At The Market Table
3am at the Underwear Factory with Little Loaf Bakeshop
Community has different definitions for different people. But, no matter your particular version, one thing is abundantly clear - community brings comfort to those lucky enough to experience it. Comfort leads to support, affirmation, and spaces where the voiceless finally find their voices. Operating out of the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, Little Loaf Bakeshop, a queer + trans-owned bakery focusing on creating delicious breakfast pastries inspired by seasonal flavors, is anchored by Colleen and Rian and supported by a family of dedicated bakers and artists, Jen, Denejah, Jackie, and Nancy. They are all producers of Community, of a place where you can "come as you are." So when they invited us inside the kitchen at 3:30 am, we were overjoyed to learn more about what makes Little Loaf special in their own words.
When walking into the kitchen, this baking team's rhythm was already in their bones. They were almost wide awake in those early morning hours. Laughter filled us, and as garnishes were laid and timers set, it struck us that something much more important was being created, beyond delicious vegan pastries, even beyond Rian and Colleen's simple dream of being able to dedicate their lives to the kitchen full-time, it was the legacy of inclusion that we smelled coming out of the ovens—the sweet aroma of radical rest for those who've struggled so hard to be seen and heard. Colleen and Rian are and have been creating a place for them, and their products are simple reminders to those who may not have a home that understands them that one exists, a home called Little Loaf Bakeshop.
We hope you enjoy going inside the kitchen with these lovely human beings. So pull up a seat, laugh with us, and get to know your vendors.
In Community,
Your Farmers' Market
A Visit to Obercreek Farm!
Like many others who moved to the Hudson Valley during the pandemic, I have been in awe of the farms that now surround me. But, I am even more taken aback by the spirituality and hard work behind the vegetables that grace our market and the hands that bring them to us. Obercreek Farm is a NOFA-NY Certified Organic farm located in the hamlet of Hughsonville in the Town of Wappinger, NY, and has been in production since 2012. Growing diversified seasonal vegetables, herbs, and hops for their CSA, on-farm store, farmers markets, and local wholesale accounts, they focus on providing fresh, high-quality produce for our Community through all seasons on nine acres of farmland, utilizing cover crops and compost to regenerate fields.
It was early when I arrived at Obercreek. It's always an early morning for Trixie Wessel, Alex Vaughn, Nathasha Goodman, and the dogs, but the silence was loud and joyful as they prepared to work with the earth. All I heard was the sharpening of knives, the dogs barking at the birds, and the soft rain. My mission was to follow them and listen. That's all. And that simple mission turned into a feeling of oneness with the land and those like Obercreek's farm crew, who welcome its gifts and understand its moods.
I invite you to pull up a seat, listen, and see how their famous greens make it to the market, how they all started, what they hope the future has in store for them, and why they've never fallen out of love with the soil beneath their boots.
Thank you, Obercreek. It's always a pleasure.
In Community,
Your Farmers' Market
Hand by Craft ~ Why Community and Shared Experience Are So Important
I was blessed to spend the evening with Natalia and Josh of Hand By Craft last Tuesday. Immediately upon hugging them both and shaking out all the post covid social anxiety jitters, I felt a rush of joyful energy as they took off their shoes and told me of their recent move to Newburgh. I knew they’d speak about ancestors and freely share their story like they do at our market. I also was certain the love they have for each other, which permeated off each of them, would surely bless my house. I knew all of this because Natalia and Josh are messengers and speaking with them means speaking to many.
Hand By Craft, like many dreams, started as a seed in Natalia's head. She shared this seed with Josh before their fateful trip to Columbia in 2018, where their worlds collided and their shared dream grew legs.
This duo's vision is to serve as a connecting bridge from the people for the people, allowing natives and traditional artisans to have a voice and reach far territories by facilitating technology, legal and language barriers, showing an example of fair trade and mutual benefit for the local and foreign communities, crediting the artist fully & sharing with the public the stories of the "Hands behind the Craft" to inspire young generations to learn from their elders and return to their roots. By sharing Artisan and Native products, Hand By Craft fuels the local economies of the artists they partner with and contributes to the betterment of the quality of life of those communities. Generated sales aid in the revival and preservation of ethnic languages, myths, legends, traditional storytelling, and history of the creating communities, allowing them to build an accessible record for future generations.
As we sat there over wine, tea, and a small plate of food to share, I found it hard to keep my mouth from forming a permanent smile because, beyond their words and actions regarding global reciprocity, it was their passion for existence and history in general, I'd even say their reverence for it, that inspired me and made my living room warm on a chilly Beacon night.
We invite you to pull up a seat and get to know these beautiful souls better. Though words rarely encompass all the work and unforeseen events on the journey of a new business, we hope you share in the laughter with Natalia and Josh and find a place within their story you recognize and call home.
In Community,
Your Farmers' Market
Marie Melize of Life Solution Now on her dreams for the future and what Black History means to her
Rarely do we get a chance to sit down with our vendors and chat about who they are and what they love. Well, this week, we finally found the time with Marie Melize of Life Solution Now. It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Marie and hear her story of self-growth and sheer willpower. Walking through the market on Sundays, I'm sure we sometimes wonder about each other's paths and the roads that led us to Beacon, New York, to shop, sell, or be with friends, and in this Black History Month, we couldn't be happier to have connected with Marie!
Life Solution Now is a retail license base hemp store located in Milton, NY. They sell oils, tinctures, lotions, and hemp flowers for tea, cooking, and other products infused with CBD (cannabidiol). For unfamiliar consumers, CBD is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis. While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or manufactured in a laboratory. One of the hundreds of components in marijuana, CBD does not cause a "high" by itself. In fact, Marie's products help with anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain such as arthritis, and even addiction without having to worry about any "high" feeling. She offers her products to the Beacon community as a reminder to rest and be at ease.
In our chat, Marie came to the Market Table and spoke about Black History from her unique perspective, her love of the market, and her dreams for herself and others she hopes to influence positively. We hope you enjoy listening to Marie as she shares her story, and the love she exudes touches you, giving you strength, confidence, and the drive to keep pursuing whatever makes you come alive. For more information about CBD and its benefits, visit Marie Sundays at Beacon Farmers' Market. And remember...Stay Kind. Be Safe. Spread Love.
In Community, Your Farmers' Market
