One of the things I miss most  in the late fall and winter is farmers’ markets.  I miss the fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.  I miss talking with the farmers who grow the food I’m eating.  I miss the energy of a farmers’ market, the company of my fellow food lovers, the scent of fresh coffee wafting through the crisp morning air.  It somehow doesn’t seem fair for it all to end in November.

    Good news!  This year we get to continue savoring  the pleasures of a farmers’ market through the fall, winter, and early spring.  The Countryside Farmers’ Market will be held the third Saturday of each month, November through April, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the historic Happy Days Lodge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a short 35-minute drive north.

    For the last few years, the Countryside Farmers’ Market has held successful holiday markets near Thanksgiving and Christmas,

and this year they’ve expanded their schedule.  “ We kept getting requests from customers,” explained Beth Knorr, the market manager, “and  the response from our vendors was overwhelming.  They all wanted to do it.” 

    So what will you find at the Countryside Market in the upcoming months?  Apples, winter squash, artisan cheeses and breads,  potatoes, cider, homemade pies and other baked goods, honey, maple and hickory syrups, meat, and dried beans, as well as fresh greens, scallions, and root vegetables harvested from farmers’ greenhouses.  In addition, the market will feature the work of local artists and craftspeople, including jewelry, handmade soaps, and pressed flower botanical art, and the great sounds of local muscians.  

    “We are so lucky,” said Knorr, “we have a gorgeous location.  It’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning.”  You can stroll through the lodge enjoying a cup of hot cider or coffee, and listen to music, shop for holiday food and gifts, and support local farms.

    Happy Days Lodge is at 500 W. Streetsboro Road (SR 303) in Peninsula.  For more information, visit the Farmers Market web page at www.cvcountryside.org and sign up for their e-newsletter.  You can contact Beth Knorr at farmersmarket@cvcountryside.org or 330-657-2538.