By Christine Bryant
Staff Writer
Anyone with a garden at home has likely had this happen – everything is ready for harvesting at once.
Suddenly what seems like a good idea to save money has turned into a challenge in finding enough recipes to cover the baskets of zucchinis, tomatoes and peppers the garden has produced.
The Grove City Parks and Recreation Department has a solution, however, for all those with a successful green thumb.
The city will host Wednesday Garden Markets at Gantz Park beginning July 27. The events will run each week from 4:30 to 7 p.m. through Aug. 17 at the park, located at 2255 Home Road.
Residents in Grove City, as well as throughout central Ohio, are invited not only to attend, but to reserve a picnic table from which to sell their own bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Garden Markets are planned for the home gardener who has surplus tomatoes, zucchini, swiss chard, peppers, etc., but we also welcome the growers who typically sell at area farmer’s markets,” said Michele Demmy, recreation coordinator for the Grove City Parks and Recreation Department.
Reserving a picnic table costs $5, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Grove City Food Pantry. Vendors are limited to selling produce, flowers, herbs and other similar products. Items like soaps, dips and breads will not be allowed.
This will be the first summer for the garden markets – an event, Demmy says, that will not only bring the community together, but give home growers an outlet for selling their surplus vegetables.
“We realize that, often, by mid-week, the produce that we purchased at a Saturday farmer’s market was already gone,” she said.
Families are invited to bring their children, who will have the opportunity each week to participate in nature-themed crafts while their parents shop, Demmy said.
The markets are held rain or shine. Shoppers and vendors should be prepared to pay in small denominations and make change, she said.
For more information or to reserve a picnic table, call (614) 277-3050 or email mdemmy@grovecityohio.gov. Space is limited.
