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Haymaker Farmers’ Market

• Into each market season a little rain must fall…

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

  …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.

  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: Uncategorized, market business, market growth, music @ the market Comments Off

  

  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: Uncategorized, market business, market growth Comments Off

  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 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 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: Uncategorized, market growth, music @ the market Comments Off

  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 (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.

  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.

• Another fun week at the market!

  10Jun
  Categories: Market Opens, Uncategorized, market business, market growth, music @ the market Comments Off

  This past weekend we enjoyed the drumming and unique music of Halim El-Dabh along with several folks who turned out to drum and play along.  Kent is the kind of town where people often spontaneously join in and add to the diversity of sights and sounds.  This character sets us apart from most places where people stick to themselves and stay in their cars with the tinted windows rolled up and the AC turned on high.  The farmers’ market provides a place for people to be themselves and enjoy the friendship and camaraderie of their neighbors.

  

  Music @ the Market- Halim El-Dabh and friends play at Haymaker Farmers' Market, Saturday June 6, 2009.

  This week we’ll be entertained by the music of local performer, Brian Henke. I’m including the press release for this event here:

  <<Brian Henke composes and performs his music like a painter putting images on canvas, drawing his inspiration from the world around him.  His unique guitar style has been called everything from Folk to New Age to Neo-Classical to Pastoral. Brian is the founder and promoter of “The Woodchoppers Ball” annual benefit concert for The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless held at the Kent Stage in December.

  

  Composer/performer Brian Henke plays at Kent's farmers' market, June 13, 2009.

  “Music at the Market” performances are scheduled throughout the season and are free and open to the public. The next concert will be June 20 and will feature the duo of Peggy Coyle and Brad Bolton.

  This week the market will be offering produce from local farmers including: salad greens, radishes, strawberries, herbs, honey, maple syrup, cheese and flowers. Area bakers will be providing fresh baked breads and sweets.  As always, everything is locally grown or produced.>>

  This week’s featured farmer is Jessica Earley of Brimfield.  She and her family (Earley Farms) have been providing top notch produce grown without pesticides to our community for several years. In addition to selling at Haymaker, Jessica started the weekday Brimfield Farmers’ Market.  The Earley family has a new arrival too!  Be sure to congratulate them next Saturday.

  

  Jessica Earley and daughter at Haymaker Farmers' Market, June 6, 2009.

  On the injured list is our own Shari Keefe of Shari’s Berries and Gardens.  I caught her dancing the jig with fellow vendor and breadmaker,  Rafael Rodriguez.  I thought she was faking it with the walker all along, anything for pity…pathetic!!

  

  Rafael and Shari at Haymaker Farmers' Market, June 6, 2009.

  All the best for a great summer for everyone!

  Fritz.

• 2009 Opening day!

  31May
  Categories: Market Opens, Uncategorized, market bench, market growth Comments Off
  

  Opening day at Haymaker Farmers' Market, 30 May 2009.

  What a great start for what promises to be a spectacular year at Haymaker!  Richard DiRienzo of Bella Terra Farms counted an opening day record of 28 vendors today, and many of our regular produce growers are still busy coaxing their vegetable goodies up from the warm spring soils of north east Ohio.  The street front parking along Franklin Avenue was filled during most of the day while quite a few cyclists and walkers took advantage of the warm temperatures and sunny May skies to shop at the market.

  Many of our market regulars returned again this year joined by about 10 new vendors.  I saw quite a few new products as well.  I don’t ever recall seeing rhubarb or asparagus sold at Haymaker before and fresh ice cream from contented grass fed cows was offered by our own Mark Grogan who also sells a wide variety of northern Ohio cheeses.  I couldn’t pass up some of the fresh feta cheese from the Ornery Goat Farm, it was whey out!

  

  Guitarist Eric Oswald performs at Haymaker Farmers' Market, 30 May 2009.

  I’m going to have to moooove away from the dairy vendors and on to our featured musician.  Guitarist, writer and singer, Eric Oswald,  opened our 2009  Music @ the Market series with  original music as well as a few flashbacks from the 60’s and 70’s, (yes, I was there too, at least I think I remember being there…),  all played without a sheet of music or a bad chord.  Great job Rick!  Next week, percussionist and Kent State Professor Emeritus of African Ethnomusicology  Halim el-Dabh, will be keeping up the beat with original African cultural music.  Bring along your drums to join in the celebration!

  The lots were in tip top shape thanks to the hard work of our many volunteers two weekends ago as well as the generous donation of gravel from Bob Mayfield of  McKay Bricker Gallery and Framing in downtown Kent.  Bob was also on hand early this morning to help Elaine and Jerry May, Karl Liske and myself to mark off the vendor spots for the upcoming season. Thank you for all the help, the market has truly become a community effort.

  Be sure to check out the next posting on our newest amenity, the Porta-Potty, which is now ready for use and smelling “minty fresh” under and behind the Haymaker bridge!

  Cheers to everyone for a great 17th season at Haymaker!

  Fritz Seefeldt.

• Who gave out the key?

  30May
  Categories: Market Opens, Uncategorized, market bench, market business, market growth Comments Off
  

  Who is that guy? And who gave him a key to our new porta-potty? Is that a customer.....wait....no....... it's Carter Bailey of KC Coffee and Teas, checking out the facilities. Coffee's a diuretic you know. Love those sunglasses Carter, tres chic!

  It’s a new year at Haymaker and things are looking up. We now have a place right in our back yard to take care of important business.  We all voted in favor of adding a new amenity for our 2009 market and it arrived this morning bright and early while some of you were still sleeping, picking veggies, loading the truck or maybe even baking stuff for the first market.

  I called around and found the best deal at Portage Portable Toilets Inc. Check out their website for all your portable toilet needs! < http://www.portageportabletoilets.com/ > The owner, Bill Davis,  was very accommodating, put it exactly where I asked (well hidden behind the bridge),  and most important, the price was right!  They’ll clean it once a week.  If someone comes hopping up to your stand with an anguished look on their face and asks where the closest toilet is,  please let them know about our hidden treasure.

  According to one vendor, “I needed to go bad, but I had to think, geez…do I really have to go THAT bad? Then I decided to give it a try, and to my surprise, it smelled ‘minty fresh’!!”  If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is. Here’s to a great new season at Haymaker!

  Fritz.

• Gravel spreading-cleanup day at Haymaker!

  18May
  Categories: Market Opens, Uncategorized, market bench, market business, market growth Comments Off

  

  Pictured from the left: Karl Liske, Richard DiRienzo, Karen Dodds, Nancy DiRienzo, Bob Mayfield, Kelly Ferry, Jerry and Elaine May, Joe Loucek, Jo Anne Jones, John Shinosky, Cary James, Aiden (Elmer) Anna and Adam Graham, Beth Buchanan, Wendelin Taylor, Kristen Pool and Fritz Seefeldt snapped the picture. Rafael Rodriguez, Baron Hottensmith, Jessica Earley, Bonny and Andy Esparza and Bernie Chaykowski weren't able to stay for the picture but were also on hand to lend a hand.

  It’s amazing how much can be accomplished in a short amount of time when a group of people set out to complete a task.  Our group of about twenty people spread all the gravel, trimmed the trees and bushes along the fence in the back of the market, cut the grass in the newly cleared strip and even marked the vendor set back from the curb (thanks Baron)!  All the bottles, cans, trash and brush were put in the trash can and stacked along the street front and then we all had pizza and good conversation about the season ahead. The day was perfect, not too hot, not too cold with plenty of sunshine to warm those winter weary bones! Today, Beth Buchanan phoned her friend at the city and asked if they could clear the brush we had stacked at the curb. First, he thanked her for calling, dispatched a crew to remove the brush and asked that we call them in advance in the future. He was very gracious!  Great job City of Kent.   Thank you Beth for following through and helping us all to get the job done. It was a day well spent, with much accomplished. The benches should be in place by the first market on May 30th.   Thanks to everyone for pitching in.

  Fritz.

• Farmers’ Market Opens 2009 Season Saturday 30 May!

  06May
  Categories: Market Opens, market business, market growth Comments Off

  

  Elaine May of Heron Hill Farms at Haymaker Farmers’ Market

  The market will be kicking off our 2009 season this year a couple weeks ahead of schedule with offerings from many of Kent’s own local bakers and farmers.  Saturday,  May 30th will be our first day of the season with hours as usual from 9 am until 1 pm. This year will mark the earliest we have decided to join in the summer season of events in downtown Kent.  The market has grown and we’ve decided to accommodate the burgeoning demand with a slightly longer season.  Additionally, the market is now officially a non-profit incorporated farmers’ market in the State of Ohio!

  Haymaker will be continuing the “Music @ the Market” series spotlighting local homegrown music right along side our locally grown veggies and baked goods.  For a current roster of performances and dates with links to some of the performers’ music click over to “Music @ the Market” for the current line up. Any local musicians who would like to be considered to join this schedule, please drop me a line at kentmarket@neo.rr.com.

  “Downtown @ the Market”, is a new project we have taken on this year to place greater emphasis on the integral connection the market has with the  fine businesses located right here in downtown Kent.  We will be adding co-op advertising in the Record-Courier and  sandwich board signs at the market site announcing to our valued customers the many shops and services deserving of their patronage within walking distance of the farmers’ market.

  Another way that Haymaker will be joining hands with the community will be through our market bench project. The first two benches have been completed and fully sponsored with possibly another six to follow as the season progresses. The bench tops are made of recycled materials, and were an entirely community collaborative project with final assembling done by the Remodeling and Construction program at our own Kent Roosevelt High School. For more information about the project and how to help us out with more benches for along Franklin Avenue, click over to “Market bench project”.

  The summer of 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year for Haymaker Farmers’ Market and we at the market are looking forward to meeting and visiting with the community.

  All the best to everyone,

  Fritz Seefeldt

  Haymaker Farmers’ Market.

  Tags: Opening Day

• Market benches are now available for sponsorship!

  29Apr
  Categories: Uncategorized, market bench, market business, market growth Comments Off

  The first two in the series of attractive, durable market benches will be installed on site along Franklin Avenue before market opening on 30 May 2009.

  

  completed benches

  The benches are constructed of sturdy and durable recycled plastic lumber from The Plastic Lumber Company of Akron Ohio. The benches measure 72″ in length, 16″ in depth. The tops are 20″ high from the ground.

  The decorative legs featuring an agricultural motif and slightly curved seating surface were designed by the market manager, Fritz Seefeldt and fabricated by Quick Service Welding of Summit Street in Kent. The legs are constructed of 1/4″ x 2″ steel that has been weld jointed and powder coated for corrosion resistance.

  All fasteners are of high quality tamper proof stainless steel. The benches were assembled by the Remodeling and Construction classes at Kent’s Theodore Roosevelt High School, lead by instructor Don Titko.

  

  Pictured from left to right: Josh Chadima, Donald Titko (instructor, Remodeling and Construction program at Theodore Roosevelt High School), Zach Winiarski, Fritz Seefeldt (Haymaker Farmers' Market manager). Students who participated in the bench project who are not pictured are: Charles Hawley and Jacob Kovalesky.

  Your cost to sponsor a bench with your name or your business name engraved on a 2″ x 5″ stainless steel plaque inserted into the top surface will be $325.00 per bench.This is actually the cost to the market for the materials alone. The completed benches are then donated by the market to the city of Kent for placement and installation on a concrete base. For more information or to sponsor a bench, please call Fritz at 330-678-5748 or 330-687-9347.

  Email  kentmarket@neo.rr.com.

  Fritz Seefeldt

  Haymaker Farmers’ Market

  Downtown Kent.

  
  

  

  Commemorative stainless steel plaque, 2" x 5" laser engraved to meet your design embedded in surface and anchored with tamper proof stainless steel fasteners.

  

  End profile of bench revealing concave seat top allowing for comfort and classic appearance. Agricultural leaf motif brings the spirit of the farmers' market to the bench design while adding lateral stability.

  

  Heavy steel frames, formed and welded then powder coated for corrosion resistance. 1/2" diameter anchor mounting holes on 8" centers. Legs are approximately 29" on center. The poured concrete pads should be between 6-8" in thickness with dimensions of 68-70" long by 22-24" wide. This width will allow for the placement of a 1 1/2" x 6" long PVC tube in the middle back part of the pad to accommodate a 1 3/8" market umbrella to provide much needed shade on those hot Saturdays in July!

  
  
  Tags: market bench project