Discover Statesville
Welcome to "Discover Statesville," the show that takes you on a captivating journey through the heart of one of North Carolina's most charming towns. Co-hosted by community advocates, Richard Griggs and Cindy Sutton, this weekly show brings you the pulse of Statesville, recording live at various spots throughout Statesville in partnership with Sow Media studios.
Join Richard and Cindy as they uncover the hidden gems and local treasures that make Statesville truly special. From the top-notch attractions and exciting events to the remarkable individuals who shape the community, "Discover Statesville" promises to leave no stone unturned.
Hungry for a culinary adventure? Tune in for their delightful restaurant reviews, where they'll guide you to the best places to eat in town. Whether you're a resident or a visitor, this podcast is your ultimate guide to all the things that make Statesville great.
You're invited to come along on this immersive journey, as "Discover Statesville" brings you closer to the heart of our vibrant town. Be prepared to be entertained, inspired, and enlightened each week, as Richard and Cindy share their passion for all things Statesville!
Discover Statesville
Herbs, Crafts, and Music: 25 Years of The Evening Farmers Market
Can you imagine the profound impact a local farmer's market can have on a community over 25 years? Join us as we celebrate the incredible journey of the Evening Farmer's Market at Pecan Park in Statesville, North Carolina. In our conversation with Madge and Byron, we explore the market's origins, tracing its growth from a small gathering in 1999 under Edward Marshall's vision to a bustling hub with a variety of vendors. Madge shares her personal story of selling herbs since moving to Statesville, shedding light on the market’s role in reconnecting the community with traditional practices and fostering new friendships.
The market’s vibrant atmosphere comes alive every Thursday from 3:30 pm to 6 pm at Pecan Park in Downtown Statesville, and we delve into what makes it special. From fresh produce to unique crafts, the diverse offerings appeal to all senses, especially with local musicians adding charm to the setting. The downtown social district adds another layer of enjoyment, allowing visitors to sip on a pint while exploring the market. As we approach fall, exciting events like a kids' day in September promise to keep the spirit of the market thriving. Reflecting on past seasons, we hold a hopeful outlook for increased participation from both vendors and visitors post-pandemic.
Our conversation extends beyond the market, celebrating Statesville’s vibrant community events like art crawls and Comic-Con that bring local creators together. A chat with Byron, who is also a local cartoonist highlights the supportive arts community and the joy of recognizing familiar faces in a tight-knit town. We share our own journey of growing our podcast over the past year, encouraging listeners to stay connected and share their ideas for future episodes. Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to Statesville, there's always something new to discover. Join us at the market and be part of this incredible community story!
Stop scrolling everyone. We've got tons to celebrate and you're going to want to tune in now to find out more.
Speaker 2:Welcome to Discover Statesville, the show that takes you on a captivating journey through the heart of one of North Carolina's most charming towns.
Speaker 3:Welcome back to Discover Statesville. Today we're joined by Byron and Madge with the Evening Farmer's Market at Pecan Park.
Speaker 4:Welcome y'all Thank you.
Speaker 3:Glad to be here. So my understanding is that we're celebrating 25 years of the Evening Farmer's Market at Pecan Park. Matt, you've been involved for a long time. Can you tell us a little bit about how the Farmer's Market got started?
Speaker 5:Well, I started going in 1999, and that is when Edward Marshall had started it.
Speaker 1:And well, that was the beginning, Just been going ever since huh, it's been going ever since, right, he was just a young passionate guy.
Speaker 5:Then right, right, and he came that year but he didn't come back in like what 2000,. But the market continued on.
Speaker 3:So in that first year or two in 1999, how many vendors did you guys have involved?
Speaker 5:I can't remember but we had.
Speaker 3:I mean we had Still a variety of different things produce. Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 5:Making people come to the market and come back.
Speaker 4:Sure, yeah, today we have about two dozen vendors that rotate through.
Speaker 1:Today you do yeah.
Speaker 4:Okay, depending on what's in.
Speaker 3:Yeah, what's in season?
Speaker 4:Right.
Speaker 1:So, matt, you're the for lack of a better word for me the operations manager. You run the evening farmer's market now and keep it all going right. Have you been doing that since 2000? Okay, nobody else will do it, but everyone's very grateful.
Speaker 5:Everyone's very grateful that you do it. That's right we have. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So what tell us about your passion for the market? What made you decide 24 years ago to jump in and help keep it going and do all the great things that led us to where we are today?
Speaker 5:Well, to me, a market is not only just going there to sell, it's a community event and to see people, to talk to people and all the things that go on is what keeps me going, right, right.
Speaker 4:We have a lot of people who come every week and sometimes they're not buying, they just sit and they chat with people. It's just a nice opportunity.
Speaker 3:It's a great use of the park there's live music a lot of the time. I mean, it's just a really neat activity. It's become sort of a destination in downtown on Thursday nights.
Speaker 1:Now Mash, do you sell, do you do any farming or crafting, or do you just keep the market going?
Speaker 5:No, I grow and sell herbs.
Speaker 3:I was going to jump in and say it, but I was like I do it, cindy stop, I know what she does.
Speaker 5:That has been my life since I came to Statesville. Okay, because we bought land out in Cool Spring and I'll tell you the whole story.
Speaker 1:We want you to.
Speaker 5:My husband said I went to college so I didn't have to farm, but I wanted land and to farm. Okay, so at least he consented and we did buy a few acres and live out in the county.
Speaker 1:All right, so you've been growing herbs ever since. Did you do that before you got involved in the farmer's market?
Speaker 5:I can't remember what got me started. What started that? But herbs can grab you and take hold and make you go.
Speaker 3:Lots of benefits with growing them and I think really cool, not one of those vendors that you see at some farmer's markets. You know everybody's growing vegetables or different types of produce and stuff, so I think having you know, having an herb vendor is pretty neat.
Speaker 5:Well, right, and there's so much that we have lost our connection to herbs and I think that it's time. A lot of it's coming back now, and I think that's absolutely a great thing. If people learn more how to use them, that's a benefit to to them too.
Speaker 4:So yeah, because one of the things about the market, of most farmer markets and ours in particular, is we're encouraging people to learn how to grow stuff on their own and be a little more self-sufficient. You know, yeah, certainly we want to come by our products that are there, but you know, learn how to properly. You know plant stuff and grow tomatoes or whatever on your own. In fact, we just recently had a demonstration where the agriculture students from Mitchell Community College came in and showed everybody how to like plant pumpkins and stuff and they answered gardening questions. So I think that's an important process as well to involve the community in themselves, get back to their own little gardening, because that was something that was done back in the war era and all that, and we've kind of gotten away from that as our community grew. But now we're going back to those roots and I think that's an important part of the farmer's market.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, I'm glad you said that because, yeah, that's a real resource for if you've got even if you've got container gardens in your backyard, being able to bring something yours and say why doesn't my tomato look like your tomato?
Speaker 2:let my tomato look like your tomato and get some tips from the people that are doing this professionally.
Speaker 4:I mean, I think that's you know, because our tomatoes don't look like those. It's like what's wrong.
Speaker 3:No, I think that's great, that's a great resource, Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I'm a hobby gardener. I've got three containers now.
Speaker 3:So it's three birthdays in a row. My husband has built me an above ground garden in our backyard, and he does most of the work.
Speaker 1:I picked the vegetables, but he does and he but he does make sure I have to go out there and pick it. He's not doing that and and then putting it in recipes. But couldn't possibly um bring together all the amazing things you guys have out there at the farmer's market? And I'm glad you mentioned um kind of the program you guys are doing, because we talked a little bit before we started recording and um byron, you were telling us, or madge was telling me, how amazing you are as you pulled up outside um you guys are, you're helping the farmer's market more recently go to another level, right digitally, and help reach people.
Speaker 4:I've revamped the website and I've uh, got their social media going on facebook and instagram and all that. That's kind of my background is in doing some web work, but I'm also an illustrator and cartoonist stuff, but, um, you know, and so that I brought that expertise to them and it's helped, you know, the awareness of the market and just like we just put a post that's kind of why I was late I was putting a post up about the, about the current thing going on today, so it, uh, you know. But, but to go back to the gardening thing, we just, uh, I moved here about five years ago from illinois. Uh, my son went to school in mooresville and we chose statesville, um, because we like the community.
Speaker 4:I was born in southern illinois and I went, hey, this is like this is great, you know, and these are my people. And so we just recently bought another home out in, excuse me, in Cold Springs Cold Springs, near her and it's a full acre and we are just starting to put our above ground planting in. And because I went to the Mitchell College guys and I said, hey, how do you do this? And my son's really into this, so I I'm glad to see my 27-year-old is getting the bug to grow things.
Speaker 1:We need more people to get the bug. Yeah, yeah, not the bugs.
Speaker 4:Right, we get rid of the bugs and how to get rid of the bugs, naturally. But anyway, there you go, there you go, but how to get the insect to grow and be a little more self-sufficient. My wife's getting ready to make salsa out of the tomatoes she grew out there and he's got some huge peppers growing and he's going to burn my mouth, I'm sure, with something, because he loves that kind of stuff. But it's good to see a younger generation getting involved back in that an interest in that.
Speaker 1:So you guys are planning ongoing. Well, for those of you who've not been to the evening farmer's market, or for listeners who may not be in Statesville, it happens. Tell us when. It happens Every Thursday.
Speaker 4:From 3.30 to 6 in Pecan Park, at the corner of what Water and whatever downtown. Downtown Statesville yeah, yep, right down there Center Street, yeah, yes, and all that. And it's a lovely park, it's shaded and it's great and we have tons of vendors, but you know, and there's all types of things available. You know they have, we have. You know they have, we have. You know, of course, we have farmers products as well, but we also have pottery. We have her herbs, uh, herbs, and there's a is it herb? Herb anyway, pecan they're like.
Speaker 1:He's from illinois, I can tell anyway, but the way I thought, musicians you have some musicians coming in and anybody that wants to come and play for us is welcome to come.
Speaker 5:Just let us know and we put the tip jar out and they really make the market a great afternoon when we have music. So we're always ready for more music.
Speaker 4:And if we're going into the fall already. Oh my goodness, summer's almost over, but anyway, we have a lot more demonstrations going on. We'll have our kids' day in September after kids get back to school, a little treat for them. So there's all types of things we do throughout the season.
Speaker 1:Okay, and the season you guys usually kick off in May. April 1st April, 1st Okay.
Speaker 5:We're April through October. Okay, so we have what? August, september? We have three more months to go so lots of time, lots of time, oh yeah, lots of time for lots of music, and it's been a hot summer, so it'll be, nice to have some nice trees.
Speaker 1:There has been lots of rain, which we needed. There's drought in the city, so they were going to stop us from watering, so we're glad to have all that rain.
Speaker 3:I think it was close. There was a drought. We're moving in the right direction.
Speaker 1:Thankful for all that rain.
Speaker 3:Well, and I will also mention Pecan Park, is in the downtown social district. So that's another aspect that now you know you go by Red Buffalo, you get a pint, you can walk over peruse the farmer's market live by Red Buffalo you can get a pint.
Speaker 4:You can walk over, peruse the farmer's market, live music. Joe's very kind. He brings us out beer once in a while. There's no reason, even if you're like.
Speaker 3:I don't think that's for me Now. There's really no reason to not go check out the market.
Speaker 1:Why is Joe Bondi coming up at every it seems like every podcast we're doing Good business model that guy's built.
Speaker 3:Build a business around beer. Maybe people will enjoy it.
Speaker 1:Keep up that good engagement there, Joe. We're glad to have Joe. Joe Bondi is on the board of directors for the Statesville Convention and Visitors Bureau, who I work for, so we're glad he shows up at the market.
Speaker 5:Almost every week he buys stuff.
Speaker 4:He buys flowers for his wife when he screws up. Not that he's done that Well, and I think that's another great one.
Speaker 3:You mentioned herbs. You know you've got flower vendors, so I mean, there really is something for everybody there, there's pastries, there's all types of things.
Speaker 4:My wife's pottery is there and so she does. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Madge, do you have a favorite memory or something that really stands? I mean, 25 years is a really long time for that market to be thriving. Yeah, do, yeah. Do you have a story or something you're like?
Speaker 5:oh, I missed that time. Well, we have had years where we have had more vendors and customers and I miss that and I'm hoping that we kind of get that back. Yeah, that would be my goal.
Speaker 1:Did you hear that? Everyone you need to come out and help Madge celebrate 25 years.
Speaker 4:The pandemic kind of shifted things for our whole society. Society, sure, and people are now just kind of getting back in their old routine, so it helps yeah and all that more people started gardening right.
Speaker 1:Well, and it became.
Speaker 3:You know, things like farmers markets were a real resource and I think I remember imagine I talking back in 2020 about about the ability to host the market because of some of the restrictions were in place with social distancing and things and but it was. It was one of the conversations that we were having about gosh. You know, this is a real need for something like a farmer's market. You know, when you didn't know about grocery store and everything, it was kind of like gosh. This is an opportunity for people to shop outside, access to fresh food, um, so that you know a real need for those, uh, for the markets.
Speaker 1:Back in, absolutely byron, I think I'm talking out of turn so I might be embarrassing myself, but you look familiar to me and you mentioned you're a cartoonist and it kind of clicked for me Were you at the art crawl with some of your work.
Speaker 4:Well, I was there with my wife.
Speaker 2:She does the pottery. She does the pottery. Yeah, what a crock. She does the stateful mugs.
Speaker 4:Yeah, you know the water crock, I thought. So I was like, wait a minute, cartoonist, I saw him. Well, I do the Comic-Con here in town and I do the one up in Wilkesboro and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:The Comic-Con's great. Oh yeah, we have them on the show.
Speaker 4:And part of the reason that appealed coming out to the East Coast from the Midwest is in Chicagoland there's really one or two big and I think that's great. We're getting off from the farmer's market. But it goes to community again that you have this community and you're built on that and you have people that do these types of things and that's an appeal. It's like, wow, come down here, like you said, hang out at the variety of vendors you have downtown and all that and the things that are available. But yeah, she's done the art crawl a couple times, been very good for her and all that. And yeah, I probably should bring my art out.
Speaker 1:You were at the vault this last time because we did a mug giveaway, yes, so yeah, I love all of her work, but yeah, it's not off topic.
Speaker 3:She's a maker and you know you have makers at the farmer's market. Yeah, like you're talking about, I mean, as you're looking for more vendors. You know, if people are out there that think, oh, I'm not a fit for a farmer's market, maybe they are and they just don't realize that there's things besides just locally grown produce and herbs.
Speaker 4:Yeah, as long as you make it yourself, that's fine. That's only a requirement.
Speaker 5:I mean look, at it and grow it. The rule is you have, then you're welcome to come to our pharmacy.
Speaker 1:Come try it out, yeah, now taking new local vendors.
Speaker 4:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:We want.
Speaker 1:we're talking about community and that's that's really what it's all about. And you said, um, um, something you said a minute ago that stuck with me. These are my people and what we have heard over the past year of doing this podcast. I said at the beginning we have lots to celebrate and be remiss not to say Yay, richard, we've been doing this a year.
Speaker 3:We can make it 25? I don't buy it. That's pretty crazy though.
Speaker 1:A year's crazy 25 years.
Speaker 3:I'm crazy 25 years. I'm not going to commit to that, but I'm still in it. I'm in it for now. There you go.
Speaker 1:Richard said fool me once.
Speaker 3:I have at least 15 years left with the city.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Richard tells the story sometimes that I told him it was going to be a podcast, that we were going to be talking. He did not know it was going to be video too, until I showed up.
Speaker 3:Yeah, like for the first one. Yeah, it's like well, what's?
Speaker 1:that, for I accidentally.
Speaker 4:Yeah, the old jokes you have a face for radio yeah, no kidding, man no kidding and uh, my news, my broadcast news day is you know, it was like I was always behind the camera. I was yeah, no, I didn't want to be in front yeah but it's been great.
Speaker 3:I'm surprised that it's been a year. We've learned a ton about the local community, which is certainly impressive considering how long Cindy and I both have lived here, and learning more every week. So it's been great.
Speaker 4:I mean, once a week we have somebody come by and go I didn't know you were here and it's like, well, go check us out on the social media and all that. And they're just like, wow, this is great. And particularly when the schools are in session, the schools let out near us and people drive by and go, oh, there's something down there. And it's like, yeah, we have signs and all that out.
Speaker 3:But it's all the little things. I mean the sign that helps. You know, you guys put out the sandwich boards. That's a big deal, but I think increasing the presence on social media is certainly going to, you know, is making a big impact.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm going to look into doing more, and I've been hesitant to do that because people are kind of camera shy. Sometimes it's like, oh my God, yeah, yeah, as I just said, I'm the one behind it, but you know, I want to increase our presence a little bit on that as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, like Richard said, gosh, I've been here for 20 years. Richard grew up here. But if someone asked me if I knew Madge, I'd say yes, because she's Madge right Evening Farmers Market and I've heard her name so many times. And when I met her for the first time today she said oh yes, I know your name, like I've heard your name, but I mean I come to the farmers market business owner downtown. Madge is downtown. Like, for example, when I first saw you, I was like I recognize him but I don't know where. I thought you. I was like I recognize him but I don't know where I've bought something from you. But it's really cool for us to really have the opportunity to sit down and get to know people.
Speaker 1:Small town living it's a small town, but not as small as you think. Imagine I've never met. I don't believe.
Speaker 5:I'm sorry for that but I'm glad to have met you today. I've seen your pictures on the internet, so that believe in. I'm sorry for that, but I'm glad to have met you today.
Speaker 3:I've seen your pictures.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, so that means we hadn't met, right, right, well, my hometown is 1200 people, so that's small and it has, uh, one grocery store, one car dealership and three bars.
Speaker 3:that's what they do in southern orleans growing. But you know that's that it lies the beauty of Statesville that I think people talk about. You know Statesville I say small town living and it's not. You know, the city of Statesville is growing all the time. But I think one of the things that a lot of people focus on and things like the evening farmer's market really contribute is to the small town atmosphere that exists here in Statesville. That's an appeal and that's right. The podcast has been so great and engaging for us it's kind of helping make more of those connections.
Speaker 1:We want to nurture that and help grow the like Madge's favorite time when there were more customers and more vendors.
Speaker 5:We want to help. See, we want that to come back too. It's a great place. I always think, Well, bring a friend when you come to the market, well, bring a friend.
Speaker 1:Need a friend. There you go, byron, your first video. Have her doing that right there.
Speaker 4:Bring a friend, recommend a friend. But you know we get a lot of families, mothers with the strollers and dogs and it's all welcome, you know, and all that and they're fun to mess around with and have them there and entertain the kids and all that. And, like I said, kids Day in September and we'll have the fire truck there and the police there and all that fun stuff and the ice cream and all that. So we did that last year and it was a big event. It went off really well, so we're going to do it again. Try and see what happens.
Speaker 1:Yeah, do you know which Thursday in September?
Speaker 4:that is, it'll be the first Thursday.
Speaker 1:First Thursday Okay.
Speaker 3:And pretty much rain or shine on the market, unless the conditions are just absolutely terrible, and I guess that up to a lot of the vendors too, if they choose to show up or not.
Speaker 4:It depends. Like last week or a couple weeks ago or whatever, it was really rainy hard and it's like, yeah, even customers weren't going to come out.
Speaker 5:I think we had one show up Because Madge and I will show up and make sure.
Speaker 4:We were there, well, just to make sure people are informed.
Speaker 1:You're there rain or shine, Just to make sure anyway, right?
Speaker 5:Just to make sure, but it was last week was a very strange weather.
Speaker 4:Well, we've had a lot of weather. It just comes in so fast and it goes out and it's like, well, what?
Speaker 1:happened. You can't control the weather. No, you can't they battle that with Friday after five all the time. Oh sure, Everybody's excited for the concert and you just don't know until you know right.
Speaker 4:Yeah, a little dangerous being on stage with electric. I played in bands in the late 70s. You don't want to be watering microphones, Right? That's a bad mix.
Speaker 3:That's an expensive repair.
Speaker 1:Yes, it is Tell our listeners, our followers, how they can connect with the Evening Farmers Market through the website, all the channels.
Speaker 4:The website is theeveningfarmersmarketcom. You can go there on Facebook, obviously the Evening Farmers Market and on Instagram as well. Those are our three primary channels right now. I'm looking to expand that a little bit, but those are the ones I'm most familiar with and I think we get the most traction with at this point in time. And all that and the applications on there. It's easy to find If you want to come out and try it out. One time we charge a $20 application fee and then $20 per month.
Speaker 4:No, that's not bad at all no and it's yeah, it's an inexpensive way to come out and try your stuff out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We have people that try stuff and it's like, well, that wasn't quite the mark here, but it helps promote them, you know type of thing. So I will promote new vendors and all that and they get a little pressed that way and all that. So that's how you would find us primarily.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, and then every Thursday yeah show up.
Speaker 5:The best way to find them is to show up. Yeah, be about it, but I always think that new vendors need to know that you have to come more than once, because you might not sell a whole lot the first time, but when people start to know you then that will get better.
Speaker 1:That's a good advice You've got to lean into it.
Speaker 3:It takes time, my wife with her pottery.
Speaker 4:the first few weeks out there she didn't sell much and now she sells quite a bit every time.
Speaker 1:I think people seek her out now.
Speaker 4:Yeah, they do, yeah, they're looking for her. It's like, oh, there you are.
Speaker 1:My husband's like please don't buy another one of those Statesville cups. I've got one everywhere.
Speaker 4:But I love them the mug, but then they do.
Speaker 1:And she has something you guys do so much other stuff too.
Speaker 4:Oh, she does something with the little feet on the beach and stuff like that and everybody's like, oh, I've got to have another one. Those are the gnomes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the gnomes. Everybody goes nuts for their gnomes. The gnomes craze. Those are some cute gnomes, so had lots of notes, anything that you want. To make sure to tell people about the evening farmer's market.
Speaker 4:Oh, just that. You know. We're here for the community, we're here to you know, do. Yeah, I'm going to say that was my cue, you know, to help to serve the community and its needs. And if you have questions about you know growing things yourself or where to get certain things, because we can't, we don't have everything there, obviously it'd be impossible to have all that stuff and it's like I'm looking for this or that and the other and we might our vast knowledge and match here.
Speaker 3:You know people, you know people. Yeah, you got a guy, you got a guy, I got a guy for that.
Speaker 4:And I'll get you hooked up.
Speaker 3:Hey, that's what community is all about, that's right.
Speaker 4:But that's the important part, I think, is just come out and say hello and if you've got questions, don't be afraid to ask. You know that's what we're for. Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1:Well, we sure feel blessed to have you guys be a part of the patchwork that makes up our amazing community and to have had you here for 25 years.
Speaker 4:That's right, that's amazing.
Speaker 1:You should be really proud. I hope, madge, you're very proud of that, and we'd love to see it continue to grow, living through that passion. So we're excited about that. And Richard I would like to thank you for one year of coming along for this adventure. Hopefully, we can at least make it one more year. We're almost booked out, so yeah, the farther we book out the more commitment.
Speaker 1:But if you know something you want us to feature here on Discover Statesville the podcast, please reach out, Go to statesvillenccom and then hit contact us. We'd like to thank the Statesville Convention and Visitor's Bureau for making this podcast possible for us to bring you these amazing humans and amazing stories and get to know them better, and we hope you'll tune in next week.
Speaker 3:Thanks everyone. We'll see you at the market. Thanks, that's right.
Speaker 2:Bye. Thank you for joining Discover Statesville. You can email us at discover at statesvillenccom. Check us out on Facebook at Discover Statesville, nc hashtag Discover Statesville and our website statesvillenccom. Catch us next week as we continue on our journey to uncover the hidden gems, culinary adventures, entertainment, and to be inspired and enlightened as we Discover Statesful.
