Farmers market: Celebrating 20 years of growing on Saturday - Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - Port Townsend, Jefferson County & Olympic Peninsula's news website - Port Townsend, WA

2001-2005 Port Townsend Farmers Market Director, Harvindar Singh, takes a stroll through the last market of the season and his career.

Seeds of the Port Townsend Farmers Market were planted 20 years ago in a gravel lot downtown between Elevated Ice Cream Co. and the Cotton Building.

Vendors at that market, such as Denise Joy, remember that the wind swept in so hard off the bay that even on a hot summer day, “it felt like 40 degrees in the wind tunnel.”

Consequently, the market was relocated to another lot, a block away behind City Hall, which offered shelter from the wind. Tended by a community keen on going local and organic, the market blossomed, so much so that it needed to be transplanted yet again – to an entire block of Tyler Street in Uptown.

And that is where it blooms again on Saturday, April 7 for what is being touted as the market’s 20th anniversary season, though some who’ve been around for longer than that roll their eyes and say the market really is a more mature 21 years old.

But who wants to quibble with anniversary dates right before Easter?

Market director Will O’Donnell, who was a sophomore in high school, eager to get his driver’s license, 20 years ago, is looking forward to the day and the 2012 market year.

Farmers market: Celebrating 20 years of growing on Saturday - Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader - Port Townsend, Jefferson County & Olympic Peninsula's news website - Port Townsend, WA

OrganicNation TV: Four-Season Farming in the Pacific Northwest

The OrganicNation TV crew follow the life-cycle of an organic zucchini plant from seed to harvest with Colinwood Farm manager Jesse Hopkins.

Aric Spencer Takes A Bite From His SpinshCone

Gabcast! Port Townsend Farmers Market #12


Aric Spencer describes eating a "SpinshCone" strolling through the market.


Click "Play" above to listen to our conversation at the market.


Aric and Amy - green inside and out.

Video: What is In Kira Doley's Shopping Bag?

Gabriel Bernier, VISTA Volunteer Community Support Services, finds out what Kira Doley, Acting Executive Director Washington State Farmers Market Association, has in her shopping bag and what her impressions are of the market. (NOTE: This video is unedited.)


Kira shows off her canvas shopping bag.

Podcast: Interview with Kira Doley

Kira Doley, Acting Executive Director Washington State Farmers Market Association, chats with Gabriel Bernier, VISTA Volunteer Community Support Services, at the market today.
Gabcast! Port Townsend Farmers Market #11

VIDEO: Liz Mueller, Copper Canyon Press, Interviews Poet Red Pine

Liz Mueller, Copper Canyon Press Summer Intern, talks to Red Pine, Poet/Chinese Translator about his work.

Bill Porter, an American author who writes under the name Red Pine, is an acclaimed translator of and interpreter of Chinese texts. He lived in Taiwan and Hong Kong and has traveled in China. (Read More)

John Estes PT Farmers Market Treasurer

Jack Olmsted, 4-H Network News, interviews John Estes, retired accountant and Port Townsend Farmers Market Treasurer.

Scott Wilson at the Port Townsend Farmer's Market

Katherine Baril, WSU Jefferson County Extension director interviews Scott Wilson, owner of the Port Townsend Jefferson County Leader. Hear them discuss youth leadership in media communications and the support the Leader newspaper gives to the development of the next generation of journalists.

Jane Whicher: Tour de Ferme coordinator

Jane Whicher, Tour de Ferme coordinator, talks with Katherine Baril, WSU Jefferson County Extension director, at the Port Townsend Farmer's Market.

Bob Garrison, PT Farmers Market Shopper

Bob Garrison, PT Farmers Market Shopper, talks about the weekly market on opening day.

PT Farmers Market: Michelle - 10 Year Old Eurntreprene