More Than Shopping: September Workshops at the Farmers’ Market
A trip to the farmers’ market can fill your shopping bag, but it can also leave you knowing something you didn’t know before. This September, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is offering four hands-on Wednesday workshops where participants will learn a new skill, meet local experts, and take some of that knowledge home.
Education and community have always been an important part of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association’s mission. Beyond providing a marketplace for local farmers and producers, the market aims to be a place where people gather, learn, and connect.
The series begins September 9 with Pickling 3 Ways, led by Alyssa Hayes, Nutrition Educator with Warren County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Participants will learn refrigerator pickling using beets, green beans, and cucumbers. It’s a simple way to preserve peak-season vegetables, and participants can pick up fresh produce at the market and put their new skills to work at home.
On September 16, Jai Stockin, owner of 9 Pine Designs, will lead Introduction to Plant-Based Dyes. Participants will learn how vegetables and plants, including some found at the farmers’ market, can be transformed into natural dyes. Each person will experiment with the process and naturally dye a reusable cotton bag to take home.
On September 23, mushroom expert Jake Howard and owner of The Mushroom Shop will teach participants how to grow shiitake mushrooms outdoors on logs. After learning about the growing process, participants will get hands-on, inoculating their own shiitake log to take home and care for.
The series finishes September 30 with Fall Candle Making, led by Amy Hartman, owner of Bella Blends. Participants will select a fall-inspired essential oil blend and hand-pour a candle using a coconut and beeswax blend. While the candles set, there will be plenty of time to shop the market before returning to pick up the finished candle.
All workshops begin at 4 PM under the High Rock Park pavilions and will be held rain or shine. Space is limited, and registration is required. The September 9 and 16 workshops are free; the September 23 and 30 workshops have a $10 donation. To register, email manager@saratogafarmersmarket.org or message the market on Facebook.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays, 3–6 PM, and Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PM, at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs and Mondays, 2–5 PM in Clifton Park. Visit saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for the weekly newsletter, and follow the market on Facebook and Instagram.
