Participants of the last Farmer’s Market serve food to those stopping by the vendor’s tables. Reconnect’s second Farmer’s Market of the semester will be held outside the Student Union on Apr. 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Lion's Roar/File Photo

Reconnect will bring to campus the second Farmer’s Market of the semester to not only sell product, but also to promote sustainability and inform students of the importance in shopping for local healthy foods. 

Reconnect will be hosting the Farmer’s Market outside the Student Union from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 20. 

“Farmer’s Market is extremely important for America in general because we don’t have enough access to local sustainability options and that’s definitely true for Southeastern,” said junior management major Alexis Taylor. 

The Farmer’s Market gives students the chance to give back and share their passion with others.

“I want to share my love of sustainable, organic food,” said applied sociology graduate student Stephanie Travis. “I love being able to offer individuals delicious jellies and jams that are locally sourced. It’s my hope that students will become educated on making smarter decisions when it comes to the food that they put in their bodies while providing opportunity for individuals like myself to give back to the community.” 

At the last market, Travis sold out of her jellies and jams. At this market, she will offer fresh batches of blueberry, apple, pear, figs and sweet pickles. 

This upcoming Farmer’s Market will be celebrating Earth week. Earth Day is on Apr. 22 and according to junior sociology major Kelsey Stratton, “Reconnect is an organization that focuses on our environment to help reconnect with our world and to help promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.”

Another goal of the Farmer’s Market is to support local businesses rather than large corporations such as McDonald’s and fix a possible food desert gap. 

“There is a thing such as a food desert and that is when there is no fresh food and vegetables within a mile radius,” said Taylor. “Even though Hammond is not technically a food desert, we are pretty dang close.”

The Farmer’s Market provides a healthy lifestyle for Hammond along with economic benefits.

“Let’s bring the money back into the community, to the farmers who are doing ethical practices such as organic farming or not using pesticides or herbicides that may give us cancer,” said Taylor. “Farmer’s Market that is what we are showing, that there is a way we can grow our own food. That we can support our own local economy in a healthy way and we don’t have to rely on big corporations.”

Members of Reconnect want those wishing to visit the Farmer’s Market to know that vendors will sell only handmade and homemade items that are unique.

“Food vendors participating will include local honey, non-dairy milk, hummus, smoothies, jams and jellies, blue ribbon pies and many more,” said Stratton. “Non-food vendors will include pottery from the Southeastern’s pottery club, all natural bath and beauty products, plants and seeds, jewelry and other crafts great for Mother’s Day gifts.”

Reconnect is the sustainability group found on campus. Along with the Farmer’s Market, Reconnect has taken on the task of promotion and improving the campus Community Garden.

“It is a great group if you are interested in community gardens because we have a community garden on campus,” said Taylor. “We are hoping to grow it up where they can join the Farmer’s Market eventually.” 

If you would like to join Reconnect, they host weekly meetings on Mondays at 5:00 p.m. in Fayard Hall Room 303. Also, Reconnect will be hosting an Earth Day Speaker Series in Friendship Circle on Apr. 18 and 20 with the time to be announced. The speakers will cover topics of sustainability, urban gardening and eating locally.

Applied sociology graduate student Stephanie Travis sells jams at a past Reconnect Farmer’s Market. She will once again be selling her homemade jams at the Farmer’s Market on Apr. 20. 
The Lion's Roar/File Photo

The Reconnect throws the Farmer's Market that will be taking place once again on campus during Earth Week. 
The Lion's Roar/File Photo