Josh’s Farmers Market in Mooresville Lake Norman

If you have reason to be on Williamson Road in Mooresville on Thursday – Sunday you might have seen a crowded parking lot nestled in some trees on the east side of the street just south of Highway 150.  This is where Josh Graham and his wife Alicia own and operate  their popular Josh’s Farmers Market which sells seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers and from Columbia S.C.

It’s truly like an entire farmers market all under one large tent.  The day I took these photos I bought some of the North Carolina  peaches which were ripe, and incredibly sweet as I have found all of their fresh fruits to be.  What a difference from store-bought fruits!

 Besides seasonal fruits and berries, Josh also has a great variety of vegetables, fresh corn, and of course, several varieties of  juicy red tomatoes, some grown on their own land!

Every week they drive down at 2:00am to Columbia SC to “get the freshest produce” according to a recent article in the Mooresville Tribune.  “There’s not many places that you can go when the squash or blueberries were picked an hour before you buy them” according to Graham.

 Most locals know that the best time to visit Josh’s Farmers Market is  on Thursday or Friday in order to get the best selection before they sell out! 

Josh’s Farmers Market also sells local honey, jams and canned vegetables.

New this year, The Shrimp Connection has joined Josh and is selling  fresh fish which from what I have been told is fantastic.

  While I love the fresh fruits and produce, I can never resist taking home one of their  freshly baked, to-die-for, pies or some cookies and Amish bread.

Josh’s Farmer’s Market is open seasonally and then sells pumpkins for Halloween and Christmas trees in December.

During peak season they are open Thursdays – Sundays at about 10:00am

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If you are contemplating a move to our Lake Norman area you most likely have gone to the Chamber of Commerce websites and know about our great weather, proximity to Charlotte, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the beaches.  But what is it REALLY like living here?  Here is my list of things that I found most interesting after I moved here from California in 2005: 

• Trees, Trees and More Trees:  There are so many beautiful, tall trees, even along the Interstate, that it is easy to loose your sense of direction.  From hardwood trees like Maples to towering Oaks and Pines to myriad varieties of blossoming fruit trees, we are surrounded by trees.  It is so beautiful but you might want to have a compass handy!

• Wave!  Everyone waves at you here.  If you are driving in neighborhoods, people in their yards or walking their dogs will wave at you.  Smiles and waves are a part of daily life.  It didn’t take long for it to become a habit for me too!

• Imagine getting ready to get in the checkout line at a grocery store and having no lines and even have the sales clerk walk out to you to grab your cart!  Friendly customer service is a priority and a part of life here.  This is especially evident to me at grocery stores, banks and when I go to our local Lowe’s Home Improvement.  There are always plenty of knowledgeable sales people who go out of their way to help.

• Stars at night:  If you live out on the lake and away from the center of town, you will be treated each clear night with myriad stars sparkling in the sky.

• Peace and Quiet:  No matter where you are, you are never very far from almost complete serenity.  Even though I live down Brawley School Road, when I get home I rarely even hear a car go by.

• Sounds of the lake:  Unless you live on the main channel, in the boating months you most likely will have just the occasional sounds of a boat going by, the screams of delight of children water skiing or riding in one of myriad variety of tubes and things pulled by boats.

• Birds:  If you put out a bird feeder you will be treated with a constant variety of visitors from bright red cardinals (our state bird), to blue birds, finches, wood peckers and many more who come and go all year round.  I highly recommend you get a Southeaster US guide to birds!

• Sounds of nature:  If you are lucky enough to have tall trees, the sounds of birds singing will welcome you most of the day.  On a windy day the pine trees and other tall tree make a wonderful rustling sound.  During the summer we add in the crickets and cicada’s as well.

• Chances are you will pass a farm, produce stands, goats and beautiful glimpses of the lake on your way to the market or the Interstate.  We still have many wonderful reminders of the days before Lake Norman became so popular.  You don’t have to go very far to find the beautiful farming country in addition to the few spotted around the lake homes.

• Polite Drivers:  Now some people may not fit in this category, but I can tell you that the majority of drivers will let cars merge in front of them and even stop to let a car from a side street get on to the main road.  I rarely hear horns.  When in doubt, be polite.  I left my road rage in Los Angeles!

• Parks and natural areas are a priority.  Many housing communities are designed to maintain what we call “natural areas” where the native, mature trees that were once part of a forest still remain.  We have many parks from small neighborhood parks to the 1300 acre Lake Norman State Park. 

• Sports are an important part of life here in Lake Norman just as they are in the entire Charlotte area.  You will find that our local TV stations and newspapers will cover high schoolfootball, basketball on their prime-time news.  Our schools have highly competitive sports teams of just about every type you would find anywhere.  Of course, during the Sweet 16 basketball tournaments most everyone keeps track or watches the games.  UNC (Charlotte) was crowned the US Champions again this year but there are always a number of North Carolina Colleges in the competition including our small town favorite of Davidson College who made it to the final 8 last year. And, you can’t forget we are the auto racing center of the country as well!

• Recreation is an important part of daily life, from the lake to skateboard parks to hiking and mountain biking. Lake Norman is large enough to accommodate the fastest “cigarette boats” and large sail boats but has so many small coves that are perfect for canoes and kayaking. Water skiing, wakeboarding, wind surfing,…you name the water sport and we probably have it!

• Vegetable gardens are a common site, especially in neighborhoods outside of the major subdivisions.  The neighborly thing to do is share when you harvest.  My neighbors even offer bulbs and plants when they are dividing them up.  A little sign of country and the old ways.

• Variety of people:  About 70% of those of us lucky enough to live around Lake Norman are “transplants” from other states.  Everywhere you go you will hear a great variety of accents.  Even the Southern accents vary tremendously depending on where they are from originally and how long they have lived here.

• Yellow pine pollen in April. One day in April you will suddenly notice what first looks like a layer of dust everywhere.  Then you will notice there is a light layer of yellow pine pollen everywhere!  It doesn’t last very long but I highly recommend you close your windows during this time!

• Japanese Beetles.  Usually towards the end of May you will start to see an iridescent flying bug sitting on your rose bushes, crepe myrtles and other tender flowering plant.  Within a week they will become a force to reckoned with, particularly if you have young plants.  They eat the plants and flowers leaving just the lacy veins.  Do not get the bags that are meant to capture them as they actually attract more to your garden.  Several bug sprays are popular or even hand picking them off of your plant if you are against using chemicals. Don’t wait or they might eat your beautiful bushes!

• Casual life style and clothing is the way of Lake Norman.  While you can find occasions to dress up, generally life is pretty casual and we all dress accordingly.  Shorts and sandles are fine just about everywhere in the warmer months.  It’s a bit like living at the beach or on vacation.

• Tanning salons are everywhere.  Having spent too much time on the sunny beaches of California I am now a regular at my dermatologist due to minor skin cancer so while many here still believe in having a deep tan, some of us use SPF 45!

• No matter what type of shopping you are looking for, we probably have it nearby.  We have upscale boutiques and malls, all of the major Big Box stores and chains as well as the Metrolina swap meets and antique events.  Or grocery stores range from Wal-Mart and Super Target to Harris Teeter, Fresh Foods and Trader Joes.

• As I have written about before, those of us from other states have brought our favorite foods with us!  From New York style Italian to Five Guys awesome hamburgers and fries to upscale restaurants featuring a huge variety of foods, there is little you won’t find here in the way of food.  Having fresh produce stands so nearby as well as farmers markets means we have wonderful, locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods, honey, pickled green tomatoes and seasonal plants.

• Porches:  For those lucky enough to have a “rocking chair front porch” as they are called here, there is nothing more relaxing then soaking up the peace and quiet, enjoying your morning coffee or evening glass of wine and greeting those who happen to walk by.

• Take time to talk to workers…fence, pest control, tree trimmers, plumbers.  Whether you are having a fence installed, trees trimmed or a plumbing leak fixed, especially if the service person  has a Southern accent, you will find a friendly conversation to be important part of the service.  Things are more personal here.  Enjoy slowing down a bit and chatting with folks!

• People are nice, polite, talk while waiting in line, friendly.  I think we all adopt the Southern hospitality and culture a bit.  People are more likely to chat with you while waiting in line at Starbucks or just about anywhere if you welcome them.

• Stop for pedestrians at the market:  If you even put one step towards your car after leaving the market most cars will stop and wave you on.  Just as when driving, there is a politeness that extends way beyond what is experienced in many areas of our country!

• 4 seasons:  Yes, we do have 4 distinct seasons but all are mild.  Trees usually have finished loosing their leaves by Thanksgiving and by mid April everything is almost completely leafed back out.  Our hottest months are July and August.  We usually get about one snowfall each winter and a few hail or ice mixed in.  We have thunder and lightning during the warmer months but they are very sporatic.  You can be driving along and run into a heavy rain and be out into dry and sunny 10 miles later.  Because we are so far inland, hurricanes generally bring tropical rains but little else.

So, these are the first 26…Look for Part 2 soon!

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Daily Grind Grill & Cafe

If you haven’t discovered the Daily Grind then you are in for a REAL treat!  Tucked in a corner of the small shopping center located at the corner of Brawley School and Canvasback Road in Mooresville, Daily Grind is all about fresh, homemade and delicious, with an eclectic menu that is perfect for our diverse Lake Norman community.

I chose it as my first Business of the Week because not only is it relatively new and family owned and operated, but because it is one of my personal hangouts and I really want them to succeed!  Over the past year they has earned quite a good reputation with the locals including several NASCAR cup drivers and for good reason:  Great, fresh, homemade food and friendly service!

Daily Grind Grill & Cafe is a family affair.  Originally from New Jersey, the Ryan’s move to Lake Norman about 3 years ago and opened Daily Grind in August of 2007.  Son Chris Ryan is the Executive Chef and Mom and Dad help everything run smoothly.

From my favorite sandwich, the veggie panini with grilled eggplant, Portabella mushroom, asparagus, tomatos, roasted peppers and fresh Mozzarella, to an incredible selection of burgers, sandwiches, homemade soups and salads, I challenge anyone to not find something they like on their extensive menu.  While many of their items may be offered with us “transplants” in mind, they also offer the down-home southern foods like crab cakes, meat loaf with mashed potatoes, Grouper and grits. 

Pub chips are a must have…their own homemade potato chips are thick and crispy.

Did I mention that they serve breakfast all day?  Fresh omelettes, Frittatas, or decadent blueberry pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast stuffed with blueberries, raspberries or peanut butter and banana with their special butter I have yet to try anything that wasn’t perfectly delicious! 

And, when I am trying to be health-conscious they offer fresh fruit, oatmeal and yogurt with granola. 

“Whether you’re in the mood for just a cup of coffee or a hearty meal…Whether you’re working up a big appetite, or just in the mood for a sandwich, The Daily Grind & Cafe has what you are looking for”!

Daily Grind is open for breakfast and lunch daily.  Monday – 6am – 3pm and weekends 7am – 3pm.  They told me today that they will start serving dinners February 9th so mark your calendars!

Daily Grind Grill & Cafe

862 Brawley School Road, Mooresville

704.663.7712

More Local Businesses 

Lake Norman’s Birkdale Village: Great Shopping, Dining and Housing!

Lake Norman’s New Mooresville Town Square is Coming to Life!

Mooresvile Lake Norman Has Plenty to Offer Wine Lovers!

Lake Norman Newcomers Bring Their Favorite Foods With Them!

New Lake Norman SK8 shop in Downtown Mooresville

Lake Norman’s Cool Breeze Cyclery:  It’s Not Just About the Bikes!

Ferrucci’s Market in Cornelius: Now That’s Italian Lake Norman!

The greater Lake Norman and Charlotte area has myriad ways to celebrate the New Year, it is just a matter of knowing where to look!  From boat parties on Lake Norman to holiday restaurant bashes to family oriented festivities there truly is something for everyone.

So, where do you go?  My suggestion is to start with The Charlotte Observer.  They currently have two great articles:  New Year’s festivities fit for a family and  5 great places to welcome the New Year  which offer an incredible array of places to go and things to do.  From the swank  Enchanted Evening Ball at Charlotte City Club to the hot  NYE at The Sunset Club it’s worth taking the time to check it out.

If you don’t have time to pick up a free copy of Creative Loafing you might find their website equally helpful: Creative Loafing.

Want to stay in Lake Norman?  Check out  LKNFun.com where you will find a list of all of the local parties from the new Tapas restaurant in Birkdale Village to Midtown Sundries on Lake Norman.

Another Lake Norman resource is LKN Social which even lists boat parties on the lake!  How about some Jazz on Lake Norman?  Check out this group on Meetup.

Have a very safe and Happy New Year!

Learn about local restaurants!

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: 131 Main

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: Maddi’s Southern Bistro

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: Soiree

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: The Rusty Rudder

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: Indigo Joes

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: Rock Bottom

Lake Norman Restaurant Review: North Harbor Club

A Lake Norman Restaurant Critic is born! 

After about a year and a half, the greater Lake Norman area is now offically out of the few remaining drought areas in North Carolina according to the US Drought Managenment Advisory Council’s  data as of December 16, 2008!  Only the far western portion of our state has any water deficiencies:

Thanks to our most recent rains even the Lake Norman water levels are at 97.3 which is 1.3 feet above the “target level”.  (Remember that 100′ is “full pond” which is the highest level possible before they release water at the southern dam). 

For those of us Lake Norman home owners with well water, it is reassuring that the water tables are also looking good.

Selling waterfront homes and lots on Lake Norman during the height of our water shortage over a year ago was truly challenging.  I remember some home buyers of mine arrived in the summer of 2007 to find that their boat lift was stuck in the mud!

It is amazing to me that one summer without hurricanes (2007) could impact the entire southeastern United States for such an extended period of time. 

Lake Norman waterfront homeowners can relax and enjoy the holidays looking out at our beautifully FULL lake.

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