WINNEMUCCA — What do you get when you put over 250 community members, 8 vendors, 8 nonprofits, 4 yard sales, a live band, and a workshop of summer safety tips from the Red Cross, all together in a beautiful, full-bloom garden?

You get the Community Garden Farmers’ Market on opening day, which took place on Saturday July 10^th from 8:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m at the Winnemucca Community Garden on McArthur Street. The market will continue each Saturday at the same time and place through September 11^th, each week with a different theme, entertainment, and educational workshop or demonstration.

This is the first year that the Community Garden is putting on its own Market independent of Thursday’s market run by Mr. Ed Klemish, which is continuing this summer from 4 – 6 pm on Thursdays.

Though independent, the two markets are working together to advance the same goal of making fresh and nutritious produce available to the public in Winnemucca.

This year, the Garden’s Saturday Market strives to be so much more than a place to buy your veggies for the week. The public market is instead a community-gathering event that draws people from all over the area to gather, grow, and celebrate local talent and tradition.

At the Market, the Community Garden stand offered pesticide-free and Nevada-grown produce, including garlic, turnips, beets, zucchini, lettuce, and herbs picked that morning from the Community Garden and other gardens in Winnemucca.

Other original products offered by local vendors included high-quality wooden and wrought iron lawn decorations, hand-made wreaths, spring rolls and Korea pancakes, fresh eggs, and fruit smoothies. The selection of produce, prepared foods, and crafts is set to expand each week as the market develops through the summer.

Among non-profit organizations, AVA (Advocates for Victims of Abuse, formerly CAASA, Community Advocates Against Sexual Assault) was doing finger printing and giving out safety information packages.

Kindred Spirits Animal Rescue showcased kittens available for adoption, the Winnemucca Food Bank hosted a food drive, to be ongoing at the Saturday Farmers’ Market each week. The Nevada Outdoors School, the Women’s Domestic Violence Shelter, and the Winnemucca Futures project were among other organizations promoting programs, events, and volunteering opportunities.

Four different yard sales showcasing jewelry, furniture, and other miscellaneous treasures made the Market even more diverse and interesting.

The Battle Mountain and Elko-based band Whiskey n’ Whine put on a lively performance of classic rock and country tunes, and Barb Sealy of the Red Cross discussed sunscreen application and how to avoid summer first aid in a workshop promoting the Market’s ‘Summer Safety’ theme.

The Market strives to be affordable and accessible to all. Senior vouchers are accepted for produce and honey products.

Visit the WCG website for a complete schedule of Market themes and events throughout the summer. Parking is available for Market attendees at the Nevada Energy lot (at the intersection of Hanson and McArthur) and also at the LDS Church parking lot next to the Garden. For more information about the Market, please contact Katie at the WCG at 623-2333, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .