University Community Farmers Market Opens Saturday

The fourth season of the University Community Farmers Market will open June 5 on the University at Buffalo South Campus featuring a variety of new and old vendors and selling fresh food and local products.

The market will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Oct. 16 on the Main Street sidewalk at Kenmore Avenue. Attendees can park for free in the Allen, Main and Bailey parking lots on the South Campus, directly behind the market across from the University Plaza.

The market is coordinated by a planning committee and a new market manager this year.

"The University Community Farmer's Market improves the quality of life in our neighborhood by providing an opportunity to buy healthy fresh produce from local farmers, to support local artisans, and to meet our neighbors in a relaxed outdoor environment," said Gail Willsky, market manager and associate professor of biochemistry in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

This year's vendors will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables as well as artisan products. New this year, the market planning committee is inviting individuals to help coordinate the market. Vendor applications are also available.

For more information, contact the UB Office of Community Relations at 829-6145 or visit the Farmers market online here.

Get Involved in Our Summer Events

Now that the weather is getting warmer, you know what that means! Time for the planning of the neighborhood summer programs.

Now is your chance to get involved in the planning and coordination of the University Community Farmers Market and the Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk, two of our favorite events. Please see below if you are interested in volunteering on the planning committees for either event, or both.

University Community Farmers Market

Our neighborhood farmers market began in 2007 and was held on Saturdays on the UB South Campus. The first planning meeting of the year will be this Wednesday April 21st at 6:00pm in 109 Allen Hall on the South Campus. If you are interested in having a hands-on role with the market, are interested in supporting local business and healthy living through fresh food sales, or have ideas on the market, please come to the meeting this Wednesday.

Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk

The planning for the 2010 Garden Walk is underway. The Walk will be held on Saturday July 17th. Be a part of the planning committee, which meets on Thursday April 29th at 6:00pm in Allen Hall on the South Campus.

For more information on the planning meetings for these groups, please contact Jessica in UB Community Relations at 829-6145.

Farmers Market Ends this Saturday

Join us this Saturday, October 17th as we celebrate the final day of this season's University Community Farmers Market.

Started on May 16th, the market has run for 22 weeks this year on Saturday mornings from 8:00am - 1:00pm at the South Campus on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue.

New this season were special events on the first Saturday of the month, where a different event was featured for attendees to lean from and enjoy. Events included Gardening Day with master gardeners from the neighborhood and a plant swap. There was Neighborhood Day where you could come sign up for a block club or talk with neighborhood leaders, and in August we had Artisan Day with local crafters and artist selling their wares.

This season' most popular special event was in September when we held safety demonstrations in cluding child seat safety checks from University Police, fire extinguisher demonstration from UB Environmental Health and Safety and even the Buffalo Fire Department was on hand for tours of the fire truck.

This year's vendors included Independence Hill Farms, McHenry Produce, Kate's Country Cousins, Pasta Temptations, Ken's Maple Products and Honey, Heaven's Gift Just For You home and personal fragrence items, Yancey's Fancy cheese, and Sweet Greek. Also new this year were the addition of local wineries which came to sell and sample their wine on various weeks.

Stop by on Saturday to say thanks to this year's vendors, meet some of your neighbors and stock up on products for the winter at the last market day of the year.

For more information on the University Community Farmers Market contact UB Community Relations at 716-829-3099.

Safety Day at the Market this Saturday

This Saturday September 5th at the weekly University Community Farmers Market will be Safety Day from 10:00am – 12:00pm as part of the market’s first Saturday of the month special event series.

Representatives from University police will be present to do child seat safety checks.

Representatives from Environmental Health and Safety will be providing practical portable fire extinguisher training and a table where the Off Campus Student Resident Task Force resources will be available. Buffalo Fire is also expected to attend with equipment for display.

The University Community Farmers Market runs every Saturday through October 17th from 8:00am – 1:00pm with these special events from 10:00am – 12:00pm on the first Saturday of the month. The market is held on the UB South Campus on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue.

For more information please contact UB Community Relations at 826-3099.

Love the Market

Care2.org, a popular online destination for people who care about making a difference is sponsoring a "Love Your Market" contest in collaboration with LocalHarvest.org, a web site all about organic and local food. As you know, University Heights has its own market, called the University Community Farmers Market. It is held on the South Campus has been entered in the "Love Your Market" contest and is eligible to win money to support it.

An important feature in the University Heights neighborhood, the market started in 2007 and is a great way to get healthy local products, support local businesses and meet your neighbors.

It runs every Saturday through October 17th from 8:00am - 1:00pm on the UB South Campus on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue. Read about the market on LocalHarvest.

Please vote in the "Love Your Market" contest today, and tell others to vote as well. We appreciate your support! Click here to vote.

For more information about the University Community Farmers Market contact UB Community Relations at 829-3099.

Artisan Day at the Farmers Market

This Saturday the University Community Farmers Market on the UB South Campus will get a bit bigger as we host Artisan Day, August's special event, one of five on the first Saturday of the month during the market season. Artisan Day will feature some crafters and local artists from 9:00am - 1:00pm. The market begins each week at 8:00am on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue.

Some of the vendors include Green Dog Biscuits, a local company that makes natural dog treats of organic ingredients. Also in attendance will be Erin Bellavia who does calligraphy and paper crafts.

You will be able to find jewelry this weekend too, compliments of Dana Saylor Designs. Her custom pieces for weddings, every day or special occasions are made with Swarovski crystal.

Clay and pottery fans can shop from Clayguys, who make polymer clay embellished items such as kitchen serving utensils, salt & pepper shakers, pie servers, and some hand built jewelery which is also made with polymer clay.

Regular vendors include Independence Hill produce, jellies, jams and canned goods; McHenry Produce, Kate's Country Cousins; Pasta Temptations; Sweet Greek; and Heaven's Gift Just for You. The market is located on the South Campus on Main Street at Kenmore Avenue. Free parking is available in the Main-Bailey parking lot right next to the market.

The market is each Saturday through October 17. Contact UB Community Relations for more information at 829-3099.

Get Involved in Our Neighborhood Events

Here is your chance to get involved in two of our neighborhood activities, the Farmers Market and the Capen Garden Walk.

This Monday, March 23 at 6:00pm will be a committee meeting for the Samuel P. Capen Garden Walk. If you like to garden, and are interested in helping with this year’s event, please come to the meeting and bring your ideas. See photos of the Garden Walk here.

Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00pm will be a committee meeting for the University Community Farmers Market which runs Saturdays from May to October on the UB South Campus. The market is a great community social event, please come get involved.

Both meetings will be held in the conference room in 101 Allen Hall, which is the 2-story glass building right across from Tim Horton’s. Parking is free and available next to the building in either lot.

All are welcome. RSVP with Jessica Biegaj in Community Relations at 829-6145 or jbiegaj@buffalo.edu. We look forward to seeing you there.

Photos by Nancy J. Parisi and UB International Admissions.