Week Three – Well, Let’s Just Say it was a Little Crazy

Hundreds of locals and out-of-town visitors swarmed downtown Tipp City on Saturday to enjoy the Antiques and Artisans Day festival, which included the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, a classic car show, and the pancake breakfast. The largest downtown event in recent memory, the Antique and Artisans Day show saw Main Street packed with shoppers as customers browsed the antiques and collectibles vendors and visited downtown local businesses. Shoppers also enjoyed the Farmers’ Market and dozens of classic cars parked on Main between Third and the train tracks – each event was coordinated to maximize the number of visitors in the downtown. Basking in the beautiful weather, visitors and shoppers toted bags, vegetables, antiques, and all manner of items as they perused the varied collectible items and decorative products available for purchase.

The Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market had it’s largest turnout ever, as well, and added three new vendors: Nashville Farms, specializing in vegetables and produce; Woodlawn Gardens, offering produce, baked goods, and home-made birdhouses; and Downing Fruit Farms, with a large selection of items. The Market was scrambling for spaces to put their vendors as the location of the Antiques and Artisans show necessitated a relocation of the Market to free up vehicular access to the Methodist Church parking lot from Third Street. Greg Enslen, member of the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market Committee, said that the “Market did very well and will be back in it’s regular location next week.” He also said that, with all of their major vendors now appearing at the Market, it should grow in size and popularity over the next few weeks. “We hope people will come out and see what we have to offer,” he said.

Week Two Goes Well

Even with the dark clouds looming and a few droplets of rain, the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market had an outstanding second week, with two new vendors and lots of customers. Lisa Howell joined us, bringing pies, foccacia and other baked goods to our Market — between our two baked goods vendors, customers can find almost anything they’re looking for. The Earth’s Center also joined us, handing out coupons and getting potential customers interested in their pilates, zumba and reiki classes.

Thanks to everyone who has come out to support the Market the first two weeks – it’s been a huge success. Don’t miss next week’s official GRAND OPENING, when we’ll have lots of new vendors for you to shop from. And don’t forget to buy your “Friends of the Market” membership – your support makes a difference!

Farmers’ Market Starts Off with a Bang!

The members of the Farmers’ Market staff want to thank our local friends for the great turnout and excellent sales at the first week of the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market on Saturday. If you got a chance to come out, thanks a lot!

We estimated more than 400 shoppers visited the Market between 9 and Noon, and our eleven vendors did great business; in fact, a couple of our vendors sold out of products and vowed to bring more products next week! We will be adding add at least one more new vendor next week and, in week 3 on June 30th, we’re expecting our biggest week to date, as we celebrate our Grand Opening with several new vendors joining us, including three more fruit and produce vendors. Thanks for coming out! And, if you didn’t make it this week, be sure to come see us next week!

Sales of the “Friends of the Market” bags were off the charts — thanks to everyone who became a new member – you are really helping support the Market. As we move further into the season, the mix of coupons included in the bags will change, but we guarantee good value for your $25. If you didn’t purchase one this week, you can either buy one from our website via Paypal or purchase one next week at the Market! For more information, visit the website at www.tippecanoefarmersmarket.com and click on “Friends.” And see you next Saturday at the Market!

The Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market Committee and the Downtown Tipp City Partnership would especially like to thank our vendors, including Spring Hill Nurseries, Bowman and Landes, Soy Michelle, The Muddy Truck Patch, EAT for Life Farms, Trophy Nut, Spring Run Farms, and Soul Creations. We’d also like to thank the Monroe Township Trustees, the City of Tipp City, Glaser Softwater, Weiler Welding, Remax Professionals, ERA Comprehensive Real Estate, and Tipp Monroe Community Services.

Did you take photos of the Market? Do you have a Flickr account? If so, tag your photos with “tippfarmersmarket” to get them to show up in our photo group. I took a whole bunch of photos of the Market and put them up – to see all photos from the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, click HERE.

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Vendor Profile – The Earth’s Center

The Earth’s Center was opened in October 2005 by Nicole A. Mikel, a Holistic Health Practitioner, Holistic Life Coach, and Non-Denominational Ordained Minister. The Earth’s Center, located in downtown Tipp City above Feather Your Nest, is focused on offering relaxation, exercise, and balance of the body, mind, and spirit through a variety of services and classes. The Earth’s Center offers Acupuncture, Massage, Pre-Natal Massage, Life Coaching, Reflexology, Reiki (by appointment and certification classes), CranioSacral, Healing Touch, Belavi Facelift Massage, Aromatherapy, Yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Belly Dancing, Tai Chi, and Life and Art creativity classes.

At the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, the Earth’s Center staff members will be offering Massage, selling organic perfume oils, and distributing coupons for their services and classes along with current class schedules. Their staff will rotate each week at the Market so that the Earth’s Center can offer an ever-changing selection of products and services. Nicole and her staff invite you to stop by and try something different at the Market!

Vendor Profile – Spring Hill Nurseries

This is the first in a series of profiles on our Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market Vendors.

In 1849, while thousands sought their gold fortunes in California, Peter Bohlender started a small nursery in North Dayton, Ohio – Bohlenders Nursery. Peter had immigrated from Bavaria with his family at the age of 6. With few schools and no opportunity to attend, he went to work in a tobacco stripping house. Before he reached his teens he was employed by a nurseryman where he received his training for his life’s work.

Peter Bohlender moved his nursery to Tipp City, Ohio in 1889, and during World War I he renamed the nursery Spring Hill Nurseries. He derived the name “Spring Hill” from the hill located across the creek from the present day location of the garden store’s growing area.

Spring Hill Nurseries was originally a wholesale garden store nursery, owning nearly all the property surrounding its present location. Over the next 40 years, Spring Hill slowly began to move out of wholesale and into mail-order. Spring Hill shifted the majority of its focus to mail-order in 1930.

At the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, Spring Hill Nurseries will be selling plants, selected plant support products (such as fertilizers and pesticides), and backyard birding products. Spring Hill Nurseries will also be selling catalog closeout items such as plants and plant-related supplies.

The retail store for Spring Hill Nurseries is located at 110 West Elm St. and their phone number is (937) 667-4079. Open year round, their retail store offers a large selection of trees, shrubs, and roses. Their website is located at www.springhillnursery.com.

“Friends” Program

UPDATE on the “Friends” Program – you can now pay for your bags with PayPal! Click over to our “Friends” page, and you’ll see that you now have two options: send in a check, or pay via secure credit card. The bags will be available for pickup on June 16th at 9am at the Opening Day of the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market. We’re working hard to get some exciting things lined up for the Grand Opening, like balloons, face painting, and music. See you at the Market!

Vendors!

We’re getting the Farmers’ Market set up, with our opening day set for June 16th, but we’re still looking for a few more great vendors.  Do you want to sell at the Market?  If so, contact us at visittippcity@yahoo.com.   Our Early Bird pricing program is wrapping up, and we’re getting ready to start our marketing and we want to make sure everyone gets a chance.  Email us today!

Now Taking “Friends of the Market” Orders

We are now taking orders! To become a “Friend,” follow these instructions:

• Send a check for $25 to Matt Owen, Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, 12 South Third Street, Tipp City, Ohio, 45371.
• Very important: include your name, address, and email address or other contact information.
• A receipt will be mailed to you. The bags will be available for pickup at the Opening Day of the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market, June 16th, at 9 a.m. Please bring your receipt to the Market Information booth when the Market opens at 9am. If you can’t make it, we’ll gladly hold your bag for you.

For the full scoop, see our “Friends of the Market” page. For more information or ask questions, please call Matt Owen at 667-8300.

Become a “Friend of the Market”

People have been asking how they can help out with the Market. We encourage you to purchase a membership in our “Friend of the Market” program. For more information, please visit our “Friends” page.

Farmer’s Market to Open June 16th

The Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market has set the dates for the upcoming Market season. The Market, to be held in beautiful downtown Tipp City, will open on June 16 and will run for 14 consecutive Saturday mornings, ending the 2007 season on September 15. The Market will be open from 9 AM to 12 PM each Saturday. To make the Market truly accessible to the citizens of Tipp City, and our visitors, the Market will be held on Third Street (between Main and Dow). Third Street between Main and Dow Streets will be closed to all traffic during this time to allow the Market patrons a safe environment in which to shop. Parking will be available along Main Street, in the Methodist Church lot, and along Dow Street. Later in the season, we will post a full list of vendors and their products. Greg Enslen, Downtown Tipp City Partnership