Today's the day!

Interested in joining Cheverly Community Market as a vendor during our 2013 Thanksgiving or Holiday Markets? Today is the final day to submit your application! 

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.

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.

Get the guidelines and application here...

and make sure to submit today!

Thank you for a tremendous end to our regular season...now on to the Special Markets!

What a wonderful way to wind down the regular season for 2013 -- perfect late October weather, wonderful people and music, terrific food -- we could't have asked for more! Thank you to everyone who donned those extra layers this morning and came out. Special thanks to our wonderful volunteers, who work throughout the season to make Cheverly Community Market the treasure it is. And to our vendors, community groups, and entertainers, too!

We're gearing up for two great special annual events to round out 2013 -- our Thanksgiving Market (November 23) and our Holiday Market (December 14), both 8am to noon at the Cheverly Community Center. Cheverly Community Market is a great place to prepare for the holidays and support local farmers, cooks, bakers, and craftspeople. This holiday season, we hope you buy local and buy handmade! If you're interested in joining us as a vendor, take a look at our guidelines and application. The application deadline is Monday, October 28.

In the coming weeks, we'll use the blog to share information on how to pre-order all sorts of delectable holiday treats. Our vendors will offer preorders for oysters and heritage turkeys from Two Oceans Seafood/Carriage House Farm, hams from Waltz Family Farm, rum cakes from Cakes by Ruthann, and floral arrangements from All in the Details Floral Design, as well as Christmas trees, Market gift certificates and more! We'll also highlight great recipes for the holidays, as well as news about vendors and community groups joining us in November and December. So, though the regular portion of our 2013 season is now in the books, the holiday fun is just getting started at Cheverly Community Market. We look forward to sharing the season with you!

Celebrate the end of our regular 2013 season with us this Saturday!

In early May, we opened our 2013 season with our thousandth blog post and a wonderful array of vendors and community groups...this season we've won accolades (for which we're very grateful), added more vendors, community groups, and musicians, said goodbye to old friends and hello to new friends... Now it's the end of October and we close out our regular Market season with an equally great lineup of old friends and new. And while some of our longtime vendors won't be with us this weekend -- Cheverly Breadbasket will certainly be missed -- the rest of our vendors (especially our bakers) have stepped up and will have delicious offerings to warm you on a cold late fall morn. So bundle up Saturday, join your friends and neighbors for breakfast, entertainment, and shopping for the best in locally produced food (don't forget those pumpkins!), drink, and wares, and visit Cheverly Community Market as we celebrate the season!

VENDORS

Alcoba Coffee Beans

All in the Details Floral Design

Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm

Cafe Ambrosia

Cakes by Ruthann

CrossKrafts

Martha's Jams

Mary D's Creations

Natural Nick's Produce

New Starts Farm

Romano Winery

Shlagel Farms

Tasha's Cookies & Treats

Two Oceans Seafood

Waltz Family Farm

COMMUNITY GROUPS

CERT (tbc)

Friends of Lower Beavercreek Dam

Webeleos of Cheverly Cub Scout Pack 257

ENTERTAINMENT

music by Michael Severner  & Friends

CPRC storytime (11:30am on the Community Center steps)

A special THANK YOU to the many volunteers who have helped us throughout the season -- especially Mayor Mike Callahan and his amazing crew. Cheverly Community Market simply would not exist without the efforts of so many people who demonstrate their support throughout our season.

Make sure to visit the big green market tent to meet our board members and managers or share your thoughts and find out how you can get involved in Cheverly Community Market. We have reusable shopping bags (just $2 each or three for $5) as well as Cheverly Community Market gift certificates available in any denomination -- a very thoughtful gift for your Market friends. And don't forget, if you're interested in joining us as a vendor for our special Thanksgiving (November 23) and Holiday (December 14) Markets, the application deadline has been extended to Monday, October 28. Get the guidelines and application here.

We're looking forward to sharing Saturday morning -- and celebrating the end of our regular season -- with YOU...see you at the Market!

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

What can we say? Rebert Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand will have a great variety of apples, fresh pressed cider, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions at Cheverly Community Market. 

This produce is so beautiful that we really don't have words. Well, maybe a few words...like delicious, scrumptious, delightful, tempting, exquisite, luscious, enticing, mouthwatering, ambrosial, heavenly, yummy... Okay, we do have some words for how we feel about the amazing produce that the Rebert brothers bring to us. Stop by this Saturday and start your own list! 

Looking for some fun caramel or candied apple recipes for Halloween week? We've got some great ones  on our Pinterest recipes page!

This week at the Market: Mary D's Creations

Mary D. Lee of Mary D's Creations handcrafts jewelry, crochet work and sewn items in her Hyattsville home. What started as a hobby and gifts for family members became a business in 2009, when she learned about craft fairs. This Saturday, we invite you to visit Ms. Lee at Cheverly Community Market for unique earrings, bracelets, necklaces, key chains, and wristlets, as well as hand crocheted items including sweater sets for babies and a few sweaters for older children and market bags, hot pads, and dishcloth sets.

Community Market: The WEBELOS of Cheverly Cub Scout Troop 257

Join the WEBELOS of Cheverly Cub Scout Pack 257 this Saturday at Cheverly Market to learn more about the special DEA Red Ribbon anti-drugs outreach program, and to get information on becoming a member of the Scouts in Cheverly!

Music from the Market: Michael Severner & Friends

 

We're very glad to have multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, harmonica, bass, tres, mandolin, uke and pretty much anything with strings) and singer Michael Severner with us to round out our regualr 2013 season! Michael has joined us with his band, Making Gin, and with his son, a very talented musician in his own right. This week, Michael will be bringing special guests and we're certainly looking forward to hearing them! Grab a cup of coffee from Cafe Ambrosia and a treat from Cakes by Ruthann, Tasha's Cookies & Treats, or Nartural Nick's Produce, and enjoy some great local music at our cafe tables while catching up with your friends and neighbors. We couldn't think of a nicer way to spend a Saturday morning in late October in Cheverly!

This week at the Market: Tasha's Cookies & Treats

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...

We are big fans of the cakey cookies, brownies and other treats that Natasha Williams brings to us in her big truck with the pink flowers! The oatmeal raisin is wonderful -- moist and chewy with lots of flavor (and you can feel pretty good about it as a breakfast food, to boot). Actually, truth be told, we haven't had a single cookie that we didn't enjoy from Tasha's. Come on over on Saturday morning and see what all the fuss is about -- pick up some lunchbox treats for the coming week or enjoy a mini-reberllion breakfast. You'll be glad you did!

This week at the Market: Two Oceans Seafood

Visit Gaylord Clark of Two Oceans Seafood at Cheverly Community Market this week. 

Gaylord brings delicious salmon, smoked salmon, mahi mahi, halibut, ahi, scallops, chesapeake rockfish, and cod for wonderful fish, chicken, gorgeous farm-fresh eggs, and other items from their farm in Stevenson, Maryland. 

In 2003, after 18 years living and working in the Pacific Northwest, Gaylord and his wife, Lee Ann, returned with their two daughters from Seattle to the family farm outside of Baltimore. In the same year, they started the company which has become Two Oceans True Foods, Inc. At the heart of the company are two distinct businesses with a common purpose: healthy, sustainable foods of the highest quality. With that purpose in mind, the farm grows heritage and broad-breasted turkeys and free-range chickens for meat and eggs; and the seafood business which derives from Gaylord’s more than 30 years of involvement in commercial fisheries on both the East and West coasts. He continues to participate in the commercial salmon fisheries with our vessel, the Jack of Hearts, in Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the world’s largest, sustainable wild sockeye runs.

image via Mother Nature Network

Two Oceans/Carriage House Farms is also taking orders now for Heritage Turkeys for Thanksgiving! Make sure to visit Gaylord this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market to place those orders and stock up on delectable seafood. We'll thrilled to announce that we'll also be offering special orders of oysters from Two Oceans for both Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets. Details will be available in the coming weeks, so start searching those recipes!

Community at the Market: CPRC Storytime

Cheverly Parents Resource Center joins us once more for the final CPRC Storytime of our 2013 season with a classic Halloween book, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything. Written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd, this favorite tells the story of a brave woman who does not let her imagination get the best of her one dark night. Children love participating in this story by making the sounds and voices. Bring your little ghouls, ghosts, and goblins (and princesses, too!) to Storytime at 11:30am on the Community Center steps. Looking for story-related activities to do with your children? There are some great ideas here and here.

A very special thank you to Deborah Bouvier and all of the fantastic CPRC readers throughout the season. Storytime is special to all of us.

This week at the Market: Romano Winery

We are very excited to welcome Romano Winery back to Cheverly Community Market this Saturday. An immediate hit with our customers this season, Romano Winery is Prince George's County's first and only winery, and they are truly a family affair. You might also remember the Romanos from the early days of Cheverly Community Market, when they joined us as Golden Leaf Farms and brought really wonderful local honey to us. The farm grew up and became a wonderful local vineyard, and in 2008, the Romanos harvested their first grapes. Commercial production started in 2010, and we are thrilled to have Joseph and Jo-Ann with us again, this time with wonderful local wine!

Visit Jo-Ann Romano and Romano Winery this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market and stock up on Prince George's County local, delicious Maryland wine for the holidays!

This week at the Market: Shlagel Farms

So much delicious produce to keep you warm and nourished during these cold days and nights! This week, visit Shlagel Farms at Cheverly Community Market for peppers, eggplant, kale and collard greens, swiss chard, potatoes, sweet potatoes, hard squash in several varieties, cabbage, beets, turnips, pumpkins, lima beans, onions, leeks, radishes, and carrots, as well as delicious brown eggs, mums, gourds, and more! Need inspiration or just some new ideas on how to cook your favorites? Visit us on Pinterest. We've got the motherlode of great seasonal recipes to share with you!

This week at the Market: Cakes by Ruthann

UPDATE: Cakes by Ruthann must really love us, because she is bringing a bounty of delicious autumn offerings in addition to what we posted yesterday! Visit Cakes by Ruthann for pumpkin goodies, pumpkin cakes, pies, and cookies, as well as sorrel drink and ginger beer. And if you're interested in ordering 6" or 8” cakes for Thanksgiving or Christmas, talk to Andrea this Saturday at the Market. We'll also have ordering details on the blog next week!

Visit Cakes by Ruthann at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday for delectable island-inspired treats to warm you on a chilly morning! Andrea and Nicky will have hot Jamaican patties -- we know many of you are great fans of the spicy beef and the chicken. Cakes by Ruthann will also have those wonderful rum cakes, as well as rich Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. If you haven't tried these treats yet, you are in for something truly special, so make sure to stop by!

This week at the Market: All in the Details Floral Design

 

All In The Details Floral Design will be at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday with a variety of wonderful Halloween- and autumn-inspired fresh floral arrangements using mostly locally grown flowers. Kira tells us that she had a great time at our October 12 market, and that she's looking forward to seeing all of you on October 26, and she has a special message:

Holiday season is here and this final regular season Market is a great time for people to pre-order holiday floral decor and centerpieces. Flowers also make great gifts. I will have gift certificates available at the Market as well. 

For returning customers, if you refer me to someone and he or she purchases an arrangement from me, you'll receive 5% off your next bouquet or arrangement.

See you Saturday!
Kira Barker
All In the Details Floral Design

Make sure to visit Kira this Saturday and pick up some flowers for your home or to take to someone you care about. You'll be happy you did!

This week at the Market: Natural Nick's Produce

Natural Nick's Produce is at the Cheverly Community Market again this Saturday and we can't wait!  Natural Nick's Produce will have Lorz Italian Heirloom Garlic, Amaretti Angelina, Biscotti Antoinetta, Baklava Alexandra, Fruit Conserves, Blueberry, Strawberry, Threeberry & Adriano Fig Conserve, as well as that wonderful Natural Nick's Tomato Basil Sauce. If harvest is timely, Dominick will also have Heirloom Cherry Roma Tomatoes and Pomodoro Rio Grande Roma tomatoes grown from Italian seed. 

Make sure to stop by Natural Nick's at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday and taste food grown as it should be: "Using only organic seed and organic fertilizer, as nature intended."

This week at the Market: CrossKrafts

Cheverly's own Helen Crosskey will bring her CrossKrafts collection to Cheverly Community Market this Saturday. She makes hats, jewelry, clothing, and more wonderful things to keep you (or a very fortunate someone) cozy and stylish this season. Make sure to stop by and see her work!

Special Message: Special Markets application deadline extended!

We're very happy to announce that our application deadline for our 2013 Special Markets has been extended to Monday, October 28. If you've been on the fence about joining us this holiday season, now's the time to take the plunge! The guidelines and application are available here.

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.

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.

Community at the Market: Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek

It can be really easy to take our surroundings here in Cheverly for granted. Beautiful trees, lovely paths, and lots of suburban wildlife can sometimes be easy to overlook. Easy to overlook until you don't have those resources any longer. The Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek works to keep our local natural resources as sustainable, clean, and healthy as possible, and you can help. Visit the FoLBDC table for all sorts of great information on our  surroundings here in town:

• 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
• What does the county Rain Check program mean to you?
• Information about FLBC, our own hands-on education and advocacy organization working to restore the health of Lower Beaverdam Creek and the Anacostia River (www.friendsoflowerbeaverdam.org)
• Information about Cheverly's own Green Infrastructure Plan, helping preserve, restore, and sustain our natural environment (www.greencheverly.org)

You can shop the Market and also put in an hour or more at the October 26 work party. Meet us at the south end of Cheverly Avenue -- you'll see the FLBC banner and sign-in table.

This week at the Market: Alcoba Coffee

We're coffee drinkers. There's not a morning here that doesn't begin with a cup of coffee, or, better yet, a rich espresso. Iced in the summer or steaming hot the rest of the year, we're big fans. During Cheverly Community Market's 2013 season, we've become big fans of Jose Castillo and his family, and of Alcoba Coffee Beans. We know that many of you have, as well. Visit Jose this Saturday at the Market for locally roasted Guatemalan coffee beans, which some say are the best of all South American coffees. Jose will also have beautiful handmade Agave bags. Make sure to stop by and smell the beans...we know you'll want to take some home!

This week at the Market: New Starts Farm

We're so glad that Tom Baldwin of New Starts Farm will be back with us this Saturday. His smiling face is one of the things that make autumn at Cheverly Community Market so special!

Visit Tom at the Market this weekend for fall herbs and plants (ornamental cabbage/kale), gourds, ornamental corn, and other beautiful items to make your home beautiful and fragrant with the rich smells of autumn.

This week at the Market: Waltz Family Farm

 

We always love getting updates from our vendors telling us what our customers can expect to find at Cheverly Community Market. These emails are frequently like mini-postcards, and this week's email from Laurie Waltz of Waltz Family Farm is certainly no exception!

Greetings from Washington County, MD. Waltz Family Farm is looking forward to a sunny and nippy Saturday market. It’s the time of year to stock up on roasts and we have a nice selection to bring to you. We are chock full of pork and will offer some great deals for this market. Our beef supply is running low, so come early for the best selection. We have more on the way and will be stocked up for the holiday markets. We have some nice cuts of lamb available and more on the way as well. There’s a possibility that we will have a new supply of lamb this Saturday....crossing my fingers. If you have any special requests, it may not be too late....but let us know soon, either by email at laurie.w@myactv.net , facebook or a good old fashioned phone call. And thank you to all for a great season. We really appreciate your support....it helps keep our farm going.
Jay and Laurie Waltz
Waltz Family Farm

Make sure to visit Laurie this weekend at Cheverly Community Market -- she always has great recipes and wonderful meat for the very best home-cooked meals around.