What’s the Big Deal about Farmers’ Markets?
What’s the big deal about farmers’ markets? To start, there are a lot of them. But more importantly, according to Samantha Lozano of Baltimore Collegetown, farmers’ markets provide an alternative to cheap fast foods, Easy Mac and Ramen Noodles: “great and affordable selections of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, pastries, Vegan items and more”.
Farmers’ markets bring together vendors (farmers), usually outdoors and in a community space, to sell produce to the public. The produce sold at these markets is usually grown locally, so by shopping at farmers’ markets you’re getting the freshest produce AND supporting your local economy.
Lozano’s article, COLLEGE EATS: Baltimore’s Farmers Markets, is written for a college audience but makes a point that is relevant for everyone: it’s never too late to acquire a taste for healthy foods. So where can you go if you’re looking to eat healthier and support local farmers? According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Maryland Farmers Market Directory, the markets nearest to Cherry Hill are:
- BMI Farmers’ Market
1415 Key Highway, Baltimore MD 21230
Saturday: 9am – 1pm, 19-May-12 to 13-Oct-12
- Fresh Friday Farmers’ Market
10 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore MD 21201
Friday: 10am – 2pm, 1-Jun-12 to 30-Nov-12
- University Farmers’ Market
Plaza Park, Corner of Paca Street & Baltimore Street, Baltimore MD 21201
Tuesday: 10:00am – 2:30pm, 8-May-12 to 20-Nov-12
Check out these local markets, but don’t forget about the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Urban Garden produce stand, located right in Cherry Hill! Freshly harvested veggies ‘grown in Cherry Hill, for Cherry Hill’ are available for purchase at the stand, which is open weekly on Saturdays from 3-6 PM on Cherry Hill Road right next to the snowball stand.
Photo credit: Govanstowne Farmers’ Market
Students from Towson University Volunteer in Cherry Hill
On August 23, a group of students from Towson University’s Project Serve spent their morning volunteering at the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Urban Garden in Cherry Hill. Project Serve is an optional community service experience for freshmen and transfer students. Participants spend two days volunteering in Baltimore City & County before beginning their fall term.
While at the garden, the students helped build compost bins and install raised beds in The Possibility Garden. The raised beds will give residents who are not physically able to reach lower beds the opportunity to participate in gardening. Also, during their morning of service, Ms. Juanita Ewell, the Garden Manager, gave the students a tour of the garden and shared with them the history of the Cherry Hill community.
It was a fantastic day for the Towson University students and the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Garden. Thank you to the Towson University students for helping out in Cherry Hill and the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Team for hosting them.
Check out more photos from the morning on our Flickr photo stream.
First Quarterly Meeting and What’s Next
On Wednesday, July 25, the Cherry Hill People’s Garden Project had its first quarterly meeting of grant recipients. We were joined by representatives from ‘The Possibility Garden’ (located within the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Urban Garden), Cherry Hill Senior Manor, St. Veronica Catholic Church, PickYou Inc., Enoch Pratt Free Library – Cherry Hill Branch, Family Health Centers of Baltimore, and Towson University. Each representative gave an update on the their project and shared stories of successes and challenges.
What is one common challenge faced by our grantees? Finding volunteers. To solve this and other issues, project leaders are working together; organizations are sharing volunteers as well as seedlings, expertise, and other resources. Do you have resources or time to share with our Cherry Hill projects? Find out how you can lend a hand.
There was great enthusiasm amongst those who attended the meeting. Juanita Ewell of the Eat Healthy Live Healthy Urban Garden reminded everyone about their weekly produce stand. Vegetables ‘grown in Cherry Hill, for Cherry Hill’ can be purchased on Saturdays from 3-6pm on Cherry Hill Road next to the Snowball stand. The stand accepts cash, debit, and SNAP and WIC benefits.
What’s next? In the next six weeks, Nadine Braunstein, Project Director, will visit all of the project sites and information about garden events coming up in September and October will be distributed. Also in September, we will host additional information sessions for organizations interested in applying for micro-subgrant funding. Check back for dates and application materials.
