Celebrate Spring at the Jasper Farmers Market

Beautiful weather permitted Saturday’s Farmer’s Market to be outstanding! Eggs, herbs, plants, jewelry, baked goods, macramé, coffee, music, toys, and many other choices made the market adventure complete. Many customers bring their dogs along which encourages conversations with admirers of the canine companions.Vendors sign up at the Master Gardener’s table as they arrive, many before the opening time of 7:30, but others are always welcomed as the morning progresses. June Mackenzie, the Market Manager was available to answer gardening questions, or give information of how to join the Master Gardener Program that is sponsored by the University of Georgia Extension Agency. This is a volunteer program to help the local community with garden concerns, including plants, pests, and disease as well as overseeing the market each weekend. Soon, there will be a Wednesday market in the summer for the abundance of produce expected.

Jenny’s Woodwork, by Jenny Fellenbaum, offered wood turned candleholders and wine stoppers. She brought her lathe and demonstrated her skills. Fia and Fina Giambra got a personal explanation of the tools used and the results on a simple piece of wood that was quickly becoming a fine work of art as Jenny applied each one to the spinning wood. Some of the tools were a parting tool. a gouge, and a detail gouge.

Sharon Hause brought some beautiful candles made of bees wax in several shapes including angels and tapers that she says burn very well. She was encouraged by her husband to begin making candles and soap. The kitchen soap is very long lasting and comes with a sponge.

There were many vendors with plants of offer. Herbs like tarragon, basil, thyme, and more. There were tomatoes and peppers, as well as perennials like blue phlox and silver mound artemisia plus much more. We look forward to there being even more choices as the weather warms and the market grows. And we look forward to seeing many more smiling faces next week as all the market’s treasures are discovered and carried home.

The Jasper Farmers Market Spring and Summer Season takes place every Saturday morning (April through October) and Wednesday morning (June through August) from 7:30 am to 12 noon in the Park n Ride lot at Lee Newton Park on Hwy 53 in Jasper, with the exception of the July 4 and Marble Festival activities and is a project of the Pickens County Master Gardeners. For more information call the County Extension Office at 706 253 8840.

Article by H. Hanna, Master Gardener