More than 200 visitors to the second Morrison Farmers’ Market of the season–held Saturday, May 31, 2014,–were gifted with an annual bedding plant. The Lobelia was courtesy of the Farmers’ Market Committee, in appreciation to those who attended and supported the vendors.
The complimentary spring flower illustrates how Morrison Farmers’ Market is always changing. You might receive a free take-away item, or you could win a market item in a raffle. Look for a cooking demonstration by University of Illinois Extension Whiteside County. Odell Public Library will show you how to make crafts. A variety of musical entertainers create a pleasant atmosphere for socializing, eating, and shopping. A routine visit to the Farmers’ Market is a pleasant start to the weekend.
Three new full-time vendors included Louise Clark and Wendy Dobesh, both of Morrison, will be found selling fresh garden produce; Shelli Eng of Erie, IL, sells home baked bread.
Three new part-time vendors from Morrison have interesting items to share. Julie James crafts unique decorative items. “Julie’s Jewels and Jars” combine jewelry and bottles. Kenneth Meinsma creates attractive wooden trivets and camping decks. “The Egg Lady,” Sarah Schmidt, brings you farm-fresh eggs.
Three returning part-time vendors offered interest. Nineteen-year-old Garith Shinkle is his own produce man, with a 30′ x 60′ plot dedicated to garden foods and a 30′-square melon patch. He is part of “Shinkle and Sons Produce,” with father Roy and brother Matt. During Garith’s first time as a vendor, he sold two varieties of radish: aptly named White Icicle, which he holds, and Sparkler White Top. A radish’s strength, he explained, is determined by their “heat,” but also the amount of water they receive and the weather. Thus, they can vary throughout the season. Shinkle sold three greens, shown left-to-right: flat-leafed Georgia Southern Collard greens; ruffly Dwarf Blue Kale; five-mixture salad greens.
Marci Horton and her husband Howard, from Milledgeville, IL, own “The Shabby Crate,” a line of fresh, whitewashed, useful items for the home. He crafts the wooden storage boxes, divided mini-crates, and tool boxes. She does the painting and black, decorative graphic transfers and hand-painted text. Her business began 24 years ago. Larger storage crates, she suggsted, can corral books, office stuff, or toys; they easily fit on shelves or can stack. Marci recycles mason jars with flat, pastel paint and clay flower pots with white. A “Laundry Recipe” wall plaque lists her homemade soap recipe for easy reference; a similar “Kitchen Conversions” tablet would aid the cook. Hang the star anywhere in your home or office. She holds a set of flour sack dishtowels stenciled for each day of the week.
Morrison Alumni Football USA team members, coach, and young helpers are new to the Farmers’ Market. Adults included, left-to-right, Jamie Rodriguez, Jason Wroble, Josh Gowan, Coach Tim Stout, and Bob Stone. Look for them or others through Saturday, June 21, as the men promote the second adult football game against Fulton, IL, alumni, on Friday, June 27. Their goal is to raise funds to donate to the Morrison High School Football program. Purchase game tickets at $10 from players and thecity1.com, 218 W. Main Street, Suite 100, Morrison. $5 will go to the MHS program. Even if you cannot attend the 7:00 p.m. home-field competition, buy a ticket as a $5 donation. The men will sell you a red t-shirt–not the white jersey–to wear on game night.
Returning full-time vendor Cindy Poci, Rock Falls, IL, displayed a glorious array of annual bedding plants and baskets, all grown in the family greenhouses. At the house is a large selection of perennials and garden plants; the hours are 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Produce in abundance will come–tomato, cucumber, onion, squash, hot and sweet pepper, cabbage, chard, kale, Brussels sprout, heirloom tomato, eggplant, cauliflower, and melon.
