The Seymour Area Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Walnut Street Parking Lot located south of the railroad tracks near the Jackson County Public Library. The market also is open from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesdays.
Here’s a look at two of the vendors and their products.
Long Family Kitchen
Names of person/people who sell at the market: Cheryl, Destiny, Sabrina and Michael Long
What items do you sell at the farmers market?
We sell treats the whole family can enjoy. Destiny specializes in a variety of flavors of cake pops, pumpkin bread loaves and chocolate no-bake cookies along with other yummy treats. Sabrina makes sweet little apple pie tartlets and blueberry lemon muffins. Michael sells his Mikey-Boy’s Granola and two flavors of organic popcorn. Cheryl’s items are all gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free, and she also makes many of her items with a sugar-free option.
How long have you been producing the items you sell at the market?
Cheryl has been gluten-free and dairy-free for years, so she understands how hard it can be to find treats that are actually safe to enjoy. She also is ecstatic about how gluten-free baking has come a long way in recent years. The children in the Long house have all grown up baking and prepping meals for their large family.
Do you bake full time or is this a side business for you?
This is a side business for our homeschooling family.
What made you want to start baking?
We are each looking for ways to earn money for a big family trip next year. One of the older girls married a man in the military, and they moved to Germany this past December, where we plan to visit in the fall of 2022.
What’s your favorite item/items that you sell?
Destiny: Cake pops. Sabrina: Apple pies (they are fun to make). Michael: Cinnamon popcorn (it’s yummy). Cheryl: It’s a toss-up between the gluten-free banana bread (a family favorite) and keto wraps, which are versatile as sandwich wraps and tortilla shells.
What products from other vendors do you enjoy?
Each week, we look for berries and other fruits, lettuce, tomatoes (including green tomatoes), maple syrup, zucchini (which we use in our gluten-free zucchini bread), meats and honey. We look forward to adding to this list as the season unfolds.
Where did you learn how to produce your product? Classes? Self-taught? Mentors?
We are all self-taught. Cheryl has started each of her children in the kitchen from a young age.
Do you have a favorite book or author that you recommend to your customers or other entrepreneurs?
Cheryl recommends “Trim Healthy Mama” cookbooks to her customers for delicious gluten-free recipes.
Can we buy your products at any other locations or online?
Cheryl is planning to start baking gluten-free healthy treats at Lucabe Coffee Co. (for both locations) in Columbus very soon.
The Herbal Squirrel
Names of person/people who sell at the market: Shelby Richardson
What items do you sell at the farmers market?
We sell plant starts, herbs, greens, lettuce, squash, tomatoes and jalapeno cheese bread.
How long have you been farming/producing the items you sell at the market?
My family has always gardened/farmed. This is my first year attempting to farm seriously.
What made you want to start farming or baking?
I’ve always enjoyed gardening and grew up doing it. There will always be a demand for food, especially locally sourced goods. It’s definitely rewarding watching a small seed grow into nourishment for my family and other families. Being able to work outside and having a flexible schedule is another plus. Baking has been a creative outlet for me. I currently sell one type of bread at the farmers market. Eventually, the goal is to expand the variety of breads I produce incorporating homegrown herbs/vegetables.
What’s your favorite item/items that you sell?
Squash is my favorite. There are so many varieties.
What products from other vendors do you enjoy?
Tricia and Dennis’ wheat at Plumer and Bowers and Brian’s honey (Horselick Creek Apiary). All of the vendors sell high-quality items.
Where did you learn how to farm or produce your product? Classes? Self-taught? Mentors?
I’m still learning how to farm and am not quite where I want to be yet. A lot of it has been trial and error. My dad and mentors, especially Greg Manning at Stream Cliff Herb Farm. I help out there during the season, and I’m incredibly grateful for the information and opportunity he’s given me.
Can we buy your products at any other locations or online?
At this point in time, no. Eventually, we will have a farm stand onsite.