We are welcoming the OSU Master Gardeners back to the market for their 12th year! They play an important role with the market by generously manning the information booth for market management, stopping by the OSU booth you can pick up River City Farmers Market gear and great gardening advice! They are always ready to lend a helping hand and a smile! We want to extend our appreciation and welcome them back to the market!
The Story of the Master Gardeners at the Market
The Ohio State University Extension and Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) has been involved with the River City Farmers Market since 2011. During the market’s fairground years, the MGVs maintained a small informational booth throughout the growing season. The booth was located near the back corner of the building the market used as vendor space. This booth was manned once per month, and when it was not manned, a volunteer would routinely checked the booth on a weekly basis to stock and replenish the inventory levels. Once the market relocated to downtown, the market grew tremendously as so did OSU’s role by helping to meet the market’s needs with the services our organization could provide. As well as providing timely informational handouts, answering questions from the community, and implementing horticulture related demonstrations, the OSU booth supports the market in the following capacities: serves as the market’s information station, the market’s lost and found, assists with market’s events and drawings, and sale market merchandise with 100% of the sales going back to the market. The booth is manned almost weekly by two MGVs from April until October each year.
Our favorite aspect of the River City Farmers Market is interacting with the community, booth the customers and vendors. These interactions develop into wonderful relationships. We are lucky and truly appreciative to be involved with such a great market, and live in a wonderful community who comes out every weekend to support their fellow neighbor. We are beyond excited to return to the market this April and looking forward to fantastic 2023 season.
