Harvest Health Coupon Program

Beginning Wednesday, August 26, participants in 3Squares VT (Vermont's Food Stamp Program) will be able to increase their purchasing power by $10 a week for eligible food purchased at Brattleboro Farmers' Market.

We're piloting the Harvest Health Coupon Project (HHCP) from August through October along with four other markets throughout the state. The goal is to encourage limited income Vermonters to purchase farm-fresh, nutritious food at farmers' markets.

The HHCP is administered by Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) and is generously funded by Ben and Jerry's Foundation and Wholesome Wave Foundation.

With the Harvest Health Coupon Project, five Vermont farmers' markets are joining markets in Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington DC, and California in piloting a coupon incentive project to encourage low-income Americans to shop at farmers' markets.

We hope to see lots of new 3Squares VT shoppers at market, enjoying the bounty of the season.

Circus Fun at Saturday's Market

Join KidsPLAYce on Saturday, July 11 from 9am – 12pm, for free circus fun at the Brattleboro Area Farmer’s Market. KidsPLAYce invites kids of all ages to try their hand at hula-hooping, plate spinning, juggling and more while shopping the market.

KidsPLAYce wants to spread the excitement and news that Circus Smirkus, Vermont’s award-winning international youth circus, will be returning to Brattleboro in July for four shows under their big top tent at the Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center.

For additional information please contact KidsPLAYce at 802.254.5212 or visit www.smirkus.org.

Hanah LaBarre - June Frequent Walker/Biker

Hanah LaBarre is the June Frequent Walker/Biker winner at the Brattleboro Area Farmer's Market. Her name was chosen at random from those who had walked or bicycled to market at least six times recently. She wins $20 in tokens to the market. This program is sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Bike/Ped Coalition and the Brattleboro Area Farmer's Market. Congratulations, Hanah!

This Saturday: KidsPLAYce Circus Fun

Join KidsPLAYce on Saturday, June 20 from 9am – 12pm, for free circus fun at the Brattleboro Area Farmer’s Market.

KidsPLAYce invites kids of all ages to try their hand at hula-hooping, plate spinning, juggling and more while shopping the market.

KidsPLAYce wants to spread the excitement and news that Circus Smirkus, Vermont’s award-winning international youth circus, will be returning to Brattleboro in July for four shows under their big top tent at the Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center.

This Saturday at the Farmer’s Market, along tips on how to sharpen your circus skills, market patrons will be able to purchase tickets for the upcoming Circus Smirkus shows.

For additional information please contact KidsPLAYce 802.254.5212 or visit www.smirkus.org.

Win With a Walk

The Brattleboro Area Farmer's Market and Brattleboro Area Bike/Ped are collaborating again this May-October to encourage and reward people who walk and bicycle to market in lieu of driving a car.

When you arrive at the market, go to the manager's table and ask for your Frequent Walker/Bicyclist card. Each time you walk or bike, get your card marked. Six walks/rides will fill your card and then you will be entered in a monthly drawing to win a treat from one of the Farmer's Market vendors!

Your efforts will save gas, reduce carbon emissions, and allow you to arrive for "homegrown, homemade, and hand-crafted" with your own two feet!

Preparing the Market

Site Day, 2009

Painting, raking, moving gravel, trimming trees, locating booth sites, and of course - lunch. Opening day is in less than two weeks.

Grant For the Youth Horticulture Project

This year’s EBT program is being managed by market member Youth Horticulture Project (YHP), a 4-H program based out of UVM Extension’s office and 1-acre farm in Brattleboro. Under a grant from New England Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE-SARE), YHP and their youth employees will operate the EBT machine, create new outreach materials for market customers who use food benefits and debit cards, and write an EBT manual including operation, troubleshooting, and marketing. The project is supported by the BAFM, Post Oil Solutions, Early Education Services, the Drop-In Center, and Lilac Ridge Farm.

We hope that you’ll have some good ideas about incentives to encourage food stamp and debit use at market too! Questions and suggestions may be directed to the BAFM EBT committee:

Lori Schreier (chair) schreierlori@aol.com
Cathi Wilken wilken@sover.net
Liz Kenton ekenton@uvm.edu