ens raise herbs, produce and flowers on a half-acre plot of land on their farm in Belton. Kitchens said they raise their crops very carefully using only natural fertilizers and pest control. “Our fertilizer is compost, seaweed and fish emulsions,” Kitchens said. “We make our own compost so all of the nutrients the plants on our herb farm get are natural.” Kitchens said customers don’t have to worry about toxins. “We don’t allow toxins on our land,” she said. “We never have synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.” Most people aren’t sure how to use herbs very well, Kitchens said, so she brings samples of herb tea for her customers, including a tea made from Holy or Tulsi Basil. “We introduced basil tea at our market and it became a fast favorite. It has cleansing properties that support the liver, lymph system, urinary function and gut,” Kitchens said. In addition to her variety of basils and other herbs, the sisters also raise seasonal produce and flowers.
Virginia Kessell, left, of Virginia’s Garden helps Alyson Whisenhunt bag Texas peaches she bought at the Pioneer Farmers Market in Killeen. Persis Mones, below, enjoys a taste of one of the many pickles available at CHEek Pickles found at the Killeen market on Saturdays.
Pioneer Farmers Market
Tractor Supply 2002 E. Central Texas Expressway, Killeen 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays (through September) Pioneer Farmers Market opened last October and hosts up to eight farm-related vendors every Saturday through Labor Day. Vendors sell local honey, eggs, baked goods, jams and jellies, and Texas produce. Virginia’s Garden Virginia Kessell brings her herbs, mints, rosemary, dried herbs and spice mixes to the market. “When the garden comes in, I sell produce,” she said. Last year was not a good year for produce, Kessell said, but she didn’t want to stop going to the market so she began making flavored syrups, including basil syrup, jams and jellies. Some of her jellies are diabetic-friendly, which she makes with Agave syrup instead of sugar. She also blends herbal teas. CHEeK Flavored Pickles Rebecca Bass and her mother-in-law, Pamela Stevers, heat up taste buds with their hot pickle flavors, such as the Fire Pickle, not quite the hottest, and The Zombie pickle, a much hotter infusion of jalapeño, Habanero, Serrano and Anaheim peppers. “It’s pretty hot,” Rebecca Bass said. “Some people drink the juice and it’s nothing. Others will eat a half pepper and break out in a sweat and tears.” These are just two of the 16 flavored pickles handmade by Bass and Stevers. They
started making pickles a year ago and set up at the Pioneer Farmers Market every Saturday. Other flavors on their pickle palate lean more toward the savory and include less spicy alternatives like ranch, garlic, bacon, sesame teriyaki, Hawaiian ginger and The Steakhouse. “It’s not your ordinary pickle,” Bass said. “We give pickles personality.”
Bell County Farmers Market 1 & 2
7 a.m.-sell out, Saturdays through September Corner of Central Avenue and Penelope Street, Belton 7 a.m.-sell out, Tuesdays and Thursdays, through September 212 S. Main St., Temple The Bell County Farmers Markets are a little smaller than some of the other farmers markets, but they have been around for “more
than 30 years,” said coordinator Mary Coppin. Coppin, said they have 16-17 vendors at any time. She considers all of her vendors unique, however, one that stands out is L.A. Jez Honey Farms in Temple. Owned by Larry Jez, a veteran bee keeper who has worked with bees for more than 30 years, he currently has 12 hives at his farm in Temple. Jez sells his honey at the Belton Farmers Markets in Belton and Temple and said he sells out fast because of its “smooth, sweet taste.” “You just want to eat more of it,” he said. “It’s good.” Jez keeps his bees happy with proper nutrition and by making sure they have plenty of honey after the harvest to live on during the winter months and supplements their winter diet with sugar water. He medicates them when needed and feeds them a patty infused with vitamins and minerals formulated for bees. Jez’s bees work anything with blooms but are partial to his tallow tree and crepe myrtle blooms. He also spreads a wildflower mix in fall and spring that the bees like to work. “You’ve got to take care of your honey bees,” Jez said. “It helps them maintain a good healthy little body to do their thing.” TEXAPPEALMAG.COM
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