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A casual walk to the Vienna Farmers Market has blossomed into a cherished seasonal tradition for neighbors living near Tapawingo Road.
The ritual began two years ago when longtime Vienna resident Carol Branson invited several neighbors to join her on a Saturday morning walk to the market on Church Street. They returned with an abundance of heirloom tomatoes—and the beginnings of an idea.
“It was more about the company than the shopping,” Branson said. “But we came back with so many heirloom tomatoes, we figured we had to do something about it.”
Now, seven to 10 neighbors from Tapawingo Road and nearby blocks visit the market once or twice a month from late spring through fall. A few days after each trip, they gather at one member’s home for a shared meal prepared entirely from their seasonal purchases.
The potluck has no official name, matching aprons or rigid expectations. Participants simply bring what they have made, from butternut squash lasagna and lemony kale-and-farro salad to berry tarts baked with rosemary crusts.
The menu changes with the growing season. Summer gatherings might feature blistered cherry tomatoes with basil and olive oil, quinoa-filled zucchini boats and peach cobbler under a cornmeal biscuit crust. Spring has produced asparagus flatbreads, rhubarb compotes, sugar snap pea salads, sautéed ramps, shaved fennel with citrus and carrot soup flavored with ginger and dill.
Each host also gives the gathering a different atmosphere. Some dinners take place outdoors beneath string lights and among citronella candles. Others unfold around a kitchen island as neighbors work together, chopping vegetables and stirring pots.
“It’s the opposite of a dinner party,” said James Liu, who often contributes homemade sourdough. “It’s not about impressing anyone, it’s about showing up with what you made and feeling welcome no matter how it turns out.”
The meals have done more than introduce neighbors to seasonal ingredients and local farmers. Branson, who has lived in Vienna for nearly 15 years, said the gatherings transformed casual acquaintances into a community that looks after its members.
“Before, I knew people to say hello,” she said. “Now I know who makes the best lentil stew, who finds zucchini, and who just had surgery and might need a meal dropped off.”
At a recent fall potluck, the group met in a softly illuminated backyard for roasted delicata squash, mushroom galettes and kohlrabi slaw. After the dishes were cleared, neighbors remained around candles glowing in mason jars, exchanging recipes and local news. One person offered the last wedge of apple tart, while another promised to send along a salad dressing recipe.
“The food is good,” neighbor Denise Martin said, “but it’s the conversations that feed us.”
For residents accustomed to long commutes and quiet cul-de-sacs, the recurring meal has created a simple reason to slow down, spend time together and enjoy whatever the season brings.