Fabulous First Market Day of the Year!

The weather was superb, the vendors enthusiastic and the customers happy to see the Chewelah Farmers Market back in action for 2012. We hope to have as lovely a day next Friday when we reconvene for the second of our special pre-season market days called Salad Days.We'll see you there!

Have you ever seen cuter honey bears? These were at the booth of new vendor Wash House Candy.

 Some of the beautiful hand-crafted products at Simple Gifts Farm.

 The wonderful asparagus at Front Porch Farm.

 Heather is in a tropical frame of mind.

We were so pleased that Garden gate Growers came all the way down from Kettle Falls.

 Some of the decadence offered by Flowery Trail Coffee.

 A beautiful day in the park.

Emma of Emma's Cottage Garden chats with CFM volunteer Dean Smith and CFM treasurer Karen Lyson.

 The Chewelah Creek was running pretty high.

 Some of the beautiful offerings at the booth of Little Shadow Soap.

 Patrick from Bridges to the Past demonstrates flint-napping.

 A piece of obsidian napped by Patrick. It is so thin you can see through it.

Mid-afternoon.

 Some of the perennials at the Garden Gate Growers booth.

 Gary, King of the Music, on his throne.

 Cindy checks out the lovely plants at Garden Gate Growers.

 Late afternoon.

 Nils, better known as The Decider.

A beautiful spring afternoon.

Earth Day Fair & Annual Seed Swap- a Beautiful Day!

The Chewelah Farmers Market set up a booth at the Annual Earth Day Fair, organized by the St. Paul Lutheran Church, under spectacular Eastern Washington skies last Saturday. CFM Secretary Karen Lyson would let no one pass with taking one of our handy-dandy schedule cards that lists the dates of all of our special events for the year. We don't want you to miss out on anything! CFM Prez Nils Johnson also manned the booth, talking shop and consuming a few brownies and enjoying the lovely day.

After the Earth Day Fair, it was over to the Chewelah Senior Center for the Annual Seed Swap. We had some delicious food, nice visiting and then watched the documentary 'Dirt: The Movie', which was a pretty amazing film about, well, dirt. 

This was a great way to ease into our market season, which kicks off with two special pre-season market days we call Salad Days, Friday May 18 & 25th, followed by our Grand Opening of the market season on Friday June 1st.

Karen and Nils' smiling faces at the Chewelah Farmers Market booth.

The weather was spectacular for the Earth Day Fair.

Chewelah Farmers Market vendor Front Porch Farm set up their beautiful booth, and displayed many things, including their honey.

Chewelah Farmers Market vendor Andrew Engell of Simple Gifts Farm mans his booth.

Patrick from Bridges to the Past set up a fantastic display of heritage skills at the Seed Swap.

Some of the seeds and plants available to 'swap' at the Seed Swap. What are Meadow and Karen grinning at?

A delicious Wild Salad, contributed by Patrick of Bridges to the Past, that included dandelion greens and flowers. It was yummy!

David Engall, the brains behind Simple Gifts Farm, get ready to dig in.

Big Turnout for the Big Meeting!

The annual Big Meeting, held Tuesday, March 20 was well attended with lots of great potluck food. It was fun to visit with people we haven't seen since October! Chewelah Farmers Market President Nils Johnson gave a comprehensive overview of how the market did last year, as well as what we expect for this year. You can see the presentation here. Thank you to everyone who came out and brought such terrific food!

It's Time for the Annual Big Meeting!

The Chewelah Farmers Market Board of Directors planning another great year! (l-r) Gary McNiel, Andrew Engell, Nils Johnson and Kim Kalua.

Mark your calendars everyone! Can you believe it? It's almost time for our annual Big Meeting! All of our current/new/and prospective vendors can come get the scoop on what is in store at the award-winning Chewelah Farmers Market this year! But not just vendors are invited...all of our farmers market volunteers, customers, enthusiasts and supporters are welcome! This year the Big Meeting is being held Tuesday, March 20th 6:00 p.m. at the Chewelah Senior Center, 302 E. Main. As always, it's a potluck, so bring something to share and we'll see you there!

WSFMA Award Press Release!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chewelah Farmers Market Selected Best in the State for the Second Year in a Row!

February 13, 2012; Chewelah, WA For the second year in a row, the Washington State Farmers Market Association has selected the Chewelah Farmers Market as the Best Small Market in the State. The award was presented to Chewelah Farmers Market President Nils Johnson during the Washington State Farmers Market Association Annual Conference, held February 3-5, 2012, in Leavenworth, WA. All of the nominees were judged by a committee representing WSFMA partners and stakeholders across Washington State. Other award winners include Best Large Farmers Market: Ballard; Best Medium Market: Port Angeles; Manager of the Year: Jennifer Wiecking - Wenatchee Valley; Farmer of the Year: Jason Silvo & Siri Erickson-Brown; Advocate of the Year: Chris Curtis; Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry & Dick Carkner.

   The non-profit, all-volunteer run Chewelah Farmers Market is beginning its 5th season this year, and it looks like it will be another great one. In 2011 the market moved to its present location at the beautiful Chewelah City Park. Situated along Hwy. 395, the increased visibility directly resulted in increased sales for the up to 30 vendors that set up every Friday from mid-May through mid-October. In 2010, market vendors grossed a little over $50,000 and just one year later that gross jumped up to over $96,000. That is significant to the local economy of rural Chewelah, with a population of close to 2400.

   The Board of Directors for the Chewelah Farmers Market anticipate an increased demand for vendor space this year, but have no plans to increase the size of market. They would like to preserve the atmosphere of a mini-festival every week, with entertainment, music, food and popular special events, such as the World-Class Cherry Splat and the Zucchini Regatta. The market has become a social destination for many on Friday, stocking up on fresh, local food and relaxing in the park.

   The mission of the Chewelah Farmers Market is to make available high-quality, locally produced food, and to promote self-sufficiency in the community food systems by providing a venue for local farmers, growers and producers to connect directly with consumers, and to support educational opportunities for a sustainable community.

   The Chewelah Farmers Market will open with two special pre-season markets called Salad Days on May 18 and May 25. This will be followed by the Market Season Grand Opening on June 1.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Shelly Stevens

CFM Marketing & Promotion

509-935-8911

whoabgflla@gotsky.com

www.chewelahfarmersmarket.com

www.facebook.com/ChewelahFarmersMarket

Nils Johnson

President, CFM

509-936-4353

Nils@chewelahfarmersmarket.com

The Chewelah Farmers Market is the WSFMA Best Small Farmers Market- Again!!

Wow! For the second year in a row the Washington State Farmers Market Association has selected the Chewelah Farmers Market as the Best Small Farmers Market! CFM President Nils Johnson accepted the award at the 2012 WSFMA Annual Conference held February 3rd-5th in Leavenworth, WA. Chewelah Farmers Market Board members Mary Ann Gehman and Shelly Stevens and CFM vendor Meadow Plunkett were also in attendance.

The criteria used in determining this year's exemplary markets in the small, medium and large catagories was as follows:

1. Market is an integral part of its community and brings together farmers and consumers in innovative ways,
facilitating strong sales for farmers/vendors through creative special events and educational programming that
celebrate & promote fresh, locally grown food.
2. Market is a venue that promotes, supports and advocates for small farms, local, sustainable agriculture and
programs that link consumers of all economic levels in their community with fresh, local food.
3. Categories: 

Small Market: 5 - 30 vendors per week
Medium Market: 31 - 55 vendors per week
Large Market: 56+ vendors per week
4. Selection process: All nominees will be judged by a committee representing WSFMA partners and stakeholders across Washington State.

Well, we are pretty tickled to be honored again. We couldn't do it without our fabulous vendors and loyal customers. Here's to another great year!

Time to Start Thinking About Soil Blocks!

Check out Front Porch Farms great video demonstrating how to make soil blocks. Thanks, Dee and Liz!