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On Saturday, June 8th, 2013, you will have the option
 to visit some of our neighboring Local Farms and Farmers Markets.


POPLAR RIDGE FARMS
1619 Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd. S.
Waxhaw, NC 28173

FEE:  $12:00 per car at the gate

Approximately 15.8 miles (25 minutes)
Directions: 
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 1619 Waxhaw Indian Trail Rd. S., Waxhaw, NC https://maps.google.com/maps

An 80 acre family run farm, Poplar Ridge Farms is a USDA Certified Organic Produce, Flower and Herb Farm, established in 1995.  They are now one of the largest Community Supported Agricultural farms in North Carolina.  

The owners are active athletes and the Owner/Manager, a degreed educator, is a career professional of 35 years in Health, Fitness, Nutrition Sports and Culinary Arts.  Since 1980, she has been a contributing editor to SELF magazine ad Conde Nast Publications.

Farm Tour & Market Day:
  • Open to the NC Master Gardener Conference attendees.
  • Farm Tour and discussion will be with Marianne Battistone, Owner/Manager
  • Time:  10:30 am - 11:30 am
  • Chef Demo and Food Tasting
  • Gates open at 10:00 am and will close at 1:00 pm

Windcrest Farm :  On Farm Cooking Class
518 Greenfield Drive
Monroe, NC 28112

Fee:  $125 per person
*Must have 25 guests by Friday, May 24th, to hold event.  Maximum of 30 guests for Class.

Approximately 8.7 miles (18 minutes)
Directions:
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 518 Greenfield Dr., Monroe, NC
 https://maps.google.com/maps

A 14 acre farm with greenhouses located in Monroe, NC, 30 miles south of downtown Charlotte. We have preserved and nurtured this farmland organically since 1978.

Windcrest Farms is a family farm co-owned and managed by Ray and Mary Roberts Tarlton.  After twenty years as a corporate instructor and project manager, Mary used her passion for growing plants organically into a business that annually supplies market farmers and home gardeners with over 300,000 heirloom vegetable, flower and herb plants.  In addition to growing hard-to-find plant varieties, Mary also conducts on-farm classes to help beginning farmers and gardeners learn the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture.  Ray Tarlton is a NC/SC General Contractor, ace greenhouse builder, and our on-farm "MacGyver".

2013 Conference Farm Day:
Your day on the farm will begin with a breakfast appetizer and your choice of a Mimosa Sunrise or orange juice, along with a short Welcome and Introduction to the farm with a brief tour by Mary Roberts.  Guests will see and hear about Windcrest's USDA Certified Organic greenhouses and gardens and the benefits of sustainable organic farming.

We'll then move under a large outdoor tent for a cooking demonstration with Charlotte Culinary Expert, Heidi Billotto.  In this fun and informative culinary demonstration, Heidi will share cooking techniques and tricks of the trade to make a tasty springtime three course seated luncheon featuring the certified organic Windcrest harvest and all local products.

  • 10 am - 12:00 noon
  • Each guests will leave with a party favor and a printed booklet of recipes.
  • We are happy to make allowances for vegetarian variation on any recipe.  *Requests must be made at the time of registration.
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Website:
www.poplarridgefarmnc.com

Link:
Farm to Table Dinners and Classes for 2013

Link:
Anticipated 2013 Spring Harvest

Contact Information -
Email: info@poplarridgefarmnc.com. Phone: 704-843-5744. 
*Office hours 9 am – 5 pm.

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Website:
www.windcrestorganics.com



Link:
Certified Organic Vegetable, Herb, Fruit & Flower Plants



Link:
Learn & Grow Organic Farm School



Links:
Grafted Tomatoes


Contact Information -
Email:  mroberts@WindcrestOrganics.com
Phone:  704.764.7746
Cell:  704.310.8682

MORE OPTIONS FOR SATURDAY TOURS:

  • Cabarrus County
Lomax Incubator Farm
4335 Atando Rd.
Concord, NC 28025

*Approximately 34.7 miles, via US-601 N. (45 minutes)
Directions: 
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 4335 Atando Rd., Concord, NC
https://maps.google.com/maps

The farm consists of 30.6 acres donated by Elma C. Lomax for use as a public park.  It is owned by Cabarrus County and managed by NC Cooperative Extension-Cabarrus Center.  It is a Certified Organic Operation.  Transitional Strategies follow a 3 to 5 year participation period at the farm and aim to help the new farmers find land of their own.

This incubator works much like a business incubator.  Individuals interested in starting a business as a farmer can enroll in the program which will then provide class room instruction on the business of farming in Cabarrus County, as well as, hands-on experience on the farm.  Participants in the program develop and manage their own agriculture business while receiving guidance from seasoned farmers.
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Website:  
www.lomaxfarm.org/lomax

Contacts:Aaron Newton – Farm Manager
704-920-2206
ajnewton@cabarruscounty.us

David Goforth – Cabarrus County Agriculture Extension Agent
704-920-3320
djGoforth@cabarruscounty.us

  • Mecklenburg County

Renfrow Hardware
188 North Trade Street
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-847-4088
Saturday Hours:  8:00 am until 2:00 pm

*Approximately 18.5 miles (28 minutes)
Directions:  
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 188 North Trade Street, Matthews, NC
https://maps.google.com/maps


Renfrow's have something to dig a hole and put in the ground  365 days of the year. We grow some ourselves and the rest we contract with local family-run growers. If it is something that you can grow here and eat – we will probably have it. We keep plants fresh and healthy. Best selections tend to be Thursday thru Saturday. Whether you need blueberries, tomatoes, onion or rosemary plants, we will probably have it in season. We have trialed most of them and strive to keep locally adapted varieties.

We keep garden seed year ‘round with over 300 varieties of vegetable, herb, flower and cover crop seed.  Lots of  bulk and packaged. Never genetically modified.  About 95% are heirloom varieties that have been around for generations. We trial most of them and can advise you on what you can plant 365 days of the year.

Matthews Farmers Market
N. Trade Street
Matthews, NC 
Saturday Market Hours: 7:15 am until 12:00 noon

*Approximately 18.5 miles (25 minutes)
Directions:  https://maps.google.com/maps
*Located behind Renfrow's Hardware

Open Year-Round on North Trade Street in Historic Downtown Matthews, NC
  • Winner of the 2012 Charlotte Magazine Best Of The Best Award For Farmers Markets
  • Winner 2012 Readers' Favorite Farmers' Market, Charlotte Parent Magazine
  • At the Matthews Community Farmers' Market, customers  buy food directly from local farmers - that's as fresh, tasty and nutritious as it gets.  The market provides the community with locally raised foods as marketgoers help preserve the tradition of small farms in the area. Customers make a direct connection with the source of their food and get to know the person or farm family who grows it.  During our regular season market, enjoy cooking demonstrations by top local chefs and relaxing live music. You can even get your culinary questions answered and learn basic food prep skills at our weekly Chefs' Secrets class. And,  our special events schedule is always full of family-friendly activities and fun contests.
  • The Market hosts about 50 local vendors during its regular season and 25 vendors during the Winter market.                   

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Website:
www.renfrowhardware.com 
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Website:  www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com
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  • Union County

Union County Farmers Market
802 Skyway Drive
Monroe, NC 28110
Saturday Market Hours:  7:00 am until 4:00 pm

* Approximately 5.4 miles (11 minutes)
Directions: 
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 802 Skyway Drive, Monroe, NC
https//maps.google.com/maps

The Union County Farmers Market is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday. From Spring until Fall, our hours are from 7 AM until 4 PM.   June, July and August are the busiest months at the market.

Waxhaw Farmers Market
* Located at the corner of Price and Church Street in
Downtown Waxhaw, NC, behind Stewart's Village Gallery.
Saturday Market Hours:  9:00 am until 1:00 pm


*Approximately 16.9 miles (31 minutes)
Directions:  
3230 Presson Rd., Monroe, NC to 116 McDonald Street, Waxhaw, NC (Stewart's Village Gallery)
https//maps.google.com/maps

Our vendors all come within 100 miles with their local produce.  On any given Saturday, you might find:  Fresh Cut Flowers - Hanging Baskets - Fresh Seasonal Veggies & Plants - Fresh Seasonal Berries - Local Honey - Farm Crafts - Baked Goods and Bread - Fresh Eggs - Goat Cheese & Soap - Natural Grown Pastured Beef, Pork and Chicken



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Website: www.co.union.nc.us

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Waxhaw Farmers Market
Good Folks, Good Food, Good Fun
Website: www.waxhawfarmersmarket.com

A SPECIAL "THANK YOU" TO ALL OF OUR DONORS & SPONSORS!

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Union County Cooperative Extension 
​Horticultural Agent

Union County Ag Center
3230 Presson Road 
Monroe, NC 28112             
CALENDAR
​Gardening in NC
​Gardening for Pollinators
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      • Article: Canker Worms
      • Article: Garlic!
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  • Contact