Success story

Twenty years ago, a group of 25 vendors ventured into the community to start a farmers’ market on a corner of Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Some of those original vendors are still carrying on the tradition and will be a part of the birthday cake celebration June 24 at the new market location in Hayden, at Prairie Avenue and U.S. Highway 95. Paul Smith and Ellen Scriven of Killarney Farms, Brian Howard and Susie “The Tomato Lady” Faville of Mountain View Farms, and Cindy dePaulis of the Lavender Frog are still helping to make the farmers’ market a success.

“This year has been incredible,” says market board member Dennis Shour. “The market has had a major impact on the community and it gets better every year.”

Shour and his company, Just A Lil’ Woodshop, handcrafts birdhouses along with smaller wood products to sell at not only the market but at many home and garden shows. If you want a small birdhouse, a chateau-style birdhouse, or a butterfly, ladybug or bat house, he has it all.

The farmers’ market has changed locations over the years, and its current location is due to the generosity of Judy and Steve Myers of Parkwood Properties, who donated the site for the Saturday market. Also new this summer is a Wednesday night farmers’ market in downtown Coeur d’Alene from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fifth between Sherman and Front Streets.

Shour says farmers’ market guidelines ensure that only top quality goods and services are sold. Main ingredients must come from the vendors’ farm or garden or be purchased at the farmers’ market. Shoppers this month can look forward to such goodies as asparagus, mushrooms, peas and strawberries. July brings the blueberries, carrots and new potatoes, while in August, September and October, shoppers can find eggplants, cucumbers, gooseberries, the coveted huckleberries and squash, and of course, always fresh flowers and herbs.

Fresh produce is a big draw, says Barb Arnold of Nothing But Herbs, who is the market’s public relations person. Seventy percent of the market’s 65 vendor sell produce, and up to 2,500 people may visit the market on summer Saturdays.

Produce includes meats, such as lamb from Good Shepherd Lamb Co. in Bonners Ferry. The smell of fresh-baked bread from the Pasty Depot or a country pot pie from Mary Richardson’s Country Pot Pie can fill the air. Owners of Mary Richardson’s pies, Gary and Anita Jacobs, offer a large variety of meal and dessert pies you can take home and bake.

Wandering Willow is another vendor offering unique products – furniture and garden pieces made with branches. Owner Gail Johnson says this year’s market has been “unbelievable and very busy.” She says that one woman even chased down their truck when she saw they were carrying the popular trellis pieces

The market is also about entertainment and music. Each week you can hear bluegrass, fiddle music, folk, oldies, rock or country.

While walking through the market, it is easy to admire the dedication and pride each vendor has for their products or crafts. Jeff Medved, who owns Compass Rose Leathercraft, says he enjoys creating some interesting leather pieces. At the market you can learn about gardening, craft design or even visit with the alpacas and speak “alpaca talk” provided by Serano alpacas, who will give you a lesson.