True to our word, our harvest decorations – scarecrows, straw
bales, pumpkins and gourds – are in place for today’s Holiday Market because
the holiday we’re celebrating is Thanksgiving!
What better time to load the table with food harvested or made by our
neighbors?
This Saturday we’re switching gears, and holidays. The
Christkindlmarket in the south part of the pavilion will be decked out for
Christmas – garlands, lights, ornaments, tinsel – and Ms. Claus is visiting. Bring
your camera for a photo with Ms. Claus. I guarantee you’ll not see a prettier
smile or merrier eyes than those of our delightful Christmas lady. (She's at right. photos below show just a peek of what we're looking forward to on Saturday)
The Pommerts will launch into their holiday music on Saturday
so the market will look and sound festive. And thanks to our sidewalls and
heaters you’ll be comfortable as well.
I was a bit worried about last Saturday’s weather. With a high of
less than 40 and strong winds, I thought we were in for a cold morning, but not
so. It was coat cool inside the pavilion. In fact, I shed my coat before the
market even started and said a word of thanks to that friend of Webb City, the
late Chuck Surface. When Chuck was in charge of the city’s economic development
he scouted out a grant to pay for the market’s sidewalls. Parks director Tom
Reeder took the project over after Chuck’s death. Tom designed and commissioned
the sidewalls which have worked beautifully and he did it so economically that
he had enough money left over to buy the two portable heaters. Frugal and
effective - two of my favorite adjectives. The sidewalls and heat have made all
the difference in the market’s ability to expand its winter activities. In a
month or so, we’ll have even better climate control. The market received
funding to double the size of the heaters and the park is installing flexible
ducting in the ceiling which will push the heat throughout the length of the
pavilion. Seems like we always have something going on to improve the market.
For example, next week we begin our Winter Production Education
Center activities. On December 5, we build the seed starting structure at the
center located on the Yang Farm just south of Rocky Comfort. Then on December
9, 10, 17, 18 and 19 we build the first of two high tunnels. This will be the
heated tunnel. The unheated tunnel is slated to be built after the first of the
year. If either of those projects interests you, or if you can lend a hand on
one or more days, please stop and pick up a flyer with details at the
information desk. We’re buying lunch!
This spring we hope to begin seeing the fruits (actually
vegetables) of the center as the Yang family start producing early tomatoes and
peppers and cool weather crops like broccoli, cauliflower and greens.
Next fall we hope to see even more veggies as the farmers who
participate in workshops at the center put their knowledge to work building and
managing their own high tunnels, resulting in more produce for us and our
customers and more income for our farmers.
Yes, it seems like we always have something going on to improve
the market. In fact, sometimes it’s hard to keep up!
We have occasionally been complimented by customers and the
organizations we work with on how organized the market is. That’s always lovely
to hear because from our viewpoint it sometimes feels like chaos. But our chaos
is really only lots and lots of good things happening at the same time.
We hope to see you at the market often this winter. We’ll be
open every Saturday except possibly the day after Christmas and any Saturday
that the roads are not safe to travel.
It’s a great place, not only to fill your plates with tasty,
healthy food, but also pick up gifts. Why not tie a ribbon around a jar of
honey or jam and put it at each place for your holiday meal? Or tuck a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans
in someone’s stocking? And then there’s
always bacon! What a practical gift a
cooler filled with frozen meats would be. There are lots of wonderful local
gift ideas from our regular vendors and our Christkindlmarket artisans. Gifts
that please both the giver and the recipient and bless the hands that made them
possible.
