Raving Rooster Weblog

Vendor Inquiries

Are you interested in becoming a vendor at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market?

Would you like to know more about being an OSFM vendor?  We invite you to drop by the market any Saturday morning between 7am – 12:30pm. Check it out for yourself.  Take some time to talk to our vendors, directors, and the market manager. Read full blog post & add comments

Market Past

It is difficult with precision to ascertain where or when the initial Owen Sound Farmers’ Market began. There exists a number of references in the early history of Owen Sound to a “Market Square”. One of these was at the site of Boyds Wharf, (where the current Bayshore Arena is sited) and another was beside the courthouse (current old courthouse). Yet another places the market in its current location prior to any building for its specific use. These differences may reflect the changes occurring as the newly established community grew and evolved. Read full blog post & add comments

Market Future

The Owen Sound Farmers’ Market continues to operate from the historic market building located at 114 8th Street East, Owen Sound.

The market board continues to explore opportunities to improve the services provided to (and the environment provided for) our customers and our community.

Some of the mid to long term renovations planned for the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market include: Read full blog post & add comments

OSFM Architecture

The Owen Sound Market Building (the former Municipal Water-works building) is a very refined example of a 19th century “functional” building.   The roots of its design derive from the forms of the utilitarian industrial, manufacturing and storage structures erected in Great Britain during the late Georgian and Victorian Industrial Revolution. Such buildings are characterized by simple massings and the use of conventional materials such as brick, stone, and timber in subtle and infinitely varied ways. Read full blog post & add comments

Maggie’s Emporium

Preserved sunshine. That’s what Maggie Mitchell has written on her business card. When Maggie retired 10 years ago, she wanted to keep active, she wanted to be creative. She had room on her one acre of land to grow many plants and she loved to garden. Maggie started making wreaths for family members. Out of that came Maggie’s Emporium, supplier of dried flowers and natural decorative products. She finds the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market a natural place for her creations because the people who shop there frequently grow things themselves. She also appreciates that her stall is set up beside food suppliers, she says. Read full blog post & add comments

Springhill Emu & Magnetic Products

For 16 years, Roberta Vokes from Springhill Emu Natural Health Products has been selling at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market. Her family lives in Kilsyth, just south of Owen Sound.

Roberta initially started by promoting magnetic products including magnets, magnetic therapy, jewellery, magnetic pads, pet therapy (collar and bed), and water magnets. Read full blog post & add comments

Rockrose Pottery

Vince Bowen, Rockrose Pottery, has been making pottery since 1968, but has been in business since 1978. He took a course at the Ontario College of Art and was hooked! He then studied at Sheridan College for three years and was a Ceramic Technician for three years before starting Rockrose Pottery. Read full blog post & add comments

Ella’s Baking & Crafts

Ella Taylor, that’s Ella’s Baking and Crafts, has been a vendor at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market for six years – but Ella has been baking and “crafting” for 30 years.

Her array of crafts include refrigerator magnets made out of plastic canvas; colourful mittens, and hats and slippers made from acrylic, wool and nylon. Her sturdy dish cloths, made from 100% cotton, are also a steady seller. Read full blog post & add comments

Stoney Keppel Bison

The Stoney Keppel Bison enterprise is operated by Susan & Jake Forrest and Jean & Bob Evans. It has been six years since they started working with bison, both rearing the animals and marketing the meat products.

Owen Sound Farmers’ Market has been an important part of their marketing strategy for the past two years. Their marketing manager, Susan Forrest, says that it has been an excellent way to introduce the product to new customers and to supply their regular ones. Read full blog post & add comments

Monckton Organic Farm and Bakery

Coming all the way from Berkeley, Monckton Organic Farm & Bakery has been at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market for four years. Their bakery business is vertically integrated with the family farm where they grow high quality organic grains, stone grinding the wheat and spelt berries prior to baking. Read full blog post & add comments