By Stephen Smoot
Although the wind, temperatures, and sky have not always felt like it, the emergence of redbuds and flowering trees, followed by the cheerful bright green of spring leaves, serve as convincing evidence that spring has sprung in Pendleton County.
Last Saturday, Swilled Dog hosted an event to encourage everyone from professional farmers to green thumb gardeners and first timers to come together and share.
“It is very much a ‘come as you are’ kind of event, said Annie Humes, Pendleton County Farmers Market director, who added “there’s not a lot of formality to it.”
The farmers market had its own tent and plant giveaway that included eggplant, celery, two kinds of basil, and other plants. Humes shared that “I love growing eggplants. The plants are beautiful. I love their flowers.”
Depending on the displayers, attendees to the event behind Swilled Dog could take excess plants, swap some plants for others, and/or purchase starter plants or finished products. They could also learn more about plants, how to grow them, and even about the bees that keep many systems of food growing plants alive and thriving.
Susan Hutton, who recently moved to the region, put together an informative display on the vital role of bees in the production of food, as well as the dangers of invasive plant species. She has also recently started a Facebook page of the subject, called Pendleton Pollinators.
Hutton talked “all about removing invasive plants.” She explained that too many come into the area being intentionally planted. “Then they escape into the Monongahela National Forest,” she stated. Once in the wild, invasive species often thrive without natural checks on their spread.
All too often, they attract harmful invasive insects, such as the spotted lanternfly. Worse, they can even crowd out plants that support pollination. Hutton encouraged the planting of “native plants that support native pollinators.”
She also urged those with gardens to consider the damage done by pesticides to bees, saying that she was not aware of pesticides that could target only harmful insects, yet not hurt bees in the process.
Carol Sherman came down from Moorefield with a table full of plants. Spider plants extended their vines and multicolored leaves across the table in and among other varieties of plants she brought with her.
Sherman said, “I have too many house plants. I wanted to get rid of them, but I don’t like to throw them away. And I got two very unique ones!”
Beside Sherman’s table sat Leonard and Trish Uptain, who also moved into the area recently. They came to Pendleton County first to grow Christmas trees at Blackthorn Mountain Estates farm. Then a gardening enthusiast in Virginia suggested that lavender would grow well in the native soils.
Trish Uptain added that “two to three years is a better turnaround time” than the much lengthier wait for Christmas trees to mature to selling size.
The Uptains, who shared that they “are active members of the farmers market,” offer a broad spectrum of lavender products from starter plants to lotion, herb dip, and much more. They even sell lavender based bug spray and other value-added products.
West Virginia University Extension Service also set up a booth, run by Cody Dent and Brooke Alt. Alt showed the materials available for pick up, including heavy duty grow bags. Extension service calendars with important dates for farmers and gardeners included, and for children, seeds and little science experiments.
Humes used the plant swap as a way to help her to find more potential vendors and other participants for Saturday morning sales during the summer. She said that “a couple of people stopped by who are interested in selling with us.”
Like the plant swap, Humes encourages informality and an inclusive atmosphere at the farmers market. Everyone from professional farmers to those with excess foraged berries and their own small batches of jams and jellies can come.
The summer will also include special events that will feature musicians, the Pendleton County Library, and education sessions as well.
“If people are interested in spending some time with us on Saturday mornings this summer,” Humes said, “then they should come and sign up!”
