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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v08n05)
And In The OTHER Cultural Districts... - Casey Jo Ailes
posted: Mar. 04, 2011

And In The Cultural Districts header

Recently I gave in and signed up for a Twitter account and when signing up you get the opportunity to pick people, groups and businesses to follow. I naturally was choosing arts related people and places but among one of my local choices was the Indy Winter Farmer's Market. I was hoping if I kept an eye on what they were up to I would finally manage to make time in my Saturday morning schedule to go shopping at the IWFM on a Saturday. The Saturday finally came and I found myself pulling up to the Maxwell, located at 530 East Ohio Street in downtown Indianapolis. I noticed plenty of people coming and going from the front doors. Before I even made it out of the car I saw my sister and her husband walking down the sidewalk; they were visiting the market to buy local honey. Once inside, with people everywhere, I was wonderfully overwhelmed with the aromas and the bustling of the vendors. I did not make it very far through the doors when I ran into another familiar face, Kathryn Dart, local artist and whom I share a studio with at the Harrison Center. The IWFM seems to be the place to be on Saturday mornings. I feel a little bad that it has taken me so long to get on board with shopping there. I am all about the summer farmer's markets as I have included them in my past columns, but seem to have been a step behind this season.
On any given Saturday one can taste pastries from Rene's Bakery, a cold glass of milk from Trader's Point Creamery and even take home a nice bottle of wine from New Day Meadery. If you are looking for eggs, poultry or pork that have been raised as naturally as possible I highly recommend Simpson's Farm. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and spent about twenty minutes talking with me and my family about how they prepare their poultry. If you are like me and get hungry when shopping there are plenty of vendors that will satisfy your hunger. Skillington Farms makes up a lovely breakfast sandwich that held me over till dinner. 3 Days in Paris offers fresh crepes that can entice most appetites.

Indy Winter Farmer's Market
Indy Winter Farmer's Market
image courtesy of Curtis Ailes


Coming up at the market one can shop for man's best friend at Eco 4 Paws or if baby booming is more your speed A Baby By Nature will be in house and if by chance neither of these are of any interest I was enticed by Dickinson Kitchenware enough to purchase a new hand-made cutting board.
If you have a busy schedule and like me have to write in your schedule to attend the IWFM then consider signing up for their seasonal weekly e-newsletter. Each week you can find out which vendors will be participating and keep up to date on the local food scene and sustainable living.
Taking the "sustainable living" a step further, the IWFM is a waste free zone. Meaning please bring your own reusable shopping bags to cut back on the need for paper or plastic bags. The market even has recycling and compost bins. Wow! Wouldn't this be great if every business in town thought this way? I remembered to bring my reusable shopping bag, but not knowing that I would be buying eggs at the market I did not bring a carton. I did notice some shoppers more earth conscious than myself who returned with their empty cartons to fill them. So next Saturday I will be returning with my egg cartons for a refill. Some vendors even offer a discount when you return your used jars.
The Indy Winter Farmers Market will continue to be open on Saturdays 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. through April 30th, 2011. For more information please visit www.indywinterfarmersmarket.org.



Casey Jo Ailes holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Herron School of Art and teaches at the Indianapolis Art Center. She is an award winning artist and focuses on photography and painting. Casey has been published nation wide and shows her work locally. Contact her at casey@BroadRippleGazette.com




casey@broadripplegazette.com
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