Inch by Inch and row by row...

CASPER – This Saturday, the small gravel area under the swing-set at Dallason Park will be transformed. Youth volunteers from the Church of Christ Youth Group will help Wyoming Food for Thought Project, in partnership with Keep Casper Beautiful and the City of Casper Parks Department, transform a little-used part of Dallason Park into a future community garden. The service project takes place from 2pm – 5 pm at Dallason Park, located at Melrose and Burlington Streets.

“We thought that Dallason Park was an ideal place for this project and are proud to be working with Wyoming Food for Thought,” stated Parks division superintendent Dan Coryell.

“Community gardens are a great way to use community spaces and can be a very beautiful addition to green spaces,” stated Keep Casper Beautiful volunteer coordinator Beth Andress.  “Flowers are not the only way to beautify an area-- Wyoming Food for Thought’s edible garden will be a beautiful addition to Dallason Park,” continued Andress.

“One of the biggest concepts we’re working to forward is the idea of locally grown food for everyone in our community. We’re excited to have the City of Casper on our team and hope this project can be the first of many,” explained Jamie Purcell, Executive Director for Wyoming Food for Thought Project.

Wyoming Food for Thought Project is a locally run community non-profit organization working to forward the idea of equitable food access for everyone. This garden concept is based off the “Food is Free” program in Austin, Texas, which forwards the idea that food can be grown for everyone in places like front yards, planter boxes, and community park areas.

To find out more about this or other programs of the Wyoming Food for Thought Project visit www.wyfftp.org or call 307-337-1703.

Casper Downtown Summer Market Online Vendor Application Available now!

We are getting ready for the Casper Downtown Summer Market!

Provided below is an online application. Fill one out now!

Casper Downtown Summer Market Vendor App

Summer Market Vendor Info!

Hello Fellow Farmers’ Market Vendors!

The Summer Market is quickly approaching, and with the success of Casper’s first-ever, Winter Market, we are getting excited! We have been researching and brainstorming, and can’t wait to show you the great things that are going to take place this summer! Not only are we waiting approval to accept SNAP (food stamps) at our Farmers Market, but we also want to begin highlighting vendors of the market each week, by putting information about your booth or business on the website to promote YOU and what YOU do.

We encourage you to go to www.marketlink.org/farmers/, where you can apply to not only accept SNAP, but potentially be approved to receive free equipment, a data plan and free service for the first year. This would enable you to accept debit/credit card and SNAP payments! Simply follow the steps, and you will be on your way to endless payment options!

This year, Sheridan will be hosting the 2014 Wyoming Master Gardeners and Wyoming Farmers Marketing Association Joint Conference, which will be held from March 13-15th! Head over to www.uwyo.edu/mastergardener/ to receive more information and register today!

To get you more involved with the Summer Farmers Market this year, we have decided to highlight different vendors each week, to give the community an opportunity to get to know you better! There are a few things we will need from you in order to successfully promote you, both at the market and on our website.

• Any social media and/or website information
• Product information that you will be selling at the market
• Any pictures you would be interested in using to showcase your products
• “How-to” information about your products i.e. recipes, step-by-step instructions…

We also wanted to provide you with all of our information to enable you in helping us promote the market to make it the best and most successful market we can! The following links include all of our social media pages.

• www.casperfarmersmarket.com
• www.facebook.com/caspermarket
• www.twitter.com/Wyoming_Hunger
• www.pinterest.com/wyominghunger/

Be sure to check www.casperfarmersmarket.com for the 2014 Summer Market application, which can now be filled out online!

If you have any questions, you can email us from the website, or you can call 307-337-1703.

Don't let the weather get you down! Come to the Winter Market!

Tired of the same ol' winter dishes?? Here is a great website filled with new and exciting Winter Farmers Market dishes you can make right at home!

Brighten up the table with these great recipes today!

17 Winter Farmer's Market Recipes

Winter Recipes

Recipes Fresh from the Farmers’ Market

Many people tend to gravitate toward buying at supermarkets because of convenience, price and availability, but as more and more farmers markets are emerging we are finding ourselves with more choices and healthier options for ourselves and our families. Here are 10 reasons why farmers markets are more healthier and a wiser choice.     Supporting farmers: Purchasing from farmer’s markets helps keep farmers in business and contributes to the local economy Seasonal produce: Our bodies need different nutrients over different seasons, like root vegetables during autumn and winter for warmth and to ‘ground’ us during the cooler months Ethical meat: Grass-fed beef is sold at the farmers markets - a healthier alternative to factory raised animals Interactive experience: You can speak to the farmer about the product, ask questions and ask how it is prepared Nutrient packed produce: Farmer’s markets sell local produce which means it traveled small distances and was just harvested to provide you with the most vitamins and minerals for your health It's good for the environment: Cutting down on food processing, packaging, and travel will reduce the amount of fossil fuels burned Tasting samples: You will always discover new foods and products that some farmers will offer a sampling of to try, especially if it’s something not  that common Variety: At the farmers market you find an amazing array of produce that you don’t see in your average supermarket. Knowing where your food comes from: Meeting and talking to farmers and food artisans is a great opportunity to learn more about how and where food is produced Hidden Gems: Most markets will sell all-natural body products, locally sourced chocolates home made ice cream, and homemade baked goods

FOOD EQUALITY: Our market is a program of Wyoming Food for Thought Project - we are working to create local solutions to hunger and food access for everyone. An optional $2 donation or jar of Peanut Butter (or other non-perishable food item) will help us give kids access to food when they're not in school. Learn more about us here: www.wyfftp.org   See you this weekend! Locally yours, Jamie & Cassandra Wyoming Food for Thought Project

First Winter Market = Success!

Today was the official launch of Casper's first-ever Winter Market season, and, wow, what a turnout! We are extremely pleased with all of the vendors that came out for this event, as well as the many supporters who stopped in to say hello and buy local! We had a huge variety of vendors today, including honey, soaps, spices, fudge, baked goods, jellies and jams, as well as fresh produce, olive oil, local meats and fresh bagels, but expect to see many more great additions to join us in dates to come!

 

We were fortunate enough to have K2TV, the Casper Journal and KCWY13 News stop in to highlight our market, so be sure to tune in tonight for Casper's First Winter Market coverage!

 

Mark your calendars and spread the word!!!!

The next Winter Market is scheduled for December 7th from 9:00am to noon in the Ag Resource Center, just before the Fairgrounds entrance on Fairgrounds Road. We would love to see everyone stop in to show their support for our local businesses and producers, as YOU are what makes Casper's markets successful.

Thank you and hope to see you in December!!!

Fun kids

Last night at the market we saw some great kids!