Countless community members flocked to Brookfield’s Village Hall on Saturday, June 6, to experience the village’s first farmers market of the season.
Instead of hosting cars like usual, the parking lot in front of village hall became home for vendors from near and far alike to hawk their wares, running the gamut from coffees, teas and sweet treats to plants, homemade art, jewelry and even commercial roofing services.
Gina Sharenow, the director of the farmers market, said work begins in January each year to have the market up and running for its first day in the beginning of June. The market runs from June through October each year.
“I’m getting the application out and following up with vendors. They have to get all their paperwork, and I’m keeping track of who’s going to be in. As we get closer, making sure everybody’s in place for what they’re supposed to do and working on the layout. I have to work with the village; I have to work with public works, the whole shebang,” she said.
Sharenow said this year’s preparation went unexpectedly smoothly in the lead up to Saturday’s market.
“Typically, opening day is the most hectic because we have so many new vendors for the season. Every week, I send a lot of emails to them,” she said. “It’s crazy to run the market, but today is my favorite day. Everyone is hugging. It’s summer. [I love] the community part of it.”
Sharenow and other representatives from the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce stationed a tent for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps, or who have an Illinois Link card to access state assistance.
She said the program allows SNAP recipients to expend their benefits to buy prepared food and match an equal amount to spend on produce or other goods from vendors representing farms.
Representatives from Cycle Brookfield ran a bike valet near the front of the market for residents who decided to cycle — or even ride scooters or skateboards — rather than drive to the market, President Chris Valadez said. He said the effort is twofold to promote biking and get the word out to potential volunteers about the upcoming fourth annual Cycle Brookfield Criterium on Wednesday, July 22.
The market featured vendors like Jerry Loza, a veteran who sells hand-drawn art that he creates through an app on his phone. This year’s market is Loza’s second year as a vendor, he said.
“It’s convenient. I live in Berwyn,” he said. “The price is right; I love how it’s priced. After coming here once, it’s such a great crowd, so friendly. Everything is just perfect. I love how it’s done here.”
Another vendor was the O.A.K. Farm and Kitchen, an organic and free-range farm based in Palos Heights.
“We’ve been in business three years now. We set out with the goal to be a real staple of our community. We do a couple of local farmers markets, and here at Brookfield is one of them,” said Oliver Kolb, one of the farm’s founders.
He said they sell crops like lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, squash, zucchini and more as they grow throughout the summer and fall seasons.
A third vendor was Sarah Weissgerber, who operates LilyAnna’s Creations and crafts flower arrangements from sola wood.
“They’re hand painted, dipped, air-painted by me and then arranged. Some of the arrangements use 3D printing,” she said. “[The market] is fun. I like it.”
