Whether residents were there to browse locally grown food and handmade crafts for sale, or to sit in on good conversations with neighbors and friends, all agreed this season’s Lady Lake Farmers and Crafts Market was a success.
The weekly market, held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday, hosts various local vendors who sell their items at Rolling Acres Sports Complex, 250 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake.
What was originally intended to be the second to last market of the season was turned into a special one as the town coordinated it with the Meet the Mayor at the Market event.
Lady Lake Mayor Ed Freeman was on hand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 31. Residents had the chance to converse with the mayor about nearly anything during the casual gathering.
During Freeman’s three-hour appearance, he spoke with shoppers and market vendors.
“The thing about interacting with members of the community is I like to talk, so I’m always talking to people,” he said. “Today, we had people talking to me about too much growth in Lady Lake, town spending on infrastructure and more advertising for this market. Overall, I get the sense everyone is happy with the Town of Lady Lake and our community.”
The seasonal market, which runs from October to April, has been extended to April 28. It offers a wide range of items for sale, including fresh produce, plants, baked goods and a variety of other treats and treasures.
Taylor Tinsley, of Summerfield, had a spread of organic sourdough baked goods laid across the table. She has attended every Lady Lake Farmers and Crafts Market this season, promoting her business Bunny Bakery.
Tinsley, who said she “wanted to bring in more health-conscious items to the market,” said she went from making sourdough baked goods for home to getting requests to make custom orders and creating her business.
Tinsley brings a lot of tasty treats, including chocolate cake, brownies, bagels and English muffins, for patrons to purchase at the weekly market.
“Sourdough is an old way of making bread,” she said. “It is a fermented item, which means it takes a longer time to rise. In that time, the bread is breaking down the gluten structure, which makes the bread easier to digest.”
Bunny Bakery also offers the option to place a pre-order at hotplate.com/bunnybakery for pickup at the market.
Carrie Mance, founder of The Amber Sugar Society, loves to experiment with flavor and making brittle fresh to order.
That’s how she brings unique-flavored brittle like jalapeño peanut brittle or raspberry mocha to the market.
“I’m a maker,” Mance said. “I like showing people what you can do and make different things (with brittle). I also like being out and seeing people in the community.”
Wanda Andro, owner of Paisley Plants, also enjoys participating in the market because it gives her a chance to be out in the community.
From the beautiful and deadly pitcher plant to the blooming ombré of color on the shrimp plant, Andro sells various plants. One her favorite plants she displays is the purple sword plant because of its unique shape.
“I just love plants; they are good therapy,” Andro said. “Also, I’m very talkative and I enjoy the interactions I have here.”
Walking through the market you can find other must-have items for sale, including bird houses sold by Artistic Bird Nesting Houses and homemade body butter sold by Beach Girl Suds and Gifts.
Gina Brueckner, co-owner of Beach Girl Suds and Gifts, enjoys participating in the Lady Lake market on Tuesdays and the Brownwood Hometown Market on Saturdays.
“There are so many people to talk to and everyone is really friendly here,” she said. “This market feels like it gives more time for socializing and getting shopping done in a way that you can’t at a grocery store.”
With an array of colored diamond dotz on everything from purses to images you can stick to your window, Janet Heffner had a lot of products showcasing her business, Sparklescapes.
“Either people love it or they hate it,” she said. “I love them because I love color and I love sparkle. I was given a 12-by-16 tree with the kit about five or six years ago. Now I do them all the time, even when I’m watching television. The kits have napkin holders, tote bags, window pictures. They have so many things you can design.”
Melissa CapoBinco attended her first market on March 10.
She was selling a small clay dish with ridges, known as The Everything Grater, that can be used to grate most food products.
“I love the people, the laid back atmosphere and showing the product. The Everything Grater product is the best kitchen tool ever created,” she said. “Not only is it beautiful, but they are also so functional and save a tone of time. It helps grate nearly everything, but soft cheese and your fingers. Everyone needs one.”
The market is accessible by golf cart by using The Villages at Palermo Place through Chula Vista and Del Mar drives. For more information about the Lady Lake Farmers and Crafts Market, visit ladylakefl.gov.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
