 There’s something about homemade cinnamon
rolls. The kind smothered in gooey caramel and nuts that
are so messy to eat you end up sucking sugar off your fingers
like a toddler. I’ve got a weakness for baked sweets anyway
and now I’ve got a Saturday morning habit – Hamilton Farmer’s
Market.
My routine goes something like this:
I ride my bike seven blocks down to the
market at about 10 a.m. I lean it against a tree and head over
to the coffee stand, which is usually about three booths down
from my friends, Paul and Laura of , who run Homestead Organics
farm just outside of town. I say hello to them and then
with mug in hand I press on.
Once I get a cup of organic coffee from
the Olde Mill Coffee stand, I head over to the Spicy Wives baked
goods stand and satisfy my week-long hunger with a sticky cinnamon
roll.
This routine may seem homely and simple,
but it is the finest part of living in a small community.
At the Farmer’s Market, local people support local farmers,
bakers and craftsmen. Friends and neighbors get a chance to
rub elbows with tourists and visitors. No one is getting rich,
but everyone is playing a role in the community they value and
support.
It’s also a place to catch up on the latest
gossip or say hello to people you haven’t seen for a week or
maybe a year. During the summer in the Bitterroot Valley, the
Hamilton Farmer’s Market is arguably the biggest social event
going. You can get flowers for your garden, veggies for the
week, ceramic, emu soap or a bag of tortilla shells. The political
parties show up as well. And on any given Saturday you can ask
your local representative a question or learn about new candidates.
Two other communities in the valley have
Farmer’s Markets:
Darby and Stevensville.
Life in the Bitterroot Valley is still
centered on community. It’s still a place where kids play on
neighborhood streets and neighbors barbecue on Friday nights.
Places like the grocery store, the Farmer’s Market and the library
are still gathering grounds.
So whether you’re visiting or just moved
to the valley, enjoy small-town Montana and visit the local
Farmer’s Market.
The Hamilton Farmer’s Market opens at 9 and closes down about
12:30. They always have music and are open rain or shine. |
