Holiday Card Recycling at the Winter Farmers Market!

Season's greetings everyone! As the winter wonderland continues we here at the Winter Farmers Market are thinking up ways to help you recycle all of these holiday cards. Not that the thought doesn't count, but really, how many cards can one person keep, and for how long?!

Some cards are just too pretty to go to the recycling bin, and it seems sad to waste the effort of a well designed seasonal card on the bin. Luckily there are multiple organizations, classrooms and individuals who repurpose these cards and use the fronts to make new cards!

Bring your holiday cards to the Winter Farmers Market on January 5th or January 12th and deposit them in the big card box! If you'd like, you can keep the inside/back portion of the card, since this is usually the sentimental part anyway. If you don't feel like messing with that just toss the whole thing in the box and we'll make sure your auntie's special note gets taken off before we send it out. ;-)

Continue to enjoy these snow-filled days while they last!
Happy New Year!

No Market Tomorrow!

Hey folks! Hope you're all faring well after such a snowstorm! Continue to play it safe through tonight's rainy, icy mixture and maybe even stay in bed late tomorrow and watch the ice melt, since you don't have to get up early to make it to the Winter Farmers' Market!

No market tomorrow, Saturday, December 29th. We'll be back in 2013 on January 5th!

We have new & wonderful things coming in 2013, like the addition of a bread baker, the return of some of your favorite growers and many more activities, Market Bucks opportunities and demos!

Have a safe and happy New Year's celebration, see you next year!

Line up for December 22nd Winter Farmers Market

Hello and Happy Holidays! The Winter Farmers Market will be buzzing with food and gifts this Saturday so make sure to stop by to prepare for the rest of the week! The full list of farmers, food makers and artisans for this week's market are just below, but first, some notes.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to River to River Farm and Roundabout Farm! We will miss you and your delicious produce at the Market and hope to see you back next winter!
A few of the vendors you're used to seeing at the Winter Farmers Market will be on vacation this weekend, but they'll be back in January so keep checking to see what folks have!

There will be NO MARKET on DECEMBER 29TH. Take this time to enjoy family and friends, catch up on work, play with your pets, whatever. But don't come to Thomas School, you'll be disappointed... We will be back in 2013 on January 5th!

Ok here it is! See you at the Market, 9am-1pm at Thomas School, N. Wall, in Carbondale!

Cooley Farm- eggs, multiple pecan varieties, turnips, baked goods

Miller Farm - eggs, winter squashes

Lick Creek Beef - "100% grass fed and finished" hormone and chemical free beef

Twisted by Lisa - Jewelery

Debbie Winters - Handmade artisan soaps

All Seasons Farm - Certified organic herbs, greens, and other seasonal veggies

Valhalla Design - spun wood wine accessories, toppers, holders, and more

Leepy's Gourmet Foods - Preserved/canned foods including jams and all things picked

Hollow Pumpkin Farm - seasonal vegetable delights

Aur Beck - Coffee by the cup! & Gaia House's Rice and Spice cookbook

Mulberry Hill Farm - collards, spinach and cilantro

Heartland Honey - Honey!

Flyway Family Farm - Oyster Mushrooms, lettuces, and other goodies

Mustard Seed Sower's Farm - Osaka Mustard & Turnip greens, kale, fresh and dried herbs.
This farm also accepts Link/SNAP/EBT payment!

Southern Illinois Writers Guild - Local authors and books of local interest

Gina Einig - Dolls

Hippie Child Creations - Tye dyed, hemp and knitwear

K Noodles - locally made fusilli and fettuccine noodles

Franklin and Merlene Schroeder - handmade artisan towels and rugs

Line up for Dec 15th

 Hi folks,
Sorry this is getting out a bit later than usual, but we've packed this week's market full of excellent vendors to fill your tables full of food and your stockings full of gifts!
Remember to keep your eyes peeled for Market Bucks!
See you all tomorrow!

Cooley Farm- eggs, multiple pecan varieties
Roundabout Farm -  butternut squash, leeks, parsley, cilantro, and garlic
Dancing Raven - original artwork, hemp jewelery
Buila Family Farm - Tomatoes, spicy greens mix, hot peppers, hearty greens and more
Miller Farm - eggs, winter squashes
Lick Creek Beef - "100% grass fed and finished" hormone and chemical free beef

Frontwards Farm and Farmhouse Craft - an assortment of cool weather veggies plus felted
jewlery and gifts

River to River Farm - beets, spinach, many garlic varieties, turnips, dragon tongue green beans, and winter greens.
Twisted by Lisa - Jewelery
Dayempur Herbals - Skin Care, wellness essentials and herbal concoctions
Debbie Winters - Handmade artisan soaps
Papermoon Designs - hand painted jewelry & metalsmithing
All Seasons Farm - Certified organic herbs, greens, and other seasonal veggies
Leepy's Gourmet Foods - Preserved/canned foods including jams and all things picked
Hollow Pumpkin Farm - seasonal vegetable delights
Aur Beck- Gaia House's Rice and Spice cookbook
Mulberry Hill Farm - collards, spinach and cilantro
Steve Neilson - spun wood pens, wine bottle toppers and more
Scott Martin - Honey
Glass Roots - fused glass kitchen tools and artistic pieces
Jessie Sims - upcycled/re-purposed jewelry
Flyway Family Farm - Oyster Mushrooms, lettuces, and other goodies
Greenridge Farm - asian greens mix, lettuce mix, french greens mix, green onions, dill,
parsley, rosemary, garlic (+braids), sweet potatoes & dried flowers
Mustard Seed Sower's Farm - Osaka Mustard & Turnip greens, kale, fresh and dried herbs. This farm also accepts Link/SNAP/EBT payment!
Countrysprout Organics and Skincare - certified organic lettuce, spinach, parsley, cilantro and sweet carrots as well as organic skin care

Winter Farmers Market Introduces Market Bucks

 This Saturday, the first 50 customers to walk in the door of the Carbondale’s Winter Farmers Market will be handed free money. The market is located at Thomas School (1025 North Wall Street) and runs from 9 am to 1 pm every Saturday. The equivalent of $50 will be distributed as part of an experiment to see how many times a dollar will circulate in a local micro-economy.

The phrase “buy local” has been around for a few years and is becoming popular. One common statement is that a dollar spent at a locally owned business circulates an average of seven times and helps the local economy more than one spent online, out of town, or at a national chain. The Carbondale’s Winter Farmers Market will test this idea by passing out “Market Bucks” that will be accepted by all the vendors as the equivalent of one dollar. Vendors will also give the Bucks as change so that customers can spend them at another vendor. Each Market Buck will be marked to indicate that it passed through a vendor's hands and, at the end of the market day, when the vendors cash in the Bucks, there will be a record of how many times each Buck circulated in the market place.
Market Bucks will be sponsored by local organizations that share the mission of promoting access to healthy foods. Market Bucks will be valid for one day only, and only at the market.  This week's Market Bucks are sponsored by the Jackson County Health Department.


Twenty different vendors are expected at this week's market, offering fresh local produce that is difficult to find in area stores:  heirloom tomatoes, honey, and oyster mushrooms, along with seasonal favorites – hearty greens, root vegetables, and squashes.  Customers can taste-test several varieties of pecans, sold by Cooley Farm.   River-to-River Farm displays a half dozen different kinds of garlic.  People thinking about Christmas presents will want to check out the jewelry, artisan soaps, and wood-crafts as well as canned goods provided by Leepy’s.  A full list of the vendors and produce expected at the market can be found at carbondalewintermarket.blogspot.com or on the market’s facebook page at carbondalewintermarket.  Mustard Seed Sowers Farm accepts LINK cards.  Music is provided by After Barbed Wire (folk/bluegrass).

Interested people can find more information at carbondalewintermarket.blogspot.com and  carbondalewintermarket on facebook, or by writing to carbondalewintermarket@gmail.com.   Elissa Johnson can be reached at (618) 924-4222 or eliss.uhj@gmail.com.  Sarah Heyer can be reached at (618) 525-5525 or Keepcb1326@gmail.com.

video of the "ribbon" cutting

Big thanks to Angie Kuehl for catching the "ribbon" cutting on video! That was surely the tastiest ribbon I've ever cut!

Grand Opening Photos!

Huge thanks to all of the local businesses, growers, artisans and market-goers who helped to make the Winter Farmers Market's Grand Opening Celebration a huge success!

The Celebration began with a "ribbon" cutting with Linda Flowers, Thomas School Principle, Market Managers Elissa Johnson and Sarah Heyer, and all of the Farmers, Artisans, Volunteers and Musicians who make the market possible!

 

 

Frontwards Farms and Farmhouse Crafts' Sarah Shoot chats with customers.

Adriane Koontz from River to River Farm was all smiles after helping two customers!

Jill Rendleman led a demo on how to set up your own winter garden. The day also included workshops on nut-cracking and kids food crafts!

Crystal Cooley discusses their various pecan varieties with a customer. The Winter Farmers Market vendors offer a diverse selection including seasonal veggies, specialty varieties, meat, eggs, honey, and more!

Did you know the Winter Farmers Market is always looking for helping hands? These lovely volunteers helped throughout the market and even stuck around for clean up! We have some dedicated folks who help with opening too! 

If you or your group is interested in volunteering for one or many markets be in touch! find and "like" us on facebook: facebook.com/carbondalewintermarket
or email us at carbondalewintermarket@gmail.com

After all, Elissa and Sarah gave the day two thumbs up! Thanks to everyone for coming out! See you every Saturday (except December 29th) until March 23rd!

Grand Opening Celebrations! Vendors, Demos/Talks and Giveaways!

We're looking forward to seeing you this weekend for our Grand Opening Celebration! Help us break in our space (hopefully without any actual breaking...) purchase some delicious, fresh produce, honey, meat, eggs, canned goods and more! It's gift-giving season and we've got you covered there too with new artisans, healthful herbals and seasonal treats!

9a.m.
Join us at Market opening for the "ribbon" cutting ceremony with Linda Flowers, Principal of Thomas School.

10 a.m.
"Growing Your Own Winter Garden"
Hear a talk and demo by Jill Rendleman of All Seasons Farm in Cobden. She'll discuss which plants and varieties are winter hearty, how to prepare for and maintain a winter garden, and even how to build your own caterpillar tunnel to protect your garden from the elements.

11a.m.
"The Nutcracker Suite (Sweet!)"
Bring your favorite nutcracker and join Sarah Heyer for show-and-tell time! Share your favorite nut-cracking tools, techniques and stories as this seasonal past-time becomes the center of attention!

12 noon
"Food Fun Craft Corner"
Calling all kids, ages 3-133! Learn how make a rose stamp from leftover celery, customize a potato stamp, make a seasonally scented tea light holder out of an orange! Join Elissa Johnson and make some food-friendly crafts or just learn some techniques to keep little hands busy!

And here's who you'll see this weekend at the Market:

Cooley Farm- eggs, multiple pecan varieties

Roundabout Farm -  butternut squash, leeks, parsley, cilantro, and garlic

Buila Family Farm - Tomatoes, spicy greens mix, hot peppers, hearty greens and more

Lick Creek Beef - "100% grass fed and finished" hormone and chemical free beef

Frontwards Farm and Farmhouse Craft - an assortment of cool weather veggies plus felted
jewlery and gifts

River to River Farm - beets, spinach, many garlic varieties, turnips, dragon tongue green beans, and winter greens.

Dayempur Herbals - Skin Care, wellness essentials and herbal concoctions

Papermoon Designs - hand painted jewelry & metalsmithing

Leepy's Gourmet Foods - Preserved/canned foods including jams and all things picked

Mulberry Hill Farm - collards, spinach and cilantro

Angie's Farm - Honey and baked goods

Jessie Sims - upcycled/re-purposed jewelry

Flyway Family Farm - Oyster Mushrooms, lettuces, and other goodies

Greenridge Farm - asian greens mix, lettuce mix, french greens mix, green onions, dill,
parsley, rosemary, garlic (+braids), sweet potatoes & dried flowers

Mustard Seed Sower's Farm - Osaka Mustard & Turnip greens, kale, fresh and dried herbs. This farm also accepts Link/SNAP/EBT payment!

Countrysprout Organics and Skincare - certified organic lettuce, spinach, parsley, cilantro and sweet carrots as well as organic skin care

Grand Opening Celebration!

We are pleased to announce officially that this Saturday, Dec 8th, will be the Carbondale Winter Farmers Market Grand Opening!
Join us for a "ribbon" cutting at 9a.m. followed by music by After Barbed Wire, speakers, presentations and demos all market long! Great door prizes donated by local restaurants and business every hour!
As always, check back later this week to catch who'll be vending this Saturday.
See you at the Market!

Thanks to you!

What a wonderful first market! The weather more than cooperated! Though we weren't inside the school, where we will be from now on throughout the winter, the space at Attucks Park was perfect!
Thank you to everyone who made this market possible:

• Attitude Designs for donating the signs
• The Park District and Jackson County Health Dept for the space and a clean bill!
• Our wonderful volunteers, Magdalen, Brian and Kara
• All of the Growers, Artisans and Creators who work so hard to bring their food and craft to patrons of the Market
• Max from After Barbed Wire for tunes all morning
•  Every person who came out on such a beautiful day to enjoy the local bounty, build community and support local business at the first Winter Farmers Market

We're excited to begin this season!
Check back soon, we have some surprises up our sleeve for the next market!