By CLINT DUDLEY AND MARY MCCLURE
The mission of the Kingston Farmers Market is to provide a venue where local farmers, producers, crafters and artisans can come together on a regular basis to sell their wares in a retail environment.
The market also serves as a community gathering and information center at its information booth with local tourist information, and a community service space for local organizations, including the WSU Master Gardeners.
The market supports the local performing arts with a music canopy each week for local musicians. The market also supports the schools with opportunities for performances or the vending of homegrown or handmade wares.
The Kingston Summer Farmers Market is in full swing. Fresh produce is coming in and the music is lively!
Coming in June:
— The Doodle Dotted Community Comments Box is set out at the market information booth and already gathering your ideas, comments, questions, concerns. Drop us a line on Market Days.
— If you’ve been lucky enough to receive a 10 percent discount coupon (from the Spring Yack & Snack, for example), look for participating vendors with their easy-to-locate colorful booth signs.
— EBT/SNAP (popularly called the Food Stamp and Senior Nutrition Programs) is coming. We expected it would be online the first half of May. Ah, paperwork! Guess it’ll be June.
— Under the Friends of the Library Canopy: As the weather more reliably warms and the school year is done, the Kingston Friends of the Library will continue its popular story time from 11 a.m. to noon. And, during the first hour of the market, there will be a variety of demos and short events. Have an idea? Come share it at the Market Information Booth!
Music at the Market has already been finger-snapping. Hum along! We paid attention to what our vendors told us made people the happiest to hear and it’s been fun. For this month:
— June 1: WhatEverly Brothers (Home-made three-layer harmonies with instrumental frosting).
— June 8: Kel Schmitz (North Dakota Lonesome).
— June 15: Mike Murray (finger-picked folk guitar and banjo). Don’t forget Father’s Day is June 16.
— June 22: Jim Bybee (fingerstyle guitar looping virtuoso).
— June 29: Chordwood (fine Celtic violin).
Watch for the evening Steppenwolf Benefit Concert in the later part of the month.
Keeping the Kingston in the Kingston Farmers Market:
— Thanks to everyone who participated in the Mother’s Day Raffle. We were able to donate $200-plus to the Kingston Food Bank(s) because of our generous vendors and ticket purchasers. And congratulations to the three lucky moms who received a Market Basket for Mother’s Day.
— Have you got a few hours or a few ideas to share for Community Flavor at the Market? Come talk with us at the market information booth. Or share your ideas through the community comments box.
— Simple guidelines for using the market community booth are on the way! We want more of Kingston’s 25-plus community groups and organizations to take advantage of the market as a neighborhood meeting spot.
— Thank you to Wolfle and Gordon Elementary teachers who take time in their classrooms to sponsor Kingston KidsArt Postcards. This season’s postcards will be back from the printer in June.
For more information, visit the market’s website, www.KingstonFarmersMarket.org; or call Clint Dudley, market manager, (360) 297-7683. See you at the market!
— Contact Clint Dudley at 297-7683 or KingstonFarm@earthlink.net. Contact Mary McClure at 297-4300 or mary@contrarymac.com.
