Vendors to set up in St. Mary’s Parish Hall
By Pamela Doan
Many local produce lovers were dismayed when the Cold Spring Farmers’ Market left the Butterfield site two summers ago and moved to Boscobel. It was out of walking distance and less convenient. The fun of putting the kids in a wagon and the dog on a leash for a walk to the market on Saturday morning to pick up fresh food was relegated to packing everybody into the car. In winter, the market was even further away at the Philipstown Recreation Center.
Cold Spring Farmers’ Market
In a move announced this week, the Cold Spring Farmers’ Market will be coming back to a new winter location on Nov. 23, at the Parish Hall at St. Mary’s Church on the corner of Routes 9D and 301.
The new site gives the market more space to add tables for vendors. Market board co-chair, Liisa McCloy-Kelley says of the transition, “Our hope is to help our vendors extend their base of core shoppers and make their winter growing more successful while giving the community a beautiful place to commune with friends on Saturday mornings.” The market will be able to continue hosting special events and offering holiday crafts like wreaths and Easter baskets.
For the rest of the outdoor market this fall, visitors can look forward to more programming that has been offered since May. In an effort to appeal to more of the community, Ava Bynum, market co-manager, created a monthly schedule of events with something for everyone. The dynamic schedule included music, children’s education, gardening instruction and cooking demonstrations. Bynum said, “We have so many talented people in our community and were able to create unique and interactive programs every week. It was exciting to discover all these performers and educators who could share their skills and knowledge. Once we got started making a list, it all came together quickly.”
Bynum’s co-manager at the market, Krystal Valiquette Ford, who oversees the business operations, helped schedule the events and led a presentation on reducing food waste.
Ava Bynum
With only six weekends left for the outdoor market season, plan ahead! At 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, Sarah Mencher, a Beacon mother, will share recipes and techniques for making baby food at home with ingredients that can be found at the Farmers’ Market so the youngest member of your family can share the bounty. Since her baby’s birth, Mencher has been preparing food from the market. The Harvest Festival will follow on Oct. 19. Enjoy pumpkin painting, bobbing for apples, and cider donuts, of course. Mary Finger will sett up a petting zoo, too.
To get in the Halloween spirit, Jonathan Kruk will tell Spooky Stories to the kids on Saturday, Oct. 26. Local tales and legends will come to life. Kruk has been a popular draw at the Farmers’ Market for kids and adults alike.
Fungus lovers will enjoy the mushroom cooking demonstration all day on Nov. 2. Dan Madura from Madura Farms will show how to prepare different types of mushrooms that can be found at the Farmers’ Market. For the last outdoor event of the season, on Nov. 9, Maria Stein from the Manitou Learning Center will teach visitors how to say in Spanish names of vegetables and fruits found at the Farmers’ Market.
Bynum noted that this was one of the best summers the Farmers’ Market has had. “Attendance was very high, at least 1,000 people every Saturday, and usually more. Many vendors had record-breaking sales.” With the new move to St. Mary’s Parish Hall this winter, the market seems on course to maintain strong attendance.
