June 3 marks the first Huss Project Farmer’s Market of the 2023 season. The market will take place every Saturday under the pavilion at 1008 8th St. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September, and will feature fresh and local produce, syrup, honey, baked goods, and more. 

The Huss Project, located in a historic elementary school building and a project of *culture is not optional, aims to build “an inclusive and flourishing marketplace that connects neighbors with local growers, producers, and artisans to contribute to a sustainable local food system for all in our city,” as stated on the Huss Project Farmer’s Market webpage. Produce from the Huss Project farm will be available at the market, as will produce from other farms in the area.

Market Manager Margaret Wenger told Watershed Voice there will be many of the same market vendors as previous years with a few exciting additions. “It’s largely a similar lineup as last year, but I think this year we are trying to have more consistent vendors each market,” Wenger said. Corey Lake Orchards, Wendy’s Farm Fresh Vegetables, Full Circle Farm, and the Huss Project Farm will be onsite Saturdays with a wide range of fresh produce. Wenger said the summer produce at the beginning of the market season may start off small, but the community can look forward to cabbages, greens, beets, kohlrabi, rhubarb, radishes, and a variety of vegetable, flower, and herb plants this Saturday. 

Baked good vendors for the 2023 market season will include Best Day Ever Baked Goods, Tastefully Delicious, Tristan’s Treats, GG’s Cookies, and Deborah’s scones. According to baker Deborah Haak-Frost, the scone options vary by season with flavors like strawberry and rhubarb in early summer, blueberries in mid-summer, and apples in the fall. Haak-Frost said she will also be bringing back a fan-favorite: English Toffee. All proceeds from the purchase of scones will go to Watershed Voice.

Fresh eggs will be at the market and provided by vendors Bentley’s Over Eazy Eggs and Tim’s Farm Fresh Eggs. Just Wild by Nature will have a variety of maple syrups, liquid soaps, and lip balms. Mama Case’s Kitchen, a new vendor for 2023, will be selling teas, oils, candles, and sage sticks. Soup mixes, coffee, local honey, and other fair trade food items will be on site for purchase from World Fare.

Every second Saturday the farmer’s market will also feature art vendors, live music, and other special events in addition to the usual market fare. According to Wenger, there will be at least one prepared food truck each Second Saturday, with Weenie Kings being the food vendor for June 10. Live music that day will be provided by Shane Tripp, a singer/songwriter from Grand Rapids who specializes in “freak/psychedelic folk” music. Art vendors for June will be Cords and Clouds, House Portraits and Calligraphy, Sauk Trail Sawmill, and Wigglebutts Barkery, LLC.

Thanks to a grant from the St. Joseph Great Start Collaborative, Second Saturdays will feature musical storybook events for children provided by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. The storybook performances will begin at 10 a.m. and are in partnership with the Three Rivers Public Library, Great Start, and the Huss Project. June 10’s storybook will be Hum and Swish by Matt Myers. Other activities for kids at the market will include a mud kitchen, swing, sandbox, and basketball court. Children accompanied by a parent or guardian can also explore the Huss Project’s woods trail. 

In partnership with the Three Rivers Public Library, Huss will be hosting monthly Storywalks in their backyard. Each month from May through October, books will be available to read on signs posted along a publicly available walking path at the Huss Project. The book for the month of June is Children of the Forest. 

Wenger said she feels as if the market grew significantly in turnout and community support from 2021 to 2022. “I still feel like we have space to grow as more and more people are learning about us and coming out to support the market,” she said. “I’m excited to see that happen. It feels like there’s still space for growth on our end to take more vendors, but then also there’s space for growth in more and more customers caring about us. We have such a diverse lineup of things. Even if buying fresh vegetables isn’t your thing, there are events and baked goods and something for everyone.”

Beca Welty is a staff writer and columnist for Watershed Voice.