Spring 2009

Tailgate farmers markets open in April, and you’ll find Matt Hess and Liza Myers of Leaning Willow Farm at all the markets in the Madison County, NC area: selling at the Madison County Farmers and Artisans Market at Mars Hill on Saturdays, on the island in Marshall on Sunday, and at the new Weavervillle Tailgate Market on Wednesdays.

Matt and Liza were drawn to sell at local markets because, “We wanted to be part of the community. It’s a great way to interact with people,” Liza says. “People would buy from us one week and come back to tell us they loved it the next,” says Matt. “A customer last year said my lettuce tasted just like his granny’s, so I brought that kind of lettuce for him every week, and I’m growing it again this year.” Liza encourages people to try attending area markets for “good, wholesome food at prices comparable to grocery stores’,” and to join in the community.

 Outdoor markets offer free family entertainment such music and activities including tastings. Also, the Madison County Farmers and Artisans Market will soon be accepting EBT (food stamps), credit, and debit cards, making the market an even more affordable option.  

 “We’re going to be selling lots of vegetables start this year because we want to help our neighbors grow their own food,” Matt says.  As a result of the economic downturn, more people are gardening. “Everyone can grow their own vegetables,” Liza says. “Lettuce and other starts can be grown in containers, even if you don’t have land.”

 Located in the Sprinkle Branch area of the Walnut Community, Leaning Willow is on the site of an old farm, which Matt and Liza have worked to restore.  They farm using natural practices, and the farm is certified Appalachian Grown, a certification program of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project that identifies family farms in Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachian mountains.

Over the winter, Matt built a new greenhouse for the farm, using scavenged and recycled materials. Now the greenhouse is filled with plants and seedlings, including lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, collards, kale, bok choi, pak choi, and herbs. Matt and Liza specialize in heirloom varieties. Some of the vegetables they most look forward to this year are Flashy Trout Back and Cherokee Red Crisp lettuces, and Sweet Pea Black Currant tomatoes, which trail over the sides of hanging baskets. In addition, Leaning Willow Farm produces strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, and eggs, and will grow to order for restaurants.

Matt and Liza also breed Olde English Southdown Babydoll sheep, a heritage breed. These sheep, which are just half the size of most sheep and have docile temperaments, make great pets. Matt suggests keeping Babydolls to trim the grass in your yard.   

Their son, Gus, loves not just the cute sheep you’d expect to attract a child’s attention, but more surprisingly, vegetables. One of the primary reasons Matt and Liza wanted to farm was to give Gus the experience of raising food.   
Liza grew up in a city but, intrigued by the hydrangea and plum tree growing in her grandfather’s tiny yard (smaller than the greenhouse she has now), she started her own garden. When she was just eight years old, she entered a prize winning tomato in the state fair. Matt’s family has “always raised and put away food,” and the Elephant garlic and Egyptian Walking onions growing at Leaning Willow today are from his grandfather’s garden.

Come to Leaning Willow’s farmers market table, and you’ll see the true products of a family farm, and evidence of Madison County’s next generation of farmers: greens Gus harvested and sunflowers he grew himself.