Haymaker Market Week two with Something New

Our was wildly successful, with a great variety of local foods for so early in the season, and the sun came out for much of the day. It was like the city had a huge family reunion after a long, hard winter.

Several vendors had giant stalks of rhubarb, and I know we were all itching to see quart baskets full of plump, ripe strawberries. You really can't beat the flavor of a homegrown strawberry, and I was thrilled to see that one of my three patches is full of berries that need just one more day of sun-kiss before they're ready to pick. I wonder if my daughter and I will make it out of the patch with a bowl full, or if we'll simply stand there eating like we did with the small handful that were ready at the end of our very long day yesterday. My pie crust is waiting in the fridge, and rhubarb is on my shopping list for Saturday's market. Let's do this thing!

If you'd like to learn how to create a productive and self-perpetuating strawberry patch of your own with just a little bit of work, come on down to the market on Saturday, June 4, from 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.  Local producer Barb Eaton of Blue Sage Farm will be holding a mini workshop for starting a home strawberry patch at her stand on the south end of the market. Barb has grown dozens of varieties of strawberries for 30 years, and has sold countless berries at Haymaker, and to Kent Natural Foods, and will have plenty of strawberry plants available for sale.

This week, the market also welcomes new vendor Trevor Cain with Ohio City Pasta. Offering handmade fresh pasta varieties including gnocchi, ravioli, spaghetti, fettuccini, angel hair, pappardelle, and linguini, Ohio City Pasta also makes gourmet butters (garlic, apple walnut), and fine herb marinara sauce.

It’s prime planting season, and many vendors will have a wide variety of vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower starts for the home garden. Bring the kids by Specialty Sweets by Molly’s booth for face painting, and be sure to bring your knives and scissors to Noon Sharpening to get them ready for a busy produce season in the kitchen.

Stop by between 10 a.m. and noon to enjoy this week’s free Music @ the Market performance by local singer/songwriter Andrea Bussinger. The full season’s music schedule is available at the market website, where customers can also sign up for weekly email updates of what’s new at the market. This season, market attendees can also stop by the Haymaker information booth under the bridge to pick up a detailed market map, ask questions, or make suggestions. Downtown Kent businesses interested in putting a flyer or coupons at the info booth should contact manager Kelly Ferry at haymakermarket@gmail.com, or 330-472-5801.

When you're done meeting with friends and neighbors, and stocking your crisper drawers, I hope you'll head on up to the ! From noon - 10 p.m. Tastings cost $10, which includes a commemorative wine glass and three wine tastings. Additional wine tickets are $1. Enjoy live music, local art, and local wine, plus enter the raffle to win an iPad and other great prizes!