DC Farmers’ Markets – Farmer Profile
- by Brandon Fuller on Monday, June 15, 2009
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Summer is a great time to visit any of DC’s farmers’ markets. There is an incredible variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as cheeses, meats and plants. Nearly all of the products for sale in our farmers’ markets come from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
If you’ve been looking for a farmers’ market with an authentic neighborhood feel, make your way over to the Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market on a Saturday from 9am to 1pm. The market is located at 3200 Mount Pleasant St. NW, a short walk from the Columbia Heights metro. The food providers are from all over our region and provide a diverse array of food options, from freshly baked bread to vibrant herbs.
One of the farms that participates in the Mt. Pleasant farmers’ market is Tree and Leaf Farm of Loudon County, Virginia.
Back in 1998, Zachariah Lester began a landscape gardening business that utilized his experience in vegetation growth and maintenance. In 2002, he married Georgia O’Neal, a roof top gardener from New York City. The pair combined their love of farming, nature and plants to form Tree and Leaf Farm.
Georgia previously developed craft projects for Martha Stewart’s TV show and Zachariah has 15 years experience installing and maintaining vegetable and herb gardens. Tree and Leaf Farm reflects this creative and practical background in its unique offering of diverse and hearty food.
The couple grows and harvests all year round. They do not use pesticides and maintain sustainable growing habits. You can even work on the farm and get a hands-on farming education from April through December.
Proving again that they are uniquely creative for a farm, Tree and Leaf publishes a blog with updates on their crops, recipes and more.
Take a few hours out of your Saturday and head down to the Mt. Pleasant’s Farmers’ Market to meet the folks from Tree and Leaf Farm. You can ask Georgia what it was like to work for Martha Stewart and Zachariah how best to care for a persian lilac.
Photo Credit: Treen and Leaf Farm website
Sphere: Related ContentAbout the Author
Brandon Fuller has written 178 stories on this site.
Brandon Fuller works at the intersection of environmental policy and communications. Currently, he publishes a blog on environmental issues and green living that has been featured in the Washington Post Express, Washingtonian.com, GreenPlanet.com and more. He is also a member of the advisory committee for CarbonFreeDC, a grassroots initiative dedicated to mobilizing DC-area residents to dramatically reduce local carbon emissions. He recently earned a law degree in environmental law and policy and has served as both a Law Clerk and Legislative Assistant for the State of Florida.
