Waking up at 7:45 a.m. on a Saturday morning is usually not my idea of a good time. After a night out at the 40 Watt Club with a pit stop at Little Italy afterwards, knocked out in my bed was the only place I wanted to spend my morning as well as my afternoon.. After five minutes of repeatedly hitting the snooze button, I got myself out of bed to venture out and experience one of Athens’ best kept secrets, the Athens Farmers Market.

In a state dominated by Wal-Marts and Krogers, the Athens Farmers Market offers the community a sampling of produce, meats, dairies, baked goods and crafts, all either locally grown or made within a 60 mile radius of Athens. “The whole idea is the pull people away from food in boxes with food from the ground,” said Jan Kozak, the market manager. Every farmer at the market produces food that is certified naturally grown, an alternative standard to the United States Department of Agriculture’s organic seal.

The Athens Farmers Market first launched in May of 2008 in Bishop Park. Since then, the market has expanded to a second location behind Little Kings Shuffle Club on W. Hancock Street.  The market was conceptualized as an area effort to buy locally produced products and bring residents, crafters and farmers together.  “We’re just trying to bring it all closer to the community,’ said Kozak. “Everyone knows each other here.”

With 45 vendors, including up to ten crafters, sell their products at the market, leaving it less than secret to many local Athenians. During operating hours Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the market usually sees almost two thousand visitors, and the Tuesday addition can see up to 800 people.

Being green never looked nor tasted so good.

BLVD Loves:

Luna Bread

The name of this company may not sound familiar to most, but if you have ever dined at Five and Ten, DePalma’s or The Last Resort, chances are you have eaten their bread, and loved it.

Established nine years ago, Luna Bakery Co. has provided Athenians and local establishments with artisanal bread, such as sourdough, ciabatta, foccacia and honey white.

For now, Luna’s bread can only be bought at the Athens Farmer’s Market, the Daily Co-op and Earthfare. However, Luna has future plans for expansion into a retail store at their bakery location off of Broad St. The upcoming store will have a selection of breads, bagels, coffee and sandwiches.

Best Seller: Terrapin Bread made with spent grains.

Sound bite: Matt Downes (owner of Luna Bread): “I worked in restaurants most of my life and I realized I didn’t know a thing about baking.”

Beca Designs

Ever wonder where your Corona bottle goes after you finish it off at places such as Mellow Mushroom or East West Bistro? We doubt it, but just as an FYI your bottle could be used to go on someone’s ear, neck or wrist as jewelry.  At Beca Designs, necklaces and earrings are made from hand cut glass bottles recycled from restaurants and bar establishments in the Athens area.

Owner Beth Carter has been designing jewelry for ten years, but has recently taken up the practice of using glass as jewelry for the past two.  Not only does Carter use recycled glass for all of her jewelry, she also uses recycled sterling silver as well, making her company a truly eco-friendly brand.

Price Points: $16- $140

Sound bite: Beth Carter (owner of Beca Designs): “I’ve always been a little nature girl and I saw a little niche in it. Athens is a little more eco-conscience than the rest of the state.”

Empanadas and Other Such Things

Keeko Villaveces is not your average sophomore in high school. While her peers on a Friday night are at the local football game, Villaveces is up helping make empanadas for her family’s stand at the market. Villaveces and her family sell a variety of empanadas and “other such things” every Saturday, some of which have Greek influences, including baklava and spinach triangles.

Empanadas are stuffed bread or pastry with roots in Spain, Portugal and various parts of Latin and South America, which can be stuffed with meats, vegetables, cheeses and fruits.  The empanadas are a tribute to the Villaveces’ Columbian heritage.

Best Seller: Black Bean and Cheese empanada, $1

Wildcard: Guayaba Pastry, $1

Sound bite: Kenneth Kase (Athens jewelry designer and Empanadas and Other Such Things fan) “The beef empanada is fabulous. I’ve been coming for two years, and I’ve never had a bad empanada. Everyone talks about them.”

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