The Fayette County Farmers Market is winding down for the season. This past Wednesday marked the last market held in the TSC lot. We have so many to thank. Let’s start with thanking the Tractor Supply store manager for continued support of this market, and allowing market vendors to set up in the parking lot each Wednesday of the season. When you shop or are in the vicinity, make a point of stopping by our local TSC to offer a personal “thank you.”

We value every customer and friend of the market. We see new faces every week and welcome those true market supporters who make a point of visiting multiple vendors, of purchasing items they might not need. Customers, vendors and market volunteers support the market in large and small ways – they are the kind of people who Paul Loeb sees as making a difference by taking “one step at a time.”

“When we think about the problems of the world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to become paralyzed. The way to avoid this, as Martin Luther King, Jr. suggested, is to proceed at our own pace, step by step, breaking down our goals into manageable tasks…this approach lets us fight for what we believe with reasonable expectations” (Soul of A Citizen, Paul Loeb, 1999).

Market customers support the market for a myriad of reasons, no doubt any number seemingly “self serving.” One can certainly buy items available at the market for less money at some other source, but market shoppers recognize value in other ways, and make a decision to make a small but important step to “shop local,” to support locally grown produce, and recognize the effort and human cost that goes into the growing/baking/crafting of items available at the market. This is as good a time of year as any for self-reflection, for thinking about what we do and why we do it, to be more mindful of our actions and the reasons behind them. Being conscientious and mindful can be done yearlong, but there is something about this time of season that invites a slowing down, a taking time to shift activities and therefore perspectives.

In addition to perusing the market vendors for food and crafts, you’ll be able to visit the Carnegie Library staff from 8:30-11:30 a.m., and young children will again be able to make and take a craft at the info booth.

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 in Washington Court House. 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 the Saturday market.

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

Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Baklava. Buckeyes (the peanut butter kind). Local raw honey, sourdough crackers. Seasonal produce grown with no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, including green onions, leeks, beets and Matt’s Wild Cherry tomatoes. Cilantro seed for fall/winter crops. Stop by for samples of pawpaw bundt cake from this year’s pawpaw harvest.

Julie G’s Cookies (Julie Greenslade): Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, ginger, snickerdoodle, pineapple, pumpkin, lemon bars, peanut butter fudge, peanut butter jumbos, peanut butter cookies, sugar and salted caramel butter bars.

Persinger Produce and Cottage Foods, The Jam Man (David Persinger): GINGER PEAR PRESERVES and PEACH FLAMINGO.Chocolate Texas sheet cakes with or without pecans, JAMS: “Currant Affair” (a jam of black currants with a smattering of red currants), strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb, pineapple, pineapple Habanero, peach, blueberry, cherry, blackberry, seedless blackberry, red raspberry, red raspberry jalapeno, and strawberry jalapeno. JELLIES: hot pepper jelly. No added sugar jams: blueberry, seedless blackberry.

PPCF & S. Plymouth Raw Honey) (Julie & Dennis Mosny): Local raw honey and honey comb. Blackberry, apple, rhubarb, strawberry, cherry, strawberry rhubarb and peach pies, buns bars, cinni mini’s, banana cake, iced pumpkin cookies and cinnamon rolls.

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 Garden (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Seasonal produce including red raspberries, sweet potatoes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, onions, peppers, winter squash (spaghetti, acorn and butternut). Mums, decorative gourds. Homemade breads (yeast, savory and sweet) and rolls.

Cheryl’s Country Crafts (Cheryl Braun & David Stewart): Handmade wreaths, wooden signs, crafts, mug toppers, and soaps. Taking special orders.

Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): END OF SEASON SALE on select baby items! Handmade baby essentials including, crocheted blankets and hats, flannel burp cloths, crinkle square and bunny ear teethers and pacifier clips. Also, Fall silk flower arrangements, beaded pens, letter openers and key chains and wax melts in over 60 scents.

DSC Produce Farm (Darren Cox): Salsas (including mango, pineapple, black bean and corn) and dressings Sampling bacon ranch dressing.

Edlynns Attic (Robin Dement): Hand knit baby hats with fur poms, fingerless gloves, knit baskets and acrylic and alpaca yarn. Chocolate chip cookie mixes and brownie mixes from Shelbee’s Dry Mix Company.

Engeti (Alana Walters): Baked goods including bread, cinnamon rolls, rolls, cakes, pies, cookies.