Top 5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Carefully curated for mom, here are

Garden Valley’s Top 5 mother’s day Gift Ideas

1. hanging baskets

With so many colors, textures, and light options, hanging baskets make the perfect gift for any mom. She’ll be looking at these every time she pulls up the driveway into her home, and, of course, will be reminded of how amazing of a child you are for gifting her these.

Some of our favorites…
For sun, we love the classic Petunia or Million Bell hanging baskets. The more sun, the better! All they need is an occasional dead heading to encourage new bloom growth. But don’t forget to water!
For shade, we love Fuscia! They thrive in those shady places that don’t receive any sun, and their unique blooms easily bring joy to the hearts of those who witness them.

You can read more here about keeping your hanging basket beautiful.

2. houseplants 

If you want your mom to enjoy a plant every second of every day… get her a houseplant. They’re easy to care for once you learn their needs, and make a great option for the mothers who don’t have a lot of outdoor space. Our staff at Garden Valley LOVE houseplants and would be happy to help guide you in picking out the perfect one.

3. pottery

Speaking of plants… Your mom is going to need something to put those gorgeous plants in. We hand select our pottery pieces every year, and they will make such a beautiful addition to your mom‘s home. Go ahead and get her the piece she’s been eyeing but not buying. She’ll love it, trust us.

4. Hibiscus

This year‘s hibiscus crop has been absolutely beautiful! They’re healthy, vibrant in color, and would make the perfect addition to your mom‘s summer plant collection! Plus, they thrive in warm, humid conditions, making them the perfect selection for North Carolina Summers.

5. a shopping spree

If you REALLY want to make your mom happy… treat mom to a yummy brunch/lunch, and then surprise her with a shopping spree to Garden Valley. We have so many gorgeous things at our stores that will put a huge smile on your mom’s face. But what really makes the moment special is the time spent together walking through the stores and having those easy, fun conversations. Because no matter what physical gift you get your mom, the memories and little moments like that… those are what she really wants.

*BONUS*

Gift certificate

We do offer gift certificates as well, so if you’re completely stuck on time, this is a great option! Maybe with this, she can finally buy that item she’s been saving up for!

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Thank you so much for joining us here. We offer a huge selection of pottery, plants, produce, and soil, making it a one stop shop for you this Mother’s Day! For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
With love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

The History of Garden Valley

There’s always a story to every place, to every business that’s been built, and learning that journey is what reveals the heart and soul behind it. What started out as a small, quaint produce stand, has now turned into a beautiful and thriving farmers market that serves a good part of both Alamance and Guilford Counties of North Carolina. That business… is Garden Valley Farmers Market, and this is their story:

Nestled in the heart of Alamance County, there was a small produce stand that was owned and operated by Josh Readling (along his beautiful brown lab, Shelby). His desire was to provide fresh and local produce to a community that was in lack of healthier food options. Josh grew up in Alamance County, and his knack for business and desire to bless people was at the heart of starting Garden Valley, and has such, remained the core desire. To plant better, eat better, and live better.

Fast forward a few years, and along came two brothers who not only lived together, but decided it was a good idea to work together too (read that last line as sarcasm). Those brothers are Paul and Luke Laparra. Long story short, they went to church with Josh, had conversations, and wanted to expand Garden Valley to reach more people. Little did they know that this partnership would turn into a bond that would not only bless the outside community, but also provide a friendship filled with trust and understanding, something that not many businesses are blessed to have.

• Paul is a craftsman by heart. He loves working with his hands, is a former electrician, and loves carpentry work. But even with all of the time consuming work that he continues to do with Garden Valley, his main passion in life is his love for the Lord, and raising his beautiful family.

• Luke was already working for Garden Valley as an employee at the time, and wanted to continue to grow in the company. It was in this journey that he learned his passion for business, finances, and streamlining processes. But even with this new discovery, he still remains passionate about loving his family, and helping others simplify the stresses that can often come with finances.

While this partnership was being developed, Garden Valley was slowly growing from one location, at Chapel Hill Road, to FIVE locations in a span of ten years. What once was a modest produce stand, is now a farmers market that sells pottery, flowers, trees, shrubs, and so much more! And even though they have grown into a bigger company, the promise to provide quality product to the community is still one of their main goals.

The biggest season of growth for Garden Valley came during a very unexpected time… 2020. It was in the thick of this pandemic that Garden Valley was blessed with the most amazing outpour of support from their community. It was filled with hope, strength, and solace in a time that was focused on fear, hurt, and anxiety. The love shown by the community of Alamance/Guilford County brought a refreshed determination to Luke and Paul… this was the right direction for the company. This business was supposed to be here. Garden Valley was home for its community.

Through the good years, and not so good years, Garden Valley has always remained true to their identity: plant better, eat better, live better. They have continued to provide access to healthy vegetation so that the community can plant better. They always strive to provide quality produce so that the community can eat better. And they are a place where anyone can come, and be inspired to live better. This motto of theirs rings true, and it’s Garden Valley’s hope to continue to do so for many years to come.

The Best Guacamole You've Ever Tasted

If you’ve ever tried Guacamole from the store or restaurant, and didn’t like it… you might need a “do-over”. Not only can Guacamole be so flavorful, but it’s also a very easy dip to make for any party, taco night, or just a good old fashioned self care night in. Grab a bag of salty tortilla chips, and let’s get to making The Best Guacamole You’ve Ever Tasted…

First, start by heading over to Garden Valley and picking out your ripe avocados, juicy tomatoes, tangy limes, and flavorful red onions. We chose the better boy tomato, but you can easily substitute that for another tomato that you would prefer. If you ever need help in knowing if your avocado is ripe, any of our knowledgeable employees would be glad to assist you.

Also, did you know that avocados are REALLY good for you? Here’s some of the health benefits:

+ High in monounsaturated fats, which help prevent heart disease AND lower blood pressure
+ Great source of fiber, which is wonderful for gut health
+ High in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
+ Packed with nutrients that support satiety in diet, helping support a healthy weight/diet
+ Great source of folate, a very important vitamin needed in fetal development

Okay now that you’re home, let’s get to the good stuff…

Start by slicing your avocados and dumping them into the bowl. Add in your freshly squeezed lime juice, garlic, salt, red onions, and tomatoes. Now mash, chop, and stir ingredients until blended to the texture you desire. Some people like no lumps, while others like a little bit of texture when dipping their chip. It’s all in the preference you choose.

There’s no science to this recipe, which is what makes it sooo easy. Just dump, smash, stir, and dip. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fresh and amazing this guacamole tastes. We also think you’ll be making this for every party from here on out. Trust us, it’s always the first thing to go at the appetizer table, and your friends and family will be raving about this recipe for a long time. Don’t worry though… it will be our little secret.

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The Best Guacamole you’ve ever tasted
SERVINGS: 4 PEOPLE

INGREDIENTS

3 Avacodos
2 Freshly Squeezed Limes
1/4 C Finely Diced Red Onion
1/3 C Finely Diced Tomato
1 1/2 t Garlic Powder
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Slice avocados and scoop the meat of them into mixing bowl.
2. Squeeze the juice of your two limes into bowl with your avocados.
3. Finely chop 1/4 C tomato and 1/3 C red onion while the avocado is absorbing the lime juices.
4. Dump onion, tomato, salt, and garlic powder into the bowl.
5. Smash your avocados and stir until your have reached desired texture and consistency in your guacamole.
6. Grab a chip (or two) and taste test.

S I D E N O T E
We have found that letting the avocado absorb the lime juice prior to smashing it does help to soften it. This helps if your avocado was not quite ripe enough.

WE WANT TO KNOW…

have you ever made Guacamole from scratch? Let us know in the comments below. You can also share your delicious Guacamole with us by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see!

Our Top 3 Easy and Refreshingly Delicious "Mocktails"

So you visited Garden Valley and bought a TON of delicious produce… now what? Well, eating all of it is, of course, a very easy and obvious choice. BUT, may we also throw out the idea of drinking your produce? We’ve test-tasted 3 delicious “mocktail” recipes that will up your drink game, and can easily be made for entertaining your friends and family… or served as a refreshing afternoon drink for your kiddos without all of the added processed sugars.

3 Easy and Refreshingly Delicious “Mocktails”

Blueberry and Lime Mojito

Ingredients

1/2 oz lime juice (about a half lime)
3-4 tbsp pink lemonade
2 tbsp fresh blueberries
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint leaves
2 oz coconut water
3 oz club soda
Ice cubes

Directions

1. Muddle blueberries, mint, lime juice, and the pink lemonade at the bottom of your glass
2. Add a few ice cubes and top with 2 oz coconut water
3. Finish with club soda
4. Garnish

Strawberry and Honey Mint Smash

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh strawberries
2 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp honey
1.5 oz club soda (or vodka)
Crushed ice
Sprite

Directions

1. Muddle strawberries, mint, and honey together
2. Add club soda or vodka
3. Add 1/2 cup crushed ice and top with Sprite
4. Garnish

Cucumber, Watermelon and Basil Lemonade

Ingredients

3 cups cubed watermelon
1 large cucumber
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup lemon juice
Club Soda

Directions

1. Pulse watermelon, cucumber, basil, and lemon until fully blended
2. Pour mixture over strainer, cheese cloth, or into french press. Strain
3. Pour strained liquid over ice and to with soda water
4. Garnish

FROM GARDEN VALLEY:

Enjoy these delicious and refreshing drinks this spring and summer, because we know we will! We also want to thank you for choosing to shop local with us, and we hope you continue to join our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.

We would love to see you and your friends drinking these mocktails, so don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! We can’t wait to see! @gardenvalleyfarmersmarket