Spring semester at Colgate University has begun with anything but hopeful warm spring weather. However, there are innovative ways to make these winter months feel cozier.
Farmers markets are always beloved and, although they have a reputation for being outdoors, Hamilton brings an indoor spin to the concept that presents the perfect opportunity to stock up on organic and homemade items made with upstate N.Y. love.
The Hamilton Indoor Winter Farmers market is held in Parry’s, the general store located at 100 Utica Street, and it hosts over a dozen vendors and small businesses. Hidden towards the back of the store, there are an abundance of items for purchase. The options vary from local meat to baked goods to non-food items such as soap and watercolor and acrylic art. The wide array of goodies provides people with a chance to sample some local winter fare, experiment with a new soap scent or find new art to add to their dorm room. Sophomore Marina Garcia voiced her support of the farmers market.
“It’s awesome that there are still a lot of great vendors to support even though you’re indoors,” Garcia said.
The only downside is that you will not get the opportunity to attend every weekend if you are a regular at farmers markets because it is only held every first and third Saturday of the month from November to April. They also hold a special holiday edition two days before Christmas in the evening.
However, if you cannot make it those two times per month, Parry’s has constant weekday deliveries from bakeries nearby, such as artisanal bread from the Heartstone Bakery at Alambria Springs Farm in Earlville, N.Y. and cookies from Mountain Side Bakery in Norwich, N.Y.
The time of the Farmers Market is from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., making it the perfect way to kick off the weekend, according to sophomore Maggie Gibbons.
“It’s the perfect start to my Saturday morning because I can buy fresh items for the week,” Gibbons said.
Sophomore Jorgen Martin shared his hopes to make it to the Farmers Market the next chance he could.
“I actually did not know this was a thing, but it is cool that I can do what feels like a fall and summer activity in the winter, so I want to check it out,” Martin said.
The importance of supporting farmers markets through the winter is as significant, if not more so, than for any other season. The opportunity to support these small businesses helps to uplift the local townspeople during a time when business can otherwise be hard to come by. On top of that, the Hamilton Winter Farmers Market provides people not only with the chance to buy some delicious, local jam but to engage with students and locals alike.
You can get there on the Colgate shuttle, which conveniently stops right in front of Parry’s on the Local Shopping Route, or you can grab a ride with your friends.
If you want to really commit to supporting local upstate businesses, you can even check out the Cazenovia Farmers Market, which is about 20 miles away from campus and held at the American Legion at 26 Chenango St. They also meet on the first and third Saturday of the month, and the market even has a special tradition of doing a cookbook swap.
No matter which one you go to, sow the seeds and make the trek because these indoor farmers markets are a hidden gem for eating healthy and supporting the local community!
