One of my favorite activities growing up was gardening with my grandfather. He had this amazing garden, filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Some seeds we're brought over from his hometown, in Greece, and others came straight from the fruits and vegetables we ate. He grew tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and so much more. Summers at his house on long island were always full of fresh salads and veggies. This is one of the many ways I remember my grandfather; His delectable fruits and vegetables, and the quality time we spent together in his garden.
When I was old enough to look after my own fruits and vegetables, my grandfather let my brother and I pick a fruit, any fruit we wanted, and told us he would help me plant it at my family's home in Atlanta. Strawberries we're my fruit of choice, and honeydew melon was my brother's. There must have been something in the soil that summer, because I have never seen so many melons and berries. The following summers grew plentiful with melons and berries, almost to the point that it became an issue. The melons we're especially difficult to deal with. They started to take over the entire garden, crushing everything else in it's path (those poor little flowers....). The strawberries grew larger and more plentiful with each passing year.
My grandfather passed a little over a year ago, and as I now look at our garden, I'm reminded of him. I remember the hours he spent tending to the garden, his soil-covered hands, and his love that helped our garden grow. In a way, he gave me a greater appreciation of fresh fruits and vegetables. I've realized how much work and effort goes into growing these things, and how much better they taste when you've put a little hard work into it.
Last week, the Creature Comforts Athens Farmers Market re-opened for the spring, and I immediately couldn't resist. My first thoughts jumped to the wonderful produce my family grew together, and I decided I had to check it out. Open on Wednesdays from 4-7 at Creature Comforts in downtown Athens, the farmers market is hosted outside the brewery. Let me tell you, if you grocery shop for produce, stop. The produce and the people you will meet at the farmer's market are ten times more worth it than your average trip to Kroger.
Not only is the farmer's market a great place to find great food and meet even better people, but it's totally insta-worthy. Given good weather and a little good luck, you can find quality photo-friendly fruit, like these strawbs.
The Athens Farmers Market also has an amazing instagram account that puts faces to produce and provides an awesome story to tell. While they aren't solely located at the Creature Comforts location, I find that it is, however, my favorite location. What's better than a little bit of shopping with a side of beer tasting? Not a whole lot.
While my childhood memories lead me to finding my next cheap thrill, this thrill is not so cheap to me. The art of growing and tending to a garden, and creating something of your own to put on your table, is one of the greater pleasures in life. Some might call it "granola" or "towny" of me to go, but I just call it freaking awesome.
Peace, Love, Cheap Thrills & Veggies.
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