Red Leaf, Green Leaf, and Oak Leaf Lettuce available from MAD Farm at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market - Indoors. by llc

From Florida to Wisconsin, Colorado to Massachusetts, winter farmers markets are popping up everywhere, affording farmers an off season venue for their wares. Farmers Markets have traditionally been outdoor events, held weekly during the growing season, usually May – October. Often cities or farmers will host a market near the winter holidays, but these markets are typically a onetime event, with a focus on preserves and gifts items, more than produce.

As the food revolution spreads across the country, farmers everywhere are using multiple methods to extend their growing season into the winter months and beyond. High and low tunnels, unheated hoop houses sheathed in plastic, create an environment conducive to growing many early spring and late crops during months when untended to vegetation lies dormant. Insulated row covers, light weight fabric that allows sun and water to reach the plants, but raises the temperature of the soil and air near them by as much as ten degrees, also extend the growing season. Many a farmer has reveled in the delight of pulling back a stretch of row cover during frigid sub-zero temperatures, to find winter hardy Kale and resilient turnips still holding their own in the middle of January.

Bad Seed Market, 1909 McGee Street, KAnsas City, MO by llc

As farmers get better at what they do, more and more communities are benefiting from the added crop production and extended growing season. Kansas City, MO hosts a hand full of winter farmers markets, including a full on indoor organic market with locally grown fresh produce. The Bad Seed Market, located inside an inner city store front at 1909 McGee Street, KCMO, is open every Friday Night, May through February, from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The market hosts a hand full of rotating vendors and several permanent vendors, including market coordinators, Brooke Salvaggio and Daniel Heryer of Urbavore Urban Farm. On any given Friday night you will find the market overflowing with fresh, local, organic produce, bake goods, cheeses, eggs and free-range meats. Although most of the vendors are from the greater Kansas City area, Bad Seed Market often hosts vendors from as far away as Weston, MO and Lawrence, KS.

This year, Lawrence area farmers and residents have an alternative to traversing into Kansas City to partake in a regular weekly farmers market. In honor of the mild winter and extended growing season, Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market has moved inside and is open for business. Every Thursday, until May, Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market will host a small selection of vendors inside Cottin’s Hardware & Rental. The indoor market was the brain child of Debbie and Bernie Antes, owners of Stony Ridge Farms. The Antes have a large brood of free range chickens who continue to produce eggs throughout the winter months. Faced with a surplus of often more than thirty dozen eggs a week, Stony Ridge Farms was on the lookout for a way to share their bounty with others. When they inquired about the possibility of holding a weekly egg pick-up sight inside Cottin’s Hardware and Rental, they were not only greeted with open arms, but they were encouraged to bring along their wide array of jams, jellies, bake goods and local honey to boot. Soon word got out and other vendors decided to join the fun.

Stony Ridge Farms offers an array of goddies at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market, Thursdays, through out the year by llc

On any given week at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market – Indoors, you will find farm fresh eggs, local honey and a plethora of bake goods and preserves, including breads and pizza crusts from Upward Spirals Bakery and new Gluten Free selections from Stony Ridge Farm. Every other week MAD Farm joins the fun and brings the bounty from their actively producing hoop houses. Other area farmers have been offered the opportunity to participate and chances are, if market attendance continues to grow, Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market will be scrambling to find spots for additional vendors.

Cottin's Hardwae Farmers Market - Indoors Thursdays, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm until May! by llc

This week, Thursday, January 26, Stony Ridge Farms will have: Fresh Chicken & Duck Eggs, Locally Made Jams and Jellies, Gluten Free Bake Goods, Local Honey, Coffee Cakes, Specialty Breads and More. Pre-order your eggs by calling Debbie at 785-863-2801!

Upward Spirals Bake Goods will have: Fresh Breads, Glory Muffins, Pizza Crusts, Hand Dyed Scarves and More. Pre-Order your breads and pizza crust by emailing Nan at verbenamazing@yahoo.com

MAD Farm will have: Red Leaf, Green Leaf and Oak Leaf Lettuce, Rainbow Chard, Kale, Spinach, & Violet Top Turnips! As an added bonus, the MAD Farm red leaf lettuce was grown from Seeds from Italy, these unique heirloom seeds are available online or locally at Cottin’s Hardware & Rental.

So grab your coat and market bags, then head on down to Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market – Indoors this Thursday from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm inside Cottin’s Hardware & Rental, 1832 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS.