On Saturday morning, under a clear blue sky, The Brandeis Farmers Club hosted their first event in the Gosman parking lot. Over 500 people attended the Farmers’ Market that Gerrianna Cohen ’18, Market Manager of the Farmers Club, planned and executed. She started her planning process in the fall, when she visited The Waltham Farmers’ Market to meet with vendors and get a better understanding of the organization process. In addition, she spoke to members of the Brandeis Administration who expressed support for project.
Ten vendors sold goods at the market, including Doos P.K. (selling an all-natural product that can be used as a dip, a spread or a drink mix), a group of Brandeis graduate students known as Chocolatina, Harriet’s Bakery and Brandeis’ own Pottery Club. However, the favorites were definitely Bread Obsession and Halvah Heaven. When Varda Haimo of Bread Obsession arrived at the Gosman parking lot, her bread was in such high demand that she sold out within the first hour and a half of the market’s opening. Students could be seen during and after the market carrying around loaves, baguettes and rolls and enjoying them with the olive oil they also bought at the market. Halvah Heaven was similarly adored by market-goers. The crowd’s favorite flavor seemed to be the Earl Gray halvah. Overall, students raved about the food sold at the market and could be seen soaking up the sun while eating what they had just bought. Julie Kim ’18 said that she and some of her friends swiped into lower Usdan that day, only to eat their goodies from the market.
Also featured at the Farmers’ Market were various a cappella groups including Company B, Too Cheap For Instruments and Proscenium. Rebecca Weiss ’18 and David Chernack ’17 also played folk tunes on their guitar and violin.
The Farmers Club was only recently chartered, so this was the only Farmers’ Market they were able to plan for this year. However, in the fall the club plans to organize several more markets where they will be able to sell their own produce as well as support outside vendors. The produce will come from the rooftop farm that the club will begin building before the end of the spring semester. It will be located on top of the Gerstenzang Science Library and will be made out of milk crates. It will also include its own drip irrigation system. The Farmers Club has scheduled Rooftop Farm Build Days for Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 and still needs more volunteers to help build. The Farmers Club would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this event run so smoothly.
