Creative Enterprises
Poolesville ’ s LOCALS Farm Market : Where the Community Comes Together
By wib middleton
Right now , long-time Poolesville residents Sandy Wright and David Therriault could be cruising the West in post-retirement bliss . That was the plan . Instead of converting their new Mercedes Sprinter van to hit the road , they ’ re using it to deliver vegetables locally . “ It ’ s the most expensive produce delivery truck you have ever seen ,“ laughs David , internationally collected stone sculptor and owner of well known Alden Farms with wife Sandy . Instead , they have launched LOCALS Farm Market , a collaboration between Alden Farms and Eat the Rainbow Farm , right in the heart of historic Poolesville . It ’ s a place to “ savor the culture of Montgomery County ’ s Agricultural Reserve .”
How they got there to be revealed , but first , picture this : families with babies in strollers , kids on their bikes , and neighborhood folks out for a stroll all heading to LOCALS . That ’ s what ’ s happening on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm . You can order a coffee or a latte , grab some homemade muffins fresh from their bakery , buy produce from their farm , find a socially-distanced picnic table outside , and just relax in its park-like setting . LOCALS operates out of the iconic red brick Steven ’ s House , circa 1840 , nextdoor to the John Poole House .
The LOCALS bakery opened recently and its online menu is mouthwatering : sourdough baguettes , almond biscotti , focaccia , scones , buttermilk biscuits , muffins , cornbread , cookies and more . Go to www . localsfarmarket . com and pre-order from Sunday until Thursday at noon , then pick up Saturday from 10 am . It ’ s a quick and efficient drive-through . Buy your produce for the week online , too . When you ’ re online check out the pantry and farm store products like goat milk soaps , vinegars , pottery , and jams — most everything made in the Ag Reserve .
So why aren ’ t these two scoping out big horn sheep in Wyoming ? David and Sandy had an epiphany when they started working with Ben Ritter at Poolesville ’ s Watershed Café last year . They helped brighten its interior look , created a wall art gallery of local artists , and added little country flourishes . They loved Ben ’ s philosophy of buying produce and meats as much as possible from growers in the Ag Reserve . Watershed had become a favorite spot for locals to meet with its relaxed retro vibe and was a great takeout spot for a bevy of weekend bicyclists . Getting a dinner crowd was tough , and other challenges resulted in closing its doors last March . But for David and Sandy it was life changing .
After Watershed closed they nixed the travel adventures and
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