Residents and visitors can buy locally at two farmers markets opening soon.
Nashville
On May 7, the Nashville Farmers Market will open in the parking lot of the Brown County Inn from noon to 3 p.m. The market will run every Sunday until Oct. 29, organizer Elizabeth Voland said.
Voland said the idea for a Nashville Farmers Market came out of a SEED Brown County meeting.
“We had a lot of people inquire about how come we did not have a farmers market in Nashville. That’s actually what prompted this to come about. I took from there, ‘OK, this is maybe something we really need for our county,’” she said.
Voland then contacted the Brown County Inn about being the site of the market.
“We hope that it will not only catch the tourists, but we hope it has a really strong local following,” said Courtney Gosser, one of the hotel’s four owners.
“I know that the locals really want that kind of thing, and I hope it’s a good time and day of the week where they would want to come catch it.
“It’s not all about tourists, I think we have to start looking at each other and start doing things for ourselves and not only thinking about the tourists.”
Fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and flowers will be sold at the market from vendors coming from Brown and surrounding counties.
Voland said the response from residents inquiring about a start date and vendors wanting to participate has been “overwhelming.” Anyone interested in volunteering or being a vendor can email [email protected] for more information. The Facebook page is “Nashville Farmer’s Market Nashville, Indiana.”
Local musical duo the Hammer and the Hatchet will perform on opening day. Voland said the plan is to have local musicians perform each Sunday.
“Just like any other community, it’s just very, very important to have a farmers market where people can go and get fresh fruits and vegetables that are local to our region. It’s very, very important that people can access things like that,” Voland said.
“This is definitely going to be bringing our community kind of closer to one and other. People from one side of the county to the other side of the county, they’re going to be seeing them there from time to time. It’s a way of staying closer with our neighbors.”
Meetings will take place Tuesday, April 11, for those who wish to work at the market. At the 6 p.m. vendor meeting in the Woodland Room of the Brown County Inn, the market handbook and rules will be covered and new vendors can sign up. At the 7 p.m. meeting, the rules and duties of volunteers at the market will be covered and new volunteers can sign up.
Bean Blossom
The Bean Blossom Farmers Market will return on Friday nights starting April 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of St. David’s Episcopal Church. The market began in July 2013.
The market came about as part of St. David’s outreach program, organizer Sarah Ford said.
This year’s market will feature activities for the community to participate in, including a YMCA-taught OULA exercise class, a yoga class, an American Sign Language class and a blood drive, Ford said.
Food and artisan good vendors will sell fresh produce, jewelry, pastries, meat and other crafts. Ford said vendors come from within an hour’s driving distance.
Ford said a farmers market is important for many reasons, including cost and taste.
“It’s fresher because it’s usually picked that morning of,” she said. “Sometimes people pick the day before, but a lot of people pick the morning of the market, so it hasn’t been sitting around on a shelf. Most of the time it’s been ripened right on the vine.”
The Bean Blossom Farmers Market also intends to have live music each Friday. There will also be a hot food stand with a place to sit, and a playground St. David’s installed last year for kids to play on. There will also be a kids’ activity table each Friday.
“Most people are pretty happy that they have a close outlet they can come to and either get produce or sell things or buy things,” she said.
More information can be found on the Facebook page “Bean Blossom Farmers’ Market.” The market can be reached via email at [email protected].
