Medfield's Small Farmers' Market has Quality and Diversity

Although the Medfield Farmers’ Market, found on the grounds of the historic First Parish Meeting House on North St., adjacent to Meeting House Pond, each Thursday June through September, is small in comparison to many in larger area communities, it prides itself on its diversity. It also tries to offer one-of-a-kind vendors for a broader variety of products of services. The Needham Bank is a corporate sponsor of the weekly market.

White Barn Farm provides a colorful display of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers each week as soon as these appear in the Wrentham fields. The farmers use environmentally sound and organic farming methods.

Nicki LeMabre, Art by Nicki, is an intermittent vendor who has captivated visitors to the market with her Selenite jewelry. When she is on site she can be seen creating the unique pieces as the customer waits. Selenite is a form of gypsum, CaSO4-2(H2O), hydrated calcium sulfate. Gypsum is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. Selenite is often used to help “alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost daytime energy." According to her website, Nicki will be at the market again on July 27 and each week in August

There is a soap maker, MDS soaps, from Norfolk whose handmade soaps are all the rage because some, the felted ones, have a real whimsical quality with faces of Santa, animals and logos. This vendor joins many others most Thursdays.

Local honey is good for you and is available through an area bee keeper who gave up a day job to expand his hobby by becoming a full time bee keeper on Little Bee Farm. His one acre of land is packed full of vegetables, perennials and shrubs to attract the bees. He is fully aware of the dangerous affects pesticides have on bees and tries to educate the public regarding that practice. In addition to the raw honey found on that table, other products include handmade soaps, hand creams, body lotion, honey candy, candles, honey mustard and lip balms.

The first Parish bake sale table offers fresh pies: double-chocolate, moist and chewy brownies; frozen lemonade pops; refreshing iced tea and lemonade as well as dog biscuits. There is even a new area with three sets of steel bistro tables and chairs, which people may use while enjoying a snack or meal. Parents may also shop knowing their children are safely having fun at First Parish’s activity table full of coloring books and large-piece puzzles, including a Star Wars puzzle. Proceeds from the sale of the table’s offerings go directly to maintain the historic meeting house.

Food flavored with Jamaican spices has become one of the popular staples of the weekly market. A former Medfield resident who studied food preparation in the West Indies, in addition to other regions, decided he wanted to introduce the spices from the islands to the Boston area. Wagwan’s Jamaican jerk pork and jerk chicken cones may be eaten as the consumer browses among other vendors selling eggs, prepared paleo cuisine on the Pangea van, jellies and jams, children’s clothing sales in a mobile Kids Emporium showroom and fresh seafood right from the Boston market by way of Jordan Brothers Seafood Truck. Services, such as wellness clinics, energy policies and gardening information from Starbucks suggesting the use of free coffee grounds are also available at least once or twice a monthly or weekly.

Parking is available behind the church and along North St. Although this is usually a rain or shine event weekly, the vendors or the market committee may cancel on short notice if the weather is expected to be severe and dangerous; as was the case last week. Thanks to those vendors and customers who did brave the elements.