Farmer's Market

Every Saturday in the summer and into the fall, the Marquette Commons hosts a Farmer's Market that starts at 9:00 a.m. and honestly I don't know when it ends. 

I've been before in the fall but had been told that it was much more amazing in the summer.  I asked my friend Ginger if she would go with me, otherwise I would forget. And at 10:00 a.m. we met at her place and walked down with her roommate Stephanie.

The first thing I saw was this huge sign for freshly picked, locally grown Strawberries! Oh this was going to be a fabulous experience!

There were wood carvers, butchers, fresh fruit and vegetables, plant vendors, pictures, handmade jewelry, bees wax candle stick makers, a homemade soap vendor, a Birch bark artist, the list goes on.

All of the food was local (within the UP), this one vendor was talking about how she grows her vegetables outdoors, but has some indoor plants to extend the growing season. But she doesn't use artificial fertilizers (only ones that occur naturally).  I bought some rather delicious looking lettuce from her.

The honey was delicious!  I needed some more because I have a bit (an impossibly large bit) of a sweet tooth. For five dollars you get ten ounces of raw unprocessed organic honey.  Before I even bought some, the honey vendor let me sample some!  She was so sweet, dressed in black and yellow with honey bee wings on her head band.  We had a nice chat about long skirts and how she had just made herself a shirt that went perfectly with hers.  And before I left, she made sure that I knew to simply warm the honey with hot water on the stove if it crystallizes. Do not microwave, was strongly emphasized.

The atmosphere at the Farmer's Market was just joyous!  The vendors were friendly and the customers were ecstatic to see the merchandise and the other customers.  I ran into a number of friends there, some who are spending the summer up here like I am or others who are just up for the weekend.

Though I did happen to overhear some other Farmer's Market virgins, who were remarking on how it was were all the old hippies went.  It was said without malice, but I hope that it wasn't going to deter them from coming back again or just enjoying the atmosphere.  Some of the vendors definitely had a hippie vibe to them, but they were all really nice and I didn't even hear them speak a word about "Saving the Environment."

I can't wait 'til next week!  Though I still do have to go grocery shopping, not everything can be gotten at the Farmer's Market unfortunately.  But it certainly makes my day much more charming.