Friday, August 30, 2019 
So much of what we love about summer! That was the feel at our final market day of 2019. Labor Day…How did we get to this hallmark of summer’s end so soon? Maybe we were just having too good a time…
People arrived as always, parked, and made their way onto the Market Green.
The vegetables, fruits, meats and shellfish were ready…along with all the other tempting purchases-in-waiting….
Paula Clare sang and played while the people stopped to listen and enjoy.
People continued to show the care of our environment by bringing their own bags and containers and using our mini Recycling Center located near the wash stand….
We enjoyed another visit from the RI Guiding Eyes for the Blind…The trainers and accompanying puppies enhanced awareness and warmed more than a few hearts.
And at the end of this final market, some of our volunteers, many vendors, and a few four legged friends…gathered to send a “See You Next Year” message…and a “Thank You for a GREAT Season!”…Actually a DOZEN great seasons!
While we haven’t “Discovered Something New about….” ALL of the participants in our market this summer, here are three more for you to get to know…
For the past 5 years the Church of the Holy Spirit (on whose grounds the CLT Farmers’ Market is fortunate to hold each Friday morning market in the summer) has offered a weekly children’s art activity on the picnic table under a shady, cool tree…Art Under the Big Tree? The activities spring from a program called “Giving Gardeners: Kids Who Care”. The intent is to “facilitate and nurture an appreciation and stewardship of this good earth…” Each project is designed to heighten children’s awareness of caring for the earth. Materials used to reflect this goal include repurposed and/or reused or recycled items. Emphasis is also placed on reducing waste in the first place. And the children in attendance ALWAYS have fun!
This year’s activities, organized by Pam and sometimes by John, two church members, included counter top compost bins from plastic coffee containers and kaleidoscopes from paper towel tubes. They are already looking ahead to next year when Art Under the Big Tree resumes.
Oh how the CLT Farmers’ Market has yearned for a food cart! And this year, through the efforts of our market manager Julia and the serendipitous availability of Teddy’s Griddle, this dream came true!
Teddy’s Griddle operated by Theresa, Scott and Co. showed up each Friday with the most delicious assortment of sandwiches and salads, each with something tantalizing added to set it apart from what be might expected. As the market opened, the fragrance of sizzling ingredients on the griddle would cast a beckoning finger to everyone who ventured into our market setting…
Sweet Pea Farm, nestled in a portion of the 1700s era Amos Greene Farm in Charlestown (property held in conservation by the Land Trust), speaks to heart of the CLT Trust’s mission to protect open space and conserve natural resources. Kathan, the farmer-in-charge who is experienced in the sustainable food world, has spent the past couple years building her CSA vegetable and flower business and serving local families. Her philosophy of working from the soil up has resulted in harvests that are not only deliciously healthy, but visually stunning.
Our market was delighted to welcome Kathan and Sweet Pea Farm this summer, and we look forward to an ongoing relationship.
In closing how about a Rainbow Spin through the summer….?
We are a colorful crew!
A word of thanks to our photographers. Fred Baker has been behind a camera for more Farmers’ Market Seasons than can be recounted. His artistic sense and willingness to show up at the market provide the material for this blog. 
But Fred is not alone. Julia Bancroft, our competent and beloved CLT Market Manager for the past two years, has shown that she has more skills than we knew….among them a good eye for capturing the happenings, people and spirit of the market.
Thank you isn’t a broad enough term….
As the seasons change, when the mid winter sets in, we hope you will scroll back over this past summer (and summers past…this site is a bit like a picture album from recent years) as you dream of a new season at the Charlestown Land Trust Farmers’ Market. We’ll be waiting to welcome you in the Summer of 2020, our 13th Season coming up!
Charlestown Land Trust Farmers Market 