Vendors share locally grown product, handmade goods at Slippery Rock Farmers Market
SLIPPERY ROCK — The farmers market drew a good turnout in the sunlit morning of Saturday, May 30.
The Slippery Rock Farmers Market, which opened this year on May 9, is slated to take place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon until Oct. 10 at Gateway Park, between Main St. and Elm St.
Chuck Moses, a Slippery Rock-based musician, performed live music at Saturday’s market.
The market featured several local vendors from Butler County that offered customers a variety of products, from homegrown produce to handmade goods.
Additionally, a children’s tea party was set up at 10 a.m. The market, from time to time, arranges special events, like a monarch butterfly festival scheduled during fall.
One of the stalls at the market was from Normand Homestead, a family-owned farm in Slippery Rock, which grows produce from scratch.
Normand’s booth was selling baked goods, organic vegetables, natural body care products, as well as goat milk products like fudge, soaps and lotions.
Tamila Normand, co-owner of Normand Homestead, said the family has participated in the market as a vendor for about 15 years. Normand herself has also been managing the market for about five years.
“We encourage local growers and makers to come and sell their goods,” Normand said.
The farmer’s market encourages local business to grow and flourish by improving visibility among the local community, said Normand. The market also offers businesses a platform to make some extra money, she said.
Several vendors expressed a positive experience at the market, and concurred that partaking at the market helped their business.
“Every year, it gets a little bigger,” Normand added.
Normand said the market continues to add vendors each year at the rain or shine event. There is still a waiting list of sellers who want to join.
Normand estimates that 400 customers stop by each week.
She said that an event like the farmer’s market aims to encourage the mindset of feeding and serving community
“It has really gotten quite big,” said Normand. “We always encourage people that live within Butler County to be part of the market. It’s a lovely community event.”
Occasionally, the market will have demonstrations on how a product is made. Visitors can approach vendors for advice.
“We have a lot of folks here that are willing to share their knowledge with the community at large,” said Normand.
One of those is Gail Staub of Black Shepherd Farm, a locally owned farm in Harrisville. Staub’s herbal tea was for sale at the market.
Staub, who has been involved with the farmer’s market on and off for a few years, said she set out to grow her own herbs to improve her health. She said she observed her cholesterol levels drop, and has expanded the project into a home-based business.
The market is a stepping stone for some vendors, said Normand. She said she has come across many businesses who started at the farmers market, going on to get a brick and mortar establishments later on.
One individual excited to share her products with attendees was A.D., a 7-year-old girl who had organized shop, under adult supervision, with pot holders, firestarters and products made from melted broken crayons, that she made herself (the Eagle was requested to abbreviate her name).
“I wanted to be in the farmer’s market since I was literally two years old,” said A.D. “I’m having a really good time.”
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Handmade pot holders created by Hullabaloo Handicrafts are on sale at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Sam Sowash, center, with Little Circle Farm, mans his stand at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Adam Mahoney, with Poplar Tree Farm & Gardens, discusses plants with customers at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Tamila Normand, with Normand Homestead, left, speaks with customers at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Cathy Schweinegruber, with Belle Fleur Gardens, organizes flowers at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Quinn Goldner and Alicia Goldner, with Our Golden Acre, speak with customers at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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M.J. Lindey, with Backroad Bevs, speaks with customers at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Neva Johnston, with Johnston Acres, left, bags a purchase for a customer at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Fire starters created by Hullabaloo Handicrafts are on sale at the Slippery Rock Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
