We’ll be open from 9 to noon Saturday and the
pavilion will be full!
Amos Apiaries returns for the last time
tomorrow with their local honey. Then they’re packing up their hives and
retiring. That's Jann working his bees and Resa at the market.
Owen Detweiler is back. Since Owen is Amish he
must hire an “English” person to transport him and his produce to the market
from Lamar which means he has to have enough produce to justify the expense. His
high tunnel production has reached that point and we expect to see him every
week as long as sales are adequate. In other words, if you want to see Owen at
the market, buy his produce! Some of
what he is bringing tomorrow: peppers,
tomatoes, cabbage – both regular and Savoy, and cauliflower – yellow, purple
and white. His produce is always beautiful. Be sure to check it out.
Now, you may think at this time of year there
is not much selection. But you would be wrong. Just to take one of the
11 farms we expect tomorrow: Oakwoods
Farm will have eight varieties of lettuce, plus baby ginger, turmeric, garlic,
radishes, boc choy, collards, many varieties of peppers, dried chili seasoning
made from their own veggies, pea shoots and other microgreens, cut herbs
including bundles of sage, rosemary and thyme (how musical), candied ginger and
more. Other farmers have tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,
onions, eggplant, potatoes, spinach…… the list goes on!
So check all the produce out. We’ll also have
baked goods, raw food bars, jams and jellies, pecan and peanut brittle, pecans,
farm fresh eggs, pork, beef, lamb, chicken, specialty crackers, freshly roasted
coffee beans, dog biscuits and worm casting compost.
In the Christkindlmarket you will find sewn
goods, candles, local vanilla, Rada utensils, repurposed hats and scarves, handcrafted
chocolates, goats milk soap, turned wooden items, leather goods, walking sticks
and polished stones.
You can also pick up your train tickets to the
daytime Polar Bear Express. The trolley, all decked up for Christmas, will run
from 9 to noon on December 3, 7, and 14 on the hour and half hour. The tickets
are free, but to be sure of a seat, pick a ticket up at the market soon.
Stewart’s Bakery serves breakfast: sausage, eggs,
biscuits and gravy and hash brown casserole for $5 or a giant cinnamon roll for
$3. Either selection includes a choice of coffee or juice. Scott Eastman takes
the market stage.
This Wednesday we host our annual Holiday Market from 11 to 1. Always
the day before Thanksgiving, this market is a great opportunity to load your
harvest table with local bounty. If you would like to order baked goods so you’re
sure of getting just what you want, give the following market vendors a call:
Stewart’s Bakery – 417 621-8455
Harmony Hill – 417 396-6373
LPHJ Kitchen (gluten free) – 620 762-1315
On Wednesday, Stewart’s Bakery will serve chili with crackers
and a mini cinnamon rolls for $6. The meal can be packed for takeout for those
dashing in during their lunch hour or wanting to enjoy it for supper. Rob
Pommert will perform at the Holiday Market.
The market members, that would be vendors,
volunteers and staff, had their annual harvest meal on Monday. Highlights of
the meal are always the awards. We give two each year:
The Champion Award is given to a community
member who has gone above and beyond for the market. Past Champions include
market volunteers Marilyn Thornberry, Karen McGlamery, Janet Taylor and Donna
Krudwig, as well as Parks Director Tom Reeder and market customer and supporter
extraordinaire Bill Perry, and the Perry family and their business Cardinal
Scale, and Extension advisors Patrick Byers and Shon Bishop.
The Golden Washrag Award is presented to a
vendor or employee who has gone the extra mile for the market. The award
derives its name from the efforts of the first recipient, Robin Green, who
spent a whole summer wiping down (with a washrag) all the tables and chairs in
the pavilion. Other recipients include Nancy Rassmusen who cleaned our
bathrooms after every market, our Hmong growers who donated tons of produce
after the tornado to feed the recovery volunteers, Tim Green who devotes hours
mentoring new farmers, Jann Amos who helped the volunteers pack up after market
for a full year, Dale Mermoud, our master gardener who runs the Kids Garden,
Tami Fredrickson and Misty Jones who spent countless hours getting the market
kitchen cleaned up and ready to use.
The 2017 winners are (drum roll, please):
Market Champion – Bob Foos. Bob, as
Sentinel editor, has provided wonderful coverage in the paper, advised on media
relations, published this humble column (which means he’s edited and given
space for about 375 columns), and taken our fall portraits. He has done cooking
demonstrations and been a supportive and enthusiastic customer – one time
buying the entire stock of one vendor’s perennials. He says that he didn’t
think the market would last three months, but he is one of the primary reasons
for our success. He is a true Champion. (that's Bob covering one of the market's field day education events)
The Golden Washrag goes to market manager
David Hill. When David was hired by the market last spring he was unfamiliar with
the market but had great management experience (running plants – the manufacturing
kind). As we began training, I told him that it was critical he develop a
passion for the market. Within weeks he had that passion. When I had to be gone
for five weeks this fall, he basically went through trial by fire as he took
over most aspects of managing the market and came out unscathed. We are lucky
to have found such a hard worker and skilled manager – and, yes, he’s washed
plenty of market tables and benches this year.
We at the market are very aware that our
success depends on the efforts of many, including our dear customers – so thanks
for your encouragement and support and we’ll see you tomorrow at the market!
