The Veggie Gazette
News from the Emporia Farmers Market

Spring is just around the corner, 2016

Volume 10, Number 1

Thanks to the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust - Winter Market Sponsor 

 

  

Is it too early to start melting the snow and ice off the market logo? Technically, we still have two months remaining of twice monthly, Indoor Winter Markets. I'm feeling a bit cheated of at least a couple of excuses to spend long days at home, sipping hot cocoa and reading books. Market vendors, however, are assuring me that the lack of snow this winter has NOT stopped them from dreaming over their seed catalogs. 3,120 seedlings started so far by market vendor, Our Seven Acres, alone!

March promises to be the start of a big year for EFM.

  • We look forward to our final four indoor markets (1st and 3rd Saturdays of March and April) of our sixth winter season. 
  • The EFM annual meeting takes place on the 19th (you are invited to join us -- see below in this newsletter).
  • Another Farmers Market 101 Class will take place on Tuesday, March 29; if you have ever considered selling at the market, this is a great place to get started. There are lots of details below. Please review and let me know if you have any questions about the Emporia Farmers Market.
  • We are co-hosting Laura Odell, of the Kansas Permaculture Institute, with the Emporia Gardeners of America. Please join us! 
Details about all of this and more are in this newsletter. And if I have forgotten anything, feel free to email your questions about the market, [email protected], or stop at the market and talk with me! 

See you at the market!
Tracy  
Tracy Simmons, Market Manager
Triple Your Green in Food Stamp Dollars at the Indoor Winter Market in March

Did you know that the Emporia Farmers Market accepts food stamps? Did you know that, not only can you shop at the Emporia Farmers Market with food stamps, you can double your grocery dollar? The market has plans to continue the 2-for-1 program for low-income shoppers in 2016, and to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the coming summer season, the next two markets-Saturday, March 5 and Saturday, March 19-will feature 3-for-1 shopping. Learn more here.

Next Markets: March 5 & 19
701 Commercial Street, Downtown Emporia
10am - Noon




Kansas Permaculture Collaborative Presentation

The Emporia Farmers Market 
and the Emporia Gardeners of America
Invite You
March 17, 7:00pm
First United Methodist Church


 
Laura Odell of the Kansas Permaculture Institute, a grassroots organization dedicated to networking farmers and urban gardeners to develop ecologically sustainable agriculture practices, produce healthy food, conserve energy, share knowledge, skills and labor, and create a resilient community. Join us for this informative talk about KPC's activities throughout Kansas.



Certified Grassfed Beef ~ March 19
Graze the Prairie will be at the Saturday, March 19, Indoor Winter Market. Please feel free to visit their website and place your orders in advance. There will be plenty of product to pick up what looks good while you are at market, as well.

Contact Graze the Prairie via Facebook or on their website,www.grazetheprairie.com.



Annual Meeting Invite
You Are Invited
Saturday, March 19
After Market, 12:15 Lunch
Followed by Annual Meeting
& Board of Directors Election
 
Emporia Farmers Market Annual Meeting
(lunch is free to currently enrolled vendors, Friends, 
and active Farmhands-
$5/person for those not currently enrolled)

Location: 
St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 828 Commercial
 
RSVP by March 15
620-343-6555 or [email protected]
 
Calendar of Events & Vendor Registration Details: www.emporiafarmersmarket.org

Board of Directors: If you are interested in a position on the 2016-17 EFM Board, please contact Tracy or a current market board member. The Emporia Farmers Market, a project of The Learning Connection of the Flint Hills, is guided by a volunteer board of directors. This board is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the market, and delegates responsibility for day-to-day operations to the market manager and committees. Commitment for a 2-year board position includes monthly meetings (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours) and occasional help with fundraisers, kiosk management during markets, market educational activities, and social events.
 

Tuesday, March 29: 
Farmers Market 101 Class
If you've ever considered selling produce, baked goods, or homemade crafts at a farmers market, this is the class for you. Farmers Market 101, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Farmers Market Vending will take place Tuesday, March 29, 6-8pm at the Flint Hills Technical College, 3301 W. 18th Ave. Register in advance at https://flinthills.augusoft.net/ or by calling 620-343-4600 ext. 1300 or ext. 1392.
 
Emporia Farmers Market manager, Tracy Simmons, will cover the ins and outs of selling at the market, state and local regulations, creating a niche, and tips and strategies for successful vending. If you already know your product, or you've just had an idea that selling at the market is something you might like to do, sign up for this presentation. 
 
The class is sponsored, in part, by the Emil Babinger Charitable Fund. Cost for attendees is $5. Attendees who register as vendors in the Emporia Farmers Market in 2016 can take the cost of the class registration fee off their registration fee.


Market Bucks Winners - 2016 Greener Living Show
Congratulations to the following winners of our our Market Bucks drawing! Thanks to everyone who stopped at the market booth last weekend at the Flint Hills Greener Living Show. It was great to visit, and we look forward to seeing you at the market in 2016!

Market Buck Winners ~ Saturday Drawing
Darlene Rees
Lynne Solis
Marjean Anderson

Market Buck Winners ~ Sunday Drawing
Amy Becker
Bradley Scheller
Debi Fuller

 

               
     ESB Financial

lead market sponsor

 

 

 

Registered Vendors ~ 2016

I am working (albeit slowly) to get the website updated! We have many returning vendors for 2016 markets. 

They will appear on our website as their profiles are updated. 

Expected at Indoor Winter Markets
Heins Farm
Keko's Kitchen & How Sweet It Is
The County Flower Shed (Brenzikofer)
Mators and Tators (Myers)
Cheryl Unruh
Thrill's Kettle Corn
Jeanette Hurshman
Costa Cafe (Walt the Coffee Guy)
Christina Bien
Jani Carter
Emporia Gardeners of America
Hannon House Creations
Maria Hernandez
Delmer Hinrichs
The Orchard/Bob Karr
Our Seven Acres/Kern
Interdependent Web/Ben & Jessie Stallings


Thank you Winter 
Friends, Farmhands and Musicians

December, January and February Farmhands: Janet Brassart, Ellen Hansen, Mary McGaw, Ruthann Resch, Evie Simmons, Maddie Simmons, Rand Simmons

Musicians:
Jane McCoy
Rachel & Blake Miles
Lee C. Muller
Ben Stallings

Ben Stallings.


 
Rachel and Blake Miles: thanks to Roger Heineken for the photo.
Contact Information
Market Manager
Tracy Simmons
620-343-6555
  
 

                 

Gardening is not just about growing a few tomatoes, it's about having a relationship with nature.
 
~Ben Stallings, EFM vendor, former board member, and Farmhand
    

 

 

                 

Product List:
last market

Carrots
Lettuce (variety)
Farm Fresh Eggs
Radishes
Jams
Turnips
Yard Art
Bread
Quick Breads
Baked Goods
Honey
Apples
Brussels Sprouts
Dog Treats
Crochet Scarves
Leeks
House Plants
Handmade Sock Critters
Jewelry
Books
Pies
Cookies
Rosemary
Coffee
Kettle Corn    

 

Helpful Harvesters
               
Janet Brassart  

Emporia Realty Group

Scott & Rhonda Gordon

Ellen Hansen
  
Lyon County Master Gardeners
  

Don & Ruth Wise

 
  
  
 Market Sponsors

               

Winter Market & Vision Card Enhancement Sponsor:

The Emil Babinger Charitable Trust

 

Facilities Sponsors:

The City of Emporia

 

Lyon County K-State Research & Extension

 

Elbert Liquor Store

 

Mark II Lumber

 

Media Friends:

KVOE

 

The Emporia Gazette

 

The Flint Hills Shopper

 

Community Partner & Event Sponsors:

 

 Country Mart North

 

Community Connections

 

Dirty Kanza Promotions Team

 

  Emporia Subways

 

Flint Hills Music

 

Murphy's Menu

 

Thurston's Plus

BeefFest

PraireLand Partners

  
  Friends of the Market

               
Harold & Naomi Brenzikofer
Ele Browning
Betty Campbell & Margaret
   Davidson
Travis Carmichael
Coffelt Sign Company
Tyler Curtis
Carla R. Davis
John Dougherty
Paul DuToit
Ek Real Estate
Emporia Gardeners of America
Nancy Garcia
Jon Geitz
Rachel Haag
Becky Hadicke 
Joyce Hanlin (Arizings)
Fannie Harrell
Millard Harrell
Dr. Stephen Haught
Roger Heineken
Brandon & Jessica Hopkins
June Hubert
Bill & Dianne Ihling
Janice Jaggard
Marcia Lawrence
Rachael LeClear
Logan Ave. 4-H Club
Mary McGaw
Regina Murphy
Wanda Myers
Ruthann Resch
Gretchen Russell
Barb Say 
Carol Schoeck
 Mark Schondelmaier
Anna Sharenburg
Mark Sherman
Evie Simmons
Kaman Simmons
Maddie Simmons
Rand Simmons
Becky Smith
Brandi Smith
Rozita Smith
Karen Sommers
Ben & Jessie Stallings
Pam Thuma
Cheryl Unruh
Jesse & Beth Wilson
Casey Woods
Jennifer Youngblood
Barbara Younger

 

and Market Musicians
The Basement Pickers: Tim Fry, Brent Hrabik & Melanie Pritchard
Kenji Bolden
Kendra Briggs
Savanna Chestnut

Sue Claridge
Bob Colladay
ESU College Day Musicians: Christian Luca, Christie Sidartawan, Shunkuan Chang, Kevin Kaiyuan Wu, Mike Atchinson, Luis Sanchez-Arrocha, Korean Student Association, Sage Thurston, and Christina Rabb
Lance Fahy

Tracy Freeze
Bob Haselhun
Matthew Hope 
Dr. Brent Hrabik
Bill Ihling
Matt Kosinski
Jane McCoy
Eric Martin 
Rachel & Blake Miles
Lee C. Muller
Eric Murphy
The Neighborly Brothers
Three Old Men: Ric Garcia, Nick Dikin & Sam Bland
Paige Rhoads
Brandi Smith
Ben Stallings
Fran Stallings
P.J. Stephenson
Taylor Wike
Glen Woolard
Tony Zouplna
Anton Zouplna, Sr.
Anton Zouplna, III

2 for 1 - Kansas Vision Cardholders     

 

  EBT

EFM is matching dollars again for EBT customers! Remember that you can shop at the market with your Vision card. Visit with a kiosk volunteer for details.

 

Gift of:

The Emil Babinger Charitable Trust

 

  

 

                 

The Emporia Farmers Market fulfills a central role in the community's grand equation, offering a place of fellowship throughout the year, moving produce, producer, and consumer closer to a kindred realm, bridging lives with local growth, local arts, local writers and musicians, creating rhythms of seasons and relationship so well maintained as to seem always new and continuing together.
 
~Wendy Crowley Devilbiss, Star Market Shopper
    

 

   Member of:      
   

 

EFM Board Members

Janet Brassart - Treasurer
Harold Brenzikofer
Travis Carmichael
Jessica Hopkins - Secretary
Marcia Lawrence - Music Manager, 2015 
Ellen Hansen
Wanda Myers
Ruthann Resch - President
Becky Smith - Vice President
  
 

                 

  

Read what our Star Market Shoppers have to say about Emporia Farmers Market.

 

 

Every market shopper is a star. Do you want to share your Star Market Shopper status? Stop and visit with us at the market, or send us an image of you with your latest market shopping bag and tell us, what do you love about the Emporia Farmers Market! [email protected]