From the look of local farmers markets and vegetable stands, it has been a great growing season for just about everything.
I must admit I miss the old Deerings Market on Lower Valley Pike. It was so convenient for me. However, I’ve found some farm vegetable stands along the roads, and now there are two farmers markets in our small towns in Western Clark County that are quite good.
The New Carlisle Farmers Market is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and has been going on for a couple of summers now. Each year it seems to grow and take up a longer section of Main Street. Recently this market started accepting WIC and Family Assistance.
The New Carlisle Farmers Market has a rich variety of vegetables, fruits, baked goods and lots of other interesting merchandise. Live music also makes this market fun. This is not to be missed.
The newest town farmers market is right in the middle of Enon at the lovely green Settlers Park. Starting just a few weeks ago, this market is set up on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m.
“It is very busy, and hopping,” said Lisa Prince, who with her husband Ron own Prince Produce from St.Paris. ”It’s a great location.”
The couple brings a variety of vegetables and often sell out of some items quickly. Last week they sold 25 dozen ears of sweet corn; bi-color and accord. They had a table covered with a variety of tomato colors that reminded me of the photos in the seed catalogs. Each was so perfect.
Nicole and Paul Carpenter, also from St Paris, sold out of fresh lettuce, green beans and okra last week. However, they still had some locally grown carrots with the green tops still on them that caught my eye. I just knew that Peter Rabbit had his eye on those carrots, too.
Teenagers Noah and Jonah Kerr sell at both the Enon and New Carlisle markets. These ambitious Northwestern Future Farmers of America students farm vegetables on 15 acres, including 12 varieties of sweet corn. Of course, they were sold out of the sweet corn when I got there.
The Kerr brothers also have 1,000 tomato plants, which includes a fascinating dark pink heirloom tomato which they say is quite tasty. Every 28 days they plant zucchini. They also have four acres of pumpkins that will be available before long.
When I commented that they were well on their way to becoming farmers when they grow up, I was politely corrected.
“We are already farmers,” said Noah Kerr.
Since they were 8 or 9 years old, these young men have farmed 80 acres each. This is planted in regular crops like field corn or soy beans. They are proudly carrying on their family’s farming tradition, and it made me happy to hear that.
The Enon and New Carlisle farmer’s markets, and farm stands, are great ways to buy produce directly from local farmers and support local business. Go check out these farm markets, but go early. I image there are people waiting for them to set up.
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