Take a Trip for Fresh Farmer’s Food: William L. Brown Market

Every now and then I get to check out something that’s both really cool and new to me. Several weeks back I got an email from a PR firm asking if I would check out a farmers market in Columbus. Even though I don’t live in Columbus, it’s an easy day trip from where I live and I figured- why not?!

 

So kiddos and my boyfriend and I set out for a trip to the market. Along the way, my son observed the rolling hills of the countryside as we drove and announced he wanted to be a farmer someday. It must have been prophetic, because later on he would help me interview a farmer.

 

Once we arrived at the market, we all stretched our legs and headed inside- not really sure what awaited us. I did know that this market was originally based in Montezuma, and had been since  its roadside stand debut in 1966. The market grew to be a booming location in Montezuma over the years and just opened its newest location in Columbus, GA.

 

 

From their press release:

“The family prides itself on providing farm fresh produce, and high quality gourmet food. The family has established a reputation of growing a wide variety of farm fresh produce including Elberta peaches, several old-fashioned varieties of peas and butterbeans, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers all selected for optimal growth in Georgia soil. The new Columbus location will provide farm tours and a guided learning experience about growing produce. In addition to touring the farm, the market, with its vast assortment of “Farmer Brown” brand gourmet foods, homemade real peach ice cream, sherbet and desserts, is a place that will keep customers coming back.”

 

 

We were greeted by the family dog who shared my name, lots of amazing veggies, even frozen meals to take home for an easy evening meal.

 

In speaking with Howard Brown and his wife, I learned that their farm has been owned by FIVE generations- their son being the sixth generation, and is just starting to work the family farm as well.

 

 

But I think the best questions were assisted by my nine year old son:

 

Me to my son, B: “You’re nine and you’re very much interested in farming, what do you want to know? What do you think is the most important thing?”

B: “Mostly I think the most important thing is having the right tools and water and sunlight and, um, you know… a lot of space?”

Brown: “What about soil?”

B: “Yes, soil, too.”

Me: “I bet that’s hard having the right soil! And you have to test the chemicals, right?”

B: “Yeah but you also have to have worms in the soil to help the plants. And you have to get rid of the weeds.”Ye

Brown: “Yep, you’ve got to get rid of the weeds.”

Me to B: “So what questions do you have for him? What do YOU want to know about farming? That you don’t know?”

B: “Hmmmmm….”

Brown: “Why don’t you just come down to the farm and check it out?”

B: “YES!!” (practically leaps from his seat- this is the most excited I’ve seen him in a while haha) “When?!”

 

B was disappointed to hear that the next summer was more likely to happen than the fall, because of his school schedule. He basically wanted to go right then to check out the farm. What I also loved was when my son said he didn’t want to eat peanuts, and Mr. Brown said to be a good farmer you have to eat what you grow. Just how important it is to sample what you grow.

 

That became a very detailed conversation about even the differences between the cucumber that my son just now started to eat, after growing them, and zucchinis. Then B asked about if they ever had the same issue that we did when we grew cucumbers, when they started to catch a fungus. He had blamed ME for messing up and got mad when I cut it back, so I felt very vindicated.

 

B: “What’s your favorite kind of vegetable?”

Brown: “Hmmmm well I love tomatoes.”

 

I wish I had taken a video of the whole interaction because the conversation became VERY detailed about tomatoes and B got super energetic about how ours had grown this year.

 

B: “I have another question. What’s your favorite kind of fruit?”

Brown: “Peaches, of course! You’ve gotta love what you grow. A good farmer’s gotta know what he’s growing.”

B: “Did it take a long time for them to grow?”

Brown: “The trees take about three years to start to produce and then they go til about their 20th year. Then you can’t plant peaches there again for another 20 years. It’s called crop rotation.”

 

Cue B’s shocked face, he couldn’t even ask anything else!

 

I love that this was a great way to peak my kids interest in farming. Not enough children these days really know where their food comes from or even have the chance to eat fresh food that’s practically in their backyards. People like the Brown family help us with that, and it’s crucially important that we support them.

 

Coming up soon I’m going to show y’all some recipes I created with my family from the items we got at the market!

 

The new farm market is located centrally at 2301 Airport Thruway in Columbus, GA. Be sure to check them out!

 

Love to all y’all, and especially Georgia farmers,

 

Molly