Bean Blossom market prepares to open
BEAN BLOSSOM — The Bean Blossom Farmers Market plans to open on Friday nights starting May 22.
The market will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 4 at St. David’s Episcopal Church at state roads 135 and 45.
Market vendors will have locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats, plants and a variety of home-based prepared products.
The market will also accept SNAP and WIC vouchers.
“The Bean Blossom Farmers Market Advisory Committee and market manager Sandra Higgins are currently establishing guidelines compliant with current best practices for public safety related to communication, social distancing and preventing contamination,” a press release from the market states. “Since states, as well as customers and community, have determined that farmers markets are essential businesses which provide fresh food, local markets serve local farmers and producers with income. The Bean Blossom Market will work with farmers market resources and local and state Departments of Health as we strive to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
The market is seeking vendors, volunteers and musicians to participate. Visit BeanBlossomFarmersMarket.org, Facebook or Instagram or call 812-988-1038 to request or download a 2020 vendor contract or register as a volunteer.
Nashville Farmers Market postpones opening
The Nashville Indiana Farmers Market had planned to open the first week of May, but last week, the board voted to postpone the opening of the 2020 season until Sunday, May 17.
When the market does open on Sunday afternoons, organizers will implement precautions to protect vendors and shoppers per Purdue University Extension recommendations. (See https://extension.purdue.edu/article/36616.)
Virtual programs bring state parks home
Interpretive naturalists at Indiana state parks are providing virtual hikes, presentations and live streaming programs to “visitors” at home.
Topics include wildflower walks, nature talks, live captive animal feedings, history programs, craft tutorials, preschool programs, property tours and more. Program lengths range from five to 50 minutes.
“People’s day-to-day activities have changed, slowed, or stopped altogether because of COVID-19, but nature keeps on moving,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks. “Our interpretive naturalists are dedicated to sharing the outdoors, virtually, to keep Hoosiers engaged and uplifted.”
Upcoming virtual programs can be found at calendar.dnr.IN.gov. Locate them by typing “virtual” in the keyword search. Visit stateparks.IN.gov and click next to the turtle photo on “Find a Virtual Program.” All state parks’ virtual programs are listed together at stateparks.IN.gov/10352.htm.
More programs are added every day.
New spring turkey harvest website available
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has launched a new, interactive website that allows hunters of wild turkey to access spring turkey harvest data as it is accumulated by the state.
Turkey data is supplied by the CheckIN Game harvest reporting system. During the check-in process, hunters report the county of harvest and type of equipment used. Harvest data is updated daily during the season.
This data can now be accessed and viewed at wildlife.IN.gov/10340.htm, where visitors can also compare information regarding individual or multiple counties across the past five years.
A fall turkey harvest website will be available at a later date.
