McDonalds Corners Farmers’ Market has laid back country charm

Jun 26, 2014

The farmers’ market that takes place every Saturday during the summer in McDonalds Corners is well worth the trip. The market started up in 2007 and takes place on the grounds surrounding the MERA Schoolhouse, which offers visitors a peaceful and quaint country setting where they can lounge under two huge, shady poplar trees and enjoy everything that the market has to offer. Over 20 regular vendors fill the old fashioned steel-roofed log stalls and many also set up their own covered outdoor booths. Goodies for sale include a wide variety of fresh grown market veggies, herbs, garlic, and also prepared salads and salad dressings plus plants and fresh cut flowers, all made available from local farmers. There is organic meat, home made breads, cookies, cakes and other goodies plus maple syrup, home made preserves and other comestibles. Also beautifully displayed are a wide variety of local hand made crafts that include stone and glass jewelry, wooden crafts and other functional objects for the home and kitchen, and other creative and imaginative gift items including wizards, Santas and gnomes. Lovers of the fabric arts will enjoy the wide array of yarns and other hand made woolen and knit items including beautiful felted slippers, and unique and very delicate crocheted cloth jewelry.

I would encourage visitors to skip breakfast and arrive hungry since they can sit down and enjoy a wide array of healthy and filling snacks. The two J.Ps who man the on-site outdoor brick pizza oven are happy to prepare made-to-order pizzas starting at 11am. The pizzas come in two sizes and are carefully assembled, baked and served up piping hot from the oven.

Or perhaps a home made souvlaki or tandoori chicken courtesy of Silvia and Chris is more to your fancy. The Steady Way trailer offers up fresh and steaming hot fair trade coffee and teas that go well with their famous sticky buns, Queen Elizabeth cakes, exceptional cookies and their wide selection of non-GMO fresh-baked breads. If cheesecake or pies are your thing try Sally Andrews' incredible pies, her regular or gluten-free cheesecakes or her ready to eat gluten-free strawberry shortcakes.

The MERA school house is also open for visitors to wander around and enjoy the art and craft displays within, free of charge. Indoor washroom facilities are also accessible to market goers. Adding to the charm of the market are live musical performances by a number of different musicians every week, who perform from 11am until 1pm.

The market runs every Saturday from 9am to 1pm at the MERA school house in McDonalds Corners. Visit meraschoolhouse.org