By Walt Gajewski
Market Manager
October 26, 2022

If I were an artist working in colors, I would try to capture a fall scene of a stout tree – perhaps a maple or an oak shaking off its leaves and opening its canopy to the light play of a late October day, its brown, reds and golds giving off their season-ending fireworks before the silence of winter arrives.  

Just as trees prepare for winter’s nod, so too will the fields and farms go silent. It is the nature of things. Dead leaves are given back to the earth as a protective blanket for sheltering and nurturing new life that will come in the spring.   

And so it is then, in the nature of things, that the farmers market here in this town of 11,000 or so people will soon draw to a close. It's as an apt reflection of the connection that Farmington has to the patchwork of farms in southeast Michigan.  It has been a wonderful season mirrored by the smiles of 100,000 faces that will have come to market.   

This is my time to say thanks to all who make up the scene of Saturday life in a Michigan small town – to the farmers and the artisans, the volunteers, the shopkeepers. To the local police who walk their beat on market days (and believe me, they are social as anyone!) and the guy at the Public Works Department who cleans up for market in the pre-dawn hours. To our sponsors and schools and nurses and master gardeners … we are all leaves on a tree. The seasons change, and, like each leaf goes its separate way, the market will go back to its roots. And, like those of the burning trees surrounding the community pavilion, they are strong roots, thanks to all of you.   

So here’s to the cinnamon-kissed aroma of a hot Petey’s Donut, a crisp cider, a bag of crunchy apples, a chewy chocolate chipped cookie, a pumpkin for your porch or the smile of a friend meeting you at the market. This is nesting in at its finest.  Come gather …

This week ushers in the season’s grand finale of the regular season with our Haunted Market. Trick-or-treaters of all ages are welcome to haunt our friendly confines starting at 9 a.m.  Wear costumes and join in the fun! It’s a Power of Produce day for kids daring to put their hands into the Shoeboxes of Doom (Shoeboxes of Doom?). Will there be veggies inside or…eek, the body parts of a witch? Steve Hoops will perform with her hoops of fire, Billy Brandt will be playing the park and as the clock strikes twelve (er, noon), the Detroit Tap Repertory will perform in costume. All around the downtown, shopkeepers will be wagging their fingers for you to stop by for treats from 1 to 3 p.m.  

You asked, we listened, so, OK, we are having so much fun, what the heck, let’s do one more week! The market will extend its season through Saturday, November 5, and will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. as usual. The farmers tell me we will have a good selection of fall farm offerings, from gnarly squash to potatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli (did you know broccoli gets sweeter in cold temps?), kale, apples, sweet potatoes and more! This will be a great time to stock up on everything from pasties to pierogies. 

It's way too soon to talk about Christmas, but it’s not too soon to mention a very special market on December 3 for Greens, Gifts and Giving, part of downtown Farmington’s annual Holly Days Celebration. The market will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. that day. Stay tuned in at www.downtownfarmington.org

There’s so much going on that I really do have to run to get ready for this week’s market. So until next time and as always, here’s saying: “See you at the market.”