First Fridays in Downtown Bryan

Last night was only one of many First Friday events in downtown Bryan, but this was the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market's first booth appearance. Market vendors John Flynn (What's the Buzz Coffee), Rebecca Kroencke (Scrap Works) and I celebrated the event inside Greta Watkins' The Frame Gallery, talking to a crowded room of people curious about the farmers' market. The evening also included live jazz music, a wonderful display of food, and wine. 

Making the evening extra special, Friends volunteer Cherry Moore donated 3 of her paintings to be auctioned in a silent auction to raise funds for the "Friends" group, money that helps fund our booths and brochures. The auction started at the Frame Gallery and continued into Saturday morning's farmers' market where all three paintings sold!

A big thanks to Rebecca, John, and Cherry for making the evening extra special!

Now accepting memberships and donations through Google Checkout

That's right. The Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market is now set up to receive membership dues through Google Checkout, making it easier than ever to support our local farmers' market and educate our community on the benefits of a local diet.

To pay via Google Checkout, select your membership level from the option in the right hand column, click on the "buy now" button, and pay with your credit card. It's that easy to make a difference in the Brazos Valley!

Donations cannot be taken through Google Checkout at this time. If you'd like to make a donation, contact us directly at friends.bvfm@gmail.com or send your donation to:

Friends of Brazos Valley Farmers' Market

c/o HM Duchscher

2303 Kuykendall Circle

Bryan, TX 77808

Jim Hightower to speak at TAMU - We need your help!

Speaker, author, and sustainable agriculture activist, Jim Hightower will be speaking at TAMU on Tuesday, May 5 (5:30-7:30 PM), hosted by the TAMU Association for Social Entrepreneurship. The event will be held on TAMU's west campus (most likely next to the holistic garden, near the local community garden). The evening will also include live music. 

The idea is to make the biggest show we can to represent local food. If you are interested in providing snacks or drinks made with local ingredients, volunteering at one of the booths, or would just like to attend to hear the speech and enjoy the evening, let me know and I'll make sure you get all the details when they are finalized.

College of Education Earth Day Celebration

Earlier today, the TAMU College of Education hosted their Earth Day Celebration at Harrington Tower and what an event! So many wonderful vendors came out and we were swamped with visitors most of the day. Of course, The Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market was out with their market info booth and volunteers Brad Roberson, Pilar Gonzales, and I talked non-stop with faculty, staff, and students all interested in our local farmers' market. 

A special thanks to Pilar and Brad for hosting the booth! Today was a real success and I couldn't have done it without you!

Friends on Facebook

The Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market now has a group page on Facebook. Check it out!

FAQs

Have a question about the Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market? Feel free to leave a comment on this post or email us directly. 

In the meantime, here are the answers to our most common questions: 

Q: Is the "Friends" of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market different from the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market itself?

A: The Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market is a completely autonomous group from the market with it's own board/management, separate funding, and different (although at times overlapping) volunteers. The "Friends" group's purpose is to support and promote the market in things such as booths at local festivals and fairs for which the market itself doesn't have the volunteer base. It is at these booth locations that we distribute free literature on a wide range of topics like the benefits of a local diet, where and when our Farmers' Market meets, and shopping tips/recycling ideas for the market.

Q: Is my donation tax deductible?

A: Unfortunately, no. We are a brand new organization and have not yet applied for the 501(c)3 status with the IRS. However, know that your donations and membership fees are going towards printing valuable educational brochures that promote the market and encourage people to eat locally.

Q: Where do I send my donation?

A: Donations can be mailed to:

Friends of the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market

c/o HM Duchscher

2303 Kuykendall Circle

Bryan TX 77808

New Business Member - Texas Enterprise Bank

A special welcome to Franklin Patterson of Texas Enterprise Bank, our newest business member. Thank you, Franklin, for your support!

UPDATE: Texas Enterprise Bank is now The Bank and Trust. Thanks for your continued support!