Historic Lewes Farmers Market celebrates bees and blueberries June 21
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market presents the very best of mid-June fresh produce this Saturday, June 21. The Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society at 110 Shipcarpenter St. at the corner of West Third and Shipcarpenter streets.
Come to the market early to purchase the freshest produce Delmarva has to offer. Customers will also find meat, fish, chicken, eggs, breads, milk, yogurt, ice cream, plants, herbs and more, as well as fresh flowers for the table.
As part of the market's educational series, there will be a double header demonstration again this week. At 9 a.m., at the kitchen, Henry and Carrie Bennett of Bennett Orchards will discuss how they produce not only their mouth-watering peaches, but also the luscious blueberries that market patrons have come to enjoy and that they will bring to the market Saturday. Dedicated to reviving blueberry production in southeastern Sussex County, Bennett Orchards planted a state of the art eight-acre blueberry field in 2011. The original Bennett farm has been tilled by six successive generations of Bennetts since 1867. Bennett Orchards now is within an Agricultural Preservation District and has been listed as one of Delaware's historic Century Farms. Carrie Bennett will also offer a mouth-watering blueberry recipe.
At 10:30 a.m. they will celebrate National Pollinator Week. Ever wonder about how honey is harvested or about how bee keepers care for bees and their hives? This week’s demonstration by Dave Baues of Baues’ Busy Bees answers these questions in celebration of National Pollinator Week. Given the current concerns about Colony Collapse Disorder, his presentation - titled The Life Cycle of the Hive and the Life Cycle of the Bee - could not be more timely. Baues will have on hand an empty hive, hive tools, a veil (what he wears when working with the bees) and, weather permitting, an observation hive. Among other honey products, Baues' Busy Bees, a long-time market vendor, offers bee pollen, a high protein food supplement that helps people suffering from pollen allergies
The fun and popular Children's Reading Program at the market takes place 9 to 10 a.m. every Saturday at the School House at the Lewes Historical Society Complex. The Lewes Public Library is sponsoring this with us, and Maureen Miller, children's librarian, reads the stories and does projects with the kids. For ages 3 to 8, but all children are welcome and encouraged to attend with their parents. Each week, a special book is chosen to reflect the themes of growth, change and healthy eating. This week, in keeping with the market theme, the featured book is "Ant and Honey Bee: What a Pair" by Megan McDonald.
The Market continues to process SNAP (EBT Food Stamps). To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM will match up to $10 with HLFM Bonus Bucks. SNAP participants are encouraged to go to the SNAP Information Tent at the Market to redeem the Bonus Bucks incentive.
Specific types and varieties of fresh meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, flowers, and plants are listed by vendor in the HLFM newsletter sent to patrons on the first Thursday of the month during the market season. Newsletters the remainder of the month will highlight featured vendors and selected produce. To receive the HLFM newsletter, email historiclewesfarmersmarket@comcast.net to be added to the HLFM subscription list.
More information about the market is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.
