Heather Govenor- Vendor Spotlight

Name: Heather Govenor of Marshfluff
Products: Handmade Beaded Bookmarks, Zipper Charms, Sock Bunnies,Jewelry – bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and “sock inspired” repurposed/upcycled creatures.
Select Marshfluff creations can also be found at www.marshfluff.etsy.com, Chrysalis on Main Street, and the Glencoe Museum Giftshop.
Biographical Snapshot: “I’m a mom, an ecologist and a crafty girl.” My son, Michael is seven and he is such a great kid! I’m an ecological consultant, so I do technical work all day. Crafting lets me use the other half of my head. It’s relaxing and fun to make things. I’m really drawn to small cute things and bright colors. I also really enjoy home improvement and have started getting more in to gardening – I spend a lot of time at Lowes (laughs). I think I like the before and after of things; I like to bring out the potential I see. I’ve tutored in the past, I guessthat’s much like the same thing.”
How did you get started with jewelry and sock critters? “I was making the sock creatures for fun with upcycled old socks. Then I began making beaded bookmarks and jewelry. Now I have thousands of beads. I like art that has function. My creations have been shaped a lot by my customers’ feedback. The more you’re out there the more ideas you get from customers.”
What’s the best thing about the Radford Farmer’s Market? “The people. It’s nice to get out and meet new people and see familiar faces as well. This is my second year at the Market and I’m having a great time.

Check out this fantastic LOCALLY PRODUCED menu!
Chilled Cucumber Soup
Potato Leek Soup
Egg Salad Canapés
Mini Roast Beef Sandwiches
Farmers Market Community Salad
Mini Summer Frittata
Dragon’s Breath Salsa
Green Tomato Salsa Verde
Applesauce
Assorted Cheeses and Crudités

Sherri’s Cinnamon Rolls
Chocolate Cake
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini Brownies
Fresh Blueberry Cake
Assorted Smoothies

Iced Mint Tea
Herbal Lemonade
Nova Roast Coffee
Bottled Water

Seed Simple Organics - Vendor Spotligh

Name: Brittany Stone and Aimee Callahan of Seed Simple Organics
Seed Simple leases a half acre of garden space from Agrarian Acres’ Paolo Scardina (aka Farmer P).

Products: Fresh Local, Organic Produce – greens, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, herbs, corn, cabbage, and garlic available seasonally.

Biographical Snapshot: Aimee: “I was born and raised in Christiansburg. I graduated from High School early and went to New River Community College on and off. Now I go to Virginia Tech; I’m studying philosophy, international politics, and Russian. I like a lot of outdoors activities like hiking, rock climbing, gardening, and snowboarding. I like cooking. I recently joined an APA Pool League and hope to be playing for money by the end of the summer. I work in downtown Blacksburg at Gillies and Bollo’s Cafe and Bakery. I want to move to Russia after graduation and really learn the language. Maybe when I live in Russia I’ll grow organic beets and cabbage – A borscht garden! I’ll be in town for the next 2 years and I want to keep the garden going. I’d like to make it better and better each year and hopefully pass it down to someone.”
Brittany: “I’m originally from Florida; my family now lives in Floyd. I’m a Senior at Tech in Civil Engineering. I really like to know how things work. I recently took a personality test and found that I have the same personality as Abraham Lincoln and Albert Enstien – it’s a pretty rare personality type! I enjoy knitting, crocheting, baking, cooking, drawing, and making lists in my planner. I work a lot in the garden and at my job at Gillies and Bollo’s. I eventually want to homestead and teach people how to set up their own ways of self sustaining. Basically, my career goal is to NOT work in a cubicle. I plan to move to Hawaii in December and live there for a year.”

How did you get started with gardening and growing for the Radford Market?
Aimee: “Well, I knew Farmer P through my boyfriend and he encouraged me to grow local and organic produce for the Radford Market. He said that it would be a labor of love and I likely wouldn’t make much money, but would be making a difference here at the market. I liked the idea but was kind of whimsical about it. It wasn’t until Brittany got involved that things really started to happen.”
Brittany: “I knew Aimee and had Farmer P as a professor. I really wanted to have a Market garden and was a bit of a ‘tyrannical freak’ for a while there. We really didn’t know what to expect and my approach was to plan everything to death. Things are planless now and a new experience. We both had grown just for ourselves before, but a Market garden is totally different. We had virtually no money and just wanted to make the most of what we had. We wanted to show people that if a rag tag bunch of kids could have a successful market garden than anyone could!”

What’s the best thing about the Radford Farmer’s Market? “Farmer P and his overalls.”

Name: Farmer P (aka Paolo Scardina) with Agrarian Acres Farm.
Products: Grass Fed and Finished Beef, Rabbits, Pastured Broilers, Free Range Eggs, and Seasonal Fruits.
Farmer P acknowledges that while he has great livestock husbandry skills, he lacks a green thumb. So, in order to help bring locally grown produce to the Radford market, he's leased a portion of his farm to Seed Simple Organics – a group of young, aspiring gardeners who bring veggies to the Market. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radford-VA/Seed-Simple-Organics/111715295536402
Additionally, Farmer P is working with the Crows Nest Greenhouses in Price's Fork, who have planted a variety of vegetable produce and have agreed to supply Farmer P with fresh veggies for the Radford market.
Biographical Snapshot: Farmer P grew up on a small Appalachian farm in West Virginia; his family was originally from Ohio. He works part time as an adjunct environmental engineering professor at Virginia Tech. He stays quite busy on the farm and with his 4 year old daughter, Kathy Kate. She is in charge of “handling baby animals” and “pointing out weeds for her dad to remove.” Kathy Kate has a particularly sharp eye for thistles. In his free time, Farmer P enjoys “taking a nap – when I get the chance.”
How did you get started with Farming? “Well, it started as a conceptual idea that slowly developed into Agrarian Acres. It started with apprenticing at other farms before and after work and grew into a few cows and chickens – and a pig, but the pig ran off. We’re a family enterprise and that’s a big motivator – the wealth really comes from the quality of life.”
What’s the best thing about the Radford Farmers Market? “The people you meet each week! The best thing about Farmers Markets is they build and facilitate community. My farm touches Radford City, and it's good to be associated with such a fine town.”

Donna Deaner - Vendor Spotlight

Name: Donna Deaner
Products: “A little bit of everything.” Donna offers perennial and annual plants/seedlings. BBQ/Grilling, Smoothies and drink “mixes in a cone.” Her Lemon Oatmeal Pancake Mix is a local favorite. She brings veggies from her garden in season – tomatoes, beans, pumpkins and gourds. She has many fresh baked goodies and snack mixes too. Donna enjoys crafting and has cross stitch cards and crochet dishcloths available too.
Biographical Snapshot: Mrs. Deaner has lived in Riner, VA for the last 30 years. She is a native of Maryland. She has taught Special Education at Shawsville Middle School for the past 9 years; her students adore her. “Gardening and Cross Stitch are my passion.” She has a daughter who is a Radford Alum and lives in Richmond. Donna has been at the Radford market since 2001.
How did you get started with gardening and crafts?
I’m a busy beaver. It started with our farm we were in the pumpkin business, but we branched out every year. I’m crafty and enjoy doing crafts.
What’s the best thing about the Radford Farmer’s Market?
“The people. Folks stay awhile and visit. Many older folks wait for friends so they can shop together. Recently we’ve been having more young people and I’m so happy about that. There is more variety at the market. I like being here – it’s my relaxation. “