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Finding something for everyone at the Farmer’s Market
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Janine Goddard brought her once hobby/now growing business to Austintown Farmer's Market on June 29.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Oakley's Heart brought some special furry guests to Austintown Township Park on June 27 for the Austintown Farmer's Market. Pictured are Krista Milford (left) and Jefferson.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.EduKitchen: Kids Cooking Classes was welcomed to the Austintown Township Park on June 27 as part of Austintown Farmer's Market. Rachel D'Onofrio (right) brought helper Ellie D'Onofrio (left) to teach children about healthy smoothie preparation.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Austintown Township Park hosted the Austintown Farmer's Market on June 27. Vendors and consumers were welcomed from 5-8 p.m.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.One vendor, Jamie Gemmel, brought her lucrative zero-chemical business, Grass N Grace Farm, to the Austintown Farmer's Market on June 27. Gemmel encouraged parents use her products, free of chemicals, with their children.
By amanda tonoli
The Austintown Township Park hosted the Austintown Farmer’s Market on June 29. At this Farmer’s Market, vendors joined together in promoting their products and knowledge for consumers to shop with.
Shannon Colleen, market manager for the Austintown Farmer’s Market, said she was excited for this summer-long market to get going — a waiting list is already in place for vendors to participate.
“We try to bring non profits out to be able to provide kids’ events,” Colleen said. “We really wanted it to be more about a community. We want to be able to teach and empower.”
In addition to events for children, there are two yoga classes offered during the Market, as well.
Colleen said she enjoys the community aspect of the market in addition to the help and support they provide for one another. She brought up an instance of the week previous when she got caught up with something and had to return to the market later only to find her tent already folded up for her.
“Everyone here takes care of one another and it’s fantastic,” Colleen said. “I consider everyone here a friend. It’s just about community and bringing people together and really doing good.
Colleen continued that another important part of the market was the opportunity to provide a learning experience with the products being sold.
“A huge part of it is learning and the education of it all,” Colleen said.
Rachel D’Onofrio, Healthy Hands Cooking certified instructor, came to each an EduKitchen class, teaching children how to make healthy smoothies.
“Combating obesity is really our main goal,” D’Onofrio said.
D’Onofrio has a degree in nutrition, but never actually worked in it until she had her daughter, Ellie. Ellie gets to help her mother in teaching classes, making it fun for everyone.
Another family business that comes to the Austintown Farmer’s Market is Janine Goddard’s Jego Headbands.
Goddard said she started making them for her daughter and has since decided to branch out and make it more than a hobby. Her husband helps her create displays for them as well.
A different kind of furry family business was Oakley’s Heart, a dog adoption foundation.
“We try to promote the adoptable dogs,” said Krista Milford, Oakley’s Heart’s founder.
One of the most popular vendors was Jamie Gemmel, owner of Grass N Grace Farm. Gemmel sells homemade soaps and body products.
She said her motivation behind it was her own four children — reading ingredients on products she was using with them made Gemmel nervous, so she decided to make a more organic alternative.
“I like being able to give people something that is pure and whole and chemical free,” Gemmel said.
The Austintown Farmer’s Market is every Monday from 5-8p.m. until the middle of September.