Humming along through the Summer

Fri., July 22, 2016  Warm temperatures didn’t dissuade shoppers at the CLT market this past Friday.

Each week all summer long shoppers are greeted with the old – Greens and shellfish and meats and locally prepared condiments, jams, and sauces….

And the NEW!  This week’s visiting non profit groups included Smart Power representative Karen Stewart along with Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association and ecoRI, an online news source for environmental news right here in our state.

A special visit from the Coppertop Bird House people added a rainbow air to our surroundings….And the Solar Cart Cafe was back cooking up delicious crepes on solar powered cooking equipment!

Mike Bussey provided our music, Scott MacNeill appeared with his sun telescope…

 

and friends and families joined our community of shoppers.

 

 

Corn Has Arrived!

Fri., July 15, 2016  While it is true that our market has a wide range of delectable choices, it is also true that certain crops mark the entry into the heart of summer.  And corn is one of them.

Burnside Acres arrived early Friday with our first local corn of the season….

At the opening of the market people were eager to get their first taste of what would be part of local fare from now until September.

Shoppers didn’t stop with corn….From a host of vendors …they selected locally preserved items from Luckyfoot Ranch (amidst their other attractively displayed veggies)…

…and lavender scented items arranged among the greens and flowers of Magnolia Ridge

 

to the best lemonade around,

….people strolled  around the market to live music by Andrea and JP, rested on the lawn, and saw what there was to see.

Visitors talked with representatives from Save the Bay, Audubon, People’s Power and Light and RISE Engineering (for those seeking a home energy audit).

As for next week, July 22nd?  Besides CORN and summer ripe TOMATOES, etc. our musician will be Mike Bussey and our nonprofit visitors will be  Gina from ecoRI, Karen Stewart from Smart Power and Donna Walsh from the Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association.  Be ready to spend some time with our knowledgeable, easy-to-talk with, easy-to-listen-to guests.  Please Join Us!

 

Oh, Those Volunteers – They Help Keep Our Market Humming!

Friday, July 8, 2016  Ask the Vendors at the CLT Farmers’ Market.  Chances are they will have a story to tell about ways in which our VOLUNTEERS make a difference every week!

Our Friday Manager, Eric Warren, arrives early to set up the Market Tent and then gets things rolling.  Eric has volunteered at our market since his middle school days, or several years, long enough to be part of our CLT Farmers’ Market Family.

This year Eric has taken charge of guiding a team of volunteers (among them Christian, Sarah and Grace shown above) in making our market ever more vendor friendly AND shopper friendly.  If a vendor needs help setting up…….Or would like a short break……Or if shoppers require some assistance, our Volunteers can be counted on to be helpful – with a smile!

We have other volunteers as well.  If you visit our market table or walk around at the market you are sure to encounter some of them.

This past week we welcomed the Domestic Violence Resource Center.  They shared some of the ways in which their Center serves our community.  Right next door at the Market were the Frosty Drew volunteers, directly from the Nature Center in Charlestown.  They brought information about their programs for people of all ages right at Ninigret Park.

Peter Weremay’s songs rang out as shoppers shopped and visitors visited.  

And as always, lots and lots and lots of fresh, delicious food was on hand….

 

 

The 4th of July Weekend launches summer in Charlestown.   This week at the market kept the summer flow going complete with all the warm weather flavors.

Next week, Fri., July 15th? Save the Bay will be with us.  People’s Power and Light as well for those who want to support renewable energy from the grid.  And if you have considered having an energy audit done, RISE Engineering will be on hand to make an appointment with you.  For music we will welcome Andrea and JP.

The Market Rolls into the 4th of July

Fri., July 1, 2016  Independence Day, the traditional signal that SUMMER IS HERE was evident at this week’s market.  Vendors, old and new, created a village square of enticing choices.

Blue skies, comfortable temperatures and the promise of get-togethers in South County brought customers in search of fresh, delicious food choices:

…and items on which to serve those treats….

This week we added two new food vendors:  The NitroCart with fresh coffee to wake us up and the Solar Cart Cafe serving yummy crepes, both sweet and savory, to be enjoyed right at the market!

Shoppers and visitors got several samplings of what goes on in our community by chatting with different non profit groups which offered both information and inspiration.

 

Pictured above are members of the Charlestown Historical Society, Church members with mission items from Haiti and Africa, and some active members of The Bee Keepers of RI (the bees representing themselves).  Questions and conversations threaded through the market.

URI’s Cooperative Extension booth, seen below, addressed issues of water quality.  As folow up there will be a free workshop for private well owners at the Cross Mills Public Library in Charlestown on July 12th from 6 to 7 PM. Those interested are asked to pre-register at 401-874-4918.

 

All the while there was music to shop by….this week featuring the foot tapping group Farm Dog.

As for next week, Fri., July 8th?  We’ll be welcoming back musician Peter Weremay again this year.  Our Special Events will include representatives from the Domestic Violence Resource Center, the AFS Intercultural Program, and the Audubon Society.  Be sure to JOIN US!