How To Care For Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese Money Plant has become a favorite on everyone’s wish list for houseplants, and there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation: they are just THAT amazing. These plants make a perfect window display, are fast growing, and are easy to propagate and gift to your friend. They have beautiful coin-shaped leaves and are very easy to take care of, so let’s dive in.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Pilea Peperomioides originated from the Yunnan province of China; they were cut by a missionary family and brought home to their family and friends, hence why they also have the nickname “missionary plant.” 

WHERE TO GROW
These plants really enjoy being by a window that receives a lot of indirect sunlight. They are also fast growers, so you might find that you will need to rotate your plants at least once a week. Like many plants, they grow towards the sun, so rotating them will help to even out the growth. 
(Tip- you may want to dust your plant’s leaves from time to time. This helps with maximum absorption of sunlight by the leaves.)

SOIL

The Chinese Money Plant does well in an indoor potting soil mix, with a pot that has a drainage hole. 

WATERING
Depending on your conditions, you may need to water weekly, making sure that the soil dries between waterings. A sure sign that your plant needs more water is a drooping of the leaves. 

PROPOGATING
Lightly pull the “baby” pilea that is growing around your “mother” pilea. Plant in moist soil, and keep the soil moist to encourage root attachment. Once it is established, continue care as mentioned above.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

Seven Local NC Charities To Support This Christmas

Christmas is a time of so many things: celebrating the birth of Jesus, spending time with family, giving one-of-a-kind gifts for that special someone, and sitting by your beautifully decorated Frasier Fir Christmas Tree (that you got from Garden Valley, of course). And if you’re able to do these things this holiday season, consider yourself very blessed. Some, or many, do not have the same blessings that we do. So this season, we want to challenge you to give back to a charity or non-profit organization in your own community! Not only will it give you joy, but it will also help to fulfill the basic necessities and needs of those around us.

For those who are local to the Guilford and Alamance Counties of North Carolina, we wanted to feature a special non-profit organization that is dear to our hearts:

Out of the Garden Projects

“To nourish families with food to grown, learn and thrive.”

How it got started

Don and Kristy Milholin noticed that children in their daughters’ elementary school were experiencing a lack of food. Children. At the age where the brain is developing, growing, and learning so much information, a child can’t reach its full potential if there is not enough nourishment for the body, aka the brain. And that’s what’s happening in our own children’s schools. Children are going hungry, and many times the only meal that they may have is the low cost meal provided for them at school. So Don and Kristy saw a need and decided to try and fulfill it. They started off by providing a small bag of food for six to ten families every Friday so they could have a meal or two over the weekend.

What it is now

With more than 800 volunteers, Out of the Garden Project has grown, and continues to grow, into an amazing organization. They serve the community by collecting and sorting non-perishable food, and packaging and delivering it to the schools of Guilford County for children to take home over the weekend. You can read more about that here. They also recently started the Urban Teaching Farm, where the goal is to provide access to fresh foods and teach the future generation about regenerative agriculture. They have many ongoing projects that are reaching the children in our community, and we highly recommend you go and check those out!

How can you help?

They are currently involved in the programs listed above, and others as well. You can find out more about them, and how you can help, here. And with no contribution too small, this community welcomes any help you can give them.
They are also currently in the midst of the fundraising campaign “Feed a Child, Change a Life”. If you would like to help them reach their goal for the year of 2020, consider gifting an end of the year monetary gift to this community focused organization. As long as there is a need, Out of the Garden Project will work to fulfill it. Will you help your community too?

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Here are a few other charities and non-profit organizations that you might consider
supporting this holiday season:

Open Door Clinic of
Alamance County

Offers healthcare and medications to qualified patients free of charge.

“To offer free healthcare services with dignity, professionalism, and
concern for the indigent and uninsured residents of Alamance County.”

Living Free Ministries

A free six-month Christian based Men’s drug and alcohol regeneration program.

“To be an instrument of hope for our community and beyond.”

Benevolence Farm

Provides a transitional living program for up to 6 women leaving North Carolina prisons.

“To cultivate leadership, promote sustainable livelihoods, and reap structural change with individuals impacted by the criminal justice system in North Carolina.”

Feed the Hunger

A Christian mission organization that helps people in spiritual and physical need.

“Feeding the spiritual and physical hunger in the needy.”

A Heart’s Cry

A non-profit pregnancy and counseling center that provides assistance and counseling to women, children, and families.

“To give every woman, regardless of age, race, religion or ethnic background, the opportunity and skills to move forward making a life change.”

Second Chance Haiti
(through Hope Church)

Hope Church partners with Second Chance to send a team to Haiti twice a year. Read more about that here.

“We aim to empower families and leave a legacy for Christ.”

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

How To Keep Your Fraser Fir Fresh All Season Long

Native to the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, the Fraser Fir tree is considered one of the most commonly bought Christmas trees to grace family’s homes all season long. And it’s a tree that most of us want to enjoy all season long, and maybe a bit after Christmas has ended? So let’s go through how we can keep our trees fresh all season long, shall we?

Did You Know?

Did you know that North Carolina produces the majority of Fraser Fir trees, and that each tree takes about seven to ten years to grow to be 6 or 7 feet tall? But these beauties, if given enough time, can grow to be 50 feet tall (is anyone’s living room that tall?). Named after the Scottish Botanist John Fraser, these beautiful dark green trees give off an amazing scent that embodies Christmas and often is the reason many of us haven’t switched to artificial trees. And in 2005, the Fraser Fir became the official Christmas Tree of North Carolina.

When Choosing Your Tree

When choosing your beautiful tree, remember to feel the needles and make sure that they are not already dry. Doing so can save you a huge heartache and give you peace of mind in knowing that it’s a fresh tree that will last you all season long if you care for it properly.

It’s also very important, when choosing your tree from our lot, that your tree gets a “refresh”. We at Garden Valley, always provide a fresh cut at the trunk before we install it to your stand. This opens up any “clogged cells” in the tree and provides an open channel for it to receive water.

Keep It Watered

When you get your beautiful tree home, fill the stand with plain tap water and keep it filled throughout the season. Not only does this keep your tree fresh all season long, but it will also help to prevent any unfortunate fires that may occur… because bonfires are meant for OUTDOORS.

We welcome you to stop by one of our five locations and pick out a fresh Fraser Fir Christmas tree. Our trees are coming from the northwest region of North Carolina, and buying with us directly supports those farmers who have had it tough these past few years. We also have wreaths and garland to “deck” out your house even more!
We’d love to be a part of your Christmas experience this season. And while you’re here, don’t forget to enjoy some hot apple cider, and maybe you’ll even see a rare siting of our good ole shop dog, Tappy.
Have a Merry Christmas season, and we hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

The Easiest Two Ingredient Apple Pie Recipe, Ever

We’re going to go ahead and say you’re welcome ahead of time, because this apple pie recipe is going to be saving you a TON of time and energy this holiday season. With only two ingredients, this mouth-watering apple pie is going to leave you and your guests going back for seconds (and only you will know how easy it was to make).

We’ve got you covered, so here’s what you need to do:

First, we’re going to need you to go to the grocery store and grab a pie crust of your choice.
Second, head over to Garden Valley Farmers Market and grab you a jar of Apple Pie preserves. If you need a reminder on where we are located again, click here.

Second, roll out the first half of your dough and line the bottom of your pie dish with it.

Third, fill with one and a half to two jars of our delicious Apple Pie Preserves. Super easy.
Top off your filling with the second portion of your dough.
Then, place your pie in the oven and bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.

Remove from oven, let cool,
and then cut into the most deliciously mouth-watering apple pie
that you are ever going to taste.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

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The Easiest Two Ingredient Apple Pie Recipe, Ever
Servings: 6-8 PEOPLE
TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR (15 MINUTES PREP)

INGREDIENTS

Pie Crust
Apple Pie Preserves

INSTRUCTIONS

+ Roll out the first half of dough and line the bottom of pie dish
+ Fill with one and a half to two jars of Apple Pie Preserves
+ Cover apple pie filling with the second portion of your dough
+ Place pie in oven and bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes
+ Remove from oven, let cool