Townsend Farmer’s Market Escapes Severe Storm!
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
On August 25, in the face of an approaching severe storm, the market closed an hour early. Thank you to those customers and the volunteers who were right there at the time and helped the various vendors quickly pack up their stands as the winds gained intensity. We were on our way, just in time, as the raindrops began to fall.
Now that garden produce is ripening and ready, the market is a pretty busy place. For the past three weeks of August, there have been over 160 customers each week walking through the market area, shopping and checking out the items available for sale. There also was an average of 11 vendors each week during the same three weeks time.
Our market participates in a senior coupon program that allows qualified seniors to get fresh vegetables for their coupons. Broadwater County Health Department carries the contract and supports the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, sponsored by the USDA. The program allows eligible seniors to spend their coupons for fresh produce. Ask for Diane when calling the Health Department (406) 266-5209 to inquire about this program.
Townsend Farmers Market is in its 12th consecutive market season. The present Farmers Market was started as a volunteer project for participants in the Master Gardener program. The purpose of the market is to provide “Broadwater County vendors the opportunity to market sustainable local produce, foods, crafts, technology, art, and music.” Vendors have to make it, bake it, or grow it. The market is a place for vendors to do business with their neighbors, and a place to shop, visit and socialize with friends.
Annually, the vendors gather to determine the procedures for the following year as to how the market will be operated. Outcomes from these meetings have included additional gravel for the market area, safety cones to create a walking zone near the stands, reserved handicapped parking close to the stands, a porta-potty for vendor and customer use, and signs along the road. Actually, handicapped customers do not even need to get out of their car. Those unable to get out of their car can get “curb-side” service. This year SB199 enables a wider range of food that could be sold at the market. You will now find such items as fresh salsa and homemade pickles appearing on the tables for sale.
The market is a great place for people to ask questions about the food they are buying. They want to know: How do you grow that? How do I cook this? Am I able to preserve this item? How do I deal with the bugs? What kind of fertilizer is best to use? Where can I get compost?
There are people who now grow their own food and some now participate in the market. This is a grassroots-level network of learning, enabling more people to grow their own food. We may not see them in the Backyards of Broadwater garden tour, but they are out there growing fresh food for their own tables.
The fees for the market are $5 per day per vendor. There is no fee for non-profit organizations that would like to have a table. Some organizations that have participated include the FFA, fundraising by selling plants from their greenhouse and selling hamburgers and hotdogs. Other non-profits include the county extension office promoting some of their programs, distributing pollinator packets for the Conservation District, the ticket sales for the Backyards of Broadwater garden tour, and ticket sales for the Chick-a-Poo Bingo fundraiser for the Social Services Committee.
The market operates under the 501(c)3 umbrella of the Broadwater County Social Services Committee (BCSSC). Their bingo fundraiser will be held at Fall Fest and supports the Kids Count program and other BCSSC activities.
The market will continue to operate every Thursday through September 29, 2022, from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., at WIFI Park.
