Local Mom Makes ‘Kids Create Day’ a Tradition

When Willa was 8 years old she discovered sewing. She and her friends started making “stuff.” She asked her mother Abby Marschke if they could sell their items at the Ashland Farmers Market (AFM). Marschke sent an email asking if the market could create space for children to sell their handmade goods.
“One email with the idea, an enthusiastic response from the AFM volunteer crew, and ‘Kids Create Day’ was underway,” Marschke said. “It was incredibly easy to get involved with the farmers market.”
Creative and talented young Ashlanders became entrepreneurs at AFM for the first time in the summer of 2016. The next time kids learned what it is like to own a business and sell what they created came when the market held its February 2017 market.
This year, on Saturday, Sept. 9, the market will once again host ‘Kids Create Day’.
Now the organizer of the event, Marschke wants to make sure all Ashland children between the ages of 5 and 18 who are interested are invited to participate.
“It is wonderful to see the kids stretch their entrepreneur muscles and see their creativity in action,” she said. “I love that Ashland kids have the opportunity to practice skills, like setting a price point, making change and marketing, and show their diverse array of handmade goods, supporting the mission of the market: ‘make it or grow it.’ We have such a talented bunch of sewers, crafters, knitters, upcyclers, writers, origami makers and more.”
How to Participate
Children interested in participating in the Sept. 9 ‘Kids Create Day’ event may download guidelines and an application from the AFM website www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org/event/ashland-kids-create. Participants must make what they sell, make crafts that are not from kits, and not sell any food or drinks.
The deadline to apply to participate for this fall’s ‘Kids Create Day’ is Aug. 31.
When it comes to volunteering at the market, working mom Abby Marschke offered her recommendation: “The Ashland Farmers Market is such a fun organization to be even a small part of, and the AFM organizers make it easy to be involved in any way.”
AFM Summer Highlights
Ashland Farmers Market (AFM) is held every Saturday, 9 am to 1 pm, through Oct. 7 on the green across from the library. There is ample parking on Front Street, in the adjacent municipal lot, and nearby at town hall on Main Street and at Mindess School on Concord Street. Come for breakfast, stay for lunch. Learn more at www.AshlandFarmersMarket.org.
August 5 – Dog Day: Bring your four-legged friend and check out the special services, events ,and treats for them. All dogs must be crowd-friendly, on leash, and well behaved to participate in the Dog Parade. Free Concert: Ampersand folk rock, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: Dog craft with Samali Perera-Charvet, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
August 12: Kids young and old get to do interactive drumming with The Beat Bus! 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: Making drums, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
August 19 – Farm Day: Farm animals from Farmer John Brown’s Newfound Farm; Angel Hair Alpacas; Peanut & Butter dwarf goats; farm tractors to climb on; canning demo. Free Concert: Moonshine Alley mountain music, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
August 26 – Tomato Festival: Heirloom tastings, creative tomato pairings. Food Demo: Chef Christopher Ryan of Residence at Valley Farm makes Gazpacho. Free Concert: The Cardinal, Joe Stillitano, Len Rabinowitz, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kid’s Corner: Garden activity with Ashland Garden, Club, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
September 2 – Harvest Brunch: The Carve offers a special brunch from autumn farm bounty!