Page 22 - APR2026

Page 22 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM April 2026 Community
Danbury's Winter Market Ending in Early May
By doNNa rhodes
DANBURY – The Blazing Star Grange in Danbury hosts a monthly Winter Farmer’s Market each year from November through May with a number of farmers, craft vendors, and other great country-style things to enjoy. Some months include live music, while breakfast and lunch are also avail- able in their kitchen on the lower level.
Open on the first Saturday of each month, there is always farm- fresh meats, vegetables, baked goods, and cold storage foods avail- able, as well as candles, leather goods, woolen socks, and much more to choose from.
This year, the Grange members have added another feature where India Mazzucco demonstrates what people can do with some of the local vegetables available this time of year. Over the past few months, she has offered cooking tips and recipes for a number of these healthy foods.
Over the winter, some of her demonstrations focused on making homemade sauerkraut and even
homemade ice cream from local milk. For their March 6 market, it was all about the radishes.
“We noticed in the past couple of seasons that folks shy away from produce when they don’t know what to do with it, so this has been pretty successful,” said Mazzucco.
At the March Market, she lined up an array of radishes and printed up recipes for a healthy salad dish she had. Among the ingredients were radish varieties such as Ger- man Beer, Watermelon, Daikon Red, and Long Daikon Radish. Sliced and mixed with a special, easy-to-make dressing, included on her handout sheet, it enticed many shoppers to grab a copy of the rec- ipe, purchase the various radishes, then head home to make a salad dish of their own.
With two more monthly mar- ket days left on the calendar, Maz- zucco said that the final day will be something special when people can sign up in advance for their Make A Meal event in May. All ingredi- ents will come from local produce, including an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Participants will learn how to make it, then sit down to share in
India Mazzucco of the Danbury Blazing Star Grange #71 has also been offering tips and recipes for preparing some of the local foods available there each month. Photo Donna Rhodes
elastic and no seams, making them not only warm and stylish but very comfortable, too.
Purses, oven mitts, tote bags, and other fabric-produced items can be found at yet another table.
Across the way, some months are leather goods designed, hand- tooled, and stitched by Tom Si- monds of Lebanon. When at the market, Simonds stays busy work- ing on more items, yet is happy to stop and demonstrate or discuss his trade with all who browse his selec- tion of purses, wallets, drink coast- ers, and much more.
It’s fair to say that each month, one never knows what they will find, but other goods that were available during the March Winter Market Day were locally made tinctures and beautifully scented soy candles from With Love Candles of Bristol. Nicole Cassidy Soaps of Hebron also had a great supply of home- made soaps in a variety of great scents, along with some adorable Soap Ducks for the kids.
As the end of the 2025-2026 Winter Market nears, Grange members would like to remind ev- eryone that it will be open two final times on April 4 and May 2 from 9 a.m. until noon. As a benefit to many, the market matches those with EBT/SNAP benefits with up to $20 in purchases of fresh foods, along with $20 in credit for all vet- erans who sign in each month to shop there.
The Blazing Star Grange is located at 15 North Road in Dan- bury Village.
the meal. Afterwards, they can then take home a basket filled with not only the ingredients and recipe but a list of the local farms where they all were grown.
“That way they’ll know where to go to buy more and make it all again,” said Mazzucco.
In the meantime, there are plenty of already-made goods, from foods to crafts, available at each month’s market throughout
the colder months of the year. Downstairs are farmers with a multitude of meats and cold stor- age vegetables, such as radishes, potatoes, and other vegetables that
store well over the winter months. Upstairs, Nancy’s Chocolates have been popular sweets that peo- ple can enjoy at home or give as gifts. Nannies Canning Pantry also
brings along a delicious stock of homemade jams and jellies, while Foolish Leaven Bakery offers their own homemade breads, English Muffins, tempting Dark Chocolate Snickerdoodles, and more. All of their baked goods are made from fresh-milled grains.
There is always a fine selection of locally crafted items on the main floor as well. Attractive washable wool socks are another popular item. They’re all made from col- orful hand-cranked wool with no
NOW HIRING
Fully Insured
603.254.7847
Residential, Commercial, Generators, Service Calls
Your local contractor for all things...
Whole Home Renovations
Camp & Cottage Conversions
FRAME TO FINISH • REMODEL & RESTORATION
Alexandria, NH • Fully Insured tomsammon86@gmail.com
603-530-2266
MJC TREES
TREE SERVICE
TAKE DOWN PLANTING REMOVAL FREE ESTIMATES
PRUNING
Disabled Combat Veteran Owned Business
603-530-2652