Who's Coming to Market Tomorrow? A late -- and very welcome -- entry to our vendor list!

We are so glad that Eileen and her family from Shlagel Farm will be with us tomorrow for Holiday Market! The end of the season just wouldn't be the same without our stalwart vendors -- this is definitely a celebration!

Shlagel Farm will have eggs, ciders, greens, potatoes and maybe even some broccoli.

About those eggs...here's a note from Eileen: "My chickens are better than free-range. Here's an educational explanation for you. Free range are typically moved around in a cow pasture under a small hoop house. Every couple of days they move the house. The chickens can go under the hoop house to lay if they want or get out of the rain. They have no protection from other animals. On our farm the entire flock would be dead in one or two nights from raccoons, foxes etc..... I don't know how that problem is handled other places. I just know that they could not be protected here. We looked into it and decided that their safety was paramount. Their house was quite a source of fascination on the fall farm tour because it's pretty and very large. They would be termed "cage free" and all natural. They have a large house with individual laying boxes that they can get into (they choose their own and always go to the same one). It has a door like a doggy door so it's warm and dry in there and no wind. It has windows so they have plenty of light even when the doors are closed. Their food is in there so even in the snow they'll be cozy. Then they can go out their doggy door into a very large yard that is totally enclosed even a roof with fence so no animal can get to them. But they have a lot of room to run around, fly a little etc.... They have a nice life. So calling them cage-free doesn't do them justice. Commercial growers put them in a cage and they cannot move at all because they are shoulder to shoulder with the next chicken and their egg plops out on to a conveyor belt below them. It's very sad to me."

We're looking forward to tomorrow morning and know that you are, too!

See you Saturday at Holiday Market!

Who's Coming to Holiday Market?

It's here: our final Market of the 2009 season! Cheverly Community Market will have all sorts of wonderful gifts and treats to help get your holiday season in high gear, including oysters, meats, cheeses, wine, tea, fruits, greens (including home-grown celery!), jams, chocolates, homemade pies, cookies, cakes, bread, pastries, and gifts for every budget -- and person on your list. Scroll down for our complete vendor lineup.

Mrs. Claus will visit and the Hot Noodles will supply great music so you can shop, hang out with family and friends and enjoy some coffee and a pastry on a chilly almost-winter's morn. And don't forget to get your raffle ticket for a gift basket!

Holiday Market Vendors

Tom Baldwin/New Starts Farm/Talvera Pottery Christmas items, bird houses and feeders, small nativity scenes from recycled materials,a small amount of local fall produce Benny's Fruit Stand/Reberts Farm Several varieties of apples, fresh pressed cider, home-grown celery

Eve's Cheese

Circle C Oysters

Clan Stewart Usual assortment, and homemade pies and more

Chocolaterra

Simple Pleasures

Emma Dudley/C&E Farm Poinsettias and Christmas greenery

Martha's Jams

Cheverly Breadbasket

ChevBrew

Andrews and Dunham Damn Fine Tea

Cookies to Cocktails

It's All About Cakes

Cookie Karma

Rose Fennell Pottery

Profusions of Glass

Deciduous Dave's Walking Sticks and Stuff

Mystic Water Soap

Willow Oak Herb Farm

MJ's Earrings and Crafts

Linda Priebe

See you Saturday at the Market!

Holiday Market: Pre-order ice cream from Simple Pleasures!

Wouldn't some delicious, locally made ice cream from Bowie's Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe be a terrific addition to your holiday table? It would also be a very welcome treat at holiday parties and open houses. The only problem? Simple Pleasures ice cream is so delicious, you may have a hard time waiting for a special event to taste it. Here's our solution: pre-order some for parties and some for your very own (all this holiday stuff is stressful!)

This Saturday, Simple Pleasures will be at Holiday Market. They'll have cones, cups and larger quantities at the Community Center, but why not ensure that you'll get the flavors you crave? Terri Russell and her family will bring Vanilla, Dulce deLeche, Chocolate, and Lemon Custard...how will you choose?!

Quarts are priced at $8.00, and 1/2 gallons are $16.00. You can pre-order by email, telephone (301-809-6988) or fax (301-809-6988). Pre-orders will be accepted through Friday, December 11, at 7:00pm.

See you Saturday at the Market!

Holiday Market Wineries: Basignani and Boordy

For Holiday Market, we welcome back one old friend , Basignani Winery, and greet -- for the first time -- a new winery for us: Maryland’s oldest family-run winery, Boordy Vineyards. Both wineries are from the Piedmont area of Baltimore County. The Deford family has owned and operated Boordy for nearly 30 years and has worked steadily making wine and promoting their business throughout the country. Boordy attracts nearly 40,000 visitors a year with programs year-round and even has its own farmers’ market in the summer months. You only have to visit their website once to put it on your list of Maryland’s must-see destinations. They offer cabernet franc, merlot, sweet riesling, vintage port and blended selections from their Icons of Maryland series. Or try their spiced wassail for the holidays. Basignani, also in Baltimore County, is operated by Lynn and Bert Basignani, We welcome them – and their wonderful chardonnay, Erik’s Big Zin(fandel), cabernet sauvignon, or Marisa Dolce (we hear it’s great with chocolate) – back to Cheverly Community Market. All these great flavors come from 18 acres of grapes produced by old-world viticulture techniques. Just tell them what you eat for Christmas dinner and they will be glad to help you out with perfect pairings for your holiday meals. Come renew an old friendship and make a new one. We salute our wine-growing neighbors to the north and we're thrilled to have them join us for Holiday Market!

Holiday Market This Weekend!

Our second annual Holiday Market is this Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm, at Cheverly Community Center. We hope you'll join us for this fun, festive end to our Market season. Today is the last day to order your fresh tree through Cheverly Community Market. 6-7' trees Douglas Fir $45 Pine $32 7-8' trees Douglas Fir $55 Pine $36 You can preorder your tree by emailing Don Tyler. And for an added $5, Cheverly's own Rob Hansen (who will be helping Don Tyler with the trees) will delivery your tree -- by bike (if it's not raining) -- to your home (Cheverly only, please!) Delivery runs will begin at 10:30 Saturday morning. You can email Rob directly to arrange your tree delivery.

See you Saturday at Holiday Market!

Holiday Market is just around the corner!

Click on the image above to download our Holiday Market 2009 flyer. Then share it with your friends and neighbors. Our second annual Holiday Market promises to be a great event -- and your final opportunity to stock up at Cheverly Community Market for the 2009 season. Over the next two weeks, we'll post lots of vendor details, pre-ordering information and maybe even a special holiday recipe or two. Keep visiting for the very latest news from Cheverly Community Market!

Holiday Market is almost here...Order your trees now!

After an enthusiastic response about the amazing freshness, lovely shape and reasonable cost of our trees last year, Cheverly Community Market will again sell freshly cut Christmas trees at Holiday Market on Saturday, December 12.

6-7' Trees: Douglas Firs: $45 Pine: $32 7-8' Trees: Douglas Fir: $55 Pine: $36

The trees will be freshly cut on Friday, December 11, and delivered to Cheverly Community Market's Holiday Market, Saturday December 12. (Click here to read about the Maryland tree farm that you will help to preserve with your purchase.) We hope you'll choose to make your Christmas more "green" by buying a fresh, local Christmas tree at Cheverly Community Market. As an added incentive, your purchase helps support the Market -- about $10 from each tree sold comes directly to our continued operations. Cheverly resident Don Tyler has graciously and generously agreed to manage the Christmas tree sales again this year. He did a fantastic job last year, and we're lucky to have such a knowledgeable fellow on hand! If you are interested in buying a tree, please e-mail Don. Payment in advance is most appreciated! Please make out checks to the Cheverly Community Market and mail or deliver to 2903 64th Avenue, Cheverly MD 20785. You may pay on the day of the Holiday market, but your tree will only be reserved until 10:00am. After that, trees will be sold on a first come-first served basis.

Here's another way to help your community

Long-time Cheverly Community Market supporters Friends of Lower Beaverdam are looking for additional helpers this Saturday... "FUN WAY TO WORK OFF THAT THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST! -- Join us! Join Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek this Saturday, Nov. 28-- two days after Thanksgiving--to get outdoors, walk the trail and work off that Turkey Day feast! Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants (such as ivy and honeysuckle) and do other stream restoration work with Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek (FLBC). We especially welcome families and high school and junior high school students, Scouts, and others who need badge work and school and community service hours. Refreshments, work tools, and gloves will be provided. Meet at Woodworth Park at Wayne Place in Cheverly between 9am and noon -- if not for the whole morning, even for an hour or two. For more info, contact Joani Horchler at 301-773-9671."

Gearing Up for Our Final Market of the Season

Many thanks to everyone who came out for our Thanksgiving Market -- we're always glad to see you! We are gearing up for the last Market of our season, the Holiday Market. Keep watching the blog and website for news about vendors, recipes, and more. And if you're interested in joining us as a vendor for this special Market, download the application here.

From all of us at Cheverly Community Market, have a safe, happy Thanksgiving!

Who's Coming to Thanksgiving Market?

We're excited for our 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Market at Cheverly Community Center! It's tomorrow, 9:00am-1:00pm in the Cheverly Community Center. We should have a lovely day -- sunny skies and relatively warm temperatures, so it's a perfect time to catch up with friends, stock up on provisions and get ready for a festive Thanksgiving week! We have over 20 vendors participating in what promises to be one of our best-ever Markets! Come early and have a hot cup of coffee from ChvBrew and a fresh Pastry from the Cheverly Breadbasket. Shop to live music from the Hot Noodles. There is still a little time to pre-order the following: OYSTERS! Circle C Oysters will be making a comeback for this market. Our Oyster lovers have missed him. It’s a very long trip to Cheverly from the southern point of St. Mary’s County so help make Rich’s trip worthwhile! If you want more than two dozen of his fresh, well-priced oysters, call in an order at 301-872-5126. At the Market: Stock up on local flavors to share: * Wines from TWO renowned Maryland vineyards (Black Ankle and Running Hare) * Maryland cheese from Eve's Cheese * Chocolaterra confections from Baltimore * Virgina Diner Peanuts and holiday plants from Cheverly Boy Scout Troup 257 * Cookies to Cocktails * Martha’s Jams * Cheverly Breadbasket * ChevBrew * Shlagel Farms * Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe * Circle C Oysters * Homer Kinsinger Turkeys * Clan Stewart Farm * Rebert's Farm/Benny's Produce Stand * Pax River Alpacas * Mystic Water Soap * Rose Fennell Pottery * Profusions of Glass * Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm * wearable art and cards from Cheverly artist Diana Ndiaye. Looking ahead, order turkeys and sign up for Christmas trees this Saturday!

See you this Saturday at the Market!

Rebert's will have celery -- fresh picked!

In addition to the other amazing produce that Rebert's Farm/Benny's Produce Stand will bring to Market tomorrow, Matt Rebert has sent word the that plan to start picking our celery today, which means they'll will also have home-grown celery for Market!

See you Saturday at the Market!

(Image from http://www.herbies-herbs.com/pages/herbuses-2.html)

Who's Coming to Thanksgiving Market? Chocolaterra

We're thrilled to have new vendor Chocolaterra, maker of handcrafted chocolates. Chocolaterra produces beautiful confections using organic ingredients and fair-trade chocolate in Baltimore. Their candies are naturally good -- no artificial flavors, preservatives or corn syrup. A box from Chocolaterra would make a lovely house gift (or a great treat on the road!) Make sure to stop by their table, learn more about the company, and buy a treat for yourself or someone you love!

See you Saturday at the Market!

Get Your Leaf Bags at the Market this Saturday

It's been awfully windy around here lately, and we're sure your lawn is covered in leaves! Our very own Master Gardener, Dave Kneipp, has contacted Juan Torres of Public Works. Clear leaf bags will be available at Saturday’s market: 50 clear leaf bags for $5. Pick up a set of 50, bag up those leaves, put them at the curb on Monday by 7:00am, and feel a sense of accomplishment for readying your lawn and home for the winter! And the great people at Public Works will be grateful to you for bagging those leaves!

Our Thanksgiving Market Wineries: Black Ankle and Running Hare

We are thrilled to announce that two amazing Maryland wineries will join us for our third annual Thanksgiving Market this Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm, at Cheverly Community Center. Assistant Market Manager Cathy Wintermyer shares the following information about these award-winning wineries:

"Maryland has long been called 'America in Miniature' because of the variety of its terrain. We have the ocean, the sandy shores of the Chesapeake Bay area, the rolling hills of its central plain leading up to the mountains in Western Maryland -- and grapes can be grown in all of these areas. This year’s Thanksgiving Market features two of these distinct areas and their equally distinctive products.

"Black Ankle Vineyard, in the rolling foothills of Frederick County, is one of the major success stories in Maryland viticulture. Just look at the thoughtful way husband and wife Ed Boyce and Sarah O’Herron from Silver Spring went about their venture. It took them awhile, but dedication to the principle of biodynamics -- creating a healthy environment, relying as much as possible on natural controls to farm their grapes, has produced results. Their Crumbling Rock and Leaf-Stone Syrah are considered some of the most complex and interesting wines produced in the mid-Atlantic region, winning state competitions and local food and wine critics’ acclaim. And their tasting room at the vineyard was built with hay-bale insulation and “local” plaster -- a wonderful place to spend an afternoon in any season. Part of their success has been maintaining close connections with friends and family -- and creating quite a family of their own in the process.

"Husband and wife Mike and Barbara Scarborough of Running Hare Vineyard in Calvert County aspired to create some of the flavors Mike had tasted in France as a young person living there. The transition of Southern Maryland's economy from dependence on tobacco to something sustainable was fortuitous for the young couple. A new cooperative agricultural economy was being born just as they set about creating their dream. Their constant search for the flavors that wine drinkers want has led them to produce wines that can be paired with any cuisine or course has made them a favorite at wine festivals and farmer’s markets alike. Whether it be their award-winning Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Malbec or Jack Rabbit White with your holiday meal is yours to ponder deliciously -- at the Market.

"And remember to give a little bit of Maryland to your family and friends for holiday gifts. Let them taste where you live!"

See you this Saturday at Thanksgiving Market!

Remember: Today is the deadline to preorder your pies from Clan Stewart

Today is the last day to preorder pies from Clan Stewart! Click here to get the details. Linda will also have assorted baked goods, including cinnamon rolls, and Terry will have those delectable fresh eggs, lamb, chevon, beef, prok chops, and sausages (fresh and smoked chorizo, fresh and smoked andouille, kielbasa, hot italian, and breakfast) for your holiday cooking needs (and to stock your freezer!)

Who's coming to Thanksgiving Market? Cookies to Cocktails!

Cookies to Cocktails' Liz and Jarriel made a big impression at the recent Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington, DC, and Market regulars know why... The delicious treats they bring to us are really out of this world! This Saturday, they'll be at Thanksgiving Market with a great variety of treats (also available for pre-order -- see details below.) Cake Pops Tuxedo* - For those who like the finer things in life, these tuxedo pops are the perfect fit. They're balls of rich buttermilk chocolate cake decked out in crisp white chocolate suit. Dark Choco* - How do you improve on buttermilk chocolate cake? You cover it in a rich dark chocolate shell! These cake pops are a chocolate lovers dream in a convenient bite size portion. Red Velvet - Rich red velvet cake made with fresh buttermilk, mixed with yummy cream cheese icing, coated in a creamy white chocolate shell.

*as featured at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show!

Pie Pops Pumpkin Spice - The perfect flavor for Thanksgiving, classic pumpkin spice pie. Apple - Cinnamon apple goodness, in a bite size pie-shaped bite... on a stick! Peach Spice - Made with Martha's Jams delicious peach spice jam, sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar, and baked in a bite sized pie crust.

Cake pops and pie pops are available for pre-order to pickup at Saturday's market or for Tuesday, November 24, just in time for Thanksgiving! Deadline for pre-orders for Saturday is Wednesday evening (11/18). Pre-order deadline for Thanksgiving orders (for delivery Tuesday, November 24) Saturday, November 21.

Cake pops and pie pops also make great party favors, stocking stuffers, or just-because treats. They'll also have an assortment of cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and other tasty treats!

See you Saturday at Thanksgiving Market!

(photo courtesy of Liz Esposito)

Pre-Order Ice Cream from Simple Pleasures!

Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe is bringing some amazing flavors for our Thanksgiving Market this Saturday. They'll have vanilla, sweet potato pecan, dulche de leche, chocolate decadence and pumpkin gingerbread. Wouldn't a scoop of sweet potato pecan be delicious on that Thanksgiving pecan pie? Or how about a little bowl of pumpkin gingerbread ice cream during the football game? Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong! Simple Pleasures makes their ice cream in the traditional European style, using fresh, organic, local ingredients. All will be available at the market, but your pleasure will be guaranteed if you pre-order: Quart $8.00, 1/2 Gallon $16.00. Pre-orders can be emailed, faxed (301-809-6988), or telephoned (301-809-6988) no later than Wednesday, November 18 by 7:00pm.

See you this Saturday at the Market!

Who's Coming to Thanksgiving Market? Shlagel Farm and Rebert's Farm/Benny's Produce

We've been so pleased to have our friends from Shlagel Farm and Rebert's Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand with us for the season. Both farms were new vendors this year, and it's been wonderful to have them on board. Personally, I've tasted some of the most delicious apples, peaches, tomatoes, onions and sweet potatoes I've ever had this Market season, and I'm grateful to these vendors for introducing new varieties to me! The growing season has come to an end, so sadly for us, this is the last Market of the year where we'll have Shlagel and Rebert's/Benney's with us. Both stands will have seasonal produce offerings -- apples, cabbage kale, sweet potatoes, winter squash, onions, potatoes -- for your Thanksgiving table and beyond. Remember, most produce at this time of year is excellent for keeping; stock up now on winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and apples so you'll have delicious ingredients on hand for cold weather stews and other treats! Please make sure to stop by the Shlagel and Rebert's Benny's stands to thank Ellen, Matt and the other people who come to our Market throughout the season. And encourage them to come back next year!

See you this Saturday at the Market!

Circle C Oyster Ranch Will Be at Thanksgiving Market!

We're thrilled to announce that Rich Pelz of Circle C Oyster Ranch will be joining us for Thanksgiving Market. Many of you have asked when he'll be back, so sharing this news with you just in time for the holiday is a great treat for us! Circle C oysters are young and tender when they're ready for the table. Circle C grows its oysters only in Maryland approved waters. They use specialized production system that results in a unique line of oysters -- the Lineback©. They taste different from wild oysters -- milder and sweeter. These oysters a fantastic addition to your holiday table and a real Maryland treasure. Rich will happily take advance orders -- if you want two dozen or more, please give him a call (301-872-5126).

See you at the Thanksgiving Market!

Our Thanksgiving Market is just 10 days away!

It's almost here -- our third annual Thanksgiving Market. We're lining up some amazing vendors (with more signing on every day), including old favorites and great surprises! You can get the very latest news on our vendors for this special event by visiting the blog frequently over the next week and a half. Help us spread the word! Click the Thanksgiving Market logo above for a downloadable flyer. Please share it with your friends, neighbors, coworkers... The Thanksgiving Market will be full of wonderful treats, and we want to share with as many people as possible! And if you're a vendor interested in coming to our special Markets, download the application.

See you at the Thanksgiving Market!

Pre-order Thanksgiving Pies from Clan Stewart Now!

Have you tried Linda Moist's pies? Clan Stewart's Linda Moist makes one of the best apple pies you'll ever have! For our special Thanksgiving Market, she'll bring apple, cranberry apple, pecan, maple walnut, and homemade mincemeat -- all made from scratch with butter and local fruits. Linda is also bringing homemade cinnamon rolls and other baked treats. We can't wait! Clan Stewart will sell nine-inch pies for $10 each. Linda plans to bring some of each variety, but if you have a hankering for a specific variety, why not pre-order? Email Linda directly by November 17 with your order, and she'll have it ready for you at the Market. Better safe than sorry, we think! As always, Terri will have fresh eggs and lamb, chevon, beef, pork chops and sausages (fresh and smoked chorizo, fresh and smoked andouille, kielbasa, hot italian, and breakfast sausage). Mmmm...sausage stuffing!

Get Your Thanksgiving Turkey at the Market!

We're thrilled to work with Homer Kinsinger to bring the freshest, most delicious turkeys to Cheverly Community Market this year. We'll have a limited quantity, so place your pre-order today! Mr. Kinsinger is an Amish turkey farmer from western Maryland. The turkeys are currently living a happy, healthy life as free-range, pasture- raised birds. Homer takes the turkeys for slaughter on November 23rd, and will deliver them to Cheverly on Tuesday, November 24. From the Homer: "Our farm is located in the mountainous area of western Maryland . Our goal in farming is to provide healthy and nutritious products for consumers. Our turkeys are fed an organic, all-natural soy-free diet of corn, wheat, oats, Canadian field peas and Fertrell minerals. They are also provided with fresh spring water three times a day. They are also on a rotational grazing program, so they have fresh grass daily. They have been grown without medication or growth hormones. Our farm hasn't had any chemicals sprayed on it for over 10 years but we haven't gone through the organic certification process."

7 Heritage Turkeys ($6 per pound)

These turkeys weigh between 14 and 18 lbs.

20 White Broad Breasted Turkeys

($3.30 per pound)

Please Specify:

Small Turkey: 8-10 lbs

Medium Turkey: 15 - 20 lbs.

Large Turkey: 20 - 25 lbs

Delivery charge 2$

The turkeys will be delivered fresh to Cheverly On Tuesday, November 24. We will provide pick-up details closer to the delivery date. Payment will be made by check to the farmer on the date of pick-up. The turkeys will be pre-weighed marked with a price at that time. Because there's a limited supply of turkeys this year, the Market is taking pre-orders. They're available on a first-come basis to those who reply, and we anticipate that they'll sell out quickly!

Please contact us if you are interested in one of these fresh local turkeys!

Photo by R. Gnuce used through flickr's Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/r_gnuce/ / CC BY 2.0

Our Annual Thanksgiving Market Is Nearly Here!

Our 3rd Thanksgiving Market is just around the corner -- Saturday November 21 , 9:00 am to 1:00pm. Get the best local ingredients for a very special Thanksgiving dinner and shop for your friends and family for the holidays. Thanksgiving Market is a wonderful local tradition in the making, and we're glad to share it with you!

Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets take place at the Cheverly Community Center, rain or shine.

Are you an artisan, crafter or do you have a special product that you'd be interested in selling at our Thanksgiving or Holiday Markets? Download the application here.

Great Market -- thanks everyone!

Thanks to everyone -- our vendors, volunteers and customers -- for coming out on a rainy morning and enjoying the last Market of the regular season. We had some wonderful late additions to our lineup (Mystic Water, Al Pong, Linda Priebe, and New Starts Farm) and it was a terrific Saturday morning. We hope you enjoyed yourselves, too! Photos from today's Market are on our flickr page.

We have two very special Markets to close out the year: our Harvest Market (November 21) and Holiday Market (December 12). We'll have treasures for your holiday tables and special gifts for the giving. In the meantime, we'll bring you holiday recipes and other ideas...and we'd like your input!

Who's at the Market this Saturday: Our Vendor Roundup

It's our final regular Market of the season...of course, we have to special Markets in November and December, but this is the last regualr date of the 2009 season. We're so grateful to all of you who have supported us, our vendors, and our volunteers. It's been a great season.

So, who's coming tomorrow?

Cheverly Breadbasket

ChvBrew

Elk Run Vineyards

Pax River Alpacas

Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe

Cookies to Cocktails

Shlagel Farm

Rebert's Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand

Golden Leaf Farm

Martha's Jams

Clan Stewart Farm

and, of course, from the Hot Noodles -- our very own house band -- Charles & Kelly. They've played all season -- that's a lot of music! Make sure to tip them and let them know how much you've appreciated them this season! And remember, if you can come early (7:00am) or stay late (noon) to help setup or breakdown, we'd very much appreciate the extra volunteer hands!

See you at Cheverly Community Market tomorrow -- RAIN or SHINE!

Who's at the Market this Saturday? Martha's Jams, Clan Stewart and Cheverly Breadbasket!

Martha's Jams, Clan Stewart and Cheverly Breadbasket want to be part of your Sunday morning brunch, and they'll all be at Cheverly Community Market tomorrow. Pick up delicious jams and preserves, beautiful farm-fresh eggs and delicious bread at the Market, invite some friends for Sunday morning, and you have agreat Sunday morning. Or pick up your supplies Saturday, sleep in Sunday morning, brew some coffee, grab your papers and enjoy a lazy Sunday morning with a belly full of delicious, fresh, local food. Either way, you've got the ingredients for a great Sunday morning!

See you Saturday -- rain or shine -- at the Market!

Who's at the Market this Saturday? Cookies to Cocktails!

Whos' ready for some Halloween treats? Liz Esposito's Cookies to Cocktails will be bringing goodies to Cheverly Community Market tomorrow...they'll have pumpkin muffins, snickerdoodles, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate cake pops. And right now, Liz is baking up sugar cookies, cupcakes, and hopefully some scones! We can't wait!

See you tomorrow -- rain or shine -- at Cheverly Community Market!

Cheverly Community Market is on, Rain or Shine!

We've been unbelievably lucky with the weather this season -- a few sprinkles and a few Markets that we had to prepare to be indoors but the sun smiled on us. A whole season outsiude has been a great treat! Tomorrow, the forecasts indicate an 85% chance of rain. Our vendors are prepared to be inside or out, and we hope that you'll support them by showing up, too, rain or shine. If it's raining, we'll be in the Community Center. It's nice and dry, and you can hang out and listen to the band, enjoy fresh coffee and pastries and celebrate the end of our regular Market season with us. Once again, we're asking for community volunteers to help with setup and breakdown. If you can lend a hand early (7:00am) or stay at the end (noon), we'll be very grateful. Cheverly Community Market relies on our great volunteers to keep things running, and when we have the Market indoors, we need extra help.

See you tomorrow -- RAIN or SHINE -- at the Market!

Who's Coming to Market? Rebert Farm/Benny's Produce Stand and Golden Leaf Farms

Rebert's Farm/Benny's Produce Stand will be with us for the final Market of our regular season (don't forget about our two special Markets in November and December!) They'll have a fantastic selection of apples -- this time with the addition of fuji and granny smith varieties. They'll also have pears, a variety of winter squash, gourds, Indian corn, and fresh pressed cider. We love Rebert's apples -- we've tried all sorts of varieties in the past weeks and there hasn't been anything we've disliked. Make sure to pick up some squash, as well as some indian corn and gourds for decorating! We're also very excited about the return of Golden Leaf Farms! The bees have been busy, and we'll be enjoying the fruits of their labor this Saturday. Here's your chance to do your best Winnie the Pooh imitation!

See you at the Market!

What to do with...chestnuts

At the last Cheverly Community Market, Al Pong had some real treasures: gorgeous, juicy Asian pears, lovely plants and...chestnuts. For people who have lived in New York City, the smell of roasting chestnuts embodies the holiday season -- many a child has swooned at the smell emanating from corner vending carts as they get pulled through crowded streets. Personally, I'll always associate this -- one of my favorite odors -- with field trips to Lincoln Center in 5th and 6th grades. Heaven!

Chestnuts have been a treat since the 1450s, when they were eaten in the Piedmont region of Italy. In Louis XIV's court, they were made into marron glace -- glazed, candied chestnuts -- that are still enjoyed today. They're also commonly used in stuffings, preserves, puddings and sauces. Low in fat and calories, chestnuts are the only nuts that contain vitamin C.

There are a lot of great sources of information about chestnuts and some great recipes, too. Try cooks.com for a start and see where that leads!

We love to hear from our vendors! Here's a note from Eileen Shlagel of Shlagel Farms...

Hello Cheverly! The sun is finally shining again. I hope that it lasts until Saturday! We have covered up some of the more tender produce to protect it from these chilly mornings, so we will have all of the usual: collard greens and kale, turnips with greens attached, beets, cabbage, limas; shelled and unshelled, green beans, tomatoes, large and small, green, red and yellow, summer squash, winter squash to include butternut, acorn and spaghetti, broccoli, cider, mums, peppers; red, green and speciality, eggplant, and maybe a small amount of corn. If anyone would like a straw bale at $6.00 each to decorate their yard with, let me know and I'll bring them on my truck. See you on Saturday; rain or shine.

Shlagel Farms has great pumpkin patch activities through the month of October. Visit Saturday or Sunday, 10:00am-5:00pm (or during the week by appointment). For just $6/person, enjoy hayrides, a petting zoo, and a straw maze (for the kids). Bring old clothes and make a scarecrow, or pick your own pumpkin and paint it! Seasonal produce, mums and -- of course -- pumpkins are also available. Stop by their stand this weekend for a coupon for $1 discount off every admission, or go to their website for more details about this fun fall activity!

See you Saturday for our last regular Market of the season!

(and remember, we have two special Markets in November and December)

Who's Coming to Market? Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe!

This is Baruck. He's a big fan of ice cream. Market regulars Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe, to be specific. Well, Baruck is in luck this Saturday (and so are we)! Simple Pleasures will be with us for the final regular season Market this Saturday (remember: two special Markets coming up in November and December!) They'll have some very special fall flavors, including Sweet Potato Pecan, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Ginger, Apple, Sracciatella, Vanilla, Strawberry, and Chocolate. The pumpkin, sweet potato, and apple are produce from Shlagel Farms. Simple Pleasures will also have take -home container specials.... Five scoop sampler $5.00, Quart $8.00, and 1/2 gallon $16.00. Advance orders are available via email or telephone (301-809-6988).

See you this Saturday at the Market!

Who's Coming to Market this Week: Pax River Alpacas!

The alpacas are coming! The alpacas are coming!

Pax River Alpaca Farm is back for our final regular Market of the season (don't forget -- we have two special Markets in November and December!) The weather is finally right for these lovely animals to be comfortable outside at our Market. They're always popular with the kids! Pax River brings absolutely gorgeous yarns to us -- both natural and hand-dyed (some kool-aid dyed, too -- the process makes for vibrant colors). A few skeins of Pax River Alpaca yarn would make a lovely gift for any knitter on your list...and if you're a knitter yourself, this is the perfect time to get supplies for those hand-made holiday gifts. Pax River also has a wonderful children's book, hand-felted items (look for their tiny pumpkins!) and other wonderful treasures...it's definitely not too early to work on your holiday gift list!

See you Saturday at the Market!

Who's Coming to Market: Elk Run Vineyards!

Elk Run Vineyards joins us again for our last regular Market of the season (remember, we still have two special Markets -- Thanksgiving and Holiday -- left this year!) We are thrilled that they're joining us this Saturday. Elk Run Vineyards, named one of the Top 100 Wineries on the East Coast, has recently won many awards, including the 2009 Silver Ranking in the Maryland Governor's Cup and Gold Ranking in the World Wine Competition for their 2007 vintage Cabernet Franc, as well as 2009 Gold Rankings from the International Taster's Guild and the Winemasters Choice for their 2007 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon (see their website for a complete list of prizes.) Located in Mt. Airy, the vineyard has regular wine tastings and many other events, including the upcoming Annual Champagne Release (November 15) and Dickens Open House (December 5-6). Visit their website for details and tasting room hours. And keep an eye out for State Delegate Jolene Ivey and Market Manager Crystal Lal on Prince George's County Cable. They're being interviewed about the Market and legislation that Delegate Ivey is working on to improve rules concerning special permitting laws for wineries and their ability to sell at markets such as ours.

See you Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Chestnut Hill Honey available exclusively at the Market's ChvBrew

Our favorite coffee guy, ChvBrew's Dan Scott (a true foodie in his own right), loves family businesses. Last summer, his young daughter had a great lemonade stand at the Market. This year, we've been treated to another Scott family creation, Chestnut Hill Honey. Delicious, and available only at Cheverly Community Market. Stop by ChvBrew at the Market this Saturday -- enjoy a cup of delicious Mayorga coffee and pick up a jar or two of the best honey around!

(I'm enjoying some drizzled over Greek yogurt, nuts and dried fruit for breakfast!)

Photos from the Market

Photos from Saturday at Cheverly Community Market are being added to our flickr page right now! We have over 2,500 photos from the Market -- and we're adding more! We're also looking for your stories and photos. What do you do with the things you buy at the Market? See something interesting? Have a great conversation with a vendor that you'd like to share? Email us.

Lazy holiday weekend...

Thanks to everyone who braved a drizzly Saturday morning and made it out to the Market this weekend. We were especially grateful to the volunteers who came out early for setup and stayed late to put everything away. Photos will be posted on our flickr page soon! We got some wonderful treats this weekend -- chestnuts and juicy Asian pears from Al Pong, beautiful sweet potatoes, onions and apples from Rebert's, delicious red peppers from Shlagel, a lovely little pie from Clan Stewart (we got to Terry too late to get eggs!)... My favorite discovery from this Saturday's Market? Martha Allen's spiced blueberry jam, which I'm thoroughly enjoying on some toasted pumpkin-sunflower seed bread from Cheverly Breadbasket. This is a delicious breakfast!


The spice is lovely and subtle, and there are tons of berries in the jam. The bread has just the right pumpkin flavor, and the sunflower seeds are a really nice touch. And next to a press pot full of Mayorga coffee (available at the Market from ChvBrew), well. I can't think of a more delicious way to ward off a chilly October morning! -- Posted from the iPhone of Awesome

Late news...

Unfortunately, our favorite local baker, Liz Esposito of Cookies to Cocktails, had been felled by a nasty sinus infection and won't be able to bake tonight for tomorrow's Market. She will be back for our October 24 Market and promises special Halloween treats then. We're looking forward to that, and wish Liz a speedy recovery!


We'll still have lots of great food for you tomorrow. Cheverly Breadbasket will have delicious muffins and pastries, both sweet and savory. Of course, they'll also have wonderful breads from Firehook Bakery and tortillas and chips from Moctec. See you tomorrow at the Market! -- Posted from the iPhone of Awesome

More vendors announced for Saturday's Market

More vendors are on board for tomorrow morning's Market, and we're so excited to have them! Shlagel Farms brings a wonderful, wide variety of fresh produce to us every Market. Stock up for fall meals (and pick up a beautiful mum for your yard while you're at it!) Martha's Jams will be with us! Martha has delicious jams and preserves. They're delicious on your moring toast, but we like to use them in cooking, too. Try glazing pork from Clan Stewart with some preserves, and serving with homemade applesauce... Yum!

Clan Stewart will have delectable meats -- including pork and beef -- to round out your meals. Terry Moist also brings the best farm fresh eggs around. Clan Stewart always brings suprises, so make sure to visit early!

Al Pong will bring those delectable Asian pears and some absolutely lovely plants. Mr. Pong brings some of the most interesting varieties we've seen in this area, so make sure to stop by.

Remember: We're looking for extra volunteers for setup tomorrow morning (indoor Markets require more hands.) If you can help out, please make your way over to the Community Center tomorrow morning (around 7:00am). We don't need the Navy Seals, but if you're a strong, early riser who isn't afraid of getting wet and wants to do a good deed, we'd welcome you with open arms!

See you Saturday -- rain or shine -- at the Market!

Market's On, Rain or Shine!

Just a reminder...our vendors will be coming to the Market rain or shine and we'll be waiting for you! We know one of the things that you love about Cheverly Community Market is sharing a beautiful morning outdoors with your friends and neighbors. This year, we've been very lucky -- all our Markets have been outside. The weather forecasts look iffy for Saturday morning -- we're hearing 66% chance of rain right now. Lucky for us, we have a plan to bring the Market to you rain or shine! If the weather is bad Saturday morning, come on over to the Community Center -- we'll be in the gym. The indoors Markets are always different and lots of fun! Now, we need a little help from you... We're looking for extra volunteers for setup tomorrow morning (indoor Markets require more hands.) If you can help out, please make your way over to the Community Center tomorrow morning (around 7:00am). We don't need the Navy Seals, but if you're a strong, early riser who isn't afraid of getting wet and wants to do a good deed, we'd welcome you with open arms! (photo: Nickolas Muray, McCall's Magazine, 1943)

Who's Coming to Market This Week?

We're really looking forward to this Saturday's Cheverly Community Market back in our home at the Community Center. We know you are, too! This week, Rebert Farm/Benny's Produce Stand will have a terrific variety of apples, pears, winter squash, grapes (!) and fresh apple cider. How about roasting some squash with apples and making a sauce that features reduced apple cider? Serve it with wild rice and a fresh green salad and you have a perfect fall dinner. Add a bottle of wine, some grapes and sliced pears for desert, and you have an amazing meal. Cookies to Cocktails will have fantastic fall treats for you, including delectable muffins to start your day, gingersnaps, coconut macaroons, Halloween-themed sugar cookies, cupcakes (vanilla and returning favorite red velvet), cake pops (chocolate and red velvet) and pumpkin pie pops! Just typing that made me hungry... Our new coffee purveyor, ChvBrew, features Mayorga Coffee and Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea for your Market enjoyment. Cheverly Breadbasket will have wonderful breads and pastries from Firehook Bakery. And, of course, music by our very own homegrown house band, The Hot Noodles. We're also looking forward to the Cheverly Master Gardener's monthly Plant Clinic -- it's a great opportunity to get some expert advice on preparing your plants for colder weather! More details as we get them...we'll keep you up-to-date about what's in store for you this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Recipe: Pumpkin Dip

Here's a super simple recipe for a dip that is terrific with the bountiful apples we're enjoying right now! Pumpkin Dip Whip a block of cream cheese until very smooth. Add 1/4 c. brown sugar and continue whipping until the sugar is well incorporated. Then add 3/4 c. unsweetened pumpkin puree (canned works fine, but if you make it yourself, so much the better!), 1 tbs. cinnamon (or more to taste) and 1 tbs. maple syrup. Whip until it's light and very smooth. Serve with sliced apples (toss those slices in diluted lemon juice to prevent browning) or other seasonal fruits. It's also really great with gingersnaps, in crepes... What are you cooking with your Fall Market purchases? Let us know!

See you this Saturday at the Market!

(and don't forget, we're back at our regular location next to the Community Center on Forest Road)

Photos from the Market

We've posted photosfrom today's Market on the Cheverly Community Market flickr page. Did you take photos today? We'd love your contributions to the pool -- we're closing in on 2,500 photos from our Market!

Also, our very favorite local band (and our regular Market house band), the Hot Noodles, plays tonight at the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt. We hope to see some familiar Market faces tonight!

Thank You, Cheverly!

Wow! What a fantastic Market on Cheverly Avenue today. Many thanks to everyone who came out, especially our organizers, volunteers, Cheverly Police, Public Works, Mayor and Town Council, community groups and, of course, our wonderful vendors. It was amazing to see so many new faces -- people who had never been to Cheverly Community Market before. We hope that you come to see us at our regular Community Center location, too! We'd like to hear from you. Did you like the Market on Cheverly Avenue? Are you a regular, or was thus your first visit? Please let us know what you think. We love being part of the community, and need your input to make this the Market that you want. Photos will be posted on our flickr page shortly! See you October 10 at the Community Center for the next Cheverly Community Market!