Reminder: No Cheverly Community Market this Saturday

Remember that we do not have a market this Saturday -- visit the Cheverly Flea Market inside the Community Center. 

We'll be back in full swing on Saturday, October 12, and we can't wait to share the morning -- and Oktoberfest -- with all of you.

Looking forward to great Thanksgiving & Holiday Markets...we need you, vendors!

Our Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets are fast approaching and we're looking for the best locally handcrafted products to share with our customers this season!

Are you a local (within a 100-mile radius of Cheverly) artist or craftsperson, a specialty baker, a gardener? Want to sell your wares at Cheverly Community Market's Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets this November and December? Now's the time to get your application together! These two special Markets -- always the biggest of our season -- are a great way to sell your handmade wares! In past seasons, we've featured handmade jewelry, pottery, drawings, blankets, quilted goods, metal work, glassware, handspun alpaca yarn, baking gifts, wreaths, small-batch cosmetics and skincare, and many other unique, beautiful crafts and gift items in addition to an amazing lineup of our regular vendors. In fact, some of our Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets vendors have become very popular regular season vendors! Our customers are engaged and eager to spend their dollars with small, local businesses. 

Our Annual Special Indoor Markets promote and celebrate our Mission of supporting fresh food from local sources, as well as encouraging local businesses and arts with additional space for craftspeople and artisans. Last year we had 45-55 vendors for each special Market -- our biggest events to date -- and we anticipate similar occupancy this holiday season. Recognized as one of the 101 Best Farmer’s Markets in America by The Dish, and earned the #1 spot in Maryland (#16 nationally) in American Farmland Trust’s I Love My Farmer’s Market contest for 2013, our Thanksgiving and Holiday markets are sure to be a big draw. If you know potential vendors, please share this message -- we're always on the lookout for new items to bring to our fantastic Cheverly customers. The application deadline is October 21, so get busy!

Thanksgiving Market November 23 

Holiday Market December 14 

The Markets are held at the Cheverly Community Center, 6401 Forest Road in Cheverly. Both Markets run from 8:00am until noon.

Download our Special Markets Application and deliver it by October 21 -- we're looking forward to two amazing markets to end our 2013 season and we hope you'll join us!

Ten thousand seven hundred and forty-nine...

That is a big number. Any guess about what we're talking about?

We have 10,749 photos on our flickr page, encompassing markets and special events since we started in 2008. Take a look -- see what we've seen over the years!

Incidentally, Cheverly Community Market Communications Manager Kathryn Andrews will be showing some of her favorite photos from the Market at FotoWeekDC's pop-up FotoBazaar in Washington, DC, October 5-6, at 51 N Street, NE. Stop by and see some of her favorite shots!

Thank you for a wonderful start to autumn!

Thank you to everyone -- vendors, community groups, volunteers, customers -- who joined us for what may have been one of the best Markets we've had since opening in 2008! It was the perfect way to welcome autumn, and we certainly fell in love with Cheverly all over again!

We'll be posting photos soon. We now have a three-week break until the next Market. We'll be back on October 12 with all sorts of wonderful vendors, groups, and special events...including the St. Ambrose Men's Club Oktoberfest, right after the Market! And don't forget -- our two annual special Markets are just around the corner. If you are interested in becoming a vendor for the Thanksgiving or Holiday Markets, download the guidelines and application on our website. We are a producer-only market, and we're looking forward to sharing your work with Cheverly! The application deadline is October 21, so get to work!

As always, thanks for sharing your Saturday morning with us at Cheverly Community Market!

Fall in Love with Cheverly Community Market this Saturday: the big lineup (September 21)

We have a lot to celebrate -- the change of seasons, the gorgeous produce that is in season locally right now, Maryland wines, being named #1 in Maryland (and #16 in the United States) in American Farmland Trust's 2013 I Love My Farmer's Market contest, the fact that three new vendors and a new-to-us community program are with us this Saturday...There's a lot to Fall in Love with this weekend at Cheverly Community Market!

(The vagaries of small business and community organizations mean that this lineup is subject to change. Our vendors and groups do everything they can to be with us, but occasionally, they have to cancel an appearance.)

VENDORS
Alcoba Coffee Beans (and honey!)
All in the Details
Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm
Cafe Ambrosia
Cakes by Ruthann
Carol's Niece
Cheverly Breadbasket
CrossKrafts
Fearless Threads
Gigi's Quilts Sorry! Gigi has cancelled for Saturday
Gone Greens NEW VENDOR
Linganore Winecellars
Little Gifts Favors NEW VENDOR
Lynda Jones-Burns
Martha's Jams
Mary D's Creations NEW VENDOR
Natural Nick's Produce
Natural-holic with Scents
New Starts Farm
Shlagel Farms
Tasha's Cookies & Treats
Two Oceans Seafood
Waltz Family Farm

COMMUNITY GROUPS
CERT Sorry! CERT has cancelled for Saturday.
CPRC - membership drive and annual costume swap drop-off
Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek
Prince George's County Master Gardener's Program
Prince George's County Department of Public Health Healthy, Active Living Program
Progressive Cheverly

ENTERTAINMENT/ACTIVITIES
CPRC Story Time -- 11:30am on the Community Center steps
Eleanor Roosevelt High School Dixieland Jazz Combo
UMD Extension Loan-A-Layer Program

Thirty Thirty-two vendors, community groups, activities, and music to start autumn in Cheverly off the right way! Come early, have breakfast, enjoy the band, learn about some of the great groups in our community, and shop, shop, shop! Don't forget to stop by the big green Cheverly Community Market tent to meet our board members and  share your thoughts on what we do. You can also purchase reusable Market logo bags ($2 each or three for $5) and buy Cheverly Community Market gift certificates in any denomination -- great gifts for your Market friends.

We can't wait to share our Saturday morning with you -- Fall in Love this weekend at Cheverly Community Market!

This week at the Market: Shlagel Farms

It's harvest time at Shlagel Farms, and we are the lucky beneficiaries of all the heard work that's going on at the farm!

 Visit Eileen (and her local helper, Micah) this Saturday for wonderful locally grown squash, three types of zucchini, three types of eggplant, green, red and speciality peppers, tomatoes, and corn...

 the first pumpkins of autumn...

 ...and brown eggs, apples, mums, kale, collards, swiss chard, beets, onions, cucumbers and green beans...all local, healthy and delicious. We have thousands of recipes featuring these great ingredients on our Pinterest page. Need reusable bags to bring all your Market purchases home? Visit the big green Market tent! We're running a special on our logo bags -- $2 each or 3 bags for $5. Fall in Love with Food this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

This week at the Market: Martha's Jams

Do you save up little memories of different times of the year -- the delicate fresh smell of grass in spring, the way light feels on your cheek in the summer, the sensation of those first cold nights that you need an extra blanket at night,  the cold in your lungs and the sound of snow falling in winter? We save them up to recall throughout the year -- the simplest memories are the best.

Looking for a way to save summer in a jar? We can think of no better way to do it than opening a jar of preserves from Martha's Jams. Cheverly's own Martha Allen lovingly selects the best local produce and makes small batches of delicious jams, preserves, and fruit butters. This week, Martha has a special treat for us: peach butter. Keep summer in your heart through the colder months with Martha's Jams!

New Vendor: Gone Greens

We got a great email this week -- a request to appear at Cheverly Community Market from Gone Greens of Hyattsville. Launched in 2012, the company came about as a result of the work that owner Nessa McClain did as she wrote the cookbook The Worlds Gone Collard Greens. 

The company has ventured into developing innovative methods for the home cooks, specialty stores, restaurants, and caterers to experience collard greens on a totally different level; collard greens are an everyday love affair. Gone Greens is motivated to transform the collard green into a daily cooking staple, comparable to broccoli, spinach and lettuce. 

Gone Greens offers collard green-based condiments, made fresh daily from locally sourced ingredients. The Pesto, Chutney, Chili Paste and Pico de Gallo Flavor Blends are great multicultural condiments that are wonderful addition to the American meal experience. See descriptions for the full line of products on the Gone Greens website, then stop by and meet Nessa this Saturday. She'll have great tips for bringing collard greens to your table this fall. 

This week at the Market: artisinal paper crafts and body care

image via Little Favors Gifts

We're very happy to welcome another new craft vendor to Cheverly Community Market this week: Little Gifts Favors. Shalonda Askew, of Hyattsville, handcrafts paper goods, including personalized cards, home decor, and party decor, as well as digital designs. Please help us welcome Shalonda to the Market family this weekend and stop by her tent to stock up on unique cards and paper gifts.

Looking for wonderful handcrafted soaps and body care items to transition between seasons? Look no further than Natural-holic with Scents at Cheverly Community Market this weekend. Wanda Butler makes beautiful soaps, and also sells t-shirts and other gift items. Visit Wanda and stock up on items that will make your skin comfortable as the seasons change!

This week at the Market: Waltz Family Farm

As colder air begins to build and the days grow shorter, we start thinking more about hearty meals that include rich, delectable meats -- roasts, stews, braises... This Saturday, visit the Waltz Family Farm tent for beautiful beef and pork roasts, ground pork, lamb and beef, bacon, and -- one of Laurie's favorites -- smoked pork chops! 

Laurie will also have a variety of sausage, including Chorizo Sausage Grillers, Bratwurst rope-style sausages, and Sage Breakfast Links. Making pies? Pick up leaf lard -- it's the key to the very best pie crust you will ever taste.

This week at the Market: Alcoba Coffee Beans...and Honey!

We're happy to welcome Jose Castillo of Alboca Coffee to Cheverly Community Market again this Saturday. Jose locally roasts beautiful Guatemalan coffee beans in three roasts: Dark, Light, and Mixed, and they're available either whole or ground. The crown jewel of South American coffee production, Guatamalen coffee beans are widely known for a wide variety and many interesting characteristics. Read all about Guatemalan coffee growing here. And visit us on Pinterest for coffee-based recipes and latte art tips & techniques (or this site for a terrific rundown of brewing techniques), as well as recipes and more that will help you get the most out of your Market purchases.

image via PlantTeacher.com

This week, Mr. Castillo has a special treat in store for us: locally harvested honey. This is honey that comes from the hives in the Castillo's own backyard -- a real early autumn treat! Make sure to stop by and pick up a 1lb. jar -- this is the only week that honey will be offered at Alcoba Coffee!

Community at the Market: Progressive Cheverly and CERT

One of the things we love most about Cheverly is the wealth of engaged and active community groups.  This morning on the blog, we feature the final two of six community groups that will be on hand at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday. There's a lot to see, do, and think about this weekend!

Progressive Cheverly promotes economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, a sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil society and the democratic political process. Make sure to stop by and visit with these politically active folks!

Please note: Due to scheduling conflicts, CERT has had to cancel their appearance at the Market this Saturday. We look forward to having them with us again very soon. We do want to share news about Public Safety Day, September 25:

Cheverly Police Department 6th Annual PUBLIC SAFETY DAY

Wednesday, September 25, 2013, from 5:30-8:00PM  Town Park, 6401 Forest Road

FREE FOOD, MUSIC, POLICE & FIRE DEMONSTRATIONS, including a POLICE HELICOPTER, MOTORCYCLES, HORSES, AND an exciting re-creation of an EMERGENCY VEHICLE EXTRACTION by Berwyn Heights Fire Department. Come see “Mandy the Clown” and BALLOON TWISTERS for the kids!!!

PRIMARY SPONSER: 3 BROTHERS of Bladensburg

(hotdogs, chips. And candy for the kids!!)

Cheverly CERT (Cheverly Preparedness Network CERT Program) focuses on basic home preparedness for disasters, natural and otherwise and getting training (by firefighters, EMS personnel and other experts) for community members to assist in emergencies. Visit Tom Ruyle at the CERT table this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market and learn about upcoming training sessions, emergency preparations, and activities that will be taking place during September's National Preparedness Month.

Are you part of a local community group that would like to appear at the Market? Visit our website for community group policy and the application (special markets application here). We love to support the Town by sharing our space when we can!  

This week at the Market: Natural Nick's Produce

Make sure to stop by and visit Natural Nick's Produce this Saturday. Dominick will have Lorz Italian and Siberian Heirloom Garlic, Amaretti Angelina, Biscotti Antoinetta, Baklava Alexandra, Fruit Conserves, Blueberry, Strawberry, Threeberry & Adriano Fig Conserve! 

If you haven't already tried Natural Nick's Tomato Basil Sauce, we highly recommend it -- garlicky and rich...and terrific on crusty bread. 

If harvest is timely, Natural Nick's Produce will also have Adriano Figs, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes and Pomodoro Rio Grande Roma tomatoes grown from Italian seed. Did you get figs at our last Market? They were some of the best we've ever eaten...once we stopped taking photos of them! We just quartered them and enjoyed them with a dab of honeyed goat cheese. Few other foods seem so decadent.

This week at the Market: Have breakfast with us under the trees!

We have a great idea for you...how about breakfast at the Market this Saturday?

Gather your family and a few friends (don't forget your shopping bags!) and head over to the Community Center. Get fresh hot coffee from Cafe Ambrosia and a danish or croissant from Cheverly Breadbasket.

Looking for something that will really wake you up? Try a spicy Jamaican patty and rich coffee from Cakes by Ruthann.

And we can't forget one of our favorite Market breakfast options: the terrific oatmeal cookies from Tasha's Cookies & Treats for breakfast -- chewy and satisfying, and great with a juice from Cafe Ambrosia or some Reberts cider...

Once you have breakfast in hand, head over to our cafe tables -- right down the center of the Market so you don't miss anything -- and enjoy breakfast with your family, friends, and neighbors. It's the best place in town to catch up on a Saturday morning!

We have great music for your Market breakfast this weekend -- the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Dixieland Combo will be joining us again. These Market favorites are students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School and we're always thrilled when they join us. We marvel at their talent!

What could be better than an early autumn breakfast at Cheverly Community Market? Bring a sweater -- it'll be a little chilly in the morning -- as well as your appetite and your shopping bags. We'll see you over the breakfast table this Saturday!

This week at the Market: Rebert Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand

Boy, oh boy, are we excited for this... Reberts Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand is bringing fall to Cheverly this weekend! The Reberts will have all our favorite apples, including Gala, Honey Crisp, Autumn Crisp, Macintosh, Gingergold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Smokehouse, Ida Red, Empire, and Cortland.

They'll also have other autumnal delights: pears, and fresh pressed cider, as well as a final farewell to summer, the last peaches of the year.

Community at the Market: University of Maryland Extension's Loan-A-Layer Project

In many areas of the country, people are starting to keep chickens in their backyards. Even urban and suburban municipalities are changing their ordinances to allow residents to keep hens. Though it's not legal here in Cheverly -- yet -- local residents are interested in how keeping chickens in their backyards might work. Thanks to Dave Kneipp, the University of Maryland Extension Loan-A-Layer Program will be on hand this Saturday at the Market!

Have you wondered about keeping chickens? Learn about the ins and outs this weekend. Experience small-scale egg production before making the commitment to buy hens, coops, and equipment. The Loan-A-Layer Program will bring a small pasture coop that houses several hens. It's the same type of equipment that many people are using in their backyards. An Educator will be on hand to explain all aspects of layer production and answer your questions. Feed and water the chickens, collect eggs, and learn about how these small-scale coops work. Many thanks to Dave Kneipp and to University of Maryland Extension for making this demonstration possible!

This week at the Market: New Starts Farm

Fall in Love with the gorgeous colors of early autumn this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Longtime vendor Tom Baldwin of New Starts Farm brings beautiful locally grown flowering plants, potted herbs, sunflowers, garlic, and handmade rustic birdhouses to us.

 Celebrate the change of season with us this Saturday!

This week at the Market: Linganore Winecellars

A selection of Maryland Governor's Cup
 winners from Linganore Winecellars

Please help us welcome Linganore Winecellars back to Cheverly Community Market this Saturday! They were a big hit in August, and we're happy to have them back as we greet autumn this weekend. This is a great chance to Fall in Love with Maryland wines!

Berrywine Plantations/Linganore Winecellars, the largest winery in Maryland, is a family-operated vineyard and winery located near New Market, Maryland. Established by Jack and Lucille Aellen in 1971, the winery opened in 1976. In 1977, Linganore Winecellars held Maryland’s first wine festival, and in 1978, they introduced the state’s first semi-sweet grape wines. Since 1982, Linagnore Winecellars' schedule has expanded to include five major festivals and more than 20 smaller indoor events throughout the year. In 1983, recognizing the growing interest in regionally produced wines, they worked to establish the first federally-designated grape growing area in Maryland, the Linganore Viticultural Area, which encompasses 90 square miles of land around the winery in the heart of Maryland. In 2011, power supplied to the winery was converted to 100% wind power, leading the winery to win 2011 Green Business of the Year, in the small to midsize business category, from the Baltimore Business Journal. And if you have a little extra time, read their blog -- it's full of fascinating information about sustainable vinticulture practices.

Melding German-Swiss winemaking heritage with Italian winemaking roots and always conscious of their customers' tastes, Linganore Winecellars has created a splendid variety of wines which have won over 200 medals in national and international competitions. Producing over 30 wines, ranging from stylish white and red dinner wines to elegant semi-sweet grape, fruit, and honey wines, the winery enjoys a reputation as a fun place to visit and a relaxed place to sample wines in a casual setting.

The wines are broken down into three basic categories: Dry Wines, Sweet Wines, and Fruit Wines (including the highly regarded Medieval Mead and Tej honey wines). Each major category is broken down into further subcategories so you can narrow your search. Visit Linganore Winecellars at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday and Fall in Love with great Maryland wines!

Community at the Market: Master Gardeners & Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek

The Prince George's County Master Gardeners are back at Cheverly Community Market for their monthly Plant Clinic this Saturday, and what a perfect time for their visit! Thinking about participating in the Cheverly Department of Public Works tree program? Get advice on what will work best in your yard from local experts. This is a great opportunity to get help from people with real green thumbs. Bring plants or photos and sit down with the experts -- they can help you identify problems and find solutions, as well as helping with some creative thinking about what to grow here in Cheverly!

Also be sure to visit Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek on Saturday to learn about this amazing place and local natural delights:

• The latest news about nature in and around Cheverly
• Tips on how to care for the environment right in our own back (and front) yards
• Information about FLBC, the hands-on education and advocacy organization working to restore the health of Lower Beaverdam Creek and the Anacostia River 
• Information about Cheverly's own Green Infrastructure Plan, helping preserve, restore, and sustain our natural environment

Fall in love with your local community groups...this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!