Friday, April 20, 2018


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.

Sunday, April 15, 2018


I cannot believe it has been almost two months since I have updated the farmers’ market blog. Normally by this time, I have been out visiting farms and greenhouses every week but the crazy weather has put all the farms behind in getting their crops in.  This is due mainly to the ground temperature and fear of frost. The vendors who have bedding plants have not been able to bring plants to the market since the extreme cold can damage the plants and customers would not be able to plant them anyway. This week’s warm weather will help to get everyone back on track but like everyone we are watching the weekend early morning temperatures, it might be way to cold again. I am so ready for the weather to feel like spring.

This year I will have company on most of my road trips, Ajani Nosakhere is the Markets new Assistant Farmer Market Manager. Ajani has a farm of her own so her farming knowledge will be very helpful and I think she will also learn a lot from the vendors, I know I do.

Wednesday we started the day close to home in Kansas City, Kansas. Briana Cann learned all of her amazing sewing skills from her grandmother. She makes one of a kind clothing for men, women and children. Ajani and I saw a few things in her collection that we would totally wear. Briana started her business sewing men and women’s scrubs in various fabrics and this continues to be one of her best sellers. As soon as she gets enough inventory made, Briana will be vending at the Sunday and Wednesday farmers market. For more information, visit her website at www.www-kunnant.com




For years, I have been visiting one vendor in Hale, Missouri. This year we received an application from Steve Whitson who also lives in Hale so we have two stops to make today. Hale Missouri is located south of Chillicothe and is about a two-hour drive from the City Market depending on how many stops we make on the way. I was excited to visit Steve today since he makes bird feeders and his own line of suet feed plugs. We currently do not have any vendors who make bird feeders and I am a little obsessed with feeding birds at my home. Steve makes all of his unique bird feeders out of cedar and it was obvious that he has put a lot of thought in the design and function of each feeder. Once he gets enough stock made he plans to sell poll feeders that contain ports to hold his suet plugs, sunflower seeds, thistle seed and a tray feeder all in one, what a great design. In addition to seed feeders, Steve also makes a unique hummingbird feeder that catches fruit flies, which hummingbirds love, and holds hummingbird nectar. If you love watching hummingbirds as I do, it is time to get your feeders out since hummingbirds have started migrating back to the area. Steve hopes to be at the Market on May 13, just in time for Mother’s Day. If you would like a little more information, visit his web site at www.treebirdfeeders.com




After a short ten-minute drive, we arrive at Bryson’s Farm Fresh Produce. The Bryson family has vended at the City Market since 2002 and as contracted stalls for the Saturday and Sunday farmers market. I was not surprised to see that they had very few things planted outside; this wild weather is making it very difficult for farmers to get their crops in. Luckily, Joe has a few heated hoop houses so was able to have some fresh produce to bring to the Market. 




Joe had been getting request from customers for wheat-grass, so this year he planted wheat grass in large PVC pipes and it is ready to harvest. Joe showed Ajani how he jump starts the germination of his vegetable plants from seed with the help of heaters.He had a ridicules amount of tomato seeds already in trays. The Bryson’s constructed a walk-in cooler a few years back so have been able to store potatoes and onions from last year’s crop as well as seed potatoes for this season. As soon as the soil warms up, they hope to get their row crops in, let’s hope it is sometime soon. You will find Bryson’s Farm Fresh Produce in stalls 36-37-38 & 88 on Saturday and stalls 90-91 on Sunday. www.brysonsfarm.com




Next week I will be on my own and plan to start the day off in Cole Camp, Mo. I sure hope I don’t need to wear my snow boots!