Pruning Workshop 11am-1pm
2024-02-10 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Church of the Good Shepherd
Join Grayson LandCare and the Permaculture Group Saturday February 10 from 11am until 1 pm at the Permaculture garden at Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333 The workshop will be led by Casey Johnson. Casey has a degree in Horticulture from Penn State, manages the orchard at River North and is a GLC board member.
We’ll focus on fruit trees. If time allows blueberries will be included. Dress warmly and bring pruners or loopers if you have them.

Seed Library Open House April 13
2024-04-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Wythe-Grayson Regional Library
Everyone is invited to join us for an open house at the Wythe-Grayson Public Library Saturday April 13 from 1-3pm. The library is the host for the seed library which got it’s start during the pandemic as seeds became expensive and in some cases hard to find. The premise of the Seed Library is that folks “check out’ seeds for free, and at the end of the season bring some seeds back to keep the library stocked with open pollinated varieties that do well in our area.
You don’t have to bring seeds to enjoy the open house and you are welcome to take seeds to try. We’ll have a brief class on saving seeds at 2pm and we’ll have handouts and other information. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public and is co-sponsored by GLC and the Library.

Opening Day, Fiber Day AND Artisan Craft Fair.
2024-05-03 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
We will open the 2024 season the First Friday in May again this year to give everyone extra time to shop with our fabulous vendors for Mother’s Day gifts and to buy vegetable and flowering plants for our gardens.

First Fridays Cooking Day with Chef Jen
2024-06-07 09:30 - 12:30 | Independence Town Park
Cooking Days are back! Join Chef Jen as she makes delicious quick dishes from whatever is available at the Market. Free samples. Donations are appreciated and help to fund our cooking program.

No Mow, an introduction to Permaculture Principals June 22
2024-06-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Grayson LandCare/IFM office, 104 Courthouse Street, Independence, VA, United States
Are you tired of spending your free time mowing? Save time and money while helping pollinators and wildlife! Learn to use permaculture design principles to reduce maintenance and increase enjoyment of your space, no matter how large or small. Cynthia Taylor will lead this workshop Saturday, June 22 from 9 am to noon at the Grayson LandCare office at 104 Courthouse Street.
The public is invited to this workshop. Please rsvp to 276-768-0597 or director@graysonlandcare.org, space is limited”

Cooking Day with Chef Jen July 5
2024-07-05 09:30 - 12:30 | Independence Town Park
Cooking Days with Chef Jen are the first Friday of the month. Our next one is July 5. Enjoy free samples and learn fast, fresh recipes featuring market products. Recipes are posted on the website, independecefarmersmarket.org., click “recipes”. We skip Cooking Day in August since that is the Tomato Festival. The remaining Cooking Days are September 6 and Squashtober on October 4.

2nd Saturday Market, July 13
2024-07-13 09:00 - 13:00 | Independence Town Park
The 2nd Second Saturday Market will be held Saturday, July 13 from 9am to 1pm. IFM Kids Bucks will be available to the first 20 kids to the Market booth. It is located in the center of the pavilion on the HWY 21 side. Each kid gets $5 of IFM kids bucks which can purchase anything at the Market.
Saturday Markets will also be held Saturday August 10 and Saturday September 14.

Introduction to Canning July 13
2024-07-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Gate Center Kitchen, Davis Street, Independence, 24348, United States
Did you miss the earlier canning classes or just need a refresher now that your produce is coming in? Join us for this Introduction to canning workshop Saturday July 13 from 1-4 pm. We highlight both water bath and pressure canning. I confess, I am a rank amateur when it comes to pressure canning. So let’s learn together! We will make water bath pickles and pressure can some beans. We’ll be cooking in the Gate Center kitchen. $15 covers the cost of supplies and everyone will take home a jar of pickles and beans. Please RSVP so we can have enough supplies. Michelle at graysonlandcare.org or 276-768-0597

Invasive plant Control, Sept 14
2024-09-14 13:00 - 16:00
This was one of our most popular presentations last year. If you need a refresher or missed the presentation last year, here’s your chance. Cynthia and Rick Taylor will share their expertise on how to control invasive plants common to our area. The workshop is from 1-4pm, location to be announced.

Plant the Park
2024-09-28 09:00 - 14:00 | Independence Town Park
Want to help plant the park? This event is hosted by the Town of Independence.
Here are the details: Please consider volunteering to help plant approximately 500 seedlings and shrubs in Independence Town Park on September 27th (afternoon) and/or September 28th (all day). We’re looking for approximately 20 volunteers who will be divided in to 4-5 planting teams. You don’t need experience – just a good attitude and a willingness to “dig in” (pun intended). We’ll take whatever time you can give us….and we’ll feed you well in return! Interested parties are asked to email Laura Ratcliffe (laura@independenceva.com) and Kit Marshall (kmarshall@independenceva.com) with questions or to sign up. Please include both as each are out of town between now and the event and we don’t want to miss your email. Thanks in advance!

Pruning workshop 11am-1pm
2025-02-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd
Join Grayson LandCare and the Permaculture Group Saturday February 8 from 11am until 1 pm at the Permaculture garden at Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333 The workshop will be led by Casey Johnson. Casey has a degree in Horticulture from Penn State, manages the orchard at River North and is a GLC board member.
We’ll focus on fruit trees. If time allows blueberries will be included. Dress warmly and bring pruners or loopers if you have them.
Snow date is February 22

Grow More Vegetables February 15
2025-02-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Grayson LandCare/IFM office, 104 Courthouse Street, Independence, VA, United States
It’s back! Learn to pack a 21/2 X 5 foot raised bed with a huge amount of vegetables! It’s easy to multiply by 5 so this works for larger gardens too. This is an interactive vegetable growing workshop for all skill levels. We’ll meet at the Grayson LandCare/IFM office at 104 Courthouse Street, Saturday February 15th from 9 am to noon. Snow date is the 22th, same place and time. Cost is $15, pay at the door, and light refreshments will be served. Planting dates, spacing, interplanting and succession plantings will be addressed. Using information from the best national and local gardeners you’ll learn to apply these techniques to a single raised bed or a full-sized market garden.
In order to get the most out of the class, please come with a sketch, or even just the dimensions of your space. In addition, think about the top 5 vegetables you’d like to grow. This “homework” will give you a head start when we break into groups and design gardens for maximum production. Start planning for a successful garden now. The class is limited to 20 people. Please email Michelle Pridgen at independencefarmersmarket@gmail.com to register.
The next workshop which will cover pest and disease control, irrigation and fertility will be held March 1st, same location, price, and time. Snow date for the 1st workshop is February 22, March 8 for the second. You can take either or both classes.

Grow More Vegetables, Part two: Pest, disease and irrigation
2025-03-01 09:00 - 12:00 | Grayson LandCare/IFM office, 104 Courthouse Street, Independence, VA, United States
Everyone is invited to an interactive vegetable growing workshop for all skill levels at the Grayson LandCare office, Saturday March 1st from 9 am to noon. The office is located at 104 Courthouse Street in Independence. Cost is $15 and light refreshments will be served. This is the second part of our Grow More Vegetables workshop series. It is not necessary to have attended the first class to take this one. We’ll focus on managing pests, diseases, irrigation and fertility using organic methods and will include some hands-on demonstrations of various tools and techniques. The snow date is Saturday March 8. The class is limited to 20 people. Please email Michelle Pridgen at independencefarmersmarket@gmail.com to register.

Pre-season Vendor meeting March 28
2025-03-28 11:00 - 14:00 | Default title, VA, United States
Please plan to attend our annual pre-season vendor meeting and potluck Friday March 28 from 11-2 at the VFW Hall,115 Klondike Rd, Independence, VA 24348. Attendance is expected if you plan to be a vendor this year. If possible, bring your scale and Donna will check them -just a reminder, all scales used at Farmers Markets in Virginia must pass inspection. VDACS will cover marketing programs and the Senior nutrition program. We’ll cover rules, accepting various coupons and SNAP tokens, and the vendor map. Please bring an item to share for the potluck and make sure to label the dish and any serving pieces please. We’ll supply beverages, plates, utensils etc.
Looking forward to seeing everyone and to kicking off a great 2025 season!

Seed Library Open House
2025-03-29 11:00 - 13:00 | Wythe-Grayson Regional Library
The open House at the Seed Library will be 11am to 1 pm Saturday, March 29 at the Library in Independence. The notion of the seed library is that you’ll “check out” some seeds early in the season and ‘return’ the seeds that you saved from your harvest. If you are a new gardener or seed saver, you might not have seeds to swap or donate. That’s perfectly fine! Come enjoy some light refreshments, learn about seed saving and take some seeds home. Kids can plant a sunflower, bean or lettuce seed to take home.
Heirloom seeds are all open pollinated. Not all open pollinated seeds are considered heirlooms. Honestly, heirlooms just have better PR. Some one decided to save grandma’s favorite flower or tasty tomato from the old county, or made up a great story in the hopes of selling more seeds.
If you have seeds you’d like to donate to the library, you can drop them off at the front desk anytime the Library is open, or bring them the day of the open house. See you Saturday the 29th and bring a friend!

Preview Farmers Market
2025-04-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Independence Town Park
Can’t wait for the Farmers Market to return to Town Park? You don’t have to!
We’ll open early for a pre-season peak and give you a chance to purchase fresh, local food and artisan crafts just in time for Easter. Join us from 9-1.
We’ll have our Grand Opening May 2nd, our typical opening day, the first Friday in May.

Cooking Day June 6
2025-06-06 09:30 - 12:00 | Independence Town Park
Join guest chefs Dean McRae and Loren Webster as they prepare fresh, healthy food using Market ingredients. Watch the cooking demonstration and enjoy free samples. Donations are always appreciated to help fund the cooking program.

Potluck, Plant sale, Tour and meeting THURSDAY June 19 6pm
2025-06-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Church of the Good Shepherd
It’s a field trip, cookout, plant sale and tour! Everyone is invited to the permaculture garden for a cookout and “ragged” plant sale. The cookout begins at 6pm at the garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333., please bring a side dish to share. This will be followed by a tour of the garden and the plant sale beginning about 6:45pm. It is not necessary to attend the potluck to tour the garden. The plant sale will feature recently divided plants from the garden, not new seedlings. The permaculture garden features a wide array of native plants and most are excellent for pollinators as well. All proceeds from the sale go to support the Permaculture garden.

KIDS DAY
2025-06-20 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
Join us for fun, free activities for Kids of all ages June 20th. Kids Day was the first event ever held at the Market. It started in 2012. Join Andrea Wann and the Virginia Family Nutrition Program for FRESH BUCKS The 1st 25 kids to the Market get a $10 coupon to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, and eggs. Perennial favorites Cowboy Don will teach roping and Miss Laura will lead games and contests. June 27th is the rain date.

Composting and water harvesting workshop June 21 plus Herbal workshop!( postponed from May 17)
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd
Join the permaculture group from 10- noon June 21st at the Permaculture garden at Church of the Good Shepherd for a FREE composting and water harvesting workshop. There are lots of ways to make compost, they will demonstrate a few different styles. You’ll also learn how to capture rainwater for irrigation.
And we’ll hold the Herbal Workshop that was postponed from May 17 the same time. Join Cynthia and Michelle June 21 from 10-noon for a herbal workshop. We’ll forage plants from the Food Forest at Church of the Good Shepherd and prepare them to eat, make a salve, a tea, and a tincture. $10 payable the day of the workshop covers the cost of supplies.

Fiber Day June 27
2025-06-27 09:00 - 13:00 | Independence Town Park
We are happy to welcome the talented fiber artisans back to the Market for the first of 2 Fiber Days. This is always a wonderful chance to buy totally original handcrafted items for yourself and for gifts. You can also buy yarn and even raw wool and if you are interested in raising animals for fiber, these are the folks to ask. Save the date for the 2nd Fiber Day August 15

4th of July-Market closed
2025-07-04 - 2025-07-05 | Independence Town Park
This is the first time since 2013 that 4th of July has fallen on a Friday. The Market is closed for the Town’s 4th of July celebrations and parade.

Wellness Day July 11
2025-07-11 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
Wellness Day features local healthcare providers and offers free health screenings and activities for the community and vendors. Community partners Tri-area Community Health, and Mount Rogers WIC services will join us this year. Wellness Day began in 2015 in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.

Berry Festival July 18
2025-07-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
Join us for Berry Day on July 18. This year Berry Sorbet will be available by the scoop or frozen pint as a fundraiser for the Market. It’s also time for the Berry Dessert contest. Any dessert featuring berries is welcome! 1st place is $100! Entries are judged on appearance, taste, and the degree to which berries are the primary focus. Remaining desserts will be sold as a fundraiser for the Market. Please bring your entry by 9am and make sure to put your name on your container so we can be sure to return it to you.
The annual berry sorbet fundraiser will be smaller this year since our longtime sponsor, River Ridge Organics, was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. We’d like to thank them very much for sponsoring this event since 2017!

21 Yardsale July 25
2025-07-25 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
The Independence Farmers Market is a producer Market. This is the only day IFM vendors can sell things they didn’t raise or make. Join the giant yards ale that stretches from Elkin to Wytheville on HWY 21.

Tomato Festival August 1st
2025-08-01 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
Join us Friday August 1st for the Annual Tomato Day. Enjoy a free tomato tasting and the Salsa Contest! The Salsa contest is People’s Choice. Bring a quart of salsa to the Market by 9:30. We’ll put it in sample cups and everyone tastes and votes for their favorite. First place is $100, Second $30 and third $20. Winner announced at 12:30. The free tomato tasting is a great way to try all the varieties at the Market and discover your favorite. And if that wasn’t enough, we will also have Virginia Family Nutrition Healthy Kids Bucks! The first 30 kids to Ms Andrea’s tent will get $10 to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables and eggs. Don’t miss the fun and bring a friend. There is so much happening, we’ll skip Cooking Day this 1st Friday.

Christmas in August and Fiber Day August 15
2025-08-15 09:00 - 13:00 | Independence Town Park
The Christmas in August Craft Fair features our talented Fiber artisans. This is a great opportunity to purchase yarns, roving, raw fiber, baskets, and an array of knit, woven, and felted goods. Come and meet the artisans who often raise the animals providing fiber for the handmade items in their booths. Feel free to ask questions about farming with sheep, goats, and alpacas. Other artisans will join us with wooden items, jewelry, art and more.

First Friday Cooking day AND the NEW Garlic Festival
2025-09-05 09:30 - 12:30 | Independence Town Park
We’ll be featuring garlic in everything we cook today and we’ll have a garlic tasting and info on planting garlic. Free samples. Donations are appreciated and help to fund our cooking program.

Apple Festival September 12
2025-09-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
The Apple Festival will be held Friday September 12 from 9am to 1pm. The Market will be pressing apples and offering fresh cider as a fundraiser. Here’s your chance to support the market and enjoy delicious cider. The Festival also features an Apple Dessert Contest. IAs long as it features apples, any dessert is welcome. Please bring your entry to the Market by 9:30 am. Please be sure that your name is attached to the bottom of your dish so it can be returned to you. Judging will begin at 10:00 Winners will be announced once the judging is complete. First prize is $100, 2nd prize $30 and 3rd is $20. Remaining desserts will be sold by the slice as a fundraiser.

Pepper Day Friday September 26
2025-09-26 09:00 - 13:00 | Town Park
This Friday is Pepper Day! While the selection isn’t quite as extensive as our tomato tasting, it’s a great way to taste lots of sweet and hot peppers. Don’t worry, we’ll label the hot ones! We’ll have water, but if you plan to eat lots of hot ones, bring your own milk or cheese. Dairy quenches the heat, water can just spread it around.
