For all those ready for summer, fresh garden foods, and outdoor events, the return of farmers’ markets satisfies and excites. In recent years, the Bristow Historical Society built the Bristow Farmers’ Market, providing local access to fresh, farm-grown foods and functioning as an additional fundraiser. While the local market is returning this year, it is being made anew.
On Saturday, the market returned under new management and with a new name: Bristow Artisans’ and Gardeners’ Market. Following the conclusion of last year’s market, the Bristow Historical Society determined it did not wish to continue operating the market but desired for it to remain available for local vendors and customers. They simply needed to secure someone to assume operation of it. When Jennifer Murray reached out to them months ago to inquire about market preparations as a vendor, she learned they did not plan to continue and promptly agreed to manage it.
Two years earlier, when the historical society hosted the market at Town Square, Jennifer says she “had a vision about the market.” She envisioned all that the market could grow and become. She could see the market including not only fresh foods but also handmade crafts, artistic works, and live music, which she now hopes to see through to fruition. Still, a few things will remain the same: the location, the freshly grown foods, and some vendors.
During 2020, the historical society relocated the market for better social-distancing and parking from Town Square to the parking lot west of the now-closed Mazzio’s. Jennifer plans to keep the market in the same location moving forward but also plans to expand the existing market. Previous markets have maintained up to a dozen vendors. Last Saturday, about eleven vendors set up booths. Jennifer says she expects about five additional vendors beginning May 22. While the first Saturday of the season offered plenty of the plants and farm-grown foods typically present at past markets, the new, improved market with additional vendors also offers a wider variety of homemade goods and services as well. Consequently, the new offerings and evolving market deserved a newly minted name.
When Jennifer assumed management of the market, she wanted a fresh name better representative of the newly expanding market. She enlisted her friend, Jamie Braden, to help her decide on a name befitting the developing market and for help designing graphics for ads and social media pages. Together, they came up with “Bristow Artisans’ and Gardeners’ Market.” The name aptly describes Jennifer’s vision of the original market’s potential.
Asked what additional vendors and new attractions might be joining the Bristow Artisans’ and Gardeners’ Market, Jennifer disclosed tentative hopes and plans to invite and secure live musicians, host pet adoption events, or possibly offer activities like face painting for children. She said, “I also really want to encourage people who make handmade crafts to join us and come set up with us.” Additionally, she hopes the market will become a family-friendly, community event, where people come to sell their wares, shop, live, laugh, and grow together each week.
The Bristow Artisans’ and Gardeners’ Market is open Saturdays from 7 through 11 a.m., beginning May 15 through September this year. Anyone interested in becoming a vendor or seeking additional information can check out the market’s Facebook page or aheartforyloils@gmail.com.