Get your fresh produce at a place you might not expect in Canandaigua. Here's where

CANANDAIGUA — In addition to books and other resource materials, Wood Library is now a go-to place for fresh produce, cut flowers and starter plants.

The self-serve Little Free Farm Stand opened July 1 at the library, 134 N. Main St., Canandaigua.

All the items are donated by local gardeners and are free to the public. People also are encouraged to give what they can from their personal gardens, take what they need or swap what they can’t use.

Here’s why it pays to give around the holidays. The Little Free Farm Stand was built by TwinSpruce Customs with donations made to Wood Library last year on ROC the Day, an annual 24-hour event in November aimed at generating donations for nonprofits.

Library Director Jenny Goodemote said the farm stand reflects the library’s core values and strategic goals to make information and services accessible to all and contribute positively to the community.

The hope is that the farm stand will help to address food insecurity in the community, introduce more healthful food to anyone who wants to try it, reduce food waste in local gardens and promote generosity and kindness.

The farm stand, which will be maintained by library staff and volunteers, is like one started in Geneva a few years ago and is modeled after Little Free Libraries that are in many neighborhoods across the country.

Here are a few rules.

Plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables will be accepted, but they must be edible and pest-free. No items that require refrigeration will be accepted. Users are encouraged to take what you can and donate what you can’t use.

To learn more, visit woodlibrary.org.

'A New York State of Mind' at New York Kitchen

Piano man Billy Joel may have written the classic, "New York State of Mind." New York Kitchen will be living it.

New York Kitchen will host the first annual New York State of Mind WeekendAug. 9-13. The five-day event will feature a series of intimate and VIP foodie, wine and craft beverage experiences, featuring TV celebrity chefs, winemakers, sommeliers, master distillers and more.

To kick off the first annual event, the Food Network's "Farmhouse Rules" Host and Celebrity Chef Nancy Fuller will be making a return visit to NYK and serve as an honorary guest at many of the weekend’s events. Fuller is a successful cookbook author, and is a judge on the hit Food Network shows, "Holiday Baking Championship" and "Spring Baking Championship." In addition to her work on the Food Network, Fuller and husband David Ginsberg own Ginsberg’s Foods.

Here is a schedule of events.

Friday, Aug. 9

• BBQ & Blues in the NYK Gardens with live music from Big Blue House from 4 to 8 p.m.
• New Kids on the Block Wine Class from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• I ♥ NY Chef’s Table Class from 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10

• I ♥ NY Peaches Class 11 a.m. to 1 p..m
• It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Cheesy: The Science Behind Cheese Class from noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Beer, Bread, and Wine Class from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Finger Lakes Farmhouse Wine Dinner with Celebrity Chef Nancy Fuller at The Lake House Event Barn from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

• VIP reception with Nancy Fuller from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
• I ♥ NY Chef’s Table Class from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 11

• I ♥ NY Brunch Class 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• A Riesling for Everything Class noon to 1:30 p.m.
• Free tunes on the Sandy Parker Terrace with Dave Turner 1 to 4 p.m.
• Battle of the Bourbons: Black Button Distilling vs. Iron Smoke Distillery with celebrity guest judge Nancy Fuller at New York Kitchen 2 to 4 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 12

• Junior Chef Baking Championship with special guest Nancy Fuller 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 13

• Garden Party VIP meet and greet reception with Nancy Fuller on the New York Kitchen Tasting Room Terrace 5 to 6 p.m.
• New York Kitchen’s Garden Party fundraiser 6 to 9 p.m.

More details on the New York State of Mind events and itinerary can be found at: https://nykitchen.com/new-york-state-of-mind-weekend/ . Classes and most of the weekend’s events require preregistration by visiting New York Kitchen’s class calendar at nykitchen.com/calendar or by calling 585-394-7070.

Sponsorship opportunities are available throughout the weekend’s events. For more information, visit: nykitchen.com/new-york-state-of-mind-weekend/ or contact Executive Director Alyssa Belasco at alyssa.belasco@nykitchen.com or 585-394-7070.

Coming up

— This sounds like fun, especially if you like tacos. The next Taco Tuesday at Dryer Road Park, 7405 Dryer Road, Victor, takes place 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. Enjoy country-western music by Mr. Heartache, craft beers from Twin Elder Brewery in Victor , homemade ice cream from Molly V's in Victor , gourmet potatoes and mac-n-cheese from the Potato-licious food truck. What are we forgetting? Oh yeah, tacos and tortillas from Bay Vista Taqueria .

— William King, of Bully Hill Vineyards in Hammondsport, will give a lecture on the history of winemaking and wineries in the Finger Lakes during a presentation hosted by the Yates County History Center. The program will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20 in the L. Caroline Underwood Museum, 107 Chapel St., Penn Yan. Admission is $10 for History Center members and $15 for nonmembers. King is director of the Greyton Taylor Wine Museum and a brand ambassador for Bully Hill Vineyards. For information, call 315-536-7318 or email ycghs@yatespast.org.

— Youngman Orchards Farm Market will host Fall Fun Days at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at 7902 Lake Road, Sodus Point. Expect music, food and drinks, but more details about the event will come. As will colorful leaves, frosty nights and cooler days, apples, cider, pumpkins and more signs of autumn. We warned you.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Get your fresh produce at a place you might not expect in Canandaigua. Here's where