Like to buy local?

Then you’re in luck.

The Goochland Farmers Market opened its season last Saturday, with a variety of locally grown food and other products for sale.

With music by The Picktones, a visit by the Central Virginia British Car Club with their vintage sports cars and an appearance by Lord Cornwallis at the Goochland Historical Society’s booth, a carnival-like atmosphere prevailed.

Beginning its sixth season in Goochland Courthouse at Grace Episcopal Church, the market will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., until October 23.

“The cars were an added bonus,” said shopper Rob White, as he watched his son Robby, 3, try out the controls on Jim Godwin’s 1964 MGB (Robby had little trouble reaching the foot pedals). “We just came to get some basil,” said White.

Jennifer and Chuck Waddell relaxed at Grayhaven Winery’s table, enjoying a white sangria. Newcomers to the Manakin-Sabot area, they were savoring the moment.

“We’ve been here just three months and we love it,” said Jennifer. The couple had bought salad, bread and mint for mint juleps to drink while watching the Kentucky Derby later in the day.

Executive Director of the Center for Rural Culture Lisa Dearden said the market would host four Kids Days this season, where children can bring what they have grown or made themselves to the market to sell.

Kids Days are scheduled for the last Saturday in May, June, July and August.

“We have a lot of new Goochland vendors,” added Dearden, such as Sandy Hook Nursery, Roots and Feathers and the Goochland Women’s Club, whose proceeds will go toward providing indoor plumbing to a needy family, she said.

Dearden said more than 50 vendors are on this year’s roster.

The Center for Rural Culture also has a new part-time Program Director, Beth Hopkins. Her position was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Richmond.

“We want to grow our educational programs, like the Farm to School program,” said Hopkins, who has a background in working for non-profit organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Better Housing Coalition.

Speaking of education, Bruce Venter was hanging out at the Goochland Historical Society tent, in his Lord Cornwallis outfit, ready to talk about things historical.

“In order to understand the Revolutionary War you have to know the British side too,” maintained Venter, a member of the board of GHS.

But the main event at the market, as always, was food – locally grown.

Melissa and Eddie Mann were buying some of those brown free-range eggs from James and Linda Beasley, owners of Adlyn Farm in Louisa. Linda maintained that her eggs provided more food value than those produced by factory egg farms.

“The chickens get more nutrients,” she explained.

Dearden also mentioned that the Goochland Farmers Market Co-op, which helped maintain the availability of locally grown foods during the winter when the Farmer’s Market is closed, now has a Summer Season Co-op for those who can’t make it to the market. The co-op is also changing its name to The Center for Rural Culture’s Local Roots Food Co-op.

To find out more about the Goochland Farmers Market, visit the website at www.GoochlandMarket.org. Or call Goochland Farmers Market manager Jane Conner at 804 332-3144.

Melissa Mann buys some free range eggs from Linda Beasley of Adlyn Farm at the first Goochland Farmers Market of the season last Saturday.
Photo by Ken Odor