Morrison Farmers Market

The party is over!  Well, actually the end of another season of the Farmers’ Market is now history which is next to impossible to believe.  It seems like only last week that we opened with 8 vendors our very first day and a total 14 that had been with us by the end of the season.  This year we had 36 vendors the first week and by the end of the season we had over 60 that had been with us.  The only problem I really see is space, and that is a terrific problem to have!  We held our end of the season drawing and all the goodies contributed by the vendors was won by Jean Tichler.  Congratulations Jean, we hope you enjoy it.

     I want to thank all of the vendors that were with us each week, or each week their produce was available because we all know there is a lot of work seeing that it produces well and is perfect for market.  We had vendors from Morrison, Rock Falls, Savana, Lyndon, Tampico, Fulton, Sterling, Chadwick and Prophetstown-a well represented community of people all of whom we, the committee, have grown to appreciate and care about.  It is always a bit sad saying good-bye to everyone, but we know that we shall be together again in the Spring, if not before.

     Of course, a huge thank you goes to the WNS for allowing me to prattle on every week about the market and to all you wonderful people who read my prattle!  Certainly, all the familiar faces, and not so familiar faces we see each week (average 200-250 per week) are a real joy and without whom we could not be a Market!  Speaking for me personally, I will miss you all-Especially Sophie.  Now don’t get me wrong and feel I am showing favoritism, but Sophie is special.  She has deep brown caring eyes, fantastic golden hair all over her body-now some might wonder if I have gone around the bend-but  yup, you guessed it, Sophie happens to be a dog who loves the market and walks away with her head down whenever her mistress wants to leave.

     I want to extend a special thank you to the committee who got along just fine without me as I went through my surgery and recovery.  Wait a minute!  That means I am not even needed. Hmmmm, okay it just proves there is no “I” in TEAM and we are a great team.  Thank you Flora, Corinne, Jim B., Jim C. Ron and Boon.  You are all very special people and I feel honored to be associated with each of you.  I also feel honored to make so many new acquaintances over the summer as well.  Have a great fall and winter and remember to shop local whenever you can.  We are all in this together and get only blessings when we work together.  Morrison is a great community filled with wonderful people.  As I have discovered at the market, they also are very loyal in their support.  Thank you and may God Bless one and all.

The day dawned a bit cool, but all in all it was a decent day with plenty of vendors, with one of our most popular, Lois Rowzee, there again with her fresh raspberries that were so, SO delicious!  They have lasted especially long this year and we are crossing our fingers that there will still be some this Saturday.

I want to remind everyone that this will be our last market for the season of 2011.  Hard to believe that next year will be our 5th year already!  At any rate, because it is our last Saturday remember everyone who signs up is eligible for our drawing and if you have not done so be sure and sign up for our basket of goodies to be given away Saturday at 10:30.  You do not have to be present to win.

Also finishing out the season will be another favorite, The Heritage Trio with their dulcet tones and great music.  They have been with us pretty much from the beginning of the the market in 2007 and we are so grateful that they will do this for us.

If you are looking for any autumnal decorations by way of bittersweet, gourds, pumpkins, etc. please stop in Saturday anytime between 8:00-11:00AM and you will see a nice selection.  Remember, we are located just behind the Probation building and if you don’t know where that is, just follow our signage and you will find us.   Hope we see you Saturday!

Who thought that it would feel like it could snow on September 17 after the huge heat waves we have had! I know I surely didn’t, but despite the cold early morning weather and all the activities for PTT, we had a great turnout of vendors as well as customers. Thank you all. I must take this opportunity to apologize to the people who came to the market specifically for bitter sweet. The gentleman who is bringing the bitter sweet was at PTT all day and I just simply forgot. However, he will be here for the last two weeks, which turns out to be the next two weeks. As you may have noticed, if you were at the market, the produce is definately changing. We now have squash, pumpkins, gourds, hydrangeas and other items associated with fall. We hope you will stop in this Saturday or next and get a good start on your fall produce not to mention items for your fall decorating. You can stock up on peanut butter, rolls, any thing that can be frozen and you will have it available through the winter. We hope to see you Saturday and by now you probably know where we are, but just in case, we are behind the probation building from 8:00-11:00 AM, rain or shine (or even snow or shine). Watch for our signage and you will get there. Here’s hoping we will see you all Saturday.