Farmers market to ‘provide food, nutrition, education and fun’: New manager to come – Salisbury Post

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Lee Ann Paulus is the new manager of the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market.

New Farmers Market Manager Lee Ann Paulus stands outside the entrance to the local market.

SALISBURY — Making the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market a fun place for all ages is what new manager Lee Ann Paulus wants to focus on for the market.

Born and raised in Salisbury, Paulus is married to Salisbury native Keith Paulus and they have two daughters, Megan, 15, and Grace, 13.

Paulus said her husband works in the forestry industry and she sold the farm so she could travel with him, which she did for three years. But they are now back and the family keeps nine goats, nearly 25 miniature cows, rabbits and chickens on their Salisbury farm. She does a lot of canning and preserving, so they also do some gardening, mostly for the family.

We’re “just having fun gardening,” Poulas says. “I’ve had a garden since I was a kid,” she said, although her husband hasn’t gardened much, but she’s always wanted to and they garden together. They also keep bees, build hives and sell honey. Therefore, Paulus is well versed in gardening and the tasks involved.

A list of farmers’ market stalls was posted on Facebook, and when my husband saw it for the first time, the couple discussed it. She realized that this would be fun for her, so she decided to talk to others about it and fill out her application.

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Poulas said. I love Salisbury. I’ve been here forever. We have a small family farm, so we’ve always promoted the outdoors and gardening and people looking to do business locally and here. I’m trying to support others doing the same thing. So I was really excited to think about farmers markets. ”

Paulus is a stay-at-home mom who takes care of and homeschools her children, and has never worked outside the home in 15 years, but she does online marketing, posts, and is physically active, so this is He said he thought it was wonderful. She’s only been in the market for one day, plus many other positive aspects of interacting with people outdoors, and you can tell she’s definitely a people-friendly person.

“I thought, “This is something I can do because I get to work with people who love produce, fresh food, and fresh produce.”

After applying for the position, several friends told her, “If there’s a job that’s perfect for you, this is it,” she said.

Paulus said it was a challenge, but fun.

“There’s a lot to learn and a lot to do, but so far it’s been a lot of fun.”

There are currently 21 vendors and 24 craft vendors who have announced their participation in the Farmers Market section.

She said there will be a monthly craft market in the gravel parking lot on the first Saturday of every month, along with other markets in the main market area and once a month in the side parking lot where music will also be played.

In addition to these vendors, Paulus said the Agricultural Extension Service will be setting up donation stations on the third Saturday of each month, hosting cooking demonstrations and fun events, as well as collecting donations for the Meals on Wheels. I shared it.

Other events the market is looking to host include blood pressure testing and other services, and “having community groups come and provide things to the community that may not be as accessible here in town,” he said. Poulas said. “The goal is to have some kind of event every week.”

Ongoing monthly fun events include a tomato tasting event in July; At this event, if gardeners are growing tomatoes and determine they have the largest tomatoes, they are encouraged to bring them to the weighing area. At the end of July, a prize is given to the person with the largest tomato.

The same thing is planned for August and Watermelon, she said.

Paulus is also considering holding a chili cookout in the fall, holding a scavenger hunt for children, and holding an art walk for children.

“We’re going to have a lot of events to bring the community in,” she said, adding that she hopes to have events for all ages and for the market to become a destination rather than just a stop. .

The stall spots in the main farmers’ market areas are full, butPaulus said she is still looking for artisans to participate and wants handmade, locally produced crafts for the space.

She also anticipates that July will be Kids Craft Month with a craft market held on the first Saturday of the month, where children will do crafts such as jewelry making, crocheting, sewing, and things kids have made. We invite you to participate. And if there’s a kid’s baker out there who can follow the baking guidelines set for the market, she’d love to do that too.

The market officially opens on April 20th, and business hours are 8 a.m. to noon, all seasons. We will be closed Thanksgiving week and the season will end on December 21st.

It won’t open in April, so items like tomatoes and pumpkins won’t be available yet, but produce like lettuce, some vegetables and onions will also be sold, as well as items like herbs, honey, flowers and meat from local meat producers. That’s planned, Poulas said. Bakery, strawberries should be ready soon.

“The market should be very rich,” she says.

New additions include food trucks, which she plans to use to “alternate between food trucks that are perfect for the morning hours and local chefs cooking local food” to promote their restaurants and other businesses. We want to give you the opportunity to come and make something if you want to teach us something. She highlights local items available at the market.

If you would like to receive an application to be a craft vendor, food truck operator or chef, or have any questions, please contact Powlas through the Salisbury Rowan Farmers Market Facebook.

She said the market is a fun event, a local place where you can find almost anything you want, and it’s about community, and encourages people to come for those reasons.

She said the market is “a place where you can visit with your neighbors, a safe place to come, a place that is child-friendly, a place where the elderly can come.” We are here for our community, providing food, nutrition, education and fun for everyone. ”