New Roots Community Farm is a nonprofit farm and year-round farm market located at 167 Wolf Creek Road in Fayetteville, with an 82-acre property in the New River Gorge region. The farm was established by county government in 2017, began farm operations in 2019 and transitioned to nonprofit leadership in 2022, with its work centered on market access, land access and food access. The property includes a six-acre diversified vegetable operation that uses intensive, regenerative farming practices adapted to Central Appalachian agriculture. The on-farm market provides a retail space for New Roots’ own harvest as well as products from other regional farmers and food producers, creating a year-round outlet for locally grown and produced foods. The market’s selection includes fresh produce and cut flowers along with eggs, milk, cheese, grains, dry goods, honey, syrup, jam, coffee, tea, cold beverages, ferments, snacks, condiments, baked goods, home goods and gifts. The rotating producer lineup includes farms and food businesses from throughout West Virginia, with current examples including Gritts Farm, Spring Valley Orchard, Sunset Berry Farm, Terra Romance Farm, Owl Mountain Farm and local egg producer Jesse Richards. The farm also functions as a community food and education site, with programs that include community garden access, farm visits, educational programming, Farm to School initiatives and opportunities for residents to participate in the local food system. The Pickle Party was part of New Roots Community Farm’s Summer Social, a free, family-friendly afternoon. It was s celebration of summer that brought together food, demonstrations, live music, activities and local vendors, with the pickle party included among the afternoon’s offerings. The event also included free hot dogs and ice cream, prize bingo, U-pick flowers, kids’ science and art activities, and a vendor market. It was a wonderful time. Enjoy the remainder of the photos.

The Witten Farm is a multigenerational family farm based in Lowell, Ohio, along State Route 60 near the Muskingum River. The family traces its farming roots back to 1790 in Fly, Ohio, and the current operation began taking shape when Ralph Witten moved the family from Fly to a dairy farm near Beverly in 1958. The farm eventually moved away from dairy and concentrated on vegetables, particularly sweet corn. By 1980, Jerry Witten had shifted the farm entirely toward vegetables, and the farm began supplying wholesale produce to markets and grocery stores throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The sweet corn is a big deal. One of the more interesting things about Witten is its midnight corn-picking tradition. Beginning in 1994, Jerry Witten started harvesting sweet corn around midnight so it could be delivered to the markets in the morning. The family says the tradition continues today, emphasizing how seriously it takes freshness. Witten also grows tomatoes, green beans, blackberries and other fruits and vegetables, while sourcing some seasonal produce elsewhere — for example, Tennessee tomatoes before its own tomatoes are ready. The first satellite Witten Farm Market opened in Marietta in 1986, followed by additional locations. The company now lists 23 markets throughout Ohio and West Virginia, including locations in Athens, Marietta, Cambridge, Zanesville, Columbus, Parkersburg, Ravenswood and Vienna. The roadside markets are part of the Witten identity. In 1998, the family created its first wagon market, converting an old watermelon wagon into a produce stand; in 2003, the now-recognizable red-and-white-striped wagons became part of the company’s expansion. There’s also a flower component. Starting in 1995, Witten expanded into flowers, hanging baskets and bedding plants, and several of its markets now combine produce and flowers. The Winchester Pike Market in Columbus is Witten’s year-round operation. It sells produce and flowers and has a bakery, and the farm says it now also serves freshly brewed and specialty coffee in its schoolhouse. Witten is essentially a family farm that evolved into a regional network of farm markets while retaining its own agricultural production. That’s probably the most interesting part of the story: it’s not simply a chain of produce stands buying everything wholesale — the Witten family actually farms, with sweet corn remaining one of its signature crops.

Triple E Farms is a family-owned regenerative farm based in Romney, West Virginia, in the Potomac Highlands. The farm was started by three brothers Tony and Phil Eash, who continued their family’s farming tradition while focusing on healthier, pasture-based food production. I ordered the following:
(1) Artisan Sourdough Bread Boule
(1) Filet Mignon Steak
(1) Gouda Cheese, 10oz
(1) Ground Beef
(1) Pastured Corn & Soy Free Eggs
The raw cheese is made by Alpine Heritage Creamery in Pennsylvania. "These cheese experts produce cheese traditionally, following in the footsteps of their ancestors, who made cheese in the Alps hundreds of years ago," reads the website.

"Our sourdough breads and einkorn cookies are the old fashioned kind. Made traditionally, just like they were 200 years ago."

"Our laying hens are raised in the open-air, on pasture, and nourished by native grasses and insects. Our birds are moved to fresh grass every day, enabling them to do what chickens loves best, scratch around and freely forage!"

They offer 100% Grass-Fed Beef. "We practice management intensive grazing (MIG). This means we move the cows to a clean, fresh pasture regularly, usually every day. We supplement with a small amount of organic minerals. Cattle are herbivores by design, therefore, they eat grass. Plain and simple." Everything I had from them was great - and it's a perk that I was able to support a small, local business at the same time.

There are few things I love more than an adventure, food and farms. So, when Hazel Run Flower Farm combined all of these into a recent event, I couldn't get in my car fast enough. This beautiful Bruceton Mills farm offered u-pick flowers of all kinds to fill a cup for only $20. I made a beautiful bouquet and even got some grub.

Whenever Morgantown hosts its Moonlight Markets, I try to attend because they have lots of small producers and makers. Here is who I was able to support on my last visit.



Hinerman Hill Farm - Hobby farm, farm vlog, small agribusiness, egg and poultry production, rabbit production.



Homestead Cookies - custom sugar cookies from a self-taught baker.



Mon Valley Mushrooms - a two-person indoor mushroom farm located in Morgantown, WV. We offer a variety of organically grown gourmet and medicinal mushrooms products including fresh, dried, powdered, tinctured mushrooms, and grow-at-home mushroom kits.



Sow Good Market - These little mothman candies were a highlight. They even have Big Foot onnes, too. Plus plenty of sauces, jellies and other goodies.



And plenty more!



But these were the ones new to me.



Have you been?



Who have you discovered?