Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Plans Special Events for 2009
4.10.09
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, located on the Fayetteville Court Square, opened this Saturday and will continue until November 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week, Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Started in 1974, the market is an area for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flower-gatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products, or pets that are available for adoption.
This month the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The first will be a lecture on various soils given by Berni Kurz on April 11. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly on April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the court square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market.
Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to each of the participants of the spring season-opening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree give away will be on April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person.
The main objective of this year’s farmer’s market is to “Be Green…Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include:
--bringing your own coffee cup
--bring your own shopping bags/canvas bags
--ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market
--if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it
On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was only the beginning of products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present and one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center had representatives set up a table to advertise art classes, the Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and had a drawing for free tickets, and the Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets.
“We love to have elementary field trips come to the market, but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,” Corbin said.
UA student, Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.”
Anthropology major, Maggie Strain said she finds the farmer’s market to be an overall pleasant experience. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there, it’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,” she said.
According to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Web site, several special events will be included in the 2009 market. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted at a later date. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place on April 18. The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. Three “Kids Days” will go on April 28, June 16, and Aug. 13.
Crafts will be sold all through the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase.
The farmer’s market has Holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. Mother’s Day has a two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo on Thursday, May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those that struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. Customer Appreciation Celebration is planned for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5. Finally, near the close of the farmer’s market, will be a Costume Contest for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween.
For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email fayettevillefm@gmail.com, or call 479-236-2910.
No comments:
Post a Comment