To market, to market — in Arcadia

ARCADIA — Outreach ministries can be as varied as the churches that start them. Efforts run the gamut from hosting free community meals and operating food pantries to organizing mission trips and providing sleeping bags to the unhoused. One of Arcadia Trinity Lutheran Church's projects offers people space to sell their produce and homemade items at six different Farmers Markets from June through September. Vendors are not charged a fee to set up on the church's property at 18974 Ohio 12. This is the fifth year for the program. The first market of the season is Tuesday from 4-6:30 p.m. Church member Teresa Margraf said the day's theme will be a "Plant Swap." Attendees can bring a house or garden plant and trade it for a new one. "We say bring a plant, take a plant, bring three plants, take three plants," she said. Margraf herself will be bringing 70 plants she took from her yard and repotted. "I am a plantaholic," she laughed. "Last year we tried to categorize them, and we will try to categorize them again." The swap will include bulbs, houseplants, perennials, succulents and herbs. "Last year's plant swap was quite successful and got the bodies there," she said. "We weren't even planning on doing one until the ice cream social, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity on the plant swap because after mid-June, people are probably going to have plants in the ground so they're not going to need more." Plant swap participants are asked to tag their plants so others know what they are and if there are any special directions for their care. The Farmers Markets date back to 2021 when the church council offered them during the pandemic. The council knew there were people looking to make some extra money for their families so they offered the church's property as a place to sell their items. Margraf said vendors set up behind the church the first year. Then organizers decided to take advantage of the fact that Ohio 12 runs in front of the building. An electric sign has also been added, and special flags are put out by the road on Farmers Market days to attract the attention of passers-by. Margraf said they've seen an increase in the number of people participating in the markets since the first year. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The church doesn't provide anything, so vendors need to bring their own tables, chairs and canopies. Special themes are also planned for each event. The schedule includes: June 23 – 4-6:30 p.m., "Kids Farmers Market, Adult Vendors, Too," with special activities geared toward children. July 21 – 4-6:30 p.m., "Area Organizations," nonprofits and social service agencies have been invited to set up a table and provide information to the public. Aug. 18 – 4-6:30 p.m., "Back-to-School" Sept. 15 – 4-6:30 p.m., "All Things Fall" There will be an item for children to take home or a craft for them to make, Margraf said. Vendors may set up as early as 2:30 p.m. on market days. They should be ready for shoppers by 4 p.m. Food trucks are also welcome. "Another person I want to reach is the grandma that does cookies with her granddaughter," she said. "Just come with a card table and set up and sell your cookies. We've had people before with cookies. It's just we don't get them on a regular basis." If anyone has questions about items they can bring and what needs to be labeled, Margraf suggessted looking up the Ohio Revised Code and checking the list of cottage foods. She said children have also sold flowers, vegetables, lemonade and rubber band bracelets at previous events. On June 23, the Farmers Market will coincide with the church's ice cream social which is also from 4-6:30 p.m. The menu will feature homemade noodles, potato salad, chicken sandwiches, sloppy joes, desserts and ice cream. There will be bagged noodles available to purchase as well. Proceeds from the social are donated to local and area charities. In addition to the regular markets, Trinity Lutheran will allow vendors to set up during the town's Fourth of July celebration set for June 28. Vendors can set up as early as 1:30 p.m. Hours for the event start at 3 p.m. and continue until the fireworks start at 10 p.m. There will also be food trucks in the church parking lot. Margraf said vendors can stay as long as they want. Registration is not required to participate in any of the Farmers Markets. For more information, contact Margraf at 419-306-4269 or her sister, Carol, at 419-348-0408.