The Kingston Farmers Market 2015 Season begins this May 2, and continues 9 a.m. 2 p.m. every Saturday through mid-October. We are looking forward to some creative innovation this new season.

First off, we will be welcoming new market staff. As we said farewell to long-time market manager Clint Dudley late last summer, we wiped away our tears and started to look ahead. All endings contain the seed of new beginnings, and we trust that the long process of advertising and interviewing candidates — while not replacing Clint — will bring us different ideas and different eyes on the Market. We haven’t sealed the deal yet, but do stop down at the Market Booth during May to meet and greet the new market booth maestro.

One idea that we are excited to bring forward is the Community Table. We are still working out the details, but the essence is this: a booth that is dedicated to the abundance of our neighbors’ own gardens — the three pounds of carrots, the extra seedlings, armloads of flowers, rhubarb that is more than one family can ever eat and so on — brought to the market and sold till they’re gone, with any extras to our food banks and a few dollars to the growers. We know it will be tricky working out the operational details, but we look forward to it bringing even more variety to shoppers and a solution to the home grower with “just too many tomatoes (or zucchinis or daisies).”

Look for more information on the newlyrefreshed market website in the next few weeks: www.KingstonFarmersMarket.com.

Another idea that the board of directors is pondering is a new name — the Kingston Market on the Cove — to reflect the magic of our location and its invitation to “sit and stay awhile.” Expect news on that too before the market actually opens.

Like everyone else, our operational costs continue to rise and, with the hiring of new market staff, we recognize that more level cash flow is increasingly important to the market’s health and well-being. This season, we are in the process of asking community members to consider supporting a week’s music for $100. If you have ever stood in the sunshine and tapped your foot to market music, perhaps you could put a few dollars in the market jar. Mailing address: P.O. Box 124, Kingston, WA 98346. Or stop by the market booth on a May Saturday.

Looking ahead, we anticipate welcoming new vendors and warmly greeting those returning. The nature of a small mobile market is change. For example, Nash’s Produce from Sequim will continue as a cornerstone, actually occupying Terrapin Farms’ corner stall space as Cindy and Ken retire from market vending to enjoy traveling weekends with their favorite bands. There will still be cookies and coffee.

Yep, we will keep the Kingston Farmers Market “vibe” — Saturday mornings touched with the glory of the Kingston Marina Park, frisky dogs walking their owners and benches that invite our neighbors to linger a while and enjoy the music. We’ll keep the community information booth available to local organizations with their story to tell and the WSU Master Gardeners too. Come on down and join us! You’re part of it too.

Thinking about a stall at the market? Contact the market through the Vendor Services section on the market website at www.KingstonFarmersMarket.com. Come on down.

— Contact Mary McClure 297-4300, mary@contrarymac.com, or Clint Dudley, 297-7683, KingstonFarm@earthlink.net.