It's Farmers Market Day!

"It’s farmers market day" I chirp gaily (because it annoys my husband) when the alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., our normal rising time during the farmers market season, which runs from the end of May through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It just so happened that yesterday was opening day for our primary farmers market, the Downtown Westminster Farmers Market (http://www.westminsterfarmfresh.com/). The weather cooperated fully and gave us a gorgeous day. The market was abuzz with excitement as shoppers reconnected with farmer friends from past seasons and checked out the new vendors. Strings on Wings provided musical entertainment. We took loads of tomato, pepper and basil plants to the market, along with brown eggs from our laying hens, plus wool and yarn from our sheep. It will be a few more weeks before we start having produce to sell; Greg’s primary focus through the beginning of May is in the greenhouse getting plants ready for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, so we are always late getting the garden in. The recent rainy weather hasn’t helped any either! The market is a "producer only" market, which means that everything sold is produced by the farmers selling it. When you shop at the market, you support agriculture in Carroll County and contribute to the local economy.

In addition to us, returning vendors included:
Tomatoes, Etc., Westminser, MD – Produce and plants
De La Tierra Gardens, Taneytown MD (http://delatierragardens.com/) – Certified organic produce, plants, and beautiful cut flowers
Nev-R-Dun Farms, Westminster, MD (http://www.nevrdunfarm.com/) – Certified organic produce and plants
Orchard Country Produce, Gardners, PA (http://www.orchcountry.com/) – Fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, jellies, dog treats
Groff’s Content Farm, Rocky Ridge, MD (http://www.groffscontentfarm.com/) – Organic grass-fed beef and lamb; natural free-range chicken and eggs; pasture raised pork

New vendors at the market yesterday included:
The Farmer’s Daughter – Whole wheat bread and yummy cinnamon rolls
For the Birds – Organic, free-trade coffee
Carlhaven Emu Farm, Westminster, MD (http://www.carlhavenemufarm.com/) – locally raised emu meat and emu oil skin care products

In future weeks, a cheesemaker (Hawk’s Hill Creamery, Street MD http://www.hawkshillcreamery.com/) and another farmer selling pasture raised meats (Evermore Farm, Westminster MD http://www.evermorefarm.com/) are expected to join the market, along with the return of Sharon’s Baked Goods (cookies, muffins and cakes). The market is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and is located in the Conaway municipal parking lot on Railroad Avenue (Rt 27), 2 blocks north of Main Street.

More pictures from Opening Day are on the Thorne Farm Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116588&id=57593701994&l=487dc9171b. Sign-up to be fan of Thorne Farm while you’re there!