Farm & Flower Festival salutes the local harvest.
 The first annual Farm & Flower Festival, held June 2-3, took Dallas Farmers Market back to its rural roots. An outdoor family event, it emphasized the “Farmers” aspect of the facility.
“It’s important to support local farmers because they are the heart of the produce grown in Texas,” says Tony Johns, Farm- Resource Coordinator for the DFM. “Many folks are used to buying all types of produce at their grocery store year round. Often these fruits and vegetables are ripened under artificial conditions. But years ago, families only ate according to when and what they harvested, otherwise known as the “local harvest.” They canned and dried produce to eat the rest of the year. The freshest, most tasty produce is grown locally at farms. At the Dallas Farmers Market, there are plenty of delicious examples all summer, like East Texas vine-ripened tomatoes, super sweet corn and watermelon.”
During the festival, the entire market was in full bloom with gorgeous flowers and delicious produce. Major flower vendors displayed their wares and many garden clubs offered workshops for recreational and serious gardeners alike.
Two experts dispensed plentiful garden wisdom.
 Master Gardener and Texas horticulture luminary Neil Sperry answered questions from visitors about gardening which included choosing the best flowers, crops, trees and shrubs for various soils and landscapes.
Tenth generation American Southern gardener Felder Rushing, a regular on HGTV and The Discovery Channel, explained in his laid-back style about how easy it is to have fun, productive gardens. He drove an old pickup truck full of dirt down to make his point. As one of his quotes goes, “Life already has so many boundaries and pressures—why add more in the garden?”
Kids also got the dirt on how to dig gardening as a hobby, with the help of a Junior Master Gardener. They also caught the buzz on the Dallas Zoo’s “Bug Club” by participating in special hands-on activities.
The Farm & Flower Festival at Dallas Farmers Market was fun at its freshest for all ages. “From gardening to produce straight from local fields, we were proud to promote good growing and good eating,” concludes Tony Johns.
To find more information, visit www.dallasfarmersmarket.org.
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A new home-grown tradition at the Dallas Farmers Market.