9 Ways to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week in Limestone County

9 Ways to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week
in Limestone County

Written by

Cayce Lee

Social Media Specialist

Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association

The United States Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, has declared August 7th through the 13th National Farmers Market Week.  Is there a better reason to eat local and support local farmers and producers?

Limestone County Alabama is full of opportunities to enjoy fresh and locally produced items.  We're fortunate to have fertile lands and a long heritage of farming that continues to serve our community - and we want to share the wealth with you.  We've pulled together a list of eight places and one surprise you're sure to want to visit to buy local and to eat local and celebrate the producers who bring these local options to you.

1.  Athens Saturday Market athenssaturdaymarket.com 

• 409 West Green Street Athens, AL 
• Saturdays June-Aug 8:00AM-12:00PM
• Join them for a tasty treat as they kick off National Farmers Market Week on August 6th
• Mark your calendar for August 13th for Tomato Sandwich Day
  

2.  Belle Chevre Fromagerie and Cheese Shop  bellechevre.com

• 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Road Elkmont, AL
• Cheese Shop: Tues-Fri: 10:00AM-3:00PM, Sat: 10:00AM-5:00PM, Closed Sun and Mon
• Tours: Tues-Fri: 10:00AM & 1:00PM; Sat: 11:00AM, 1:00PM & 3:00PM, Sun: Closed Monday: no tours  ...   Book your Guided Tour by calling 256-732-4801.
• Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of Belle Chevre's cheese making and creamery
• Dine and shop the cheese shop for this local produced goat cheese
  

3.  Isom's Orchard isomsorchard.com

• 20412 U.S. Highway 72E Athens, AL 
• Mon-Sat: 8:00AM-6:00PM   Sun: 8:00AM-5:00PM May-November
• Shop a variety of fresh produce including apples, squash, grapes and more
• Seasonal specialities include bbq wood chunks, apple cider, gourds, pumpkins
  

4.  Limestone County Farmers Market  limestonecounty-al.gov/limestone-county-farmers-market

• 409 West Green Street Athens, AL
• Tuesday and Fridays May-November 6:30AM-1:00PM
• Farmers and Producers 6:30AM-1:00PM; All Other Vendors 7:30AM-1:00PM
• Come early because the farmers usually sell out quick
  

5.  Hobbs Beef Farm  www.hobbsfarmsbeef.com

• 29578 Gatlin Road Ardmore, AL
• Fridays 10:00AM-5:00PM 
• Enjoy locally raised and USDA processed beef, chicken, turkey and goat
• The Hobbs Family takes pride in their products - growing the hay, corn themselves, pasture raising their herd and offering hormone-free meat.
  

6.  Ardmore Farmers Market

• Hamlett Street Ardmore, TN
• Saturdays: 6:00AM-?
• Enjoy a variety of produce and locally produced items
  

7.  Humble Heart Farms  humbleheartfarms.com

• 25235 Mooresville Road Elkmont, AL
• Tours by Appointment
• Enjoy themed tours geared to age groups and subjects
  

8.  Bivens Fish Market  (256) 216-5777

• 13935 Ripley Road Athens, AL
• Mon-Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Enjoy freshly caught fish by Mr. Ripley, dressed in shop and ready for you 
• Cash only
  

9.  Enjoy our farm heritage...

We have one more idea for you to kick off your week of celebrating farmers and farmers markets.  The Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days is August 5th and 6th on the Piney Chapel Grounds on Elkton Road in Athens, Alabama.  This family friendly event is full of antique engines, tractors and events that honor and celebrate life on the farm as well as have a little fun.  

Friday at 10:00AM, attendees can enjoy a 20-mile Tractor Ride up Elkton Road and into Elkmont where riders can purchase meals (cash only) from the Limestone County Cattlemen's' Association before a return trip down the Richard Martin Rails to Trails.  Gates open at 7:00AM each day. Tickets: $5 per person. Children 10 years old and under are admitted free. Parking is free.

Learn more about the event with this featured post:
http://limestonecountyalabamaagtrail.blogspot.com/2016/08/piney-chapel-american-farm-heritage-day.html
 

Memorial Day Weekend Events for May 25-30 2016

Here's the What's Happening newsletter from Athens-Limestone Co Tourism for May 25 - 30

View Online Website     Contact Us     Submit Your Event Get Ready!  It's time to get outside and have some fun!  Grab your calendar and make room for all of our  festivals, concerts, tours and more awaiting you and your family in Athens-Limestone Alabama. You can golf, walk, paddle and peddle your way through the ​weekend with the highlights below. Click here to check out our calendar for more events May 25th --   Johnny Collier Acoustic  Juggs Bar  18289 Minor Hill Highway,  Minor Hill, TN  (MAP -  12 Minutes from Lester, AL)  Enjoy a night of music from  7PM - 11PM featuring Johnny Collier. May 26th -- Mystery Book Club:   Devil In The White City Athens-Limestone County   Public Library  603 South Jefferson Street   Athens, Al Join the Mystery Book Club for a discussion of the Devil In The White City from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.  For more information contact Ms. Laura at 256-232-1233 May 26th -- Senior Lunch Matinee Show       SOLD OUT Yesterdays Event Center  15631 Brownsferry Road   Athens, AL Join Yesterdays for a complete lunch including drink and dessert for $11.00, and entertainment featuring Elvis Remembered starring Michael Dean.  Doors open 10:30AM, Event begins 11:00AM and showtime 12:00PM with a show length 60-75 minutes. Groups of all size welcome. Bus parking available.  Cancellation fee may apply.  Pre-reservation required, send reservation email to: Info@YesterdaysEvents.com.​ May 26th -- Turf Management Class Limestone County Extension Office 1109 West Market Street   Athens, AL Join the Extension Horticulturalist from 6:00PM-8:00PM on step to take to improve the health of your yard, tackling tough weeds, and other steps you can take to a greener yard.  The class is $7.00 and to reserve a spot contact: (256) 232-5510. May 27th -- Senior Lunch Matinee Show Yesterdays Event Center  15631 Brownsferry Road Athens, AL Join Yesterdays for a complete lunch including drink and dessert for $11.00, and entertainment featuring Elvis Remembered starring Michael Dean.  Doors open 10:30AM, Event begins 11:00AM and showtime 12:00PM with a show length 60-75 minutes. Groups of all size welcome.  Bus parking available.  Cancellation fee may apply. Pre-reservation required, send reservation email to: Info@YesterdaysEvents.com. May 26th -- Singer-Songwriters Night     CANCELLED Grounded Coffee  12120 County Line Rd Madison, AL   Begins at 6:00 and wrap up about 8-ish. A sound system will be provided - so you can plug in and deliver. DUE TO THE AWESOME RESPONSE, now each performer will play 2 of their original tunes (sorry - no covers) in the first round. Then, time permitting, we will go back around again. May 27th --  Steve Stapler Live! Juggs Bar  18289 Minor Hill Highway,  Minor Hill, TN (MAP - 12 Minutes from Lester, AL)  Enjoy a night of music from 8:00PM - 11:00PM featuring Steve Stapler. May 28th -- Section 8 at Lucy's Branch Barge   Lucy's Branch Marina  6049 Bay Village Drive    Athens, AL   Enjoy  a Pre-Memorial Day river/barge/boat party!! Come by boat or car or plane or whatever you have to do to get there!! Plenty of room on the barge for chairs and kids to dance!! Restaurant Fat Cats is open and Lucy's Branch Marina as well!!  May 28th -- Saturday Supper with Belle Chevre                     Belle Chevre Cheese Shop and Tasting Room 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Road Elkmont, AL Back by popular demand, Belle Chevre is again offering their Saturday Suppers cooked by our award-winning Chief Cheese Tasia Malakasis and Chef de Cuisine Rick Vonk. Saturday Suppers are inspired by fresh, local ingredients, including Belle Chevre’s fine artisanal goat cheeses made in Alabama. Southern-made 5 Course meals that reflect Southern heritage and our passion for spreading love around meals.  Two Seatings options:  5:30PM and 7:30PM. $75/person  To view menu or make reservation: http://www.bellechevre .com/creamery-tours-events/saturday- suppers-2/ May 28th -- Singer-Songwriters Night   The Red Caboose  25483 Railroad Street    Elkmont, AL     Join The Red Caboose for an evening of live music.  Doors open at 6:00PM, Show starts at 7:00PM. Admission is $25.00 and includes snacks.  Children 12 and under are free.  For more information, performers and directions:  TheRedCaboose.net May 28th -- Memorial Day Watermelon Eating Contest Joe Wheeler State Park 4403 McLean Drive  Rogersville, AL  Join Joe Wheeler State Park for an event you can really sink your teeth into!   Watermelon eating contest for ages 5-7 and 8-12 on the stage behind Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge.  Ages 5-7 at 2:00pm  Ages 8-12 at 2:30pm May 28th --  Design Contest Deadline   Limestone County Public Library 603 South Jefferson Street   Athens, AL Design a logo for our Catfish Literary Festival! The winning artist will receive a prize pack worth over $100 and have the design unveiled at the 2nd Annual Catfish Literary Festival on June 4th. The deadline for all entries is Saturday, May 28th, 2016. See www.ALCPL.org  for more information. May 28th -- Warning Shot Live  Ronnie's Bar & Grill  4360 Salem Rd,  Minor Hill, Tennessee  (MAP --  7 Minutes from Lester, AL)  Everyone get ready for a huge party Saturday night with Warning Shot from 8:30PM - ?. May 30th -- Memorial Day Program                                      Limestone County Event Center 100 West Pryor Street  Athens, AL Please join us at the Alabama Veterans Museum as we hold our annual Memorial Day, Laying of the Wreath Ceremony. Program will start at 11:00 am on Monday, May 30th at the Limestone Count Event Center (114 W Pryor St, Athens). LTG David L. Mann, Commanding General USASMDC/ARSTRAT will be the guest speaker. Refreshments following the program. May 30th --  Rogersville Firefighters Boston Butt Fundraiser  Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department 540 Post Office Road Rogersville, AL €‹The Rogersville Firefighters are now taking orders for Boston Butts. These will be available for pick up on May 30th from 8 AM to 10 AM at the fire station in Rogersville. The cost is $30. All proceeds go to help fund our new Cancer Awareness Division of the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department.   The deadline for placing your order is May 26th - contact:  Morris Lentz, Assistant Fire Chief / EMT --   256-412-1936 Find more events at our site Book your room for these upcoming events May 27 Senior Lunch Matinee June 4 Bike:MS June 10th - 11th Elkmont Lions Club Smokin' Railroad Street BBQ Cookoff June 17th Ardmore Lions Club Tractor and Truck Pull Jun 24 - 28 Cal Pipkin State Baseball Tournament ​ September 10th 9/11 Run - Athens October 1st Apple Annie 5K October 7th & 8th 50th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention October 25-29 Athens Storytelling Festival October 15th Running with the Goats and Southern ReInvention November 6  Sherri Adams Pink Ribbon Run ​ 2017 Event Jan 2017 Hound Dog Half Marathon ​ ​ €‹ Event Calendar €‹ Hotels & Motels €‹ RV Campgrounds €‹ Dining €‹ All efforts are taken to ensure the data provided in this newsletter is correct by the preparer, Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist. ​ If there is a correction or you would like to be included, please email: Cayce @VisitAthensAL.com ​  €‹ Singing of the Square Continues June 3rd Written by Cayce Lee Social Media Specialist Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association The 2016 concert series is sponsored by Jimmy Smith Buick GMC and presented by Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association free to the public.  Most shows kick off at 6:00PM and go to 8:00PM.  Grab a to-go dinner and dine al fresco while you enjoy this year's variety of groups and music. The 2016 schedule will be an irregular one, so grab your calendar and mark the dates and times below. ATHENS-LIMESTONE COUNTY TOURISM & SPONSOR JIMMY SMITH BUICK-GMC present SINGING ON THE SQUARE 2016 CONCERT SERIES SCHEDULE  June 3rd 6PM - Southern Splendor Chorus with Rocket City Chorus June 17th  6PM -Just Down the Road July 1st  6PM - DJ's and Friends July 15th  6PM - Henry River Honey August 19th 6:30PM - Athens State Community Band The rain location for the 2016 Singing on the Square will be at the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 511 17915 West Elm Street Athens, AL.  The Vietnam Veterans Building is one block east of the Market Street and Elm Street intersection at the T-junction of Lucas Ferry Road.  The Vietnam Veterans Building is approximately 3.4 miles from the traffic light at Elm Street and U.S. Highway 31N. Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association 100 North Beaty Street Athens, Alabama 35611 256-232-5411 Update your Email Preferences or Unsubscribe