Easton Farmers Market has 40 vendors this year, up from 28 last year
as America's oldest open-airn farmers market continues to bloom.
Posted by: Noël Jones
This is amazing. When I moved here almost five years ago, the farmers market in Easton seemed to be on its last legs, limping along with only five or six vendors. When I talked to long-time residents about it, they told me that actually it had dwindled at one point to only one vendor. But since then, the market has not only made a come-back, but it has boomed, overflowing the the roundabout at Centre Square so that vendors are now setting up across the street in the corner plazas and their adjacent parking spaces. To think that not even five years later, our farmers market--the oldest in America--is now one of 12 farmers markets honored this year by the Farmers Market Coalition nationwide, is really impressive and
inspiring. And we owe it Megan McBride at the Easton Farmers Market. If you ever want to stop by and tell her thank you, the EFM shares an office with The Main Street Initiative on S. Third Street, next to the bus station. She's been working her butt off, and deserves our thanks.
Not only is the Easton Farmers Market itself great, every Saturday from 9am - 1pm, but they also have a great web site, which talks about upcoming events and includes lots of information on local farms and even offers tasty recipes. Make sure to get on their newsletter mailing list for updates.
This Saturday, Mayor Panto, State Senator Bob Mensch and State Representative Bob Freeman will all be speaking to celebrate the honor our market has received this year, and emphasize the importance of supporting local farmers and farmers markets in general. So if you've been looking for an opportunity to bend an elected official's ear on other issues, here's where you'll find them all in one place.
The Easton Farmers Market is also holding a poster contest for kids, ages 12 and under on the theme of why they love the farmers market, so bring the whole family! The winning posters will be displayed on in the circle. For more information, call Megan McBride at (610) 330-9942.
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14 comments:
I dont go often.but a friend of mine told me he stopped going after he went faithfully EVERY week.he said the dogs urinate every where in a venue where there is food.they took the benches out if U sit on the curb U sit and smell urine...At the lebanese fest.they dont allow pets.because food is a major component of the fest.he also said they are worrying if someone lights a cigarette but dogs can pee all they want.....I love U noel...tunsie
hmmmn...i had not noticed that--i kinda like seeing everyone's dogs out, but i never thought about where they go to the bathroom...
in general, the market is just robust and festive and full of yummy eats. it's fun to bump into neighbors and catch up, and i love the big variety of vendors there now.
it's also fun to see all the stuff they have going on for kids, and the interesting lectures for the community, the live music, etc.
are you sure you're not just protesting because they don't book more straight-ahead jazz, tunsie?
The dog complaint is interesting in that the issue was briefly raised at council's meeting the other night (before the NID discussion). Apparently the police would like the policy reviewed. Dogs had been banned for events like Heritage Day and then I think that was reversed. Obviously, they are being allowed at the Market and during evening concerts as well. There must now be some negative feedback coming from the public. I haven't noticed a problem at concerts I've attended.
So this seems to me to be another unfortunate symptom of the American lifestyle today - meaning an irresponsible attitude about what your pets (and/or kids) are doing in public when it affects other people. This is sad when you consider similar responses to these situations in Europe. When traveling in France and Belgium I encountered many people with pets in public. This included not only restaurants, cafes and pubs but trolleys and high speed rail travel as well.
In each case it was not obviously noticeable that pets were afoot until they were seen. They laid at their owners feet, quiet and content until it was time to move - and everyone seemed to accept this as the norm. Civilized society has its benefits.
I am not against animals in public but I am tired of irresponsible behavior of many that force rules into place that punish everyone else. I'll be interested to see how things turn out.
DRL
I love the fact that I can bring my dog to the market. Although I admit it is difficult to do any actual shopping when I do. The majority of the dogs are well behaved. And, yes, they pee. But some of the sticky little children I have seen running around with their fingers jammed halfway up their noses aren't exactly much cleaner. And don't get me started on the hygeine of some of the adults. It's an outdoor farmers market, not an operating room...
carter--thanks for posting--i would love to hear from more dog owners on this. i wonder if anyone out there has some sort of etiquette that they follow when they take their dogs to the market, i.e., "i always make sure my dog has peed already, somewhere else, before i get to the market," etc?
i love seeing the dogs, even though i'm allergic to them, it makes me happy to see them, and i still fantasize of getting a battery of shots one day that will get me over my allergies so that i can own a dog again (i wasn't allergic until i turned 22 and always owned pets). i don't like smelling pee, but I haven't smelled any yet...
Well, the local kids caught a stray German Shepard last night and after trying to get ahold of the owners Easton Police came by and picked him up. They were as always prompt and professional, and this time nice and even a bit chatty. Turns out that the officer is a dog owner, and he ended up the event by giving some police stickers to one of the local kids. I for one am happy with this change, and thrilled to see Easton Police moving into open community policing and community building. Very nicely done Easton Police, the town and the block are also getting better with regular help from the EPD.
Anyhow,
Peace,
David
We have a dog,GABE JABBOUR,I dont dislike dogs.but a dog will pee anywhere.I like them to pee on the REPUBLICAN candidate for mayor.but kids play in that grass and when they eat they sit in the grass,the girls from the bank sit there when they have their lunch sometimes.I dont want to start a war,but why dont these knuckleheads have good JAZZ playing there anymore.The next karaoke singer that I see down there should get pee'd on by some of those dogs....i love u noel.UR the bestest in the whole wide world........tunsie
I ♥ the Easton Farmer’s Market.
I have a dog but I do not bring him to the Market for all the reasons Tunsie states. I did however, take him with me to a riverfront concert. Dog needed a walk and I did not have time for both that evening, so combining the two seemed okay. (No dog pee involved.)
please dont take offence anybody.I am not singling anyone out.but what is the big deal if someone like me and my ipod sat to the side and had my cigar..That is not as bad as a dog peeing by someone eating on the grass....I yuv U noel..I hope we dont have 160 posts like that other one with all those crazy people fighting...Tunsie
Regarding the dogs at the market... this is a tough issue and not one that we take lightly. In examining it over the past few years we have taken into consideration several things: 1.) The EFM takes place in a public space, not a bank parking lot or fenced park as is the case with MOST other open-air markets. Enforcement would be difficult. 2.) 95% of the dog owners at the market are responsible pet-owner and make sure their dogs remain well-behaved at the market. Last year we even offered a Market Manners Dog Training class taught by local dog obedience instructor Bianca Falbo. We have never had an incident where someone was harmed by a dog or part of a scuffle. Only once in five years have I had to clean up dog feces.
3.) A sizeable portion of our loyal market customers are dog-owners and in eliminating dogs we risk alienating them.
4.) Dog ownership in the US is on the rise and dogs are becoming MORE a part of society not less, i.e. restaurants that welcome dogs as part of their outdoor dining experience.
We have looked at many other market models and at this time feel that eliminating dogs is not the best choice four EFM. I believe the number of dogs may seem higher due to the overall in crease in population at the market. Our recent growth explosion has caused the need for a lot of future discussion regarding managing overall traffic flow and we will continue to work with the City on best these issues.
Thanks for posting, Megan!
And thanks for all your hard work on the market too--it's better than ever--and I love the dogs : )
Interestingly, having worked the EFM, I found pet owners very responsible and the pets well-behaved. Unfortunate for Mr. Lieb to group the ENTIRE American population into one group when there are so many fine examples of civilized behavior in both children and pets who attend the EFM. Perhaps Mr. Lieb should visit other American cities in which similar farmers' markets occur and would note the "civilized" behaviors of children and pets at those events. Perhaps a sign with a dog lifting his leg and a circle with a diagonal line in it denoting "No Dog Peeing" would instill some thought and some humor in guiding appropriate behavior. I for one enjoy the pets and children at the EFM and have noticed no smell or bad behavior. Thanks Noel...and, thanks to Megan for all the hard work that goes into this every week.
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