Buying Local in Farmington

Cassie Libby
Contributing Writer

A display table from Walnut Ridge Farm feautring handmade earrings and pears.

One of Farmington’s hidden gems is the weekly Farmington farmers’ markets. The market is full of local treasures and takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Clerks’ Office parking lot, where local business owners gather with their products on display. From May through Oct. the farmers market happens outside in the parking lot next to the park and the big gazebo but starting in Nov. it moves indoors to the St. Joseph Hall on Quebec Street until April.

The strong sense of community that is palpable just walking up to the tables is one of the most noticeable things about the farmers market. The different vendors are constantly talking and laughing with each other, showing off their new products for the week. The vendors also chat it up with customers who are frequent attendees of the market. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming, and the vendors and customers alike are all very friendly.

One of the businesses present at the farmers market has been a staple there for about seven years. Walnut Ridge Farm provides the market with homemade maple syrup, poultry, goat-milk soap, herbal teas, and jewelry. Jacklynn Taylor, the owner of Walnut Ridge Farm, attended UMF and met her husband at the school. Now, the couple lives locally with their children. Taylor discussed how important it was to her and her husband to know where their food was coming from. They began to grow and raise their own food until they ended up having more food than their family could consume on their own, so they came to the farmers market to sell what they were unable to consume. Along with the food that they sell, Taylor also was quick to show off the beautiful jewelry that was spread out among the table. Taylor explained that her mother-in-law makes the jewelry out of walnuts and upcycled materials.

Another eye-catching table is one that has been at the farmers markets for three consecutive years now. Trudy’s Garden is a business whose history runs back to 1842. Trudy Marshall, the owner of the business, explained that rhubarb was planted at the farm in the year of 1842 as a wedding present, and that is what started it all. The farm had participated in local markets in the past, but they had taken a hiatus for many years. Marshall explained that they just came back to the market three years ago. The business provides vegetables and candles alongside homemade baked goods that follow recipes from Marshall’s grandmother.

A pumpkin whoopie pie from Trudy’s Garden.

A very popular baked good that was nearly sold out was her pumpkin whoopie pie. Filled with cream cheese frosting and a soft pumpkin cookie outside, Marshall pointed out the one remaining treat, saying how popular they were. Marshall described how the farm that the vegetables came from was in New Sharon, while the industrial kitchen that was used for the baked goods and candles was in Jay.

Buying locally means knowing where your food and other materials are coming from, and is important for many reasons. Supporting local farmers and businesses is important because they help support the local economy. If you have the time and resources, checking out the weekly Farmington Farmers Markets from 9 a.m. to noon is an awesome Saturday activity to take a small step closer to buying locally and sustainably.