A triple-decker of events to announce.

• This afternoon, from 4 to 6 pm, Food as a Verb is vending at the Main Street Farmers' Market.

We'd love to see you. Stop by, shake hands, swap stories. We'll be selling good swag, like our debonair t-shirts and hats.

Don't those shirts look good? For that photo, we hired a professional model – young, hip, svelte, cosmopolitan with arms like Ryan Reynolds. (Clearly, he didn't show up.)

We'll be selling hats, too.

But not the hat in the photo. Oh no. That hat was imported from fashion runways in London. Or, Sarah, was it Milan?

"Hat coutere," she said.

Oof.

No, no, we're selling these hats.

We'll also have a few tomato plants, also. In the Cook greenhouse, I started too many. Glad to share. The variety: Paul Robeson, a Russian heirloom named after the African American singer, concert performer, actor, professional athlete and human rights activist.

Buy a Food as a Verb t-shirt or hat, get a free Paul Robeson tomato plant.

• Speaking of athletes and activism, on June 8, the Southeast TN Young Farmers Association will host its second annual Farm Olympics.

"It'll be a full day of fun competition with a pig roast picnic dinner and live music and dancing," said Emily Heid. "This is our big community event and fundraiser – it's our second Farm Olympics and we'll also be celebrating our 5th year as an organization!"

The Southeast TN Young Farmers Association is one of our favorite groups doing such steadfast work. Their mission: to support young, aspiring, beginning and BIPOC farmers through community-building, resource and knowledge-sharing and advocacy.

Growing the next generation of farmers takes funding, community and networking. These Olympics are a great way to achieve all three.

The Olympics sound hilariously fun. There's the Kubota of Chattanooga transplant race. ("Participants start with 12 flower plugs, a trowel, and a yogurt container filled with water.") The American Farmland Trust Obstacles to Land Access Race. Egg juggling. Hay bale tossing. If only a hat-wearing contest.

Then, contra dancing, a pig roast, music.

For tickets and more info, visit here.

• Finally, our favorite road race is five days away: the Chattanooga Chase, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27.

Food as a Verb hosts the big-time, big-top, post-race Block Party, which means we'll be there, beers nearby, handing out new swag, saying hi, rubbing hamstrings – ours, not yours – and enjoying the Memorial Day joy.

I've known race director and Fast Break Athletics owner Alan Outlaw for many years. He's a man among men, one of the finest Chattanoogans I know. (Don't tell him I said this.)

Over the years, I've learned many things from him, foremost: the value of relationships.

Key word: value.

Fast Break is a relationship store that specializes in running. Its love language is local relationship. Most local businesses are rooted in the same basic formula: relationships first, product second. This is what gives local businesses such value, meaning, worth.

Look at the Chase. It's surrounded every-which-way with local businesses. It benefits a local hospital. Organized by local men and women from your neighborhood, church or yoga studio.

What's this got to do with Food as a Verb?

Everything. By spotlighting local food, we, too, are elevating, uplifting and promoting people and places with whom you can build genuine, wholesome, real relationships.

Local-anything, from running stores to breweries to media startups, builds community, connecting the dots, not undoing them.

The Chattanooga Chase exemplifies all of this. It is a community event with a side dish of running.

Best of all, the race benefits Siskin Children's Institute and its marvelous work.

Sign up here. Run, walk, stroll or just come on down to the block party.

See you Sunday, for an unforgettable story about violence, food and freedom.

All photography by Sarah Unger (sarah@foodasaverb.com)

All design by Alex DeHart

All words by David Cook (david@foodasaverb.com)

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in sponsorship or advertising opportunities? Email us: david@foodasaverb.com and sarah@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

Regional Farmers' Markets

Food as a Verb thanks our sustaining partners for their generous support.

Regional Farmers' Markets

• Main St. Farmers' Market

Corner of W. 20th and Chestnut St., near Finley Stadium

Wednesday, 4 - 6pm

• Brainerd Farmers' Market

Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, 10am - noon

• Chattanooga Market

1820 Carter Street, Sunday, 11am - 4pm

• Fresh Mess Market

Harton Park, Monteagle, TN. (Rain location: Monteagle Fire Hall.)

Every Thursday, 3pm - 6pm, beg. June 6 - Oct. 3

• Ooltewah Farmers' Market

The Ooltewah Nursery, Thursday, 3 - 6pm

• Signal Mountain Farmers' Market

Pre-order online for Thursday pick-up between 4 - 6pm at Bachman Community Center

• South Cumberland Farmers’ Market

Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.) Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (central.) Order online by Monday 10 am (central.)

• St. Albans Farmers' Market

7514 Hixson Pike, Saturday, 9.30am - 12.30pm with a free pancake breakfast every third Saturday  

• Walker County Farmers' Market

Wednesday, 2 - 5 pm, Rock Spring Ag. Center

Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm, downtown Lafayette, Georgia

To include your farmers market, email david@foodasaverb.com