Carolina Foothills Locally Grown
Welcome to the CAROLINA FOOTHILLS LOCALLY GROWN AND LOCALLY MADE!
We are a Not-For-Profit, Volunteer-Managed, Farmer-Driven, Community-Supported local food Market.
Our Mission
Carolina Foothills Locally Grown is a group of nearly 30 small farms and gardeners located around Pickens, Oconee and Rabun Counties. Each grower farms his/her land using strict standards to ensure that everything produced is chemical-free. All member farms are dedicated to supplying their customers with the freshest and highest quality vegetables, herbs, mill products, dairy, eggs, meats, fruits, flowers, and transplants. Participating farms vary in size and specialty, but all carry the common thread of dedication to community, environment, health and education.
While not a true cooperative, Carolina Foothills Locally Grown uses cooperative efforts to achieve steady and dependable means of supplying the highest quality produce and other products. Locally Grown works to find new and innovative methods to preserve greenspace, protect our natural resources, support our local economy, provide meaningful work, and return to a more self-sufficient community life. Each farmer realizes the importance of educating the community about the benefits of sustainable agriculture practices to our lives and our land. Locally Grown member farms often dedicate a portion of their personal time to building gardens for their local communities as well as providing fun and informative educational programs for children and adults, including those with special needs.
Our History
Locally Grown was started in Athens and was founded in 2001 through the combined efforts of Dan and Kristen Miller (Heirloom Organics) and the input from current and past member farms. Recognizing and responding to needs of community members and small business owners, we combine the efforts of individual growers to market their produce. Currently, Athens Locally Grown sells an abundance of products to over 4000 individuals and families, as well as local restaurants and grocery stores.
Carolina Foothills Locally Grown is Proud to be a part of the Locally Grown Network here in the foothills of South Carolina!
Why Support Locally Grown?
Enhance local economy: By purchasing produce and other items from local growers you are providing stability to your local economy through the support of local businesses.
Save natural resources: Buying locally makes you an invaluable link in the process of saving resources such as fossil fuels and packaging materials. Also, we are right here in your community so the expense of transportation and delivery is kept to a minimum.
Provide learning opportunities: Locally Grown supporters provide member growers the means to help educate our community about the importance of sustainable agriculture.
Supporting a way of life: The number of small farms in the United States has decreased dramatically in the last decade. Please help us preserve an honest and worthy means of making a living.
We believe that small, diverse, family-owned farms contribute to society’s overall health.
Membership Fees
To provide with farms tours, educational programs, and to help us with our overhead costs, we ask that you pay an annual fee of $20 per household for one calendar year. You are welcome to try us for two orders before you pay the membership. The website will automatically add the membership fee to your third order.
Ordering Options
Unlike other co-ops, buying clubs, or CSAs where everyone gets the same box of stuff (and you don’t know what you’re getting until you get it), with Locally Grown you get to order what you want, in the quantities that you want, from the farms that you want. The weekly email lists the produce, milled products, fresh flowers, and artisan goods available that week, and you can browse the items on this website before you place your order.
Other Important Items
Placing Orders
Each Friday an email is sent to everyone with an account here letting them know the website is open for the week. Customers place their orders for the week any time after that email goes out, but no later than Monday at 4:00 p.m. Orders are placed here on our website.
Growers receive their orders that same night and harvest on Tuesday.
Picking Up Orders
From 4:15 until 6;00 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Pickens YMCA
Six Mile 3:15 – 4:30 at the Farmers Market
Seneca 4:00 – 5:30 at The Lila Doyle Center Gazebo off hwy 123.
Liberty 7 pm – CALL Market Mamager
Gift Certificates are available! If you would like to purchase a gift of health and flavor, please consider a Locally Grown gift certificate. You can decide the amount and the lucky recipient can purchase locally grown produce without having to pay membership fees!
Sponsor a membership! If you would like to sponsor a membership for an individual or family, please contact us.
Still have questions? Please email maranthalove@gmail.com