Neighborhood news: Farmers' Market seller invites public to her garden

Jeannie Heflin does more than sell at the Nokesville Farmers' Market -- she invites the public to see the source of her fresh produce and eggs in Haymarket at the Cedars Farm.

"I love to see children's responses to a big garden full of vegetables," Heflin said. "Most children only know what their parents buy from the grocery store. They don't know that carrots come with green tops, have probably never seen a beet ... and to see that potatoes grow down in the soil, and see tomato plants taller than they are, and all you have to do is reach in and pick one ..."

In two gardens, one 50 feet by 100 feet; the other, 100 feet by 100 feet, Heflin grows salad greens, collards, beets, carrots, green beans, cabbage, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, garlic, Swiss chard, tomatoes, jalapeno and sweet peppers, corn, zucchini, summer squash, pumpkins, and butternut squash.

"My husband's parents bought the farm in 1936," Heflin said. "His family always gardened and raised cattle and chickens and did the whole sustainable farming thing."

Get more information and schedule a visit by e-mailing thecedarsfarm@gmail.com.

Build your own rain barrel

Conserve water, save money and have a barrel of fun by building your own rain barrel at a rain barrel building workshop sponsored by the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District and Southern States of Manassas.

Among other benefits, rainwater is perfect for watering lawns and gardens because it is natural and does not contain fluoride, chlorine or chemicals found in public water.

The workshop will take place at Southern States, 9751 Center St., Manassas, on July 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., rain or shine.

Cost for the workshop is $55 per barrel, with a limit of two barrels per person. Payment is required when preregistering. There will be no registration on the day of the workshop.

RSVP by July 10 to Nicole Ethier at 703-594-3621 or at nicoleethier@pwswcd.org. For more information, see pwswcd.org.

Spiritual Care Support Ministries office closed

The Spiritual Care Support Ministries' Bristow/Manassas satellite office will be closed Wednesday and July 15.

Regular hours and programs will run all other scheduled days.

Katherine Gotthardt reports your neighborhood news from the Nokesville, Bristow and Brentsville areas every Friday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Katherine at kgotthardt@comcast.net.