Some Local Thoughts on A Charleston Farmers Market

I had the below post set up in advance, thinking I would be out of town at my mother in law's house today.  But, we had to cancel due to weather.  Now, besides having to worry about heavy rains and possible flooding, I actually have FREE TIME.  Well, some free time.  I'm already sending texts and emails related to caregiving - ah, well. 

I hate to say it, but I have so much from my life put to one side, and now I have some time to concentrate on it.  The lawn needs mowing.  Our garden, which we are on the verge of abandoning, is crying for us (and will have to continue to cry, given the rain.)  Even, yes, blogging, needs to be caught up on.

But, because of the events Wednesday before last in Charleston, South Carolina,  I still want to run this "throwback" post.

I am going to blog about one the most beautiful locations for a farmers market that I have ever seen.  This was, with some edits,  a post from April of 2014.

This market is blocks from where the tragic Charleston church shooting took place earlier in June, killing nine people of color engaged in Bible Study.

For all I know, one or more of the murdered shopped at this market. Perhaps they walked through its location in Marion Square.  Just ordinary people like all of us, until a horrific moment thrust them into the history books.

South Carolina State Arsenal Building, Charleston, SC

Of such is history made, and we continue to mourn nine lives cut short prematurely. Perhaps it is a little bit disrespectful to run this.  I hope not.

Today, let's travel back in time 14 months....

Part of the pleasure of travel for me is finding and eating local food, especially food that is fresh and minimally processed.  The day I visited was opening day of the Charleston farmer's market, held in historic Marion Square in Charleston. (At a later date, I will blog about the history I found inside this square. In fact, the building above has an interesting history as the former location of the famed military college, The Citadel.)

Even as far south as Charleston is, not everything they are offering is in season yet.

The vendors marked produce that was local, though, and one vendor (price list above) was quite upfront about exactly where each of his items originated from.  (ONPF means his own. Lady Moon is in Florida. Mayflower was elsewhere in South Carolina).  We bought garlic (below) from him.

This vendor advertised local only, with a big offering of radishes, and early greens.

We were so thrilled to buy fresh garlic (not last year's storage crop) from this market.

Strawberries are also at the beginning of their season.  We bought the strawberries and reluctantly left the dewberries behind.

There was a lot of photography going on, and none of the vendors seemed to mind. 

Mushrooms were a welcome surprise, although we didn't buy any.

The Charleston market did not disappoint - with one exception - not all of the food is local.  But there was a local food information booth, and I talked to two energetic young women attempting to get the word out.  In a city where world famed restaurants are on almost every streetcorner downtown, I hope the word does continue to get out.


I still think of Charleston daily.  I think it will be a long time before I stop.