Starting the year off right!

We’re off to a great start with our first two weeks of market!!! We’re glad to see some return customers, some faces from outside of town, as well as some new faces.  Although we aren’t into the heavy season of lots of vegetables, we are seeing some great variety of starting plants, as well as some innovative ways for you, the consumer to start your own “kitchen garden” at home.

The Lindsleys from Big Creek Herb Farm have hanging baskets full of a variety of herbs, which you can harvest right from your own backyard or patio.  They also have already sold out of their hanging lettuce baskets, but you might come and consult with them about how to start one of your own!

Come on down to the pavilion and get off to a good start for the 2010 growing season!  We’ll be here waiting for you to answer all of your local produce questions!

Opening Day: April 14th!

Hey folks!  In just two short weeks we’ll be opening the 2nd season of the Cabool Area Farmers’ Market and we are so very excited to be bringing you a wide variety of products!!  We will open promptly at 11:00 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m.  Here are our confirmed vendors for opening day (so far) and what they are planning to bring:

• Deborah and Morgan French and Simpson’s Family farm will have veggie bedding plants, honey, jams and jellies, knockout roses, blackberry and strawberry plants, hanging basket flowers and lip balm.

• Jack Upton will have leaf lettuce, watercress, spinach, sprouts, wooden bowls, wooden game boards, magnetic bookmarks/line markers, and Rub A Dub Soap products.

• Janelle Flory Schrock with Local Loaves will be bringing 9-Grain Bread, Sourdough Beer Rye and Pane Siciliano (Sicilian Bread).

• The Schrock Family of Mojeji Ranch will bring brown and green eggs from free range chickens for $2/dozen.

• Scott & Carolyn Lindsley of Big Creek Herbs plan on having lettuce, spinach, herb plants and dried herbs, various container plants and trees, plus jams.

• Viola Beltz will bring her delicious pies and jellies.

• Kristine Nightingale plans on bringing metal shepherds hooks(to hang hanging baskets from) and home-made cinnamon rolls (probably some other baked goods as well).

Look forward to seeing you there!

Interested in selling at market?

With just 3 weeks left until market begins, it’s time for all of us who wish to sell at market to be getting ready.  Some veggies have been planted, egg cartons are being ordered, jams are being made, booths are being designed.  To help the market officers and board out, here are a few things items of housekeeping that you need to remember to get done.

1. Read over the market By-Laws, as well as the market Rules and Regulations.  Please do not hesitate to call or send us an email with questions about these documents.

2. Fill out a vendor application form and submit it to the market manager with your $25.00 market dues.  These dues must be submitted and approved five days in advance of your first day selling at market.

3.  Plan your booth according to the rules and regulations, and plan to set up your booth between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m. the morning of market.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Annual General Meeting — March 2nd!

We invite all those who are planning on or interested in participating as a vendor in the 2010 Cabool Area Farmers’ Market to an informational meeting. We’ll introduce the market board and officers, discuss the bylaws and brainstorm ideas on how to promote our market to the surrounding communities. Applications will be available to fill out and you may want to bring your checkbook for paying your annual member dues. Even if you’re not sure if you want to participate, please come, ask questions and bring your ideas!

Date: Tuesday, March 2nd

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Cabool Christian Church, corner of Business 60 and Pine St.

Hosting the Missouri Farmers’ Market Association

Our little, fledgling farmers’ market had the great honor of hosting the Annual Meeting of the Missouri Farmers’ Market Association during the month of January.  The meeting brought just under 70 guests to Cabool, for workshops on grant writing, tax liability, marketing and more!  Thanks to Drury University for donating the meeting space and to Rita Bradshaw of Cabool State Bank for helping secure the opportunity to host!

During the event, the market vendors donated several baskets as raffle prizes. The grand prize, a bushel basket full of jams, honey, apples, bread and herbs, was resubmitted by the winner for a silent auction.  In the end, the basket went for $100.  The winner of the basket donated the basket to Set Free Ministries of the Ozarks, as well as the $100.  What a wonderfully generous group of people we had visiting us!

Preparing for Our Second Season

After a GREAT first season for the Cabool Area Farmers’ Market, we’re looking forward to inviting additional vendors, offering a wider diversity of products, and creating a more exciting experience for our customers this market season.

The farmers’ market will open in mid-April.  Like last year, the market will take place on Wednesdays, but the hours have changed to 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  We hope this change will help customers who may need to shop over the lunch hour.

Put us on your calendar!