A season begins: Sunny skies, happy crowds greet Market on the Green

The Woodstock Market on the Green on Wednesday afternoon in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Warm-weather energy was in the air when the weekly Woodstock Market on the Green returned Wednesday, with over 30 vendors and a bustling crowd. 

There were a number of families dropping by, as well as motorists and cyclists coming through to check out the fresh food, produce and artisan goods. 

Some of that traffic was lining up for the wood-fired pizza made by Sara Bachman, Otto Pierce and Emma Labadie from Fat Dragon Farm in Stockbridge. They’re glad for the business, but it’s something special to be back in Woodstock, Bachman said.

“Last year, this market definitely kept me going a lot,” she said. “There’s so much community here.” 

And the community was meeting a new member of the family as well: Pierce and Bachman arrived with their new baby daughter, Mairi, born in March, who rested comfortably in the shade.

“It’s going well so far,” Bachman said of the baby’s first market. 

Kathy Avellino, of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce, which runs the Market on the Green, said she knew from the first glimmer of sunlight on Wednesday, that it would be a perfect day for the event. 

“A lot of vendors have come back,” she said. 

The crowd grows at the Woodstock Market on the Green on Wednesday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of them is also Jon Cohen, owner of Deep Meadow Farm in Ascutney, who sells his produce at farmers’ markets in Ludlow and Londonderry as well. He said the large number of people cooking at home last year definitely drove sales up. Hopefully, those numbers continue, Cohen added.

“Traffic is definitely a good thing for the market,” he said, noting the crowds in the village that afternoon. 

One of several new arrivals at the market this year is Nick Miller, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, who makes artisan woodcrafts for his business, MisfitStyls. Among his products were a number of wooden boards with intricate designs and inspiring messages on them. But they aren’t just for display — they can also be flipped over and used as cutting boards. Miller, who attends events throughout New England, enjoyed a steady run of sales Wednesday and lots of interest from shoppers.

“It’s been a good market,” he said. “I can’t complain one bit.” 

Colemann Colburn, of Fresh Roots Farm in Sharon, has been at the Market on the Green for 10 years. He said Wednesday was a good day, certainly helped by the fact that people were happy to be able to shop unmasked. 

“People were excited to be out,” Colburn said. “Hopefully it’ll be a good year.”

— Gareth Henderson

The Woodstock Market on the Green is every Wednesday during the summer from 3 to 6 p.m.