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