Western Sustainability Exchange’s Livingston Farmers Market summer season commences on Wednesday, June 5th, with Wildfire Preparedness Day. Starting at 4:30pm at Miles Park Band Shell, next to the Livingston Civic Center, this event is sponsored by the Park County FireSafe Coalition and Sun Mountain Lumber.
Attendees will not only learn how to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season but also have the exciting opportunity to meet Smokey Bear, take photos with him, see a fire engine and rescue vehicle, and even spray a firehose. Cole Thorne, the lead singer/songwriter of mountain-island soul band Cole & The Thornes, will provide live music. Her sultry vocals combined with conscious lyrics and Latin-reggae influence make for a laid-back & happy ambiance. A huge thank you to Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and Home2 Suites by Hilton for sponsoring all the music at the Market this season!
At 5pm, the Paradise Permaculture Institute will present a workshop on regenerative gardening. This workshop offers attendees 10 valuable tips that can save time, money, enrich the soil, and encourage perennial food crops. The institute will also share their top 12 plants and their benefits for regenerative gardening and give away a free package of seeds, making this a must-attend event for all gardening enthusiasts.
During our music intermission at 6pm, attendees will enjoy a special performance from the Yellowstone Ballet Company.
This summer’s farmers market will run from June 5th through September 18th at the Miles Band Shell Park, rain or shine. Special events will include Kids Day on June 12th, Give a Hoot About the Farmers Market on June 26th, The Cayden Leonard Memorial Bike Rodeo on July 17th , Healthy Soils Day on July 24th, Give a Hoot Grand Finale on July 31st, Art at the Market Day on August 7th, Eat Local Day on August 14th and Community Health Day on September 4th.
River Drive will be closed during the farmers market each week from Yellowstone Street to the Civic Center parking lot, which will remain open for farmers market parking. This is the same closure as previous years and will help provide a safe area for pedestrians and bicyclists and allow the Market to expand into and across the road. Please remember to leave your furry family members at home!
The Livingston Farmers Market is committed to ensuring food access for all Park County residents. Event organizers offer three food access programs: the Senior Farmers Market Nutritional Program (SFMNP), the Livingston Food Resource Center’s (LFRC) Health Families Token Program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with double SNAP benefits. SNAP provides essential nutritional support for various groups, including low-paid working families, low-income older adults (60 years and older), people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and households with low incomes. The Double SNAP program further enhances affordability by providing a one-to-one match for every dollar of SNAP benefits spent at the Market, up to $20 per week.
A huge thank you to Program and Market Sponsors: July Hardesty with Edward Jones, Sibanye Stillwater, Bank of the Rockies, First Interstate Bank, Kenyon Noble, and our Community Partners: the City of Livingston, Livingston Food Resource Center, Park County Environmental Council, and Happy Trash Can Composting. Also, to all Special Day sponsors, for helping to make the magic happen!
To learn more about the food access programs or to apply, visit the WSE Headquarters booth at the Market or call Shannan Mascari at (406) 222-0730 ext. 1. For the full calendar of special events and live music, or to learn how to become a sponsor, visit westernsustainabilityexchange.org. •
