Farms are an important part of the Valley's history and should be an important part of its future. Farmers markets at historic sites are a great way to educate people about history, offer an interesting experience, and encourage us to eat locally produced food which is good for our health as well as the environment and the local economy. It's a great way to protect our working landscapes, too. And it's another great example of how partnerships are key to the success of preserving the heritage of this Valley.

Jan Reitsma, Executive Director, John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
National Heritage Corridor Commission

 

Farmers Market at the E.N. Jenckes Store Museum
Saturdays 8 AM - 1 PM  


Hosted by the Douglas Historical Society outside the historic E.N. Jenckes Store Museum, this market is filled with fresh produce from Whittier Farms, locally grown greens from Stone's Throw CSA, specialty bread from The Daily Bread Bakery Cafe, perennials and vegetable plants and lots more!

We have summer squash and zucchini from Whittier Farms, strawberries from Silvermine Farm,  baked goods and summer squash and zucchini from Whittier Farms, vegetable plants from Lazy Acres and perennial flowers from Windy Acres Farm. Our friends at Sweet Birch Farm are supplying locally grown greens and we've got  fresh eggs from One Whispering Pine. Our specialty breads arrive still warm from The Daily Bread Bakery Café and Sweet Zukes has jellies, jams and relish! Come by and say hello to the docents and volunteers of the Douglas Historical Society too!


The E.N. Jenckes Store Museum is located at 283 Main Street (Rt. 16) in Douglas.  Map

 

 

grafton gazeboGrafton Farmers Market on the Common
A Common setting, uncommonly fresh

Thursdays 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
July 9 - October 22, 2009

 

Each and every week local vendors and farmers will bring their fresh vegetables, fruit, plants, and baked goods. Expect lots of great produce, including plenty of fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, beans, peas, beets, garlic, and blueberries. Despite all the June rain, the fields are doing great at our three wonderful local farms - Houlden Farms of Grafton, Nourse Farm of Westboro, and Silvermine Sutton. We will also have beautiful flowers and plants from Mapel Plants on Brigham Hill and Sweetbriar Nurseries.  Paul's Center Bakery Millbury will round things out with delicious artisan breads, focaccia, and other baked delicacies.  Each week different nonprofit groups will be featured in our nonprofit tent sponsored by Gaudette Insurance.Please join us for the event, and mark off your calendar for every Thursday during the growing season! For more information, visit our website at http://graftonfarmer.wordpress.com/

 

 

Daniels Farmstead at Southwick Hill, Blackstone - Map

"Picnic at the Farm"
Starting July 12 Noon to 3:00 p.m. and on the 2nd and 4th Sundays through September

bvhm logoCome enjoy Daniels Farm, an 18th century farmstead and grounds, for a family picnic...shop for homegrown produce and home made treats... enjoy a barbecue lunch or bring your own! Family activities and educational programs will be offered.

Bring your own picnic or buy from the grill.   We have FRESH FREE RANGE EGGS, local summer squash, zucchini, rhubarb, greens, hot house tomatoes, local honey, maple syrup and home baked goodies!  We also offer assorted breads from the Daily Bread Bakery Cafe, wooden crafts, perennials and annuals. Each Sunday will be a program for young and old about life on the farm.  Bring the whole family and maybe you'll see our chicks hatch!  On July 12, enjoy our program, “Hens, Chicks & Eggs. Where did chickens come from?” We will review the breeds you can see on the Daniels Farm, debate free range vs.caged chickens, discuss anatomy, eggs, incubation, successful hatching, brooding and more. The eggs in the incubator are scheduled to hatch on the 12th!

Daniels Farm is located at 286 Mendon Street in Blackstone.

 

Farmers Market at Alternatives' Historic Whitin Mill Plaza
Sundays August 2 - September 27, 12 Noon - 3 PM
 Closed Labor Day Weekend
 

50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville

Come visit our Heritage Market Festival held on the Community Plaza at Alternatives’ Historic Whitin Mill. Foppema’s Farm and Lazy Acres Farm will be selling their fresh produce, and The Daily Bread Bakery Cafe will be offering a variety of delicious breads. Art and craft vendors will be there as well, offering everything from jewelry to needlework to calligraphy done by Maria Thomas.  

Come for shopping! Come for lunch! Come listen to live music! Musicians of different genres will be performing each week at our Market, and Uxbridge First Holiday Night will be there selling food.  

For more information about our Heritage Market Festivals, visit our website www.alternativesnet.org.

 

All markets are looking for local growers, vendors with homemade products, artists, crafters, people who offer educational demonstrations and others.  Please call Beckley Alley Gaudette, coordinator, to see if your product is a match with our markets. She can be reached at (508) 450-6408 or by e-mail at beckley3@verizon.net.

Why Heritage Markets?
The Blackstone Valley is rich in historic sites and we are always challenged to find a way to bring people together to share these treasures. Over the past several months, those interested in preserving our agricultural lands as well as our cultural landscapes realized that placing farmers markets at some of our historic sites could be successful in achieving this goal.

A steering committee was formed that guides the BVHM and a coordinator was hired to oversee the network and to provide support for each site. Coordinator Beckley Alley Gaudette works with them to analyze their needs and assists with market management, development of vending pools, development of cooperative management issues frameworks (operating procedures and bylaws), facilitation of market programming, and coordination of collaborative promotion (including development of web and other outreach resources).


We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

The Blackstone Valley Heritage Markets Steering Committee gratefully acknowledges the support of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission for funding to hire a coordinator; Alternatives for meeting space; Valley CAST! for coordination; Ellen Onorato for web site development; the Volunteers-in-Parks program and CorridorKeepers for assistance with this newsletter.



 

 

To explore other Blackstone Valley Farmers Markets, or to obtain other resources, click on any of the links below:

Burrillville, RI   Farmers Market
Pawtucket, RI   Farmers Market
Woonsocket, RI   Farmers Market
Worcester, MA   Farmers Market
 
Other Agricultural and Market Resources
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources 
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
New England Farmways