Farmers on Walnut?
Yes, Farmers on Walnut! Just not at the library’s part of Walnut…
June, 1 2012 - Bonnie Goble, Director

In September 2011, Fredricksen held Bee Local, a honey and local foods festival. Part of Bee Local was a high end producers’-only farmers’ market. It was so popular, and we received so many requests to hold a weekly market, that we began the process of trying to host a market at the library. In October, Fredricksen staff and Farmers on Walnut, a group of farmers from within a 50 mile radius of Camp Hill, began to meet with Borough Councilman Aubrey Sledzinski and Borough Manager Gary Kline to explore the possibility of hosting a Farmers’ Market on the park-like side lot which the library owns. Why would we do such a thing? We are one of many libraries nationwide which see a Farmers’ Market as an ideal “marriage of missions” with that of the library.

Our funding is based primarily on the number of items we “circulate” (check out of the library); it is also based upon the number of folks who attend our programs. A weekly 4 hour market at the library would have greatly increased our attendance statistics, but would also have increased our circulation exponentially. We intended to have a mini-library on the side lot, programs for families, all the things which we could do because of the proximity of the proposed market.

If you read the papers, you know that this was not to be an easy path. At the February 2012 library board meeting, the Fredricksen Library Board gave unanimous approval to have the Market at the library if the Borough approved. Several neighbors in the immediate vicinity of the library became alarmed at the potential for increased traffic and what everyone (especially us!) recognizes as the library’s too-limited parking. Eventually, the Borough decided that the Market was not a good match for the library locale, but that it could operate from the Borough’s own side parking lot... also a Walnut Street address. The library operates a booth on the first Thursday of each month at this location. The Market doesn’t improve library circulation, statistics or funding, but we are very happy that these loyal farmers finally have a home.

Have you seen the Market? Please take a few moments in your travels on Thursday afternoons to visit, between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m. It’s truly beautiful and the traffic is quite manageable. Every week at our Reference Desk, Fredricksen features an arrangement of freshly picked flowers from Roots, one of the vendors. We still the love the Farmers, even if it’s from “far” away! 

Camp Hill farmers market
enjoys well-received
debut at borough building

By MONICA VON DOBENECK, The Patriot-News Published: Friday, May 25, 2012, 12:38 AM    

After all the fuss about opening a farmers market in Camp Hill, everyone seemed happy during its opening day Thursday.

Several hundred people wandered through the market late Thursday afternoon and evening.  READ MORE

Farmers on Walnut Market has been approved at a new location, at the Camp Hill Borough parking lot (2145 Walnut Street, Camp Hill) to begin Thursday, May 24 from 3 till 7 p.m. The market will continuously operate every Thursday from May through November. Fredricksen Library will have a booth at the market which will offer materials and programs to the public, but will not be hosting or managing the market. Watch for more details!

Farmers' Market Permit Denied
Fredricksen Library’s application for a temporary permit to sponsor a local farmers’ market at our 1938 Walnut Street property has been denied. Although alternative locations have been suggested for the market, including the parking lot at the Borough building, the library’s insurance prohibits hosting the Market at a location other than that of the library’s own property. 
 
Photos of the Farmers on Walnut Information Night



In the fall of 2011, after the success of the Library’s first annual local food & honey festival, Bee Local @ Fredricksen Library, the Library began a series of exploratory meetings with representatives from our staff and board, local farmers, and Camp Hill Borough to discuss the possibility of creating a farmers market in the borough. Over a period of six months, this group conducted research to explore all the issues surrounding farmers’ markets, as well as issues particular to holding a market at Fredricksen Library, including insurance requirements, safety oversight, parking needs, and the experiences of other libraries with farmers’ markets operating at their library. In addition, the farmers created a nonprofit organization with strict guidelines that will ensure that the market only sells local goods grown or raised within a 50 mile radius of the market.

Click here for a list of the farms that have applied to be vendors at Farmers on Walnut.
All are located within 50 miles of the market site.

The interest in farmers market and local foods is one that is growing and becoming more important to the communities that Fredricksen serves. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that “farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows the produce.” In addition, libraries are increasingly becoming community centers for the residents who live in their service area, offering not just books, but educational, recreational and entertainment programs and services. We think this would be a wonderful service to offer our communities and have taken every step to make sure that it would not have a negative impact on our neighborhood.
 
We invite you to explore the materials (links below)that have been compiled over the last half year as we have researched this issue, which address many of the questions the Library receives about the project.  

3.14.2012 letter to Camp Hill Borough - 13 KB 

3.14.2012 Camp Hill Borough Council Proposal - 1383 KB 

Original Market Proposal - 558 KB 

FAQ about the Market - 75 KB

ZONING ORDINANCE - 35 KB

Farmers on Walnut Vendor Guidelines - 72 KB 

Media Coverage

Don't let farmers market idea go to rot - Patriot-News Editorial Board - pennlive 5.12.12

Patriot News Front Page express 4.20.2012 - 139 KB 

Public Opinion supports Camp Hill Farmers Market - 50 KB 

Patriot News 4.20.2012 - 69 KB 

Patriot News 1.19.2012 - 207 KB 

Article on How Farmers Market Benefits Library - 706 KB
 
Experiences of Other Libraries - 33 KB 

Urbana MD Farmers Market - 277 KB 

Howard County MD Farmers Market - 176 KB

For additional information on farmers markets and safety oversight we encourage you to visit the websites of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture .

Please plan to attend our information night on the market, Thursday, May 3 at 7 pm in the Library’s Atrium. Meet and greet the farmers, view the proposed market plans, the parking plans, and have all of your questions answered!

Page updated April 30, 2012