Central Sustainability hosts on-campus farmers' market
On a soggy, chilly October day, a variety of vendors, both from local businesses and campus students, set up shop at Central Michigan University’s campus, just outside the School of Music and Moore Hall. Stalls filled with knitted goods, plants, food, jewelry and more hid under rain roofs for several hours as the constant drizzle of the day’s weather continued.
These vendors were participating in the Central Sustainability Farmers’ Market, which takes place every Friday from Sept. 8 to Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Parking Lot 30. This rainy day is their second-to-last market of the fall.
The events boast at least 11 alternating vendors, including Twelve-17, Papa's Pumpkin Patch, Ignite Donuts and Ripple Macarons.
The organizers of this event are Central Sustainability, a CMU student organization that, according to its Instagram page, “aim(s) to make (CMU) more sustainable through projects, policies and programming.” This event is one of many that Central Sustainability hosts, this one particularly with the goal of inspiring students to shop locally for a more sustainable campus.
“(The market is) a great way to support local businesses; shopping local means shopping sustainable,” senior Meghan Vandamme, a team member of Central Sustainability, said.
Vandamme also emphasized how having a farmers’ market on campus is not a common occurrence.
“This is such a unique thing. Not many campuses have a farmers’ market like this, so if we want to keep it going, we need that student engagement here; we’d love to bring (this) back next year!”
This event not only benefits the students who stop by; local vendors, including other CMU students, gain an opportunity to get their products and art recognized.
“I think it’s important, because you can support local artists… a lot of college artists don’t really have the means to get (their work) out there, like I have an Etsy, but no one looks at it.” said Addie Renberg, a student whose booth displays her purchasable hand-crocheted bags, hats and other items.
Her Etsy and Instagram, both under the names @fruitydaycrochet, showcase a multitude of products such as those on display.
“It’s important to get your stuff out there (at events)," Renberg said.
For students seeking further information on Central Sustainability and their events, more can be found on their website or on Instagram @cmucentralsustainability. Their next and last farmer's market is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Friday, Oct. 20.
