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Special Edition!
This Special Edition of our newsletter highlights our first-ever Farmer's Market which debuted last Friday. And what a debut it was!
Absolutely perfect weather blessed our event with nary a cloud in the sky. The warm sun gently kissed all the vendors and patrons alike and its namesake brought out a similar disposition in all who were there. No one really had any idea how many people would show up but suffice it to say everyone was surprised at the size of the crowd. Some vendors nearly sold out because they hadn't brought enough inventory for the surprisingly large crowd. This Friday is the second market and we expect even more vendors since more crops are now ready for harvest. The market runs every Friday from 2 to 7 PM in Wadsworth Park. Below is a breakdown of the first week's vendors. If you want to become a vendor, contact Hope Forcier at [email protected]. As usual, the Wadsworth Queens were a huge help in mingling and visiting with the vendors and patrons; all in all presenting an intelligent, sophisticated image for our Village.
Here they are:
--Jim Zegar, Editor and Photographer
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Straight Tillin' Farmstand
This vendor rocked the market with fresh veggies straight from the vine. Their produce is as local as it can get because it comes from Chicago Avenue in our own Village of Wadsworth.
Owned by Kristin and Brandon Christenson, they grow their crops with no pesticides. In addition to the normal vegetables you'd see at a farm stand, the Christensons also sell organic dog treats, fresh  herbs, banana bread, rhubarb jam and welded metal artwork. My jar of jam is nearly gone after only five days.
OK, so I didn't get the relationship between metal art and stuff you eat, but you can inquire if you visit. I'm sure there's a story there. Inquire while you pick up some of the freshest veggies available.
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Wadsworth Feed & Saddlery
This retailer showed up with loads and loads of merchandise. Their hanging baskets were so popular that they had to go back to the Feed Store to get more. 
The store caries all kinds of feed for dogs, horses, cats, birds, etc. Seasonal merchandise is a large part of their business according to Nick Mercer, who managed their Farmer's Market operation.
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| Sew Moving
Donna Rochino brought her sewing van on wheels. She carries just about everything related to sewing including quilt fabric, patterns, threads, notions, etc. 
Personally, I don't know a lot about these kinds of things but she had a lot of cool looking stuff. If this is your kind of craft, well then... come on down!
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Sharpening by Dave
This guy has been at it since he was five years old and now he's got 39 years of experience under his meat cleaver. (OK, you can do the math...) 
His wife is also in the business and each possesses some kind of training certificate, so they know what they're doing. They sharpen just about everything and last Friday I saw them work on an old, rusty scythe that probably had seen no TLC for a long time. When Dave was done with it, I dragged my thumb across the blade and I think you could have shaved with it.
I have a couple of old Buck hunting knives that I used to cut bolts with. Remember their old print ads? I am bringing them Friday and then I'll see what kind of magic he can perform on my abused tools.
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Funnel Cakes and Lemonade
What would a summer event be without funnel cakes and lemonade? A deprived one. 
Tres Flores & Company brought their booth and plenty of 'cakes and lemonade. I actually downed three lemonades because they were so good. The lemon flavor was rich and just right... not too thin or not too thick. Just perfect. |
| Balloons, Balloons and Balloons
Balloons of all sizes, shapes and colors. Bring your kids and grand kids and have something custom made.  Walk around the park and visit the vendors while you flaunt your fancy artwork.
And remember: You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the coolest balloon around!
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Yard Art by Dave Powers
Interested in a bird house or a bird feeder? Or maybe a bird bath or a bench for you to sit on? How about custom houses for bats, purple martins or butterflies?
Dave also makes some awesome wind spinners. I watched several of them rotate in a gentle breeze as the setting sun backlit them, casting off a brilliant luminescence.
They are like a wind chime, but only of a different heritage. Both mesmerizing, if you'll allow it. |
Master Gardeners
Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension Service were there to answer any and all your gardening questions.
When is the best time to prune your apple tree or forsythias?
Is there a best all-around fertilizer for garden vegetables?
What do I need to know about hybrid seeds?
What is soil acidity all about and why should I care about pH?
Well, you get the idea. These gardeners aren't masters for no reason at all. They earned the distinction through training, experience and education. Come see them and ask you questions.
Oh, and speaking of forsythias, a final note: My older daughter, Laura, always the lingual one, seemed fascinated by yellow, golden forsythias. She must have been about two years old and as we would drive around Wadsworth, she'd occasionally exclaim, "Look Dad, there's a sythia!"
It took me awhile to figure out what was going on in her head and then I got it: The first clump of forsythias that we showed her must have had FOUR bushes. So, when we said "forsythias" she thought we meant FOUR "sythias". Count 'em!
We still laugh about this today, some 32 years later.
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Apple Holler
Apple Holler made the trek down to Wadsworth from the Kenosha area. Jen Pallock was the administrator of the booth and show off some truly delicious things to eat.
There were pastries, breads and pies to satisfy any and all palates. There were many delights in jars, including apple butter, BBQ sauce, different flavors of apple sauce and many other items.
Here she performs culinary surgery on a delicious sheet cake:
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We Are Crafted Knots
Carolyn Cunningham and Kathy Watkins staffed this booth with many interesting items.
Their inventory included products for sewing, crocheting and knitting. They also carry a wide assortment of jewelry, hair items and a variety of accessories. 
I ran out of note-taking capability but suffice it to say they have a lot of good stuff. Check them out. |
Wild Flour Bakery
Bob Reed and son were the head honchos for this wonderful vendor. Bakery items were many but included muffins, breads, cookies, granola items, etc. Some products are vegan.
I had a ginormous blueberry muffin and it was as good as any I've ever had. I had a sample of the bird seed brittle and it was wonderful. I bought a loaf of rye bread to take home. I ate it in two days. 
Some of the other items are dark chocolate, almond granola, ole' mole' brittle and cranberry walnut toast.
Since I had writer's cramp by this time, go to http://www.wildflour.net to see their entire product line. This is the place to get a snack and also something to take home.
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Wildtree
This vendor specializes in simple, healthy, and natural foods. The company was founded on the premise that foods should be natural, nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare - all at the same time. All products are free of preservatives, additives, MSG and dyes. 
There are many, many products made from grapeseed oil, garlic oil, herbs and tons of other things. There are too many to list here but if you want an idea of what you can buy at the Wadsworth Farmer's Market, go to www.wildtree.com.
I think you'll be glad you did.
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