Local Lavender, Herbs, and Natural Wellness for Fall & Winter

Cozy Season Is Coming: Local Lavender, Herbs, and Natural Wellness for Fall & Winter

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to prepare for the cozy months ahead — the ones filled with warm drinks, calming scents, nourishing foods, and the kind of self-care that keeps both body and mind in balance.

At Piedmont Fresh, we believe that seasonal living means more than just eating local produce. It’s also about supporting small farms and artisans who craft products that nurture your health, home, and spirit — naturally. This season, our shelves are filled with all-natural, homemade, and locally made wellness items from Muddy Creek Lavender, Fancy Plants Farmstead, and Sunflower Hill Farm. Whether you’re treating yourself or finding thoughtful gifts for friends and family, these products are perfect for the months when comfort and care matter most.

Lavender for Mind, Body, and Home

Lavender has been cherished for centuries, and for good reason. This fragrant purple bloom isn’t just beautiful — it’s a powerhouse for both skin health and emotional well-being. Known for its calming aroma, lavender can help reduce stress, ease tension headaches, and promote restful sleep. It’s also naturally antibacterial and soothing for irritated skin, making it a perfect ingredient for soaps, balms, and oils.

From Muddy Creek Lavender, you can find:

• Lavender Infusion Kit & Lavender Simple Syrup Kit – Bring the taste and aroma of lavender into your kitchen. These are perfect for teas, lemonades, cocktails, baked goods, and even savory dishes.

• Lavender Essential Oil & Essential Oil Roller – Add to a diffuser for relaxation or roll onto pulse points for on-the-go aromatherapy.

• Lavender Vanilla Lip Balm – Protect lips from dry, cool air while enjoying a hint of sweetness.

• Shower Steamers – Transform your shower into a spa-like retreat with calming lavender and chamomile vapors.

• Gardener’s Salve & Joint Warming Salve – Soothe hardworking hands and tired muscles naturally.

• Handcrafted Soaps – Chamomile, Lavender & Mint Tea Soap, Pure Lavender Soap, and Lavender Mint Gardener’s Soap — gentle cleansing with natural fragrance.

• Dried Lavender Bunches – Beautiful for display, but also wonderful for DIY sachets, teas, and bath blends.

Herbal Teas & Blends for Wellness

There’s something deeply comforting about wrapping your hands around a warm mug of herbal tea when it’s cold outside. These blends from Muddy Creek Lavender and Fancy Plants Farmstead aren’t just delicious — they also offer impressive health benefits:

• Chamomile – Known for promoting relaxation and better sleep, while also aiding digestion.

• Mint – Refreshing, soothing for the stomach, and may help relieve headaches.

• Lavender Breakfast Tea – A fragrant, gentle start to your morning.

• Sip-N-Soak Herbal Blend – Perfect for brewing or adding to bathwater for total-body relaxation.

• Trust Your Gut Herbal Blend – Designed to support digestion and gut health.

• Herbs de Provence Spice Blend – Packed with antioxidant-rich herbs that support heart health while adding flavor to your cooking without excess salt.

Mushrooms, Turmeric, and Plant-Based Power

Beyond herbs and flowers, fall and winter are a great time to incorporate medicinal mushrooms and powerful roots into your diet. Sunflower Hill Farm offers:

• Turmeric Plants – Grow your own at home for fresh anti-inflammatory, joint-supporting spice year-round.

• Heritage Harvest Mushroom Extracts:

  • Lion’s Mane – Known to boost cognitive function, memory, and focus, while also supporting nerve health.

  • Reishi – A centuries-old medicinal mushroom that supports immune function and helps the body manage stress.

These extracts can be added to teas, coffees, smoothies, or broths — making it easy to incorporate into your daily wellness routine.

Why Choose Local for Your Self-Care?

When you buy natural wellness products from Piedmont Fresh, you’re not just buying something for yourself — you’re supporting local farmers, makers, and the local economy. These products are made in small batches, with care and integrity, without the unnecessary chemicals and additives found in many commercial items.

Shopping local means your money stays in the community, sustaining small businesses and farms. It also means you’re getting fresher, higher-quality products made with ingredients grown right here in the Piedmont region.

Your Fall & Winter Wellness Checklist

If you’re ready to prepare for the cooler months, here’s a quick checklist to get started:

• Stock up on herbal teas to sip on chilly mornings and evenings.

• Add lavender products to your skincare and self-care routines.

• Keep balms and salves on hand for dry skin and sore muscles.

• Try mushroom extracts and turmeric for immune and cognitive support.

• Create a calming home atmosphere with dried lavender or fresh flowers.

Shop all these products and more at PiedmontFresh.com, the Thomasville Farmers Market, and the Lexington Farmers Market — your local sources for fresh food, handmade goods, and seasonal wellness essentials.

August Harvest: Tips for Canning and Eating Well

August is one of the most abundant and flavorful months for North Carolina farms – and it's the perfect time to enjoy fresh, seasonal produce at its peak. Whether you're shopping in person at the Thomasville or Lexington Farmers Markets or online through Piedmont Fresh, you’ll find a wide variety of fruits and vegetables ready to be enjoyed.

What’s In Season This Month

Here’s a quick peek at what you’ll find in markets across the region during August:

• 🌽 Sweet Corn – still going strong and perfect for grilling or salads

• 🍑 Peaches – juicy, fragrant, and ideal for eating fresh or preserving

• 🥒 Cucumbers & Pickling Varieties – crisp and cool, great for snacking or pickling

• 🍅 Tomatoes – from slicing to cherry, heirloom, and paste varieties

• 🌶️ Peppers – everything from mild bells to fiery Scorpion and Habanero

• 🥕 Root Veggies – including beets, carrots, and radishes

• 🥬 Salad Greens & Lettuces – tender, crisp, and full of flavor

• 🍉 Watermelon & Cantaloupe – hydrating, sweet, and refreshing

• 🧅 Onions, Okra, & Eggplant – versatile staples for stir-fries, stews, and roasting

The Health Perks of Eating Seasonal Produce

Eating produce that’s in season isn’t just about flavor—it’s about nutrition and sustainability. Fruits and vegetables picked at their peak contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than those shipped long distances and stored for weeks. For example:

• Tomatoes and peppers are rich in vitamin C and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.

• Dark leafy greens and lettuces are packed with fiber and essential nutrients like vitamin K and folate.

• Peaches and melons provide hydration and a good dose of vitamin A for skin and eye health.

Plus, when you buy local, you’re supporting small farms and reducing the carbon footprint of your food.

Thinking About Canning? Start Small.

If you’ve ever been curious about canning, August is a great time to dip your toes in. With so many fruits and veggies in season, it’s easy to preserve a taste of summer for the colder months. Start with simple, small-batch projects like:

• Quick pickles using cucumbers or beets

• Fresh tomato sauce or salsa

• Peach or fig jam (great for the pantry or freezer)

Pro Tip: Many farmers offer “seconds”—produce that may be slightly blemished but is still perfectly good for canning—at a lower price. Just ask when you’re at the market!

Shop Local. Eat Well. Feel Better.
You can find all these seasonal staples and more at the Thomasville and Lexington Farmers Markets, or from the comfort of home through Piedmont Fresh. There’s no better time to support your health and your local food system.

Let August’s harvest nourish your body, your pantry, and your community.

Summer’s End, Fall’s Beginning: What’s Fresh Next in the Piedmont Region

Summer’s Last Stretch, Fall’s First Flavors: What’s Fresh Next in the Piedmont Region

As summer stretches into its final weeks here in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, local farms are bustling with a rich harvest that bridges the end of summer and the arrival of fall. While summer crops continue to shine, early fall produce is beginning to make its appearance, bringing fresh flavors and nutritious options to your table.

Late Summer Favorites Still Going Strong
Many of summer’s staples remain available in farmers markets and on Piedmont Fresh. Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sweet corn are still at their peak, perfect for late summer meals and salads. Peppers and eggplants are ripening with bold colors and flavors, and okra, a southern favorite, is still plentiful and ready for your cooking.

Early Fall Crops Are Emerging
As temperatures begin to cool, farms start harvesting leafy greens like kale, arugula, collards, mustard greens, and spinach. These nutrient-packed greens are perfect for fresh salads or hearty sautés as the season changes.

Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips begin to appear, adding earthy depth to your fall dishes. Winter squash varieties are also starting their season, offering sweet and savory options ideal for roasting and soups.

Farmers are busy planting fall brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, which will be ready for harvest as the season progresses.

Why Shop Seasonal?
Eating seasonally supports local farms, reduces your environmental footprint, and ensures you receive the freshest, most flavorful produce possible. Seasonal produce is often more affordable and nutrient-rich because it’s harvested at peak ripeness.

What’s Available on Piedmont Fresh?
Our local farmers and producers bring the best of these seasonal offerings to Piedmont Fresh, making it easy to shop for late summer favorites and early fall treasures alike. From hydroponic lettuces to freshly dug root vegetables, there’s something for every kitchen and taste.

Beyond fresh produce, Piedmont Fresh offers fresh milk and dairy from trusted local farms, canning produce boxes perfect for preserving the season’s bounty, and CSA subscriptions and farm boxes from Correll Farms that deliver farm-fresh goodness right to your door.

For protein lovers, you’ll find a wide selection of meat products raised by local farmers. Personal care items crafted by Muddy Creek Lavender and beautiful fall floral arrangements from Fancy Plants Farmstead are also available to brighten your home.

And that’s just the beginning—Piedmont Fresh is your go-to source for quality, local food and goods that celebrate the richness of our Piedmont farming community.

Looking Ahead
As summer’s last stretch gives way to fall’s first flavors, keep an eye out for hearty dishes, warming soups, and seasonal traditions that highlight the best of what our local farms offer.

Whether you’re preserving the final tomatoes of summer or experimenting with kale and root vegetables, the Piedmont’s farms have you covered.

Stay tuned to Piedmont Fresh and your local Farmers Markets for weekly updates on what’s in season and ready to be enjoyed!