Vendors, Music & Activities for June 17

If the dark skies made you nervous at the start of last week’s season opener, today’s weather should present no such concerns. We’re looking at sun with a few puffs of clouds and temps in the mid-70s – perfect market weather, in our opinion.

Today’s free KERNEL kids activity is called “My Plate, Investigate!” Participants will get to measure out colored beans representing different food groups to see what a nutritional meal should look like.

As always, every youth who takes part will get $2 in KERNEL Cash to spend on fruit and veg to create their own healthy meal.

We’ve also got a great composting demo organized and hosted by local Master Composters (yep, that’s a thing). They’ll show you how to compost properly to create super soil out of organic household food waste, water and yard clippings. There’s an art to making this homebrewed Miracle-Gro, and your backyard veggies will benefit from it.

And our musician this week is Mike Rose.

Here are all the vendors who are scheduled to join us today, including a few new ones:

Produce

  • Song Sparrow Farms: Fresh, locally grown produce, including melons. Also does a CSA.
  • The Farm Yard: Neighborhood-grown fruits and vegetables. Some craft items.
  • Drumheller Heritage Gardens: Neighborhood-grown produce, eggs (quail, chicken). Also info on EF Exchange.
  • R.P. Guerrero: Organic tree fruit from the Wenatchee area.
  • Vladimir Kuzmenko: A wide variety of co-op produce from across Washington State.
  • Riverfront Farm (Project Hope): Neighborhood-grown, scattered-site produce.
  • Other vendors also sell homegrown produce alongside their primary goods.

Meat & Honey

Baked Goods

Prepared

  • Mama Torrez Salsa: Original family salsa recipes from Mexico and flour tortilla chips
  • Delmar’s Roasted Nuts: German-style roasted nuts with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar.
  • Seely Teriyaki: BBQ teriyaki chicken, stir-fried noodles and rice.
  • Black Fire Kettle Corn: Fresh-made delectable kettle corn.

Non-food

  • Heeling Hands Massage Therapy: Licensed chair massage and whole-body wellness.
  • Soap Simply: Handcrafted olive oil soap.
  • Sailor Girl Soap & Supplies: Face, bath and body products handmade with natural and organic ingredients.
  • Mary Beauregard: Plastic canvas needlepoint.
  • KC Creations: Original photography, greeting cards, beaded earrings and other beaded items.
  • Urban Settlements: Spokane-based real-estate opportunities and guidance.
  • KiYoTees: Recycled jean bags and tie-dyes.
  • Boisjolie Bracelets: Barefoot sandals, a variety of bracelets, dog blankets and more.

And, all being well, Bulldawgs will set up their stand with signature sausages to eat on the go.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Vendors and Music for the 2016 Season Opener

Well, some rain is falling as this post goes out, but it’s forecast to start trailing off late this morning, leaving the skies partly cloudy (or partly sunny, depending on your point of view) this afternoon for our 2016 season opener.

As this is such a big day for our market, we’re hoping that you greet the clouds as a welcome relief from Spokane’s recent record-breaking heat and join us in a new location with more vendors, more volunteers, more parking, more visibility, more sponsors, more activities and more community partnerships than we’ve ever had before.

Today’s Kids Eating Right – Nutrition and Exercise for Life (KERNEL) activity is companion planting. As part of the activity, kids will get a basil plant to take home. Plus, as always, every youth who participates gets $2 in KERNEL Cash to spend on fresh fruit or vegetables!

This year KERNEL will take place every week of the market under the shade of the metal pavilion at the new site (2310 N Monroe). Bring your family, friends, school classes and other K-6 groups and take advantage of this great free activity each week.

Our musician today is the amazing Todd Milne.

Todd plays electro-acoustic world fusion music using traditional instruments like the shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute) enhanced by a splash of technology. You might have seen him perform at other area farmers markets, where his music makes a great accompaniment to a bit of shopping and socializing. Check out this video of him performing at the Spokane Buddhist Temple in the South Perry District.

At around 3:45pm, we’ll be recognizing the winners of our annual market poster contest, Brynn Hooper and Madison Whitmarsh. These two Garfield Elementary students drew the pictures that we selected to feature on our poster and our handbills. They’ll each get $15 in market tokens for spending.

Now let’s get to all the vendors who are scheduled to join us today:

  • Mama Torrez Salsa: Original family salsa recipes from Mexico and flour tortilla chips
  • Sandi’s Bakery: Fresh-baked pastries, cookies, scones, muffins, breads and cupcakes.
  • SnowBerry Ridge Farm: Raw honey and honey products (e.g., beeswax, lip balm, natural soaps).
  • Song Sparrow Farms: Fresh, locally grown produce, including melons. Also does a CSA.
  • Farm Yard: Neighborhood-grown fruits and vegetables. Some craft items.
  • Sister Bees Kitchen: Handmade, gourmet granola and granola bars.
  • Transitions New Leaf Bakery: Baked goods and fresh produce from their garden.
  • The Scone Ranger: Scones that are so good, so moist, so habit-forming.
  • Simply Sweets: Baklava, soft brittles, truffles, mints and seasonal products
  • Mary Beauregard: Plastic canvas needlepoint.
  • Woodard Family Farms: Locally grown produce.
  • A Simplified Event: Homemade specialty pies, breads, cakes, cottage-style pasties.
  • KC Creations: Original photography, greeting cards, beaded earrings and other beaded items.
  • Seely Teriyaki: BBQ teriyaki chicken, stir-fried noodles and rice.
  • Morning Sun Bakery: Cinnamon rolls, pies, cookies, quiche (warm & cold), savory pies (warm).
  • Urban Settlements: Spokane-based real-estate opportunities and guidance.
  • KiYoTees: Recycled jean bags and tie-dyes.
  • Riverfront Farm (Project Hope): Neighborhood-grown, scattered-site produce.
  • Mary’s Tupperware: Tupperware containers for storing vegetables and fruits.
  • CC’s Holistic Gifts & Toast Toppers: Exceptional fruit spreads with no added sugar. Plus aromatherapies and salves.
  • Made with Love: Start-up bakery with fruit pies, artisan bread and more.
  • Black Fire Kettle Corn: Fresh-made delectable kettle corn.
  • Drumheller Heritage Gardens: Neighborhood-grown produce, eggs (quail, chicken). Also info on EF Exchange.
  • R.P. Guerrero: Organic tree fruit from the Wenatchee area.
  • Vladimir Kuzmenko: A wide variety of co-op produce from across Washington State.
  • Sunny Springs Gardens: Berkshire pork sausages and ground pork, plus eggs.
  • Heeling Hands Massage Therapy: Licensed chair massage and whole-body wellness.
  • Soap Simply: Handcrafted olive oil soap.

Plus the Christ Kitchen food truck will be there for freshly prepared meals to take home or eat at the market.

Clouds or no clouds, it’s going to be a big day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Volunteers Needed for 2016 Season

Our market is looking for committed volunteers for the 2016 season. This year the season will likely run from June 10 to September 30 (exact dates are still being finalized).

Specifically, we need people who are willing to help in the following areas:

  • Recruiting vendors before and during the market season
  • Liaising regularly with vendors throughout the season to ensure their needs are being met
  • Setting up and breaking down the market each Friday (takes place before 3pm and after 7pm)
  • Staffing the market booth to answer customer inquiries and swipe credit/debit/EBT cards in exchange for tokens
  • Organizing the annual school poster contest
  • Creating and distributing promotional materials (e.g., posters, flyers)
  • Maintaining the market’s social media (e.g., blog and Facebook)
  • Scheduling activities and musicians each week
  • Establishing partnerships with likeminded area nonprofits
  • Coordinating the market’s participation in FMNP and the WSFMA
  • Collecting vendor tokens, entering weekly tallies and requesting payment

You don’t necessarily need expertise in any of these areas! Our existing volunteers are happy to provide one-on-one mentoring.

We’re also open to working with organizations that are looking for internship placement opportunities. The market offers on-the-job experience in PR, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, budgeting, and lots more. It’s the perfect learn-by-doing environment to train young adults in these valuable job skills. And because our market is concerned with outreach, food access and community-building, it has the potential to be much more fulfilling than ordinary internships.

If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, please send us an e-mail.

As the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is a grassroots, community-oriented initiative, your involvement—even if it’s one market per month or one hour per week—is essential to making it happen.

Vendors and Activities for September 25

Today’s free KERNEL kids activity is our last of the season. We’re sad to see it end. Well over 400 kids have taken part in these fun educational games and crafts since this pilot program started 11 weeks ago. This week kids will get the chance to make their own instrument — and perform as part of the KERNEL band! As a matter of fact, they’re going to be our musical entertainment this week.

Many thanks to all our program sponsors (Domaci Property Management, Orange Thyme, Garden UP, ThunderBolt Services, Perennial Property Maintenance) and Catholic Charities for making KERNEL a reality!

Harvest season might be winding down, too, but there’s still lots on offer. Seasonal squash of all types and pumpkins are out in full force. It’s also the start of apple season, and you can find some great early varieties at our fruit vendors’ booths. There are lots of potatoes and plums to be had as well.

Today’s market is smaller than usual (Mama Torrez Salsas, Petunia’s Marketplace and The Scone Ranger all had unanticipated conflicts), but Bellwether Brewing Co. is back with free samples for adults 21+ and growlers of their neighborhood-brewed craft beers. As you can imagine, their booth was awfully popular during Craftwalk last week.

Here are the vendors who are scheduled to be with us today:

  • Awesome Possum – Handmade all-natural lotion bars and lip balms
  • Bellwether Brewing Co. – Locally brewed craft beers
  • Common Crumb Bakery – A range of traditional breads and baked goods
  • Country Buddies – Jams, salsas and more
  • The Farm Yard – Neighborhood-grown veggies, herbs and more
  • Food for All (aka Vinegar Flats) – Locally grown veggies and herbs
  • KC Creations – Beaded lanyards, leashes, earrings, photos and custom cards
  • Mary Beauregard – Plastic canvas needlepoint
  • Morning Sun Bakery – Cinnamon rolls, muffins, cakes
  • Orange Thyme – Natural balms, soaps, perfume oils, body butters and more
  • Riverfront Farm – Locally grown vegetables from Project Hope Spokane
  • R.P. Guerrero Farms – Organic fruit (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples)
  • Rufino Zisumbo – Chair massage
  • Simply Sweets – Confectionery including baklava and brittles
  • Song Sparrow Farms – Locally grown vegetables
  • Vladimir Kuzmenko – Fruits and vegetables from the Yakima area

We look forward to seeing you at market!

Vendors and Activities for Craftwalk, September 18

Well, we’ve arrived at our second annual Craftwalk, and what a day it’s going to be.

First up, we’ve got music by Broken Whistle. Every time they play, it’s a party. Even if you have no interest in our vendors’ fresh produce or unique handmade crafts, you’ll want to come down and see the band perform.

Just in time for the autumnal weather, this week’s free KERNEL activity is all about leaves. In keeping with the spirit of Craftwalk, kids will have a chance to do some leaf tracing and create some art of their own. What’s more, every child who participates gets $2 in Fresh Bucks for spending on fresh fruit and produce.

Spokane Hope Christian Reformed Church—the congregation that shares a building with Knox Presbyterian—is back again this week with their authentic, freshly prepared Korean food. There’s sushi, potstickers, gimbap, bulgogi, and lots more to eat at the market or take home.

And Bellwether Brewing Co. is joining us for the first time! They’re selling growlers of craft beer brewed right here in Emerson-Garfield – and you’ll be lucky enough to sample it before they’ve even opened their new building on North Monroe.

This is the lineup of all our regular vendors who have confirmed they’ll be attending today:

Petunia’s has a range of pasture-raised meat from Ramstead Ranch — just ask at their booth.

In addition to our usual craft booths listed above, here are all the artists and crafters who are scheduled to be joining us for our special Craftwalk event today:

  • Ravenna Designs – Handcrafted jewelry from new and upcycled materials
  • Koko and Lou – Hand-stamped metal and leather jewelry
  • All About That Baby – Handmade baby items including bibs, pocket T-shirts, teethers, twaddlers, quilts and onesies
  • The Hatching Hen – Silicone and wood beaded teething and nursing necklaces. Also suede braided pacifier clips
  • The Coop – Homemade candles, bath salts, body scrubs, mugs and more
  • Nathan O’Brien – Hand-drawn and -painted sketches and graphic art
  • Lisa Waddle Art – Block prints and acrylic paintings
  • Kaila Jones – Dish scrubbers, boot cuffs, reusable diaper wipes, coffee cozies, doll clothes, kids storage benches
  • Kathy Roberg – Tote bags from recycled plastic
  • Lexi Lou Jewels/Staggs & Staggs Sign Co. – Handmade jewelry and signs using upcycled, reclaimed and locally sourced materials
  • Gwen’s Aprons and More – Adult and child aprons, doll clothes, tote bags, dog coats, bibs, Christmas items and much more
  • Therapy Bracelets by Natalie – Handmade therapy magnet bracelets and custom necklaces and matching bracelets
  • D&L’s Handmade Creations – Jewelry, accessories, crocheted items and dream datchers
  • Perfectly Paris Boutique – Parisian-inspired necklaces and bracelets
  • Carol’s Creations – Journals, Christmas ornaments, books
  • made2give – Handmade gifts including aprons for women and children, bibs, baby pajamas, handbags, cards, fire starters and more
  • LC Finds and Designs – Handmade door wreaths for holidays and special occasions plus handmade cards
  • Meema’s Homegrown Creations – Microwave bowl holders and other handmade items
  • Rebekah Mincks – Quirky and custom knitted hats
  • Women’s Hearth – Various crafters with a range of handmade items

Craftwalk runs concurrently with the market, that is, 3-7pm. We hope to see you there!