WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — “The golden-rod is yellow;/The corn is turning brown;/The trees in apple orchards/With fruit are bending down” (from Helen Hunt Jackson’s “September”). How well Ms. Jackson captures key visuals of this month. Golden-rod is everywhere, in fields and along streams. At the Deer Creek State Park, huge swaths of golden-rod mixed with the purple of native aster have been left standing along the road. These are important late summer and fall nectar and pollen sources for both native and honey bees.

We’ve certainly had a wealth of sweetcorn this year, and we now see the field corn mature and brown pending harvest. This a fabulous year for apples, as those of you who have tried apples from our market vendor will attest. A fresh picked, local apple is nothing like the apples one gets bagged and shipped from some other state; you have many choices….grow your own apples (if you start now you might have apples in 3-5 years), pick your own apples, or pick up a bag at the Fayette County Farmers Market.

September is coming to a close, but not our market. We will be open through Oct. 21. In the meantime, you’ll find our regular vendors and community guests.

We have another wonderful children’s activity this week. Young shoppers (K-5) can come to the Kid’s Activity Table at the Market Info Booth to decorate a mini-pumpkin of their very own while learning about the different kinds of pumpkins and even take home a fun pumpkin fact sheet.

Our community guests this week are: 1) Dave’s Pumpkins (David Bowers) with a large variety of pumpkins; 2) BSA Troop 7312 with their popcorn sales fundraising; 3) Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital gives parents and caregivers simple, practical ideas to help with common parenting issues and challenging behavior.

And importantly, our local partners responsible for signing up eligible families for TANF and distributing $140 worth of fruit and vegetable coupons to eligible applicants will be at this weeks’ market. It is an easy sign-up process; if you have questions about eligibility, come to the market and just ask!

The Market is open Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon. It is located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of South Main and East East streets. SNAP EBT food benefit cards and credit/debit cards are accepted. Those using the SNAP EBT card for food purchases receive matching dollar “Produce Perks” tokens ($1 for $1) good only for fruits, vegetables, and food producing plants. So,”buy one, get one” for up to $25 every market day. Five dollar coupons will be available again for Fayette County Farm Bureau members at each Saturday market; these can be spent at both the Wednesday and Saturday markets.

The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well.

Slate Hill Farm & Orchard (Greg Hood and family): Gala, Fuji and Crimson Crisp apples.

The Jam Man (David Persinger): Assorted jams/jellies (GINGER PEAR preserves, GRAPE jam, ELDERBERRY in stock!). NEW this week: CHERRY BUTTER & PLUM BUTTER. Samples available. Cherry crisp, apple crisp, chocolate Texas sheet cakes with or without pecans and cherry tomatoes.

Wood Designs by DW (Debbie Welch): One of a kind handcrafted wood items— birdhouses, signs, tables, gnomes. Crocheted items including kitchen towels, pot scrubs, pot holders, baby booties, and afghans. Will take custom and special orders.

Bridge View Gardens (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Cabbage, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, zucchini, home grown tomatoes (cherry, slicing, heirloom), peppers, winter squash (acorn, butternut and spaghetti) and more. Decorative gourds.

The Casual Gourmet (Jason Gilmore): Baked treats.

Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Crocheted baby blankets and hats, flannel burp cloths, teethers and pacifier clips. Crocheted dishcloths, pot scrubbers and quilted pot holders. Wax melts in over 40 scents now including the fall and holiday favorites: pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin pecan waffles, maple walnut fudge, vanilla pumpkin marshmallow, clove, Christmas cabernet and gingerbread.

DSC Produce Farm (Darren Cox): 9 flavors of salsa and 4 flavors of salad dressings.

Edlynns Attic (Robin Dement): Peanut butter, and pumpkin dog treats, loveys, scarves, baking mixes, fingerless mitts and knit animal baskets.

Engeti (Alana Walters): pies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, yeast rolls, bread, cookies, sugar scrub.

Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Alliums (leeks, yellow onions, and garlic). Sweet potatoes, pie pumpkins, cherry tomatoes, green beans. Raw unpasteurized local honey. Sourdough crackers (garlic & turmeric, rosemary, parmesan). (Candy) buckeyes and baklava. Beeswax hand creams and lip balms.

Julie G’s Cookies (Julie Greenslade): Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, ginger, snickerdoodle, pineapple, macadamia nut, peanut butter, peanut butter jumbos, maple glazed apple crisp cookies and pumpkin cookies.

Katrina Bush is a vendor with the Fayette County Farmers Market.