Kenyon Farmers Market opens early

The Kenyon Farmers Market came earlier than expected this year.

Though the market was originally scheduled to open in June, Kenyon Parks and Recreation held a pop-up market last Thursday at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, giving shoppers a preview of this season’s offerings.

Once the season officially begins, the market will run from June 6 to Oct. 3, taking place at the church on the first and third Thursday of each month.

According to Bailey Ament, who serves on the Parks and Rec Committee, the pop-up market drew 18 vendors, including returning sellers and first-timers.

Farmers market regular Jacque Meyer was at the pop-up selling her popular baked goods. Meyer said she grew up baking, and it became a major hobby for her in retirement.

“I’ve always loved to bake, but you can only eat so much,” said Meyer.

She began selling at a farmers market in Dennison, later joining the Kenyon market when it began. This is now her third season selling in Kenyon, and she’s built up a loyal following in that time.

Meyer said scotcharoos and quick breads are some of her best sellers. She aims to bring 16 freshly baked loaves of bread to sell, making market days especially busy for her — at any given moment, she may have 16 bowls of dough rising or four loaves baking in the oven.

Her husband Tim pitches in sometimes when the kitchen gets especially hectic.

“I’m the grunt. I keep cleaning the mess up after her,” he said.

For first-time vendor Joan Nye, the farmers market offered a perfect opportunity to try selling her gnome dolls. Nye has completed dozens of the dolls in her spare time, making them at such a pace they’ve begun to pile up. Eventually it became clear she’d have to sell them.

“I had so much,” she chuckled. “So we thought we’d try it.”

Nye has gnomes themed for many holidays and occasions, from St. Patrick’s Day to graduation. She’s still making more, and plans to debut some Fourth of July-themed dolls at the farmers market this summer.

She decided to run a table with Kacey Ford, who’s selling her handmade wreaths. The two were joined by Nye’s sister, JoEllen Wrolstad, who made their offerings even more festive with a large Santa Claus decoration. If market-goers happen to catch the Christmas spirit while passing by, she’s taking orders for more.

Like Nye, Mark Kindseth didn’t set out to be a vendor. He’s been with the market since the beginning, selling his wooden bowls. Kindseth used to do carpentry, and began making bowls about seven years ago because he wanted to do something different.

“I started for fun. I didn’t think I was going to get into it this big when I first started,” said Kindseth.

Since then, he’s made about 275 bowls, selling them at the farmers market and occasionally out of his home. He has around 100 left to sell, and he’s got plenty of logs waiting at home to become his next creations. Most of his pieces were made from trees that were felled in the area and donated to him. Just recently, someone offered him a load of applewood from a local orchard.

The market is free for vendors, who must only sell homegrown and homemade goods.

Most weeks, it features a food truck or similar vendor. Schroder Concessions served up fair food for the opening day, and upcoming vendors include Basileo’s Pizza and the Boy Scouts hotdog stand.