Once situated on the sidewalks of East Main Street, the Bexley Farmers’ Market received a complete make over this year. Market manager, Jamie Moore of Wayward Seed Farm, was brought in to help implement many of these new changes. “The residents of Bexley wanted the change,” says Ms. Moore. The old set up included problems such as parking and traffic, as well as size, location, diversity of product, and date. In essence, the market needed a lot of help.
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| Musicians at the Bexley Market |
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| Tents at the Bexley Market |
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| Jamie Moore at the Community Table |
Ms.Moore, who also runs the Dublin and Wexner markets, was asked by a friend to come and help Bexley revamp. The outcry from the residents helped Ms. Moore and the city determine that they needed to revisit square one. First, the current location, the parking lot across from the Rusty Bucket, was decided as the location. It was actually offered up for free, so it was offer that couldn’t be turned down. With that, the market was also moved to Thursday evenings. This decision was made so that the market would have less competition and more vendors would be available. Jamie Moore explained that because the three largest market in Columbus - Clintonville, Worthington, and North Market - fall on Saturday, it makes Saturday availability for vendors scarce.
The vendor list was expanded and diversified, now including 16 vendors who all offer unique product. Their are meat, produce, flower, and other vendors for customers to browse. With all of the residents complaints addressed, the market has also adopted other ideas, such as live music and a community table. The community table features a different local business every week, as well as provides information about that market. It is staffed by volunteers, who work on a rotating schedule.
However, the fun and festive atmosphere would not exist without the vendors. One vendor in particular sports a booth that is blooming with fresh flowers and sweet smelling soaps. Sunny Meadows Flower Farm, run by Gretel and Steve Adams, is in their 6th year at the farmer’s markets. Located in the Winchester Pike area, the flower farm has three greenhouses and one high tunnel to keep their flower supply in congruence with their market activity. A high tunnel is a non-heated greenhouse. It is essentially comprised of hoops and plastic and is used to extend the season of a flower and allow for the growers to pick them earlier.
Nate Roderick, pictured above, who works for Sunny Meadow Flower Farm, says that the farm often works with florists. They mainly provide flower types that do not transport well, like the Lisiantus pictured right. Their flowers and arrangements are popular for weddings and garden parties alike. Sunny Meadows’ beautifully blooming booth can also be visited at the Granville, Clintonville, Upper Arlington, and Easton farmers’ markets.
With happy residents and happy vendors comes a happy market. The Bexley Farmers’ Market has certainly found their niche, worked out their kinks, and is sure to remain fun and successful for the rest of the season and beyond.
