Find inner peas at Neskowin Farmers Market

By Sabine Wilson

For the TODAY

The beloved farmers market season is finally back in bloom, with markets popping up along the coast like daffodils.

The latest to emerge from its winter slumber is Neskowin Farmers Market, which opens Saturday, May 22.

Today, let me introduce you to some of the amazing vendors participating in the Neskowin Farmers Market: Silas Wines, Hearth & Table Events, Siletz Bay Co and Corvus Landing Farm.

Alex Clark, winemaker and manager of Silas Wines, gave an insightful look into the love put into the making of their wines.

The name “Silas” itself means “man of the woods” or “from the woods,” and is inspired by the winery’s, beautiful location that Alex describes as “an enchanting vineyard.”

Alex said the winery never takes the easy way out and doesn’t engage in a traditional or industrial manner of agriculture.

“Everything is very hands-on and intentional, which makes the wine more balanced, elegant, and different,” he said. “We spend a lot of time intentionally choosing which barrels of wine goes with other barrels. Many wineries spend three hours, but we will spend three months to get the highest quality wine we can.”

To pair high-quality wine with high-quality food, the market will also feature Hearth & Table Events, a mobile wood-fired catering business ready to satisfy all of your pizza cravings.

“We will be serving pizzas and salads, both of which will have as many items from the market as possible,” said Danelle Lochrie, who co-owns Hearth & Table Events with her husband, Ethan Granberg. “Using local and in-season produce is a top priority for us so we felt that salad and pizza would be great menu items to highlight local vegetables.”

Give a wood-fired brick oven to Danelle, an experienced baker, paired with Ethan, a trained chef, and you are bound to taste the best pizza you've ever had.

And while it is wonderful to indulge ourselves in the local love that is the farmers market, our next vendor reminds us of the ever-present need for good hygiene.

Melody Wilkins is a soapmaker and owner of Siletz Bay Co, a small business that makes cold-process soaps with plant-based oils and colored with botanicals and natural clays. Her soaps have absolutely no artificial colors or fragrances and are also palm free.

“I began making soap for my family, but it quickly expanded into making soap for my community,” Melody said. “Soap is essential and nurturing, and a lovely bar of handmade soap can be a nice way to practice self-care.”

Melody exclusively uses ingredients that are responsibly-sourced, local and organic.

“My favorite ingredients are in my botanical soaps. One of the newest is lemon balm, and it's made by infusing the oil I use to make soap with the lemon balm that I grow in my garden, which gives it a pretty yellow color.”

Melody has plans to expand her garden to use more of her own herbs in her soaps.

Last but certainly not least is Corvus Landing Farm, because how can we have a farmers market without a farmer?

Carolina Lees, head farmer, owner and operator of Corvus Landing Farm, is heading into her 12th season of farming with husband, Mike Lees.

“I came into farming from a food justice and food access background and got interested in local food,” Carolina said. “I spent six years working on farms in Eugene and just fell in love with it.”

Carolina approaches farming in a very holistic manner, being mindful of the land and wildlife habitat, how the water is affected by her farming practices and also of her carbon footprint.

“We focus a lot on soil health,” Carolina said. “Instead of using chemical fertilizers or pesticides, we use complete holistic organic inputs that feed the soil microbes and allow for the plants and creatures that live in the soil to thrive and work together to build a healthy system.”

Carolina stresses promoting biodiversity as well as resilience in her plants that in turn feed her community.

“We really love the coast and this community,” Carolina said. “We really wanted to have a business that served this place and provided something healthy, fresh and valuable to the people who live here.”

A new and exciting aspect is the new location for the Neskowin Farmers Market.

“The new location is going to be really great,” Carolina said. “It will allow the market to expand both the size and the scope. It has a very organic feel and a great flow.”

The market will be located at the corner of Highway 101 and Summit Road, across from the Neskowin Beach Wayside, and will be open from 9 am to 1 pm each Saturday.

For more information about the market and vendors, go to neskowinfarmersmarket.com.