9 minute read
The Backyard Market is back
Courtesy of Backyard Market in Black Forest
Vendors from the first season of the Backyard Market at Black Forest show off their products in October 2020.
BACK FOR A SECOND ACT
After a successful first season, the Backyard Market in Black Forest is returning
By Allison Robenstein
The highly popular Backyard Market in Black Forest will return for a second season starting May 22.
Market Manager Theda Stone said over 60 vendors have applied to participate so far, and there is a waitlist for some categories of producers. All vendors must sell a tangible item or food product.
“The goal is to support each other and to be successful together,” Stone said of the family of vendors at the market.
Stone and Elba Barr started the market last year when the Black Forest Community Club asked residents what they would like to see in their region. A farmer’s market topped the resident’s requests, so the club hosted began hosting the weekly Saturday event in their “backyard,” an undeveloped field on the northwest side of the community building at 12530 Black Forest Road.
Some familiar vendors including Sawatch Artisan Foods, Julie Bee’s Honey Caramels, High Plains Farm, Good Steward Farms and Emerge Aquaponics all will be back for another year. Food trucks are welcome, too.
Stone said new vendors are bringing a variety of “culturally unique” pastries and artisanal breads to the 2021 market. Fresh organic free-range poultry and turkeys will be available and there will be at least one rancher selling ground beef, sausages and steaks.
Prospective vendors can fill out the application managemymarket.com — a web-based farmers market software.
On a sunny October day, masked customers shop at the Backyard Market in Black Forest.
Allison Robenstein/The Tribune
MAKING CONNECTIONS
The Backyard Market helped to forge some alliances between vendors, such as the partnership created between Megan’s Mushrooms and Sunshine Greens Farm.
Sunshine Greens Farm will offer nasturtium, cantaloupe and borage microgreens in addition to its 30 or so usual offerings. Owner Pamela Brown said she sells live plants to customers so that they can harvest their own super nutritious product.
Megan’s Mushrooms will offer Black Pearl Trumpet mushrooms on a regular basis this year. These were popular as an occasional special at last year’s market.
Youth vendors also enjoyed a strong reception in the inaugural season.
The popular Young Entrepreneur Program will continue this year. The program gives local children up to 18 years old “the opportunity to do a booth at the market at no cost or very small amount,” Stone said.
Children vendors fill out the paperwork online with their parents. Once it’s approved, their $20 application fee is reimbursed and their first visit to the market is free.
“The goal is they pay nothing or a very small amount, so that they can keep most or all their profits,” Stone said.
A new feature of the young entrepreneur program will be mentoring. If the kids would like, Stone and Barr can connect them to a vendor that is the same business or successful to tap into the vendor’s brain and “secrets.”
The youth program is dependent upon sponsorships. This gives businesses that don’t sell a tangible item a chance to participate. Roofers, plumbers and other service-based businesses might be interested, according to Stone.
“We will add their logo to our website (bfbackyardfarmers-
The popular Young Entrepreneur Program will continue this year. The program gives local children up to 18 years old “the opportunity to do a booth at the market at no cost or very small amount,” Market Manager ThedaStone said.
Photos courtesy of Backyard Market in Black Forest Emerge Aquaponics of Black Forest will be back for another season selling their crisp greens.
market.com) and heavily market them on social media,” Stone said.
Sponsors can help for just one week or for the entire season. Besides helping with the Young Entrepreneurs, businesses can also sponsor sustainable living classes or the Kid’s Corner, which offers a kid-friendly art or craft activity or game during the market.
The Girl Scouts of Colorado have signed on to assist on a few dates in the Kid’s Corner.
Sustainable Educational Experience, or SEE, is a nonprofit group that runs the Kid’s Corner. Their community garden off Old Ranch Road near Pine Creek High School, allows volunteers to learn about gardening. Stone said that last year they taught a class to kids called “All About Bees.”
Staff and students dressed in bee costumes for a fun learning experience. They’ve taught seed planting by describing how seeds germinate, healthy eating, sustainable living and even sponsor scavenger hunts.
SEE teaches adult classes, too. On April 17, SEE will hold a composting class at The Shire at Old Ranch. To register, visit sustainableeducationalexperience.org.
Pamela Brown, owner of Sunshine Green’s Farm, will be at the market again this year with a few new products, including nasturtium, cantaloupe and borage microgreens in addition to her usual extensive offerings. “I’m elated in anticipation for the market to open again and to see all of our customers,” Brown said.
Allison Robenstein/The Tribune Cards by Molly was one of the successful youth-run booths at the Backyard Market in Black Forest during its 2020 season. 11-year-old Molly sold handmade cards from her booth, sponsored by Young Entrepreneurs.
MARKET SAFETY AND DETAILS
Stone and Barr said they intend to run one of the safest markets with respect to the pandemic and will do whatever it takes to bring the community together. At the market last summer, masks were required, hand sanitizer was readily available and social distancing was encouraged.
Last year, the market hosted tote bag and water bottle giveaways, as well as raffles. Depending upon where El Paso County is on the COVID dial at the time of any given market, Stone said the market hopes to have live music, sustainable living classes and chef experiences this year. Sustainable gardening classes, including gardening at high altitude, are also planned.
There will be fun themes throughout the season, including posted recipes for items you can purchase from the market. A Building Your Own Charcuterie Board event is planned for one Saturday. Pay a visit to the Backyard Market in Black Forest Facebook (facebook.com/BackyardMarketinBF) and Instagram (instagram. com/backyardmarketinbf) pages to learn more.
Parking can be an issue when this many people come together. On any given market day, you’ll find cars parked along both sides of Shoup Road near the Black Forest Community Club, as well as in its small parking lot. For the 2021 season, the Black Forest Community Church, 6845 Shoup Road, has given their permission for patrons to park in their lot, Stone said..
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6950 Shoup Road, also allows parking.
The market runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on most Saturdays, May 22-Oct. 23.
A bit of advice? Head to the market early. Vendors have been known to sell out!
Black Forest Arts & Crafts Guild spring show in its 57th year
By Allison Robenstein
Not rain or snow or the pandemic will hold back the Black Forest Arts & Crafts Guild from holding its spring show.
Per tradition, it will be held at the Black Forest Community Club, 12530 Black Forest Road. But this year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pandemic guidelines will be followed, including requiring the wearing of masks and social distancing.
According to bfacg.org, the Colorado nonprofit is the oldest continuously run arts guild west of the Mississippi River. Member artist Patti Kryzanowski said it was established in 1964 by “a group of women in the Black Forest that grew to encompass both arts and crafts.” Today, there are 73 members.
The guild “promotes and pursues activities in fine arts, decorative arts and crafts and culinary endeavors” and holds two shows per year, Kryzanoski said.
The spring event is geared more toward welcoming the new season, while the fall show is focused on the holidays.
“The show is run like a boutique,” Kryzanowski said, “and has a central cash register” for ease of purchasing. Each artist is given a cordoned off area in the community center.
There are knits, candles, pottery and home décor. A baby and young children’s section offers clothing and homemade toys. One year there were marshmallow guns and another featured homemade monster stuffed toys.
There is something for everyone at the show, which is not known for breaking the bank. “We’re known for being an extremely well-priced venue,” Kryzanowski said. Items are priced from one dollar to hundreds.
The garden section includes cute
MORE INFORMATION
Website: bfacg.org
Facebook: facebook.com/BFACG
Instagram: instagram.com/blackforestartsandcrafts
ABOVE: 7-year-old Quentin Allen of Colorado Springs checks out “whirlygigs” for sale Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, at the Black Forest Arts and Craft Guild Fall Show and Sale at the Black Forest Community Center.
The Gazette file
RIGHT: The Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild will hold its 57th annual spring show April 29-May 2. In addition to pottery galore, there will be paintings, fiber arts and so much more.
Courtesy of Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild
Courtesy of Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild Patti Kryzanowski creates fiber arts, like these adorable pillows.
The Gazette file Ashley Ramirez browses through candies and fudges in the snack section of the annual Black Forest Arts and Crafts Guild fall boutique at the Black Forest Community Club on Nov. 5, 2017.
planters, garden markers, bulbs and potted herbs. Typically there are also a variety of bird baths and wind chimes.
Pets aren’t forgotten either.
If shoppers work up an appetite, never fear. The culinary section is chock full of homemade jams, cakes, breads and cookies. “Of the people that come to the show almost no one comes out without a baked good,” Kryzanowski said.
Kryzanowski, who is a biologist by day, said of the annual sale: “Everything has to be handmade. There are no commercial sellers at all.”
She works in fiber arts, upcycling wool into pillows and home decorating items. “I try to create stuff that is environmentally responsible.”
Churches near the venue allow patrons to park in their lots. Runners are available to help carry items to cars, “especially for those faithful attendees who are aged,” Kryzanowski said.
The April 28 show will be held from 4-7 p.m. for those who don’t feel comfortable shopping with large groups of people. Attendance will be limited.
The guild sponsors scholarships to help local students attend higher education. It started in 2006 and is awarded to graduating high school seniors. Scholarships go to those students “who demonstrate academic competence, aptitude, community involvement and school participation,” states the website.
Students may apply for scholarships through April 9. The application is online at tinyurl. com/48phnb2u.
The guild also creates gift baskets for rural postal workers each year and is involved in Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado projects. In fact, spring show patrons are encouraged non-perishable donations.
