However, I am are here to tell you that buying local and eating fresh does not have to come to a lull just because the weather is getting colder! Although produce is naturally going to be more limited during the winter months, there are still some amazing local resources available to help your family continue to make healthy lifestyle choices during this season. The Lexington Farmers Market downtown is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the winter months (November -March) and several vendors participate to bring together an abundance of goods to sell. As far as vegetables go, storage crops, such as various root and tuberous vegetables, are more readily available during this season. Turnips, potatoes, and sweet potatoes are all examples of storage crops, and their versatility makes them even more appealing and useful. They can be cooked and used in recipes immediately, whether as a side dish or incorporated into a main entrée, or canned and saved for later use. Other vegetables, such as kale and radishes, are also available in the late winter and early spring months at the market, after the holiday season has passed. Market vendors also provide many other goods, such as baked items, meat, cornmeal, and dried herbs. They come together to cultivate a festive environment for the holiday season. If you would like to visit and purchase some of this fresh, delicious, and local produce, the Lexington Farmers Market is located at the Cheapside Park and Pavilion near West Main Street and Short Street. Parking on Short Street provides easy access, and it is automatically free to park there on the weekends.
Whether you go with friends or family, the process of picking out the perfect tree to celebrate the holiday season is full of bonding! You select a tree farm to visit, gather your group and head over there, stroll through the rows to scout out the perfect tree, work together to chop it down, secure it to the top of your car, and bring it home to decorate. If you do it right, you make even get a workout in there chopping down your tree! There are several local tree farms in and surrounding Lexington; however, they close for the season once they sell out.The pictures you see of my sweet, little family were taken at Nieman’s Tree Farm which is closed for the season! That means if you have not picked out your tree yet, this coming weekend would be a great time to do so before they are gone. Baldwin Farms, Kovalic’s Christmas Tree Farm, and Cathole Bend Christmas Trees are still open for the season, but you may want to give them a call before making the drive to make sure they still have plenty of available trees.
Whether you are purchasing produce for your family or searching for the perfect tree to decorate your living room, please consider supporting local business and farmers in doing so. They have so much to offer!
