Dec 18 th, 2024
Terrific Teachers #6 & 7, Central Elementary School – Not once, but Twice! Lexington, VA
What are the odds? I mean, really… There must be something superduper special going on over there at Central Elementary! In the past two weeks we’ve had nominations for each week’s “Terrific teacher”, picked at random, and both turned out to be from that school. Let’s learn a little bit more, because if you ask me, it gets even more special!
“Mrs. G”, got nominated by the cafeteria staff. I think you have to be pretty terrific for your peers even to nominate you. Obviously, as parents we all feel our angel is special and deserving, so we appreciate when a teacher makes a difference, but it lands just a little bit differently when it comes from the staff. I confess, we were smitten with the idea and got excited to figure out a box worthy of her noteworthy “patience & enthusiasm”. Way to go, Mrs. G!!
The following week, a pre-school teacher, Sarah Conner was deemed deserving, by Tristan Ayers. While I don’t know what Tristan was reacting to, we were touched to see Sarah nominated. Though a long time ago, we remember all the cuteness, and all the tears and fears that pre-school teachers have to contend with. Our hearts go out to you, Sarah Conner!
And that is how not one, but TWO “Terrific Teacher” boxes will be out for delivery this coming Thursday morning 🙂
Special thanks to @paradoxfarm, @mountaineermunchkinhomestead, @cardinalfeatherfarm, @houseofsteele and @littlehatcreek for the contents of these two heartwarming boxes! If you found a little slice of joy in your box, won’t you please tell us about it here.
And with that, we wish you all a very merry festive season celebrating some or all of these momentous occasions:
Solstice, Yalda, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus and New Year. Your friendly Lexington Farmer’s Market reopens in January 7th, 2025, with limited hours through end of March, 2025 from 10am – 12:30. Thank you for supporting all our small businesses, and we can’t wait to see you soon!
Dec 4th, 2024
Terrific Teacher #5, Rockbridge County, VA
This latest “Terrific Teacher” Award goes to Tina Suter of Waddell Elementary School, nominated by Tracy Lyons, who mentions Tina’s super-power of getting children excited, smiling, and still somehow successfully coaxing ALL the wiggles OUT!
Whew!!
We figure Ms. Suter surely has new things sprung on her everyday… and since she seems like a pro, here are some of the giggles we decided to spring on her 😉
* Freeze-Dried Sour Wiggle Worms
* Specialty Ground Coffee from our local Buena Vista roastery and at the Lexington Farmer’s market
*Instead of creamer for the coffee, Astronaut Ice Cream because one day, we are expecting a school child of Ms. Suter’s classroom to be one of the first to get to go to space. We make up this may well be the norm by then!
* Tea, Toast & Monkey Butter, to follow a “Rise & Shine” homesteader’s body scrub, for the BEST-mornings-ever, where Ms. Suter can be ready for ANYTHING her class sends her way.
Some of the Lexington Farmer’s Market contributors to this week’s box include @Jungachai, @asundercoffee, @Houseofsteele and @mountaineermunchkinshomestead, plus the exterior of this box was decorated beautifully, again, with a festive look suitable for our frosty temps, thanks to Cardinal Feather Farm with the ultra-cute, hand-painted Snowman bookmark/ornament; handwritten, heart-felt card, a hint of regional plantings, thanks to the queen of beautifying your home, wedding or special event, West Farm, in West VA.
Like you, everyone involved in making this box loves what they do, and gets to do what they love.
Tina Suter, We honor your gift with one of ours.
Nov 20th, 2024
Terrific Teacher #4, Rockbridge County
This week’s award goes to Sara Hayes of Enderly Heights Elementary, nominated by Leah Sadler.
Because sooner or later, we eventually all learn how impossible it is to pour from an empty cup, the Lexington Farmer’s Market is honoring Sara’s unfailing ability to share just the right flavor of encouragement and TLC to each and every student. And so, the custom “Hug in a Mug” Bundle of love, teas & treats, was born! We are featuring:
- The Pink Lady Apple – Experience! With just the right balance of crispy, juicy, tart and sweet going on, from @Dickie Brothers Orchard
- Variety of teas from the only tea farmer in RBC, and only one of TEN tea farmers in the entire USA. Special note: readers here are now among the first to know Junga Chai are building a brewery for Teas, Sakes and Kombucha, on North Lee Highway (aka Route 11)
- Vintage tea cup for your moment of respite and private renewal while you sip your way to tranquility
- Two Pumpkin-Cranberrry-Almond biscotti, by Michelle, the farmers’ wife at Hearthstone Farm, (our 11th generation potato farmers!!). These are typically enjoyed dipped into tea to soften and could pair nicely with your Jasmine Green teas from @jungachai
- A totally decadent, chocolate “turtle” cashew-cheezcake (not a typo), thanks to Kate Chef/Owner of @abundantlifekitchen-Lexington, who uses all clean, wholesome ingredients, like agave, instead of refined sugars, and with just a few bitefuls, small enough to have zero regrets
- Finally, from Mountaineer Munchkins Homesteader, handcrafted, artisanal soaps and lip balms in flavors you just won’t find from stores.
- The entire box, wrapped with love and a touch of glam, local garnishes of Rosemary and Holly, by House of Steele . Special mention of the handwritten, heartfelt-message (awww…) on the handmade card featuring Flowering Chives, going to seed, to replant next years crop sustainably, growing on their farm.
By sharing these beautiful “Best of the Blue Ridges, VA Edition” products, we hope to inspire people to preserve acres of rolling farmland in SW VA buying directly from local farmers, to support them continuing their traditional ways. #bobrva #lexingtonVAfarmersmarket #farmersmarketfinds #homesteaders
Thanks again, for ALL you do, Sara!
-Nina & The Lexington Farmer’s Market
Let us curate a thoughtful gift bundle for you, too! From $49 and up, ranging from Culinary Magic, to TLC for the Home, Body & Spirit…
November 13th, 2024
Terrific Teacher #3, Rockbridge County
The Meat & Potatoes Brunch-for-Two Experience
Dear Terrific Teacher, Cassie Taylor,
Jenny Elmes nominated you, so in thanks for all you do, engaging and inspiring our community’s littles, todays’ Lexington Farmer’s Market curated gift experience gives you everything you need for a Meat & Potatoes Brunch for two, thanks in generous part to B&B Culinary for their BBQ Pork Butt, Signature BBQ Sauce, All-purpose seasoning blend, and reheating/serving instructions.
But, wait, there’s more…. 😉
An assortment of spuds from the premier potato farmer around, in fact, an 11th generation potato farmer, and a few different, less common peppers with just a little kick to them. Mad Hatter and Baby Jalapeños are just a few of the varieties you can slice up, along with a farmer grown onion, and pan fry together to make your own signature “home fries” from House of Steele who has also offered a farm-embellished herb and garlic infused Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil harvested in 2024, for you to cook your home-fries in. Though we didn’t squish those olives ourselves, we at the Lexington Farmer’s Market do believe that “Fresh is Best” even down to the olive oils our bakers & makers cook with.
Basically, we just don’t want you to have to lift a finger… well… maybe just enough to strip some fresh rosemary “needles” off the sprig, chop and scatter over the home fries as you cook them. That green garnish is way more than just a pretty face 🙂
To round out your experience, we’ve added some blue corn walnut sourdough bread slices to snack on while you’re getting ready – divine on their own, plain or toasted and buttered if you’re impatient in the privacy of your own kitchen (we won’t tell!) and freshly ROASTED & ground coffee beans from our local roasters in nearby Buena Vista. Luckily for Lexington, Asunder comes to the farmers market for their coffee, and even tea aficionados, and caffeinates downtown Lexington keeping the world strong and safe to thrive another day. But, really, best of all, is that for the folks who participate in the Coffee subscription program, Asunder delivers their weekly/monthly hit. One taste, and you’ll see why!
While we don’t include alcohol in our curated experience, a lovely Prosecco or Cava could be a great addition to this brunch, and we adore shopping for bottled bubblies from Purveyors on Main.
For non-alcoholic options, consider locally-brewed and fermented Kombucha, filled with active probiotics to keep you strong and safe from the abundance of germs from the community of littles. Currently, we have Kombucha available from fermentation-specialists at House of Steele, and our other fermentation specialists, our local tea-farmer, (not many people will ever utter THAT phrase!) in Rockbridge baths. Didja even know? It’s ok – most don’t but we are terribly excited about Junga Chai building their own Tea, Beer & Sake brewery on North Lee Highway, near to Hull’s Drive-in.
So, kick-back, relax, feel the love AND call your bestie to create a festive experience. We all celebrate YOU this week. Thanks, again for all you do, Cassie!
PS, we know you work hard everyday to keep learning fresh and customized, so no store-bought card could be good enough. Enjoy ours, photographed and produced in-house, of chive blossoms grown on the House of Steele homestead just a few minutes from you -pretty awesome- much like you!
November 7th, 2024
Terrific Teacher #2, Rockbridge County
The Curated Slightly Sweet & Slightly Spicy Box
Dear Terrific Teacher, Allison Clark,
We greet you with classic Tabasco chili peppers, decorative yet edible. A little goes a long way, says grower House of Steele who make a whole array of Hot Sauces from these 🙂
Freshly made, and always a crowd favorite Apple Cider Doughnuts, by Chef Mike, with his famous Caramel Apple Dipping Sauce
Junga-Chai (Local tea farmer in Rockbridge Baths) gives you their Chocolate Tea to enjoy a brewed pot, along with….
A Coconut-cream stuffed (!!) White Macadamia Nut Cookie by the always striking 6Bittersweets
A holiday bookmark-slash-ornament heralding the wonderful winter season to come, and to help you hold your place in whatever delights you will read over the holiday break. Courtesy of Cardinal Feather Farm.
Lastly, from our 11th generation farmer, Hearthstone Farm in Fairfield, a trio of Patriotic potatoes in red, white & blue, reminding us how much we love living in this stunning blue Ridge Mountains section of America.
You’ll find the simplest recipe here, though these spuds will also make great hashbrowns, panfried with onion, bell peppers, a little of the tri color tabasco peppers and garlic.
The handmade card is of Chive flowers grown by, photographed and turned into a card, all thanks to House of Steele
PS: please follow and give a “like” to any and all of these vendors whose products you are enjoying.
Thanks again for ALL you do!
-Nina & The Lexington Farmer’s Market
For Cindy Wright, who nominated you 🙂
Oct 31st, 2024
Our Very First Collaboration! Thanks to earlier “seeds” (of ideas), scattered randomly, some growing, some failing, all leading up to the magical moment that all the parts fell into place. It’s a birth of sorts, and you’re about to be christened our baby’s favorite uncle, or auntie, forever linked to our growing family.
Welcome, Brian Hamelman. We see you, Winning Teacher!
Here is what went into your gift box, in appreciation of ALL you do, day in / day out, in our community.
- Of course…an apple for the teacher – classic!
- 3 Chocolate Nut Clusters, because chocolate understands all.
- Aromatherapy Smudge Stick – to cleanse your space and reset your energy, surely depleted by a day indoors under fluorescent lighting. Mugwort-based, with herbs, smudge yourself for calmin, soothing, heart-opening meditation practice and dream-work. Courtesy of Cardinal Feather Farm
- Beeswax Candle… We honor that you are busy as a BEE!
So is the BEST beekeeper in the Blue Ridges, VA Edition @JustbeeApiary
- Pumpkin Cranberry Almond Biscotti
Because YOU have to find new ways daily to get creative for our children. - A Handwritten (very cute) Card – no canned or typed sentiment could be worthy of you..
- A Worry-Stone, hand-crafted ceramic heart, because you hold our hearts in your hands, daily.
- Home Cured Jerky
We know our little angels might make you gnash your teeth some days. #Realtalk: Look, we live with them, too. So if you’re going to chew on SOMETHING, might as well make it tasty 😉 - Finally…..It’s so close to elections, we couldn’t resist sending you our very best Patriotic Potatoes – in Red, White & Blue. Hoping you can enjoy the spuds, in place of worrying about the election duds.
BTW, these aren’t just any spuds… These have been grown by an 11th generation potato farmer from Long Island, another highlight in our collection of The Best of the Blue Ridges, VA Edition. No one, but NO ONE knows potatoes like Hearthstone Farm, even far afield of the Blue Ridge region!! - Try this simple recipe to enjoy your spuds, and thanks again for inspiring our students every day! Ok, maybe its just most days, but we appreciate you all the same!
- Here is a link to the story posted, showing behind the scenes as we created your gift: https://www.facebook.com/stories/122717999725012/UzpfSVNDOjUyNjIwODM2MDIzMjM0Ng==/?view_single=1