Lewes Farmers Market celebrates Pollinators Week June 23
On Saturday, June 23, at 10 a.m., the Historic Lewes Farmers Market will celebrate National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, with a pollinator demonstration by beekeeper Dave Baues, who will describe the lifecycle of the bee, how beekeepers care for bees and their hives, and how honey is harvested. He will show an empty hive frame, hive tools and protective clothing and - weather permitting - an observation hive.
Bees are necessary, as these tiny pollinators transfer pollen and seeds from one plant to another, fertilizing the plant so it can produce food. Cross-pollination helps at least 30 percent of the world's crops and 90 percent of wild plants to thrive. Without bees to spread seeds, many plants - including food crops - would die off.
This is an especially great demo for kids.
The market opens at 8 a.m. at George H. P. Smith Park with 34 vendors bringing everything from kohlrabi to carrots to summer squash, and tomatoes. blueberries and cherries are just in season. There will also be eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk, ice cream, grass-fed pork, beef, and lamb, fresh oysters, and much more. The market is open rain or shine, but, if it is raining, the market moves to Shields Elementary School parking Lot (Savannah Road and Sussex Drive).
The HLFM Wednesday Outdoor Market at Crooked Hammock Brewery is open every Wednesday from 8 to 11 a.m., with an expanded number of vendors. The market is located at Crooked Hammock Way and Kings Highway in Lewes.
At 9 a.m., Jennifer Noonan, the children's librarian at Lewes Public Library will read “Jack's Garden” by Henry Cole. Just under 8,900 children and their adults have come to Children's Story Time at the Market since this partnership program between the HLFM and the Lewes Public Library began in 2008.
The market continues its SNAP (EBT Food Stamps) program. To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM matches up to $20 each participant each week with HLFM Bonus Bucks. SNAP participants are encouraged to come to the SNAP tent at the market to pick up the bonus $20 in tokens to use at the market. WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers will also now be accepted at both the Saturday and Wednesday markets.
The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Ample parking can be found at the Shields Elementary School and Lewes School parking lots (intersection of Savannah Road and Sussex Drive), a short walk to the market. The market provides a Veggie Valet service to help customers carry bags and melons (when they are in season) back to their cars. This service is located right outside the HLFM Information Tent.
More information about the market is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org. Contact historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net or call 302-644-1436. To receive the HLFM newsletter, email them at historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net to be added to the HLFM list.
