• Holiday Market

    25Nov
    Categories: market business, market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    Holiday09.jpg

    2009 Haymaker Holiday Market flier.

    Thanks to the hard work of our good friend Kelly Ferry, the 2009 Holiday Market fliers are edited and Jo Anne had them printed at Wordsmiths here in Kent.  We’ll be posting them around town on just about everything that doesn’t move quickly.  If you would like to run a few off as well, you can find a link at the bottom of this post or just let me know and I’ll send you the pdf file.  As you know, the market is less than a month away and the preparations are well under way.  Our site is secured for the events, the musicians have been chosen and I’ve been in touch with the farmers, bakers and candlestick makers. It looks like we’re going to have about 30 vendors on hand again this year and we’ve expanded our winter Music @ the Market to 6 performances!  We are looking forward to seeing everyone there and Jo Anne and I would like to wish everyone the happiest of holidays.

    Fritz.

    Holiday09

  • Rafael’s beautiful, bakery!

    23Nov
    Categories: Uncategorized Comments: 0

    It was so nice today that I asked my dad if he wanted to go for a ride in the country to see a good friend. He was excited when I told him about visiting Rafael from the farmers’ market.  So we set off to find the bakery of which I had only seen pictures. It was a short drive  from Kent in nearby Nelson on the north east corner of the circle.  The pictures that Rafael sent to us truly don’t do his bakery justice.  It is beautiful, with a large wooden floored downstairs,  heavy wooden beams,  cherry sheathing on the ceiling,  lots of high windows and a full balcony all around the 2nd floor.

    Hot from the oven.

    Hot from the oven!

    The baking part is on the second floor at the back of the building which was formerly a church and then a gymnasium for the Nelson schools before they joined with Garretsville.  Rafael gave my dad and I as well as another couple,  a full tour of his enterprise with the sounds of Pink Floyd echoing through the ancient building and the delicious smell of his breads baking in the oven.

    The last 2 loaves!

    The last 2 loaves!

    The acoustics are amazing as you might imagine, it was a church after all, would really be a great place for a concert.  By the time we left after saying our goodbyes and snapping a few pictures , all of the bread our friend had baked for the day had been sold and was on its way to appreciative families. Jo Anne is sitting at the dining room table now and says that I need to be sure to tell everyone that Rafael’s  pumpkin bread is VERY good!!! Finally she brought me a piece too and I agree, very, very good indeed!!  It would make a nice trip for you and your family and I’m sure Rafael will enjoy showing you his new bakery.

    All the best to everyone!

    Fritz.

    Map to Rafael’s bakery.

  • Winter markets scheduled!

    14Oct
    Categories: market business, market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    Andrea Bussinger plays at Haymaker Holiday Market 13 December 2008.

    Andrea Bussinger plays at Haymaker Holiday Market 13 December 2008.

    Friends,

    There will be two winter markets this coming December thanks to the generosity of our friends over at Williams, Welser and Kratcoski LLC at 11 South River Street in downtown Kent!  We have formal approval for both the 12th and 19th opening at 9:00 am and running until 2:00 pm.  The events will be held in the garage  area behind the law offices.

    Last year, we had close to 30 vendors for both events as well as  live music during the markets, making it a perfect social destination before the holidays.

    I hope to have a flier available for you to hand out  to your customers  for our last two markets of our summer season.  If you’re interested in taking part in these two special indoor events, let me know and I’ll start the sign up process.

    Thanks,

    Fritz.

  • The Last Weekend of Summer!

    21Sep
    Categories: market business, market growth, Uncategorized Comments: 0
    Colors of late summer by Bernie Chaykowski, 19 September 2009, Haymaker Farmers' Market

    Colors of late summer by Bernie Chaykowski, 19 September 2009, Haymaker Farmers' Market

    The crickets are singing a slightly different pitch, the skies are becoming that special deep shade of blue and the days are just a bit cooler with a sharp bite of cold in the mornings and evenings.  I hate to say it, but fall is upon us.  Some people say that its their favorite time of year, others find the relentless shortening of day light hours to be particularly stressful. Regardless how we cope with the change of the season as individuals, the market is truly a spectacularly colorful place in the fall!  The orange of the pumpkins, the deep shades of burgundy and umber of the mums and the varied colors of the fully ripened peppers and eggplants lend a kaleidoscope appearance to the wide variety of produce on Haymaker tables these last few weeks of our season.

    This past Saturday, musician extraordinaire, Hal Walker entertained us with his eclectic variety of folk music. The soft spoken Hal has been entertaining the good folks of Kent for quite few years now and I always look forward to hearing him play and visiting with him as well.  Next week, the Malyuk sisters will return with hammered dulcimer and fiddle music.  The Music @ the Market series has been a lot of fun this summer, I hope you’ve enjoyed it as well.

    Hal Walker performs at Haymaker 19 September 2009.

    Hal Walker performs at Haymaker 19 September 2009.

    Summer’s best to everyone and  a long crisp “Indian Summer” to come!

    Fritz.

  • Hammered dulcimer music at market this Saturday!

    05Aug
    Categories: market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0
    Lisa and Heather Malyuk to play at Music @ the Market this Saturday, 8/8/2009

    Lisa and Heather Malyuk to play at Music @ the Market this Saturday, 8/8/2009

    Lisa & Heather Malyuk are reaching a new generation of listeners with their interpretation of old-time, Celtic, and world folk music. Lisa plays hammered dulcimer and banjo-uke and Heather plays fiddle and guitar. The pair will perform from 10 am to 12 noon as part of the Kent, Music @ the Market series. All live performances are free and open to the public every Saturday throughout the summer and fall.
    Haymaker Farmers’ Market is located on Franklin Ave. at Summit Street in downtown Kent. Hours: 9am-1pm.

  • Great day in the morning!

    02Aug
    Categories: market bench, market business, market growth, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    This was a phrase my grandmother would repeat on a sunny morning as the mist from the night’s dew rose from the fields in the warmth of the morning sun.   She was always happy to see the sun rise over the fields to the east of their farm house in central Michigan, it meant another day spent doing the things she loved; gardening, cooking for her family and visiting with her neighbors on her egg route.  She’s been gone for quite a few years now, but I still like to repeat her phrase when I see the sun shining in the morning, especially on a market day like we had yesterday!  We have never had a bigger or better attended market in our history in Kent.  Special thanks goes out to the talented members of Kent’s Celtic Clan who performed for us under the Haymaker Bridge.  Great job one and all!

    DSCF2779s

    People were walking from cars parked all over the downtown area for the opportunity to shop at Haymaker. My 88 year old father found a parking spot north of the Pufferbelly and walked the 3 blocks to see us.  He said that he was glad he had brought his cane along, because the walk was a lot more than he had planned.  I spoke with customers who had parked on Water Street and walked the distance.  As vendors, I think its important to try to park our vehicles at the rear of the market lots so that our customers have better access to street front parking.  If there isn’t enough room in the north lot, there are usually extra places along the fence at the rear of the south lot.  The market lot actually narrows from the south going north.   As the season progresses it seems we have reached our peak capacity in terms of vendors. I never thought I would see the day when it was necessary for me to turn away people from selling, but this has been my unfortunate duty for the last several weeks. My phone and the market email box have been busy places with lots of people wanting to join our market family.

    Yesterday brought a few glitches during set up in the morning. I apologize for any bruised feelings.  Its my intent to preserve the integrity of the market by mixing types of vendors as well as allowing people to set up where their customers have come to expect them.  This isn’t always possible, especially when there are late arrivals, and folks setting up for the first time in the season.  I am doing my best to make things happen smoothly and with as little stress as possible. It was necessary for me to set up some vendors along the grass strip between the street and the market lot.  I’m afraid that this is something we may be doing more of in the future, but I would like to confine the double row idea to the wider parts of the market. Under the Haymaker bridge is one area that will easily accomodate this sort of arrangement.  I need your input on this as well as any concerns you may have. I still have not assigned spaces in the north lot, but will begin this process next Saturday.

    I’m still working on the market benches, but have stalled at two because of a lack of free time. If anyone would like to pitch in, we could probably have them finished in a short time. Feel free to give me a call at 330-678-5748, or just respond to this posting.

    I’m looking forward to hearing from you,

    all the best for the week ahead,

    Fritz.

  • Into each market season a little rain must fall…

    12Jul
    Categories: market business, market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    …and we got it in buckets this past Saturday!  What began as a really promising and well attended market yesterday was interrupted with a one hour deluge the likes of which I haven’t seen in quite a long time.  At about 11:45, our musician for the day, Jon Mosey told me he was unable to keep his guitar dry because the rain was blowing horizontally under the bridge and needed to pack up and call it a day.

    A good crowd at Haymaker before the rains came, July 11, 2009.

    A good crowd at Haymaker before the rains came, July 11, 2009.

    That said, the market was really a bustling place, with very few parking places available on Franklin and a record 38 vendors on hand selling all sorts of goodies.  With more of our seasonal farmers selling, the balance between bakers and  produce vendors is improving.  As this part of the season progresses, market attendance improves as well.

    I’m working on the next series of four market benches in my home wood shop. This past week I was able to pick up the leg brackets from Kevin at Quick Service Welding and the tops from The Plastic Lumber Company of Akron.  As soon as the stainless steel hardware is on hand this week, I’ll begin the assembly process here at my home.  If any one would like to lend a hand, give me a call at 330-678-5748.

    Next Saturday,  Don Hindenach will perform on guitar at 10 am-12 noon in the continuing Music @ the Market series.

    We currently have 102 votes in the Love Your Farm Market contest. If you haven’t voted yet, please cast your vote at

    Love Your Farmers’ Market .

    All the best to everyone for a less damp week ahead!

    Fritz

  • Love your farmers’ market contest!

    01Jul
    Categories: market business, market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    care2

    Market Friends,
    Local Harvest is sponsoring a “Love Your Farmers’ Market”
    contest with a chance for the market to win a $5000 prize! Your vote
    can be anonymous if you choose, but it also gives you the opportunity to post
    online what you like about our homegrown market. It’s a great chance
    to help us all get the word out about Kent’s own farmers’ market and maybe
    provide a little much needed financial support with which we could
    improve the experience even more!
    All you need to do is click on this link:
    http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/8282/?refer=1839.04.1246274974.810181
    to cast your vote for your favorite farmers’ market.  After voting, let your family and friends, children, pets, third cousins twice removed and banished by all the ‘decent’ members of the family, the guy that sleeps in the garage, even people you don’t like and haven’t seen since 8th grade,  know about the contest as well.  Just kidding about the pets! Everyone is eligible to vote, the more the merrier!

    I would like to thank everyone who comes down each Saturday to participate in the market while enjoying our local musicians during our “Music @ the Market” series.
    All the best to everyone for a great summer!
    Fritz Seefeldt.
    Haymaker Farmers’ Market
    http://haymakermarket.com

  • The Sun Shines on Haymaker!

    28Jun
    Categories: market business, market growth, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    After last week’s Saturday deluge, the sun returned  to warm our faces and bring out our valued customers. We had a record 35 vendors this Saturday, the 27th of June, and more vendors are due to join us as the season progresses with produce ripening in July and August.  Kevin Noon joined us as a new vendor who will double as a visual attraction as he sharpens knives, scissors, lawn mower blades and all manner of cutting and gardening tools using hand stones and a treadle driven grind stone mounted on the cast iron base of an old Singer sewing machine. Jerry and Elaine May of Heron Hill Farm have returned for the season selling many pounds of snap peas to an appreciative market. The peas of course are just the beginning of what promises to be a wide variety of seasonal produce coming from our north east Ohio growers.

    Shoppers at Haymaker Farmers' Market, 27 June 2009.

    Shoppers at Kent’s Haymaker Farmers’ Market-  27 June 2009.

    There were quite a few times when there were no parking spaces to spare for our customers and they needed to walk from farther north on Franklin Avenue and College Streets to attend. We are truly blessed with a loyal and supportive customer base. Not only are we selling a lot of fine locally grown and baked products, but we’re helping to contribute to our local economy through increased traffic downtown!  The market is a positive economic factor in the life of our community.   People seem to be shying away from making big purchases at the chain retailers, but they seem to be patronizing our local shops and farmers’ markets more.  We may be part of a renaissance of thought in regards to how people shop and acquire their food.  This past week, PBS played a documentary on farmers’ markets across the United States.  An increasing proportion of Americans are seeing the value in shopping from local vendors especially in the agricultural food sector. <To Market, To Market…>

    Andrea Bussinger plays at Haymeker joined by Bob Wilson on harmonica and a friend on slide guitar.

    Andrea Bussinger plays at Haymaker joined by Bob Wilson on harmonica and Adam Kuhn on slide guitar.

    Our music was provided by Andrea Bussinger on folk guitar along with Adam Kuhn playing slide guitar and Bob Wilson on harmonica who joined in spontaneously!  They performed almost non-stop from 10:00 to 12 noon interrupted only by applause, the sounds of our bustling farmers’ market and an occasional passing freight train. Next week, July fourth, we’ll be entertained by the return of the now famous, ten member Kent Shindig All-Star band led by Kentite David Badagnani. The group will perform from 10-12 noon under the Haymaker Bridge along Franklin Avenue.  Please be sure to make it a full day by joining us all downtown at Kent’s annual Heritage Festival sponsored byt the Kent Chamber of Commerce. There will be more music, great fair food and interesting booths to shop and explore right close by.  I’m sure a great time will be had by all!

    All the best to everyone for the week ahead!

    Fritz Seefeldt.

  • Summertime…and the livin’ is easy!

    23Jun
    Categories: market growth, music @ the market, Uncategorized Comments: 0

    As most of you noticed, we officially crossed the line into summer this past Sunday, and the weather couldn’t be nicer. With temperatures in the 70′s and just enough rain to keep things green and growing it would be tough to find anything to improve. The market continues to grow as well…each week adding a few new vendors and broadening the variety for our customers.  In the next two weeks, most of our regular produce growers will be in place in the market lineup, which typically increases our customer base as well.

    The past two weeks we had some truly great musical entertainment with Brian Henke playing on the 13th of June and Peggy Coyle along with Brad Bolton this last Saturday, June 20th. Coming up this week Andrea Bussinger will be returning to Haymaker for her third appearance since last summer at 10 am.

    Brian Henke entertains at Haymaker-June 13, 2009.

    Brian Henke entertains at Haymaker-June 13, 2009 (Little Elmer was on hand to guard the tips).

    As you may have noticed, the first two benches are in place along the front of the market. Karl Liske was kind enough to donate two pieces of plywood to put in front of each bench to cover the mud from when they were installed this last week…thank you Karl, your spontaneity saved the day and quite a few pairs of shoes as well! The Record-Courier was kind enough to send down a photographer to take a few pictures of the new benches and our market, look for an article in the paper over the next few days.

    Peggy Coyle and Brad Bolton brought their music to the market, June 21, 2009.

    Peggy Coyle and Brad Bolton brought their music to the market, June 21, 2009.

    From time to time you may see me wearing scrubs to the market. As some of you know, I work nights as a nurse at an area hospital, and sometimes its my turn to work the Friday night/Saturday morning before setting up the market on Saturday. Time is pretty tight between the two, so don’t be surprised if you see me looking strangely out of place every so often at the market, don’t worry, I promise I won’t be starting any iv’s on anyone, just don’t cross me, I may be tired…and grouchy!

    I’ve reworked the display ad for he newspaper this week. The ad runs every other Thursday in the Record-Courier along with event announcements in the Beacon Journal, Plain Dealer and Record-Courier. Joan Inderhees will be assisting with press releases for the papers, please thank her when you see her, its good to have her back with us again.

    All the best for a great week!

    Fritz.

« Previous Page Next Page »

Blogroll

Meta:

Recent Posts