Winter Market This Saturday, Jan 18

The first of our four monthly winter markets will be held this Saturday from 11am to 1pm in the Walpole Town Hall. Lark has helped to organize this market and got news about what some of the vendors plan to offer. Abenaki Springs will be bringing potatoes, squash & pork. AmieArt will be there with her whimsical creations. Brookfield Farm will be bringing pork, beef, lamb & goat meat, and if we all get lucky, perhaps a pork pie to serve by the slice for lunch! Bill Lauer will be bringing his special, folding Adirondack chairs. Judi Ryner & Jamie Page will both bring their beautiful Alpaca products. Penni’s Pantry will have a goodly display of jams & preserves. Johanna of the Purple Hummingbird Woolens is especially happy to be bringing felted wool vests – great for cold weather! Sonia of Sawyer’s Artisanal Cheese will be bringing their very newest product, Newmont cheese, aged 3 months. Ken & Hope will come with all their beautiful maple products & fresh-baked bread. And Lark will be there with – still- a very strong assortment of organic fruit jams from one of the best fruit years we’ve seen in awhile. Everyone – come! Dispel the gloom & have a visit!

As we look forward to the summer season of the Walpole Farmers Market, we realize that changes are needed.

A very small number of volunteers have been organizing the market and keeping it running for four years. We are tired and frustrated. There is way more work involved and much less profit than you probably imagine.

The market has won devotees as much for being an amiable, family oriented community event as for being a pleasant place to shop for local food and products. For the farmers and producers who are the foundation of the market, the market continues to teeter either side of the profitability line.

Now is the time for both vendors and shoppers who want to see the market continue to step up to the plate to help keep it going. If there is sufficient interest in keeping the market going, we will schedule a joint vendor/shopper meeting to discuss how to move forward.

Thanks for your support of the market!

Jill, Holly, Bruce
Founders