GRO, Rural Seed Restaurant team up to host winter farmers market

COLUMBUS — Thanks to a new partnership with a local nonprofit organization, weekend visitors to The Rural Seed Restaurant will get to sample the complete farm-to-table dining experience, all under one roof.

The eatery, located at 322 E. Mills St., Columbus, is serving as the host of the town’s winter farmers market, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday through March. The market takes place inside the restaurant’s recently opened second dining room.

The winter market, organized by Polk County agriculture support organization Growing Rural Opportunities, kicked off last Saturday. Despite the rain that pelted the area throughout the day, the market was a huge success for both GRO and The Rural Seed, said Erika McMillan, GRO’s interim executive director. After checking out the different locally grown foods and crafts from the 15 vendors who participated in the market that day, many visitors stepped into The Rural Seed’s dining room to grab a bite to eat for breakfast or lunch.

The collaboration between the nonprofit and restaurant was a natural one, McMillan said.

GRO had used the space inside the Rural Seed building for last year’s winter market before the restaurant opened earlier this year. Plus, the farm-to-table restaurant already uses a lot of the meat and produce sold by local farmers at the market, said Rural Seed co-owner Carl Pleasants.

“[The farmers] already help us out, so we want to help them out,” Pleasants said.

To encourage shoppers to get a taste of how the Rural Seed’s kitchen — helmed by head chef and co-owner Adrienne Wilson and her husband, former Tryon International Equestrian Center catering chef John Wilson — makes use of the plethora of freshly grown and raised products in their backyard, the restaurant is offering a 10 percent discount to those who spend $10 or more at the farmers market earlier in the day.

The partnership with GRO and the farmers market is just one of several big additions the Rural Seed — which opened inside the former Winding Creek Brewing Co. building in March — has rolled out in recent weeks.

Last Wednesday, the restaurant introduced its new dinner menu, which offers steaks, tacos, burgers and a number of other hearty entrees. In addition, the restaurant is now offering a selection of beer and wine for sale, with six domestic brews currently on tap.

GRO, meanwhile, is focused on continuing to grow the winters farmers market into a place where farmers, crafters and customers who are passionate about buying local can gather when the outdoor markets are closed for the season.

“We [GRO] really want, as a board and an organization, to focus on creating a year-round place for farmers to sell,” McMillan said. “For our local farmers, growing isn’t a hobby — it’s a business. They need a place to sell this time of year. Plus, it keeps our customers engaged throughout the year.”

To help liven up the market from week to week, GRO will offer different specials, demonstrations and other activities.

This Saturday, Sarah Lasswell, from Moss & Thistle Flower Farm, will be on-hand to make holiday greenery door swags for guests, for a small donation. In addition, there will be a small fire pit set up outside the market, which will also feature live holiday music from local duo  Blue Wall.

Those interested in learning more about the farmers market may visit growrural.org.

The Rural Seed Restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Those interested in learning more may call 828-802-1097 or visit theruralseed.business.site.