Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Haskins and Market Community Coordinator Hanna Bavuso present to Jamestown School Board (October 25, 2022)

The Jamestown Public Market has received a $50,000 from the USDA to bring edible gardens to Washington Middle and Bush Elementary Schools.

Public Market Community Coordinator Hannah Bavuso, speaking to the Jamestown School Board, said bringing edible gardens to the schools is a new initiative, “The idea of these edible school gardens is to really engage students in learning about where their food comes from. So taking it from, ‘This is something good to eat. This is not good for you to eat,’ and really showing individuals about what that means. And then empowering them to learn how to do it on their own.”

Bavuso said they will be helping Washington Middle School revitalize their garden and using funds to put tower gardens in at Bush Elementary.

She said the public market had worked with the Summer LEAP program at Fletcher and Bush schools this past summer, working with 165 students, “And really talked about where their food comes from and got them engaged with planting seeds, and we created business plans around food. It was really fun to watch them get inspired and learn about this really important aspect of not just how to nourish our bodies but actually how to grow the things that do nourish their bodies.”

Market Director Linnea Haskins said the program is not only a way to help make Jamestown a healthier community, but it’s also a way to inspire kids to get involved in local agriculture and the local economy.

Market Director Linnea Carlson said the final month of the market’s season will be in the Covenant Manor Apartments community space. The entrance for this location is on 23 West Third Street. Carlson said market hours for October will be 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

She said they hope the move indoors will help protect vendors and customers from potential inclement weather.

The final outdoor market will be this Saturday, September 24. The Public Market’s season ends Saturday, October 29.

Photo Credit: Timothy Muffitt

The Jamestown Public Market will join markets across the country to celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week starting Sunday, August 7.

Market Director Linnea Carlson said Mayor Eddie Sundquist will mark celebrations at the market on Saturday, August 13 with a proclamation in honor of the week, “And then we’re going to have a special tent at market that people can visit to get information on why farmer’s markets are so important. They can get a farmer’s market (temporary) tattoo. We have a nice photo booth. And then we’re really excited, we’re going to be beginning sales.. the first time we’re selling market-themed t-shirts.”

Carlson said two women-owned businesses, Art, Craft and Cloth and Plantlife Clothing, have designed two different shirts with half the proceeds benefiting the Jamestown Public Market. She said the shirts will be available at the market and also on the market’s website.

Visit jtownpublicmarket.org for more information.

The market will once again take place on West Third Street between North Main and Cherry Streets from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine.

Market Director Linnea Carlson said there will be a couple new vendors this year, “Including Carlberg Farms, which is a new produce vendor. We’re very excited about them joining us. We have a new bakery called Magic Cat Bakery who will be at some Saturdays which we’re really excited about. And then we have a lot of our favorite vendors who are returning every week as well – Hidden Valley Produce, Aber’s Acres, Pearl City Popcorn will be there quite a bit this summer.”

Carlson said live music will be back every week at the market along with the SPROUTS program, “So, for every activity that children participate in it’s free. It’s mainly geared toward elementary and middle-age kids, but we’ve had kids all the way up to age 18 participate, which is cool. They will receive a $2 voucher each week to spend on fresh fruits and veggies. And that’s made possible thanks to Novel Destination and owner Carrie Wolfgang which we’re really appreciative of her ongoing support.”

Carlson said the Market is also collaborating with local festival events including Jamestown Pride this Saturday as well as the Scandinavian Festival on July 16. On July 23, the Children’s Market will return.

The Jamestown Public Market accepts SNAP-EBT benefits, WIC-Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks, and participates in the Double Up Food Bucks Program.

For more information, visit https://www.jtownpublicmarket.org/

We bring you the presentation by Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Carlson to Jamestown City Council to request funding for a Food Action Plan and Jamestown’s Kitchen.

Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Carlson presents to Jamestown City Council on a proposal to do a Food Action Plan and also obtain funding for a “Jamestown Kitchen.” (May 16, 2022)

The Jamestown Public Market is requesting funding from the City to create a Food Action Plan and “Jamestown’s Kitchen.”

Market Director Linnea Carlson said for the last four years the market has operated as a food system and food advocacy organization with the mission to build Jamestown’s food system, “And we do that in a variety of ways. Not just through the Jamestown Public Market, where we offer incubation space for small businesses and economic development, but also through the support of agriculture with our Mobile Market, as well as for our community at large. And also, we’ve taken over the Grow Jamestown Community Gardens on Lakeview and Washington (Streets).”

Carlson said the COVID-19 Pandemic was an eye-opener with the experience of food shortages due to supply chain issues as well as the increased need for food pantry access. She said they also learned that Jamestown is “data poor” in terms of not having information on what the city needs in terms of food beyond food access, “It’s talking about people who want to start food-based businesses. People who want to see culturally appropriate foods at the market. Farmers that need support, whether that’s funding opportunities to help them expand their farm, to hire new staff, or to get new equipment. The second piece that we look at when we look at our city, is that we have extensive opportunities to invest in local, small business. We have virtually no value added food processors in this community and in the region.”

Carlson said the next step for the Public Market is to create a Food Action Plan that is focused on local food business development and neighborhood health. She said this would be an 18 month process to survey the community on what they want or need for food, “It would also work to, at the end of the 18 month plan create real long-term strategies. And we would be working with not only community members, but also local non-profits, local businesses, local farmers, and other funders to understand how we can invest in food in this city in a sustainable manner.”

Carlson said the project would help identify easy, achievable food projects and initiatives they can hit the ground running on. She said the cost to do the Food Action Plan is mainly in staff costs to implement the project as well as extensive community outreach throughout the city. She estimates the cost to do a Food Action Plan is $145,000; which she hopes the city would be willing to fund using American Rescue Plan monies.

Carlson also presented on a proposal to create a “Jamestown’s Kitchen.” This would be a community space that could house the public market year round and also create a space for the development of culinary and hospitality skills. The cost for this proposal was estimated at nearly $2 million, with Carlson hoping ARP funds could be allocated by the city.

Carlson said she’s been in discussions with the Jamestown Department of Development and, if funding is received, she hopes to have the Food Action Plan completed by 2023 and the Jamestown’s Kitchen open by 2024.

Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Carlson and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Minister Jessika Frederick talk about the return of the Mobile Market CSA program as well as the Grow Jamestown event happening in April.

Public Market Director Linnea Carlson the CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, program was started last year as an effort to reach more people beyond the public market while supporting the Mobile Market.

She said when people sign up for the CSA, you’re not just supporting local farmers but supporting the Mobile Market, “Because some of that, your investment, goes into our general operating budget for things like gas and maintenance for our vehicle and that sort of thing. But what you get in return, for the 16 weeks that the Mobile Market runs, every Wednesday you come to St. Luke’s. We have a pick-up time frame. And you will get a crate of fresh fruit and vegetables.”

Carlson said 50 people signed up for the CSA last year and they hope to double that to 100 people this year.

Carlson said there are three levels to the CSA , with the first level being good for those who have never done a CSA and who want to introduce more seasonal vegetables into their diets, “We suggest that you start with our fun size which is the smallest. But then we have two sizes up. We have a family size and then a full size. And that depends on, you know, we recommend the full size for people who just absolutely love their vegetables and they know they’re going to eat the variety.”

Carlson said you can learn more about the Public Market programs and sign up for the CSA at https://www.jtownpublicmarket.org/.

Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Carlson said they are partnering with the Jamestown Audubon Community Nature Center thanks to a grant from the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation to revitalize the garden, “So we’re replacing some of the garden beds that have aged out. The wood has gotten a little rotten. The beds need some help. But we’re also going to be weeding, turning the compost, and then preparing some native plant beds.”

Carlson said the ornamental plants that had been planted before were not conducive to the ecosystem, so native plants will be installed in June.

The event at the community garden located at Lakeview Avenue and East Sixth Street will take place 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Carlson added that sign-ups for a Grow Jamestown Community Garden plot are also available. Plots are $25 each. More information is available at jtownpublicmarket.org.

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley caught up with Jamestown Public Market Director Linnea Carlson on how the 2021 market season went plus some new things being planned for 2022.