[Update July 18: A lot has changed since we first posted this back in May. For starters, we had to seek a new location. So please consider what you read below to be history. The dedicated Emerson-Garfield Farmer’s Market page with all up-to-date info is here.]

With kind assistance from Melissa McNabb, the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council has just arranged use of the parking lot in front of the Adult Education Center (part of the Institute for Extended Learning) on N. Monroe. We hope to organize a weekly farmer’s market there during the growing season, which runs roughly May to October.

The location is ideal. The parking lot is directly across from Caffe Delicio and the Vintage Rabbit Antique Mall. Highly frequented bus stops at the corners of Monroe and Montgomery will allow for easy public transit access, and the central location within the neighborhood means that cyclists and pedestrians will also find it convenient. Commuters who work downtown will be able to stop off quickly for fresh veggies and gourmet items on their return journey.

Right now we are looking for interested vendors. Since our focus is on the local, we want to make a point of involving neighborhood stores like Petunia’s Marketplace and Christ Kitchen to ensure that there is a wide range of food available. Another aim is to provide owners of nearby retro and craft stores — like The Heart of Spokane and Paint in My Hair — with the chance to set up booths and sell market-oriented items. And depending on the quality of quantity of the harvest, we might even have super-local produce from the Emerson Community Garden for sale.

To help bring this to (quick) fruition, we will be reaching out to Craig Goodwin, author of Year of Plenty and founder of the successful Millwood Farmer’s Market, to see what advice he can offer.

View Larger MapIf you are interested in participating in the farmer’s market, helping to organize it, or simply shopping there when it’s ready, please get in touch with us by using our contact form or by leaving a comment below.