I had a nice start to my day; I did
not have to fight I-70 rush hour traffic. I left from my home instead of
driving into the Market since I planned to head to Cole Camp, Missouri first
thing. I was so happy to see that things
were starting to green up a little and trees were flowering. I know everyone is
ready to see some spring color.
Today all of the vendors I planned to visit
were new to the market and sell at other area markets on Saturdays. This is
what is so great about our Sunday Market; it gives vendors an option for a second
good market day and sales.
If you have never driven to Cole
Camp you might want to visit sometime, they have a cute old downtown dating
back to 1830. Back Yonder Farms is located east of downtown off highway 52, the
owners are the Riley family. Like most farmers in the area, the weather has put
them a little behind in getting their crops in. Bonita showed me the cold crops
they have planted but she was not sure how well they would do with the heavy
frost we have been getting. Cold crops usually consist of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, beets, cauliflower, carrots, radishes and spinach. The Riley’s had
cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts coming up.
Back Yonder Farms, which has
been in their family since 1840 consist of 200 acres with 10 acres set aside
for raising hogs. Their hogs were friendly since they feed them by hand making
it is easier to move them to different areas. They currently raise Berkshire,
Chester White and one other kind I forgot to write down. They will be bringing
pork and chicken to the market and a few fresh eggs. As with all of the markets
vendors who sell meat, all animals must be processed in a USDA or State
inspected plant and vendors must have a permit from the Kansas City Missouri
Health Department.
Bonita also showed me the area where they grow Shiitake
mushrooms, Shiitakes grow on logs, which have holes drilled in them, you place
the mushroom spawn in the hole and if all goes as planned, you have mushrooms.
The Riley’s will set up at the Sunday Market in one of the three covered
pavilions and sell at the Sedalia Market on Saturdays. Just stop by the yellow
information tent and we can point you in their direction.
On my way back to Kansas City, I
stopped in Odessa to visit Sharron Vile, Dewdrop Soap Company. Sharron makes
soaps, body butters, toner and lotions in her home. I visited for a bit and went
over the requirements for selling these types of products in the Artist
/Crafter category. Sharron is not quite ready to vend at the City Market but
hops to in the future.
Today was interesting since I started
my day visiting a rural farm and ended my day at an urban farm. Thirteen city
plots located east of downtown Kansas City make up Pink Pony Farms. Jeff
Helkenberg and Jessica Logsdon started their endeavor in 2008 and have
increased the number of plots each year. I felt their real passion was growing
fruit trees, heirloom tomatoes and herbs but they also have row crops of
heirloom garlic, cucumbers, cauliflower and zucchini.
They start their plants
in the basement of their home under lights and then transplant them, if and
when, the ground temperature ever warms up.
I was amazed by the variety and
number of fruit trees they have planted since acquiring the lots, it makes me a
little tired to think about the number of holes they have dug. Pink Pony Farm
will vend at the Sunday and Wednesday farmers market this year. If you would
like more information, visit their website at www.pinkponyfarms.com
I will be out on the road again
next week but have not had a chance to go over our list of vendors waiting on
us. This weekend’s weather looks much better than last week so we have more
vendors starting back, I am excited to see the vendors again, and it has been a
long cold lonely winter at the farmers market.
