from infused drinks to fragrance to
the culinary arts. From speaking to
him, it is clear that lavender is truly a
passion project for him and his wife,
who came up with the idea of lavender
farming while visiting a lavender farm
on a trip to Long Island. Dismayed that
North Carolina lacked the right kind
of soil for lavender farming, they were
naturally elated upon learning of the
unique glacier deposit they happened
to be standing on.
The farmers market pays tribute
to not only produce but also
crafters. Crafts you will find include
woodworks made from trees
harvested here in the state, handcrafted
decorative items, and a fair
share of lotions and soaps handmade
with local ingredients. I stopped by
the Toushea Body Boutique, where
I learned from Shannon about the
process of customizing lotions and
soaps from Shea Butter. She explained
that her Shea Butter is harvested from
the nut of the Karite tree in West
Africa and arrives in an unrefined
organic state. From this point she goes
to work with all natural ingredients to
derive soaps, lotions, and oils from the
Shea Butter.
Nor is the farmers market short on
greenery. Come spring, you will find a
unique arrangement of trees, shrubs,
plants and herbs. Whether you are
a gardener or are just looking to
add some color around your home,
you won’t have to go far. I found an
charlotte lifestyle feb/march
06
“You will find yellow
squash the color
of sunshine and
cranberry beans that
look hand-painted.” enriching experience at Mills Garden
Herb Farm. Because of the cultural
diversity that is so prevalent at the
farmers market, I learned that the
clientele purchase herbs not only for
cooking and medicinal purposes, but
also for ritualistic purposes.
Whether you are a native Carolinian,
a transplant from around the world,
or just here for a short visit, the
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market
has something to share with you —
and you may often have something
to share yourself. Nestled around a
bend about a mile west of the corner
of Tyvola and Yorkmont roads, the
market is at 1801 Yorkmont Road,
Charlotte, NC 28217. It is open for
business every day of the week, yearround.