Blueberry Hill Farm

This past Saturday at the Tailgate I wasn't particularly busy, having taken only chicken and duck eggs, and the market was a little slower than usual, which usually happens around time for school to start.  So I had time to talk to some of my favorite "regulars" who consistently buy our farm's eggs, blueberries, and other offerings. 

Kevin is a young man who frequents the market on both Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.  He reminds me so much of my son, Sammy, and I've told him the same.  He is so cute -- a bit shy, mid-20's, career man, who absolutely "gets" local, sustainable agriculture.  He faithfully gets eggs from me and purchased a good many of our blueberries when they were in season.  I am so impressed that he supports our market and the farmers and artisans who work so hard to bring the "fruits" of their farm labors.

Marilyn gets eggs from me quite often.  She and I share the fact that we have children who recently graduated from Law School -- her son from Duke University School of Law; my daughter, Miriam, from Florida State University School of Law.  Miriam took the Florida bar exam last July.  Marilyn's son took the Mississippi bar exam just a couple of weeks ago.  So while she shops at our farm booth I am able to catch up with what is happening with her son and spend time thinking aloud about my daughter.  Small world. . .

Andrea is another huge fan of farm-fresh, free-range eggs and is already lamenting the closing of the market for the year -- a few months away, yet.  She is like so many of us in that once she's tasted the difference in local, fresh, wholesome free-range eggs, it's next to impossible to go back to grocery store eggs.

Jenny is a faithful duck egg buyer.  Her son is on a gluten-free diet, and last year, when she discovered that the extra protein contained in duck eggs made it possible for her to cook gluten-free pancakes that were thick and fluffy, rather than the crepe-like pancakes she had had to cook for him in the past, she became a duck egg fan.  Yeah for duck eggs!  Jenny is a master knitter and I always enjoy talking to her about the various projects she's working on.  I learned from her, just recently, that yarn is made from bison fiber and she's knitting one of her own pattern creations from bison yarn.  Fascinating!

Beth gets either duck or chicken eggs, just depending on what she's cooking or baking for the week, and is such an interesting individual.  She is never in a hurry and chats with us on a number of fun and entertaining subjects.  She is also interested in using chicken feet from some of the broilers my friend, Willi, can come up with.  I understand chicken feet are great to use in broths and in other cooking dishes.  I find that extremely interesting and only a little disturbing, as I've seen where the feet of MY chickens have been!

Elizabeth is another of my favorites and always gets chicken eggs.  Last year she bought a couple of skeins of alpaca yarn to try her hand at knitting a scarf.  She hasn't finished yet, but assures me she will by this Christmas.  Elizabeth is a sociology professor at UNC-Charlotte and has two of the most beautiful little girls, Lily and Lena.  They move throughout the market, chatting with each vendor, delighting all with their smiles and the girls' newest antics.

There are many other faithful, loyal, terrific customers who bless me with their presence weekly at the market.  I just wanted to share some of them with you.  And then, there are the other vendors, but that's another entry for another time. . .