Tomatoes have started showing up at the Homer Farmers’ Market. Even some artichokes and pumpkin. The summer is in full swing. But vegetables aren’t the only aspect of diversity at the Market.
The craft vendors never cease to impress me with their skill and diversity. Last weekend I saw custom-made guitars and custom-made signs. There are detailed pencil drawings by Karol Kahn Miller and scrimshaw by Brian Burns.
The variety of jewelry is perfectly diverse. Whether you like Claire’s solid stone jewelry, Scott Miller’s light wooden designs, or the whimsical silver creations by Tracy Sherwood, you will find what you like.
Vendors at the Market have also got the art of fabric down. Maybe you are super practical and need one of the clever bags Linda makes out of T-shirts or maybe a wool skirt or hat from Jen. Maybe you prefer the different styles of tie-dyed fabrics to choose from ranging from Lori’s napkins, bags and prayer flags to Tracy’s scarves and shirts. If quality quilting grabs your eye instead, you will love the treasures at Janet’s Fabric Art booth.
The quality continues with the amazing variety of lotions, soaps and balms. Between Alpenglow, Luxurious Lathers, Pachamama Herbals and Planet Peapod you can get every scent, remedy and skin-tingling treatment imaginable.
Then there are all of those canning veggies in scrumptious ways. Avalanche Ranch had three marinara sauces and one salsa. Grizzly Hot Peppers cans up everything from jalapeño jelly to hot dill carrots. If you prefer fresh, you can always get some of Hena’s Salsa in mild, hot, or medium.
And, on top of all that, this weekend we will again be seeing the creative endeavors of our local kids at Kids Vending Day. Will you pay Sylvia a buck for a song on her violin? Pay Galen to tie a fly for you? Or gather up some of the other fine crafts that have been so dedicatedly put together?
Head on down to the Farmers’ Market this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. to see the impressive diversity our community supports.
Kyra Wagner is the director of Sustainable Homer and the Homer Farmers’ Market’s biggest fan.
