Guest Post: Farsley Farmers Market (UK)
This week I have a guest post from Farsley Farmers Market, in Farsley Village in the Yorkshire Dales of England, UK. I was chatting to Jo Reilly about the Farsley Farmers Market and thought it would be great to learn a little about this local Farmers market that promotes homemade products to the local surrounding area.
Meeting on the 4th Saturday of each month, Farsley Farmers Market is in it third year of bringing fresh local produce to people in the area as well as creating an environment for people to meet and catch up.
Here is a bit about the market by Jo Reilly.
Farsley Farmers Market
Farsley Farmers Market is just a baby. It will be celebrating its 3rd Anniversary Sat 25th March 2017!
It is not run by the Council, but was set up by the Farsley Business Forum. This group is attended by representatives of many businesses and retailers, individuals and St John’s Rev. Paul Tudge. The Rev. offered St. John’s Hall and car park for its venue as they are nicely positioned at the top of Farsley Town Street.
The plan was to improve local weekend sales and promote some local businesses, such as Sutcliffes Greengrocers, who stood at the first few events, and the local butcher, Harvey Davis, who supplies bacon and sausages for St. John’s Kitchen. For the launch many businesses offered a 10% discount to market customers on the day.
The Market operates all year round, each 4th Saturday of the month, but we also hold the Market on Farsley Festival weekend and for Farsley Christmas lights, when we trade from Sunny Bank Mills car park.
Being a small affair we strive to not duplicate stalls, so we are always on the lookout for something different. Stu James, Proprietor of S&S James and Market Co-ordinator, is the Man to speak to. Chris Burk ensures each event is family friendly by booking attractions like local Circus Trainer, Nicky Noodles, or animal rescue charities like Oggles Hoggy Rescue. I have been managing the media side since the new Promotion Team was formed in Jan 2016 and provide themed colouring pages each month for St John’s hall plus I currently serve in the kitchen.
In spring 2016 we acquired our own market stalls so the Rev. and some close friends have to rise early, set these up and drive up the Leeds Ring Road securing Market posts along the way.
We are non-profit making, but seek to ensure Traders and Customers alike have a fun and fruitful experience and choose Farsley first for their local shopping.
Christmas Time
Farsley Farmers Market ended the year with a Christmas Eve event . It was a risky undertaking and as the time drew near and the weather worsened, we became very nervous. To our amazement the strong winds forecast for mid-morning, never transpired, and many of the stallholders had sold out by midday.
Indoors the Kitchen, ably manned by members of St John’s Church, was overwhelmed by the demand for bacon or sausage sandwiches, toasted fruit loaf, biscuits, teas and coffees.
The attendance was high and a bumper morning was had by most of our traders.
Throughout the morning we served free roast chestnuts with warm mead to all our Customers and seasonal tunes rang out from St John’s Bell Tower followed by performances from Farsley Village Singers and Jessica May Frost. Miss Frost collected funds for Candlelighters Cancer Charity and additional fundraising for Save the Children was carried out at Calverley Candle Cos. Kids Waxworks table. A figure approaching £160 was raised in all and the Christmas spirit spread far & wide.
Farsley Farmers Market is all set for 2017 and began again on Sat 28th January. We will then meet each fourth Saturday of the month. St John’s hope to keep the Church open on Market days for viewing of the ongoing restoration work, as they have in 2016.
To enquire about trading at our Market, speak with Stu at the next event.
Jo Reilly
FFM Promotions Team
Contact
To find out more about Farsley Farmers Market you can visit their Facebook Page on Farsley Farmers Market. To learn more about the town and the market you can visit the town website Farsley Village for more information.
