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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Austintown Farmers' Market had a special event for Mother's Day. The event included their usual group of vendors at Austintown Township Park, but they included some Mother's Day related activities. Pictured, children made gifts for their mothers for a small donation to Austintown's Relay For Life.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Austintown Farmers' Market had vendors inside the Stacey Pavilion at Austintown Township Park and outside the pavilion in the parking lot. The market will have a similar set up during their weekly markets during the summer.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Austintown Farmers' Market has been together for five years and has a couple vendors who have been with them from the start, including Marshall Finesilver of Moe's Private Reserve. He said he likes what the market brings to the community.
By ZACK SHIVELY
The Austintown Farmers’ Market hosted its first Mother’s Day Market on May 6 at Austintown Township Park.
The market typically runs through the summer, but they host special events, such as this one, during the year. The event had local vendors set up small market areas inside the Stacey Pavilion and outside in the parking lot. The shops included crafted goods as well as edible treats.
“The Farmers’ Market is completely and totally about community,” said Shannon Lehn, organizer for the Farmers’ Market. She said the market attempts to meet the needs of the community. She invited groups such as Habitat for Humanity and the Woodside Community Garden who do not sell products but have a positive role in the community.
The future events of the Farmers’ Market will also give the community fun events, such as community and local school appreciation weeks during the summer. They will also show support for the troops on July 2. In addition to those events, they have programs based on puzzles, dogs, gardens and the 1980s all coming up.
These special themed weeks of the Farmers’ Market will have unique opportunities for the attendees. For example, Lehn plans to have an adaptation of the game Quidditch from “Harry Potter,” as well as having a creative writing workshop for the storybook theme on July 9.
This event’s special opportunity was a “Make It For Mom” program. Children paid to make small crafts for the parents. These funds went directly toward Austintown’s Relay For Life team. Lehn said it was important to her to help and show support for the local Relay team because she has personally known six people in her life who have had a cancer diagnosis.
The event had the local vendors that many of the Farmers’ Market events do. Lehn works hard to bring in vendors she believes will have success at the event. Many of the summer vendors have been with the Farmers’ Market for a couple years, including a few that have been with the market for all five years.
“All of the vendors have sort of become coworkers,” said Marshall Finesilver, a vendor who sells seasoning, rub and vegan jerky through his shop, Moe’s Private Reserve. He said he is proud of the blossoming, grass roots market that allows people to buy local.
The Farmers’ Market runs on Mondays from June 11 until Sept. 25 at the park. Each event features a new theme and yoga and cooking demonstrations.