Farmers Market starts fresh season

White tents April 13 dotted the Red Lion Hotel Silverdale and brought in browsers and buyers to the Silverdale Farmers Market.

The market, described as one of the friendliest bunch of vendors on the peninsula, opened its season last week.

Carol Tauscher of Belfair, owner of Home Sweet Home, brought a variety of native plants to sell. She sat in a lawn chair in the sunshine watching as people searched for the perfect plant. She expects business to pickup in a week or two once word gets out the market is up and running.

“It’s a great day. I hope it’s a good summer. I never had it so good as last summer,” said Karen Olson, owner of Wish Rock, an antique beads, crystal and gemstones business.

She sells jewelry, scarves and hats she makes herself.

“I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” Olson said.

She started the business a few years ago, when she learned how to make hats and jewelry. She saw other people making jewelry and they inspired her to learn the craft.

The market is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 29.

“It’s been pretty decent,” said Mike Gatto describing the day’s business so far. Gatto and Benicia Boyd came up from the Gig Harbor-based nursery Raft Island Roses. While blooming roses aren’t quite ready for the market, they had a variety of plants and eccentric birdhouses for sale. This is his third year as a vendor.

“I like the vendors here. The people that come here seem pretty nice,” he said.

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