Market Days Are Here

by Janet Richards

We are gearing up for the market season, are you? Peas and plant seedlings are certainly getting in gear in my garden. As Market Committee chair this year, I have the pleasure of working with Kirstin Clauson, back for her ninth year as Tilth Market Manager. Many of you know Kirstin well, but in case you don’t, see her profile in this issue.

Kirstin has been working hard in March, organizing our vendors—a few new ones, and many returning, including Blackberry Moon, Chef in the Black Bandana, Cut Coin Designs, Designs by Badeah, Fainting Goat Farm (at the Community

Produce Booth), Frosty’s Fine Edge, Grandpa Rufus Spinner Toys, Gypsy Gems, The Herbal Workshop, Jordan Jones Pottery, Lone Creek Farm, Nature’s Nook, One Willow Farm, Organic Farm School, OSM Eats, Purple Shift/Maha Farm, Silva Family Farm, The Spectral Cottage, Sweet Sisters Bodycare, Tiller Farm and Garden, Trippy Whidbey, Wandering Rabbit Creations, Whidbey Island Fairies, Wildly Beloved Foods, Windy Indigo Farm and Wiskowl Wonders. More people are expressing the desire to sell at the Tilth market, so expect this list to grow.

Kirstin has also lined-up some great returning and new musicians. Come check out Danny Ward, Asa, Varda, DuoDrews, Philip Van Seters, Kevin Fristad, Those Guys, The RFs, Muse and Eye, Vintage Country Folk Bank, Saeed & Group and Island Beguilin. The list of musicians is also growing!

Plans are underway to move our long-unused cob oven to a new, more usable location. Thomas of Chef in the Black Bandana is proposing to use the oven during the market for take-home meals, sandwiches, and other seasonal items.

We have long needed adequate storage space for the market equipment (tables, chairs, umbrellas and canopies). In May, a new storage space will arrive in the form of a red shipping container—it will be easy to spot. We are glad to be able to reuse a container rather than buy a new shed or use new wood to build from scratch.

Also new this year, look for the Tilth Booth, next to the Community Produce Booth. Last season, this location housed the cashier, who will still be there to help you with your card transactions. But we’re expanding the booth to include information about Tilth and other educational displays, building it into a place to get and provide information. We love to have your feedback, so stop by the Tilth Booth and let us know what you like about the market and what things you want to see more of.

Kirstin and I, along with the rest of the market committee (Prescott, Anza Muenchow, Pam Nodus, Betsy Shirazi, Jean Stark and Matt Lariz) are committed to building a vibrant and successful market, bringing you what you need, while maintaining Tilth’s special feeling as a community gathering place. See you Sunday, April 28 at the market!