Page 6 - NOV2024

Page 6
Community
By DoNNa rhoDes
DANBURY—As fall begins its inevitable transition to win- ter, there is more than just ski- ing and snowmobiling to look forward to —the Winter Farm- ers Market at the Blazing Star Grange in Danbury will also be returning on the first Saturday of each month from November through May.
Grange Hall No. 71 in Dan- bury was first built in 1911. In addition to special events, activities, and community in- volvement, it has been hosting the Winter Farmers Market for nearly twenty years now, where all types of local products are made available to shoppers.
This year, one of the market coordinators, Donna Sprague, said they are welcoming not only returning vendors but sev- eral new vendors as well.
Danbury is known as part of a rural agricultural region in
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November 2024
Danbury Winter Farmers Market Returns in November
New Hampshire, so each win- ter, the grange is able to offer a wide variety of items produced right in the area. Among those are honey courtesy of Tucker Mountain Farm in neighbor- ing Andover, the nearby Potting Shed’s holistic herbs and teas, delicious homemade chocolates by Nancy Parker, and fresh jams, jellies, and “other wicked good- ies” from Nanny’s Canning Pan- try in Groton.
Over the winter months, selections of local meats from Danbury’s own Huntoon Farm will include turkey, pork, and beef, as available, and root vege- tables from other nearby farms, which will also be provided through Merrimack County Ag- riculture’s resources.
“They’ve been a big help in providing us with things from other nearby communi- ties. That’s what a grange is all about, helping farmers sell their
crops,” Sprague said. Homemade baked goods,
from cookies to cakes, pies, and other delectable treats, are an- other popular item throughout the winter.
Woolen goods, both knitted and crocheted, as well as home- sewn apparel and décor, locally made soaps, a variety of goat products, and so much more, are other things to look for each month.
“There’s really a little bit of everything at the market each month, and it can change, too, as vendors come in and out over the winter,” said Sprague.
What doesn’t change each time, though, is the opportu- nity to always enjoy a delicious breakfast and/or lunch for a rea- sonable price in the lower level of the grange hall. It’s proven to be a great way to make new friends or catch up with neigh- bors that people might not have
seen over the long, cold months. Once the holiday season is over in January, the market also has special themes for the remaining winter/early spring months. Already on the list for February is the return of the always popular “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast” theme once again, recognizing the winter national ice cream celebration. Sprague said other themes are still in the development phase but they will be sure to be fun
for all who drop by to shop. Cash is always welcomed when making purchases at the Winter Farmers Market, but several vendors will have credit/ debit card machines on hand for their sales. For those who don’t, attendants at the main kiosk in- side the entryway can swipe the cards and provide $5 tokens, which can then be used at any of the vendors throughout the
winter.
The market also offers the Veteran Bucks program, where veterans can present their mil- itary identification card at the kiosk and receive $20 toward each monthly purchase. In addi- tion, the market provides match- ing funds through the SNAP and EBT programs of up to $20 each month for eligible recipi- ents.
The Blazing Star Grange Hall is located at 15 North Road, just off Rte. 104 in Dan- bury Village. From now until May, the market will be open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Updates on the market can be found at www.blazingstar- grange.org. Anyone interested in renting vendor space to sell their own products is asked to contact Donna Sprague at 603- 768-5579 for information and availability.