sure to pick up a Treasure Map from the Market table and find the answers to all the questions! And from our regular vendors... Clan Stewart Farm will be bringing Macintosh and Smokehouse apples in addition to their wonderful grass-fed meats. Smokehouse (Gibbons Smokehouse, Mill Creek, Red Vandevere) apples are an old variety -- wonderful and very flavorful apples that originated in the 1830s with William Gibbons of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The original tree grew near the smokehouse of Mr. Gibbons and thus its name was derived. Besides its excellent eating qualities, Smokehouse is a fine cooking and baking apple. The apple has greenish-yellow skin covered with shades and stripes of red. Flesh is yellowish, crisp and firm with a pleasing spicy flavor. Ripens September or later depending on the locale. A creative caterer friend to Jug Bay is sending with Scott several jams and relishes with Jug Bay's own organic tomatoes and basil. Among the usual treats they'll have Organic Heirloom Tomato Marmalade; Heirloom Tomato/Ginger Marmalade; Heirloom Tomato & Lavender Jam; Sun Gold Cherry Tomato Relish and Genoa Basil Pesto. Scott will also bring cherry tomatoes, beans, squash, zucchini, eggplant, big tomatoes, red peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, and perhaps peaches and corn. Krishon Chocolates Eric Johnson will bring his latest kids-creations: working on caramel and chocolate covered apples. Eric will also have Caramels, Truffles, Bark and Goddess Bars. Simple Pleasure ice cream is pulling out the stops with Stracciatella (Vanilla Ice cream with Italian Chocolate blended), Vanilla, Cantaloupe,Strawberry -n-Cream, Cookies-n-Cream, and Italian Ice

Tom Baldwin with New Starts Farm is coming back from summering at his farm in New York. He's bringing fall hardy mums, herbs in pots and possibly onions, gourds and leeks.

Last week, Crystal met Al Pong at his farm in Fulton, MD. Al will be bringing Asian Pears, Persimmon Trees, Gogi Berries, Prickly Pear Cactus and some of his large fragrant, flowering plants. BUBBLES! Michelle Burns with Mystic Water Soap will bring her amazing bubble machine and bubble wands in addition to her hand-made soaps and beauty products. We are happy to report that Joe and Jo-Anne Romano harvested Honey at Golden Leaf Farm earlier this month. They'll be bringing honey sticks for the kids and a sampling of the first harvest of wine grapes from their vineyard. (There are only two vineyards in Prince George's County -- they're one!) Nicole Sylver of Sylver Spoon is happy to offer a discount again on pre-ordered cupcakes: $2.00 per cake with a 4 cupcake minimum. Same flavors: Red Velvet, Chocolate Chunk, Vanilla cupcakes with choice of Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Vanilla Buttercreams. The Toppings Bar will include rainbow sprinkles, gummy worms, chopped nuts, coconut and Oreo cookie chunks. To pre-order, call her at 202-492-1480 or email nsylver1@yahoo.com. Just in from Melanie and the Methodist Church: enjoy ROOIBUS TEA (a red tea) and BLUEBERRY iced teas in addition to the fantastic organic fair/free trade coffee that the church offers at every Market. Both teas will be lightly sweetened, CAFFEINE FREE and full of antioxidants and healthy alternatives to overly-sweetened fruit juices.

It's going to be a terrific morning...

we look forward to seeing you for KidMarket at Cheverly Community Market!

A Good Way to Get Kids Active and Healthy

Has your child attended a Mommy & Me yoga class? Did you do yoga when you were expecting? Yoga benefits people at every age, and kids can gain strength and balance while learning new ways to relax. Many schools have started to include yoga in their physical education curriculae.

Parents.com has some really great articles on yoga, along with photographs showing different poses (taken from The Kids' Yoga Deck), as well as videos. Local yoga instructor Kelly Fisher recommends starting out with the gorilla, tree, airplane, bow, butterfly and color rest poses. She also recommends warming up with sunrise and sunset.

Try it out -- your child will probably love trying something new (and it's good for you, too!)

See you tomorrow morning at KidMarket!

Special Offerings from Jug Bay This Saturday

Wow! Scott from Jug Bay is bringing some great new offerings to the Market this week...

"A local caterer whom we work with made several jams and relishes with our organic tomatoes and basil. He is a very creative cook and made a lot of the jams and marmalades with all organic ingredients."

Here's what Scott plans to bring (in addition to cherry tomatoes, beans, squash, zucchini, eggplant, big tomatoes, red peppers, hot peppers, potatoes, cucumbers and perhaps peaches and corn):

Heirloom Tomato Marmalade 8 oz - Organic Product Heirloom Tomato/Ginger Marmalade 8 oz - Organic Product Heirloom Tomato & Lavender Jam 8 oz - Organic Product Sun Gold Cherry Tomato Relish 8 oz - Organic Product Genoa Basil Pesto 8 oz - Local Organic Basil

This promises to be quite a Market -- we can't wait to see you there!

Kids, Herbs and Vegetables

A special article for KidMarket from Cheverly Community Market herbalist/nutritionist Bevin Clare... I remember mushy grey brussel sprouts as a kid, but they didn’t stop me from loving farm-fresh veggies as an adult. Vegetables and herbs can be a fun and interesting part of any kid’s diet (never mind an important one for their growth and development). With the right ideas and strategies, you can make KidMarket this week the beginning of your child’s love affair with veggies. Below I share some practical ways to add veggies and fresh herbs into your little one’s diet. Most importantly, share a love of fresh foods and herbs and the abundance of summer. Teach your children about the growing cycle and watch plants around you. Discuss why plants make vegetables (to disperse seeds and reproduce), and help them look for seeds in each of the vegetables they find. Inspiring a love of nature and the seasons will help them to connect with their food in a whole new way. If they see you loving fresh foods and reveling in the abundance of the season, they may learn to do the same. Prime your little one to be ready to shop ‘til they drop this weekend since they will be “in charge” of one of your meals. Get them a basket and assign them to find two or three vegetables for the family this week. Once they choose their veggies, they can also help to pick out a recipe and to make the meal. This can be a fun and rewarding way to connect farm to table. Beyond turning all vegetables into ice cream, there are a number of ways to encourage copious vegetable eating in kids. Try making a rainbow vegetable pizza with whole grain dough, and pile it sky high with rainbow colored vegetables. See if they can find each color of the rainbow at the market. As root vegetables become in season, make healthy baked fries out of anything but potatoes. Any squash, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips and turnips will work if you cut them into strips, lightly coat with olive oil and bake until browned. Salsa is good for all of us and so easy to make! Just chop and combine almost anything you can find at the market including peppers, corn, fruit, summer squashes and zucchini and tomatoes. You can also add a can of rinsed black beans for extra protein and flavor. You can also make a great dip from plain yogurt and fresh herbs or use fresh herbs and a spice mix, and dip veggie sticks in for a healthy snack. Lastly, soups are always a hit, so you can lightly cook almost any vegetables and puree. Fresh corn makes a great base, and is so sweet and creamy in the summer you don’t even need to add cream. To drink, try making a variety of herbal teas and adding a little bit of juice. Once your kids get use to this they can create their favorite combos, and you can add the tea to the bottle in the fridge so they get more nutrients and less sugar in each cup. Be sure to have fun with your kids this weekend and build that rainbow of veggies, and after Saturday's KidMarket, every market can be kid market!

Pre-order Your Cupcakes from Sylver Spoon for KidMarket!

Nicole Sylver of Sylver Spoon is happy to offer a discount again on pre-ordered cupcakes: $2.00 per cupcake with a 4 cupcake minimum. She's bringing back the same popular flavors: Red Velvet, Chocolate Chunk or Vanilla cupcakes with choice of Cream Cheese, Chocolate or Vanilla Buttercream. And don't forget the toppings: rainbow sprinkles, gummy worms, chopped nuts, coconut and Oreo cookie chunks! Maybe a little of each... Mmmm, chocolate chunk cupcake-chocolate buttercream with sprinkles, worms and oreo chunks.... Sounds like KidMarket heaven to me! To pre-order, call 202-492-1480 or email Nicole. You can pick up your delicious cupcakes Saturday morning during KidMarket (but don't be surprised if they don't make it home -- they make a fantastic breakfast!)

Kid Recipe #1

As promised, during KidMarket week, we'll be bringing you recipes that are especially well-suited to kid cooks. Our first, Powerball Cookies, was found in Wondertime magazine. They're lots of fun for kids to make (just make sure to have a bath ready -- they'll be sticky) and a great healthy snack to boot.

Click on the cookies to get a printable version of the recipe.

See you Saturday at KidMarket!