It is all about healthy living.
The Downtown Elizabethton Farmers Market Association will see how the pieces fall during Thursday’s City Council meeting in the hope of instituting a marketplace to promote healthy lifestyles, selling local goods and attracting tourists in the downtown area.
Councilmen will vote on a resolution to allow the association to use either side of the parking lots located on East F Street, near the Elizabethton Police Department, each Tuesday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. from May 2 to October 31 in 2017.
According to information provided by City Hall, the mission of the farmer’s market is to “connect farms and their locally-produced food to the region, and promote healthy living, local heritage, and closer relationships between neighbors … additionally, the vision continues towards a community where local food producers find customers and support, consumers have local, healthy options for food, and the heritage and history of our community is passed to our following generations.”
The market will begin at 5 p.m. if passed, but the 4 p.m. start time allows vendors an hour to set up prior to the market.
Discussions for a farmer’s began to heat up after work put in by members of the Carter County Community Advisory Board (CAB). Over the months, members came together to view other markets across the region and create online surveys for patrons and businesses alike to see what type of materials they would like to see at a market, along with a host of other questions.
During past meetings by the CAB, different ideas for the market’s location were brought up, including the possibility of having it near Walter Curtis Park, adjacent to the Carter County Health Department.
Since that time, the CAB was able to put together a farmer’s market subcommittee – which formed a board of directors to operate the business.
To coincide with the farmer’s market, other initiatives within the county have taken shape to encourage healthier lifestyles by community members.
During last week’s CAB meeting, it was announced that Build It Up East Tennessee is currently accepting applications for 15 families in Carter County to take part in the program to learn how, and operate a garden. Build It Up formed a partnership with CAB to reserve 15 spots for families in the county – free of charge – for the organization total 45 families for 2017.
Applications are currently being accepted by visiting builditupetn.com and a special informative seminar will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library at 11:30 a.m. for any individuals interested in learning more about the program.
Along with the Build It Up gardens, the county will host their second annual Community Garden Celebration on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A location is still to be determined but the event is expected to be held in conjunction with the Great Cloth Diaper Change event.