Pilot farmers market debuts in Adams

ADAMS – The official launching of a pilot Sunday farmers market took place last weekend under sunny skies as vendors sold a variety of merchandise ranging from corn husk dolls and barbecue grills to handmade soaps, colorful paintings, pickles and fruit jams.

The weather cooperated as the sun beamed down on the market held in the Adams Visitors Center parking lot. 

A friendly animal mascot waved on a main street near the market, inviting passersby to come join the fun.

Allison Silvernail of RCS Crafts in Dalton set up a booth selling her homemade soaps in a large variety of scents.

She had some novelty additions in plastic bags including soap that looked like sets of false teeth.

The humorous saying on the outside of the plastic bags in which they were stored stated, “Take a bite out of grime.”

She’s on Facebook and can also be reached at allison@rcscrafts.com.

Hoosac Valley Coal and Grain had a table, too, and displayed a new barbecue grill it sells, along with a variety of barbecue seasonings. The company is located at 44 Spring St. in Adams.  They carry several kinds of grills.

At another booth, vendors sold homemade jams, including raspberry, and pickles at a pricey $7 a jar. 

They also sold simple floral bouquets including combinations of  perky black-eyed susans, queen anne’s lace and bright yellow lilies, arranged inside water-filled jars.

Offerings from Cobble Hill Corn Husk Dolls were among the most unique at the market. The adorable little husk “ladies” were the creations of Suzanne Goudreau, an artist from Cheshire.

[/media-credit] Here’s Suzanne near some of her dolls on display.

She said she has been making the dolls from corn husks and sheep’s wool for the past four years.

She first came across the craft in a book, loved the dolls, started making her own and has been doing them ever since.

Each doll looked like a fashion plate and had individually hand-drawn and hand inked faces.

[/media-credit] Corn husk dolls are quite unique, especially when they wear fashionable attire.

Ms. Goudreau’s dolls were beautifully attired, right down to the tiny baskets, potted plants and purses they carried.

There were several blondes as well as brunettes, many sporting hats and bows that matched their colorful finery.

Ms. Goudreau made many of the dresses from picturesque handkerchiefs.

[/media-credit] Here are a couple of the fashion plates!

There was even a dolly whose pretty outfit had letters spelling out “Berkshires” on the front.

One corn husk doll, dressed in a white dress with purple ribbon trim, also wore a fluffy red boa around her shoulders and a purple tulle bow on top of her bright red hat.

Ms. Goudreau said she plans to be at the market every Sunday through August.

A sign in her doll-filled booth  indicated her dolls will be at home in a customer’s home.

It suggested they be placed “on a bookcase, gracing a small table, set on a fireplace mantle, on a bedroom dresser, standing on a wall shelf, watching your houseplants. Any nook or cranny will do.”

The new Sunday farmers market is the first offered in town in about 12 years. The Adams Agricultural Commission and Northern Berkshsire Community Coalition worked together to bring the market back to town.

Posted by Susan M. Wicker Guerrero on July 25, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry