• Everyday
    • Education
    • Neighborhood Notes
  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • Artist Profiles
    • Food Shopping
    • Local Farmers
    • Music
    • Restaurants
  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Timberland Regional Library
  • Featured Businesses
    • Around The House
    • Health Care
    • Local Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • History
  • Photos
    • Community Events
    • Local Attractions
    • Sporting Events
  • Non-Profits
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Dogs & Pets
    • Family & Kids
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Gardening
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Parks and Beaches
    • Thrifty Thurston
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
Search
Thursday, February 2, 2023
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
ThurstonTalk
  • Everyday
    • AllEducationNeighborhood Notes
      Liz and Jane sitting on a porch

      Senior Services Home Share Program Matches Providers with Seekers

      Community Nature Foundation board members Jamie Corson and Charissa Waters standing in the forest

      Eastside Neighborhood Forest Donated to Community Nature Foundation

      Views on Fifth building in Olympia from across the street

      The Changing Face of Downtown Olympia

      Olympia High School and TwinStar Credit Union Partner to Influence Good…

  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • AllArtist ProfilesFood ShoppingLocal FarmersMusicRestaurants
      Latte in a white cup on a brown counter

      Where to get Coffee in Olympia’s Downtown Historic District

      chocolate dipped strawberries on a plate

      Olympia Thriftway Stores Makes Hearts Smile this Valentine’s Day

      person standing in front of the glass display at Blue Heron Bakery

      Blue Heron Bakery in West Olympia Goes Co-Op in a Unique…

      mac-and-cheese, pork belly candy, wine and cocktails on a table at Cynara

      Enticing Happy Hour Eats at Cynara Restaurant & Lounge

  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Timberland Regional Library
  • Featured Businesses
    • AllAround The HouseHealth CareLocal Retail ShopsServicesWomen in Business
      Cary Hamilton on the floor with a crown on her head with a child at Olympia Therapy

      Play Therapy Equals Mental Wellness with Olympia Therapy

      a mental health professional talking with someone

      Mental Health Professionals are Working Together at The Practice NW in…

      Mason Health surgical team in scrubs

      Mason Health Is Heading Into the New Year Ready To Serve…

      women standing at an OlyFed bank counter

      Saving for a Rainy Day Starts Now at OlyFed

  • History
    • The Flavor Nook, probably in October 1968.

      Home of the Long Hamburger: The History of Lacey’s Flavor Nook

      Olympia Brewing Company building in the 1960s

      Architectural Drawings of Olympia Brewing Company Lobby 1961 Remodel Donated to…

      Newton Aiken, seen here in the 1945 issue of the Chinook yearbook

      People in Public Service: Newton Jessie Aiken, Principal of Olympia High…

      Christmas Island in Olympia in an undated photo

      Olympia History: A Baby Boomer’s Christmas

      sliced fruitcake on a plate

      The Ideal Holiday Dessert? Slicing Up the History of Fruitcake in…

  • Photos
    • AllCommunity EventsLocal AttractionsSporting Events
      capital city pride

      Thousands Gather in Olympia to Celebrate Capital City Pride 2018

      procession species olympia

      Luminary Procession 2018: Lighting Up the Rainy Night in Downtown Olympia

      snowy winter scene

      ThurstonTalk Readers Capture Christmas Snow

      Twinklefest 2017

      Twinklefest 2017 Window Displays

  • Non-Profits
    • Liz and Jane sitting on a porch

      Senior Services Home Share Program Matches Providers with Seekers

      two people sitting behind the counter at computers at The Olympia Free Clinic

      The Olympia Free Clinic Settles into Lilly Road for 2023

      Mission Nonprofit: Mission Year 2022

      A young dancer strikes a pose with confidence after her dance routine at South Sound Studios in Tumwater.

      New South Sound Dance Nonprofit Uses the Power of Movement to…

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: The JOLT News

  • LocalTalk
    • Thurston County Scenic Olympia Capital

      Public Comment Sought on Proposed Amendments to 2022-2023 Official Dockets

      Three Days of Razor Clam Digging on Copalis Beach Starts Friday,…

      The Washington Center & Ballet Northwest Present 2023 Olympia Dance Festival

      Living Well Thurston

      Sunrise Henderson Inlet Scenic Dr Attila Talaber

      Puget Sound Energy donates $125,000 across 10 organizations to support efforts…

  • Activities
    • AllDogs & PetsFamily & KidsIndoorOutdoorGardeningOutdoor RecreationBikingCampingHikingRunningParks and BeachesThrifty Thurston

      Where to Workout Near Olympia: Gyms and Yoga Studios in Thurston…

      Thurston County Crossword Puzzle February 2023

      Lacey Joggernauts group photo

      Lacey Joggernauts Run/Walk Club Welcomes 2023 and Invites You to Join…

      Uptown Lounge's gourmet burgers with fries

      Gourmet Food, Craft Cocktails, and a Movie Theater with Unlimited Popcorn…

  • Events
    • The South Sound Artisan Guild Returns to Olympia’s Capital Mall

      lavishly decorated table with a chocolate fountain in the middle

      Things To Do for Valentine’s Day in Olympia and Throughout Thurston…

      kids and parents sitting at large round tables

      Annual Champions of Courage Fundraiser Is Back With In-person, All-Ages Fun

      Olympia’s Fleurae Floral Design scottish Santa at the Seattle Fleurs de Villes

      Fleurae Floral Design Wins Most Creative at Seattle’s 2022 Fleurs de…

      group of photo of the dancers in Ailey II

      Modern Dance Meets Storytelling as Ailey II Takes the Stage at…

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
Home Food and Art Neighborhood Notes: Farmers Market in the Making at Delphi Schoolhouse

Neighborhood Notes: Farmers Market in the Making at Delphi Schoolhouse

By
Lauri Martin
ellis creek farm
Ann Petricola has a wide variety of fall vegetables and garden starts for sale at the Ellis Creek Farm booth. Photo courtesy: Ellis Creek Farm

Share via:

18 Shares
  • More

Joy Nguyen dreamt of having a farm. It took a long time to find the right spot, but last spring, a friend put some property off Delphi Road up for sale and Joy and her husband Huy decided to buy it.

van dorm sponsorBefore the idea of buying the property ever came up, however, Joy had signed up for a Sustainable Small Farming course through the Thurston County WSU Extension Service. There she met Joel Baranick and Ann Petricola, who were just getting Ellis Creek Farm going, among others with the same dream. The class took a field trip to Piece By Piece Farm in northeast Olympia. That trip led to Joy working at Piece By Piece over the summer and she found the experience valuable. “There are things you can only learn by doing,” she says of her time on the farm.

Zuchini, cucumber, pumpkin, edamame, and flowers are all thriving at Joy Nyugen’s new Prairie Oak Farm. Photo credit: Huy Nyugen

Over the course of a few months, Joy had closed on the purchase of her land, gained growing skills and planted some late season crops. The next step was to get her produce to those who would buy it. “It seemed natural to have a farm stand,” says Joy. Looking at her new property, she thought it would be a challenge to place signs and provide parking and she worried there would not be enough visibility. Right next door to her farm, however, is the Old Delphi School with plenty of open space for parking and signs and the landmark is easily seen from Delphi Road.

Joy contacted her neighbors, Shane and Macy Jewell, who manage the schoolhouse. “They’ve been really helpful,” she shares. Joy got the rental information from the Jewells and bounced ideas off friends and other farmers. Eventually, the idea evolved to start a farmers’ market. She worked out a deal to rent the space on Friday evenings. Some of her fellow, new farmers welcomed an opportunity to sell their vegetables and seedlings. Each vendor pays $10 to cover the cost of renting the property for the evening.

Delphi Farmers market
Founder of the new Delphi Farmer’s Market, Joy Nguyen, straightens her seed packets at her Prairie Oak Farm booth during a recent market day. Photo credit: Lauri Martin

Next, Joy turned to her friend Martin Lee, a graphic designer and owner of Hand Eye Studio in Tumwater. “I really wanted to market to the people around here,” she explains of her desire to reach out to the neighborhood. Martin came up with a sign for the new farmers’ market that features a silhouette of the iconic schoolhouse anyone from the area could recognize. He also designed the logo for Joy’s Prairie Oak Farm.

Joy’s vision for the market is to provide a fun and easy way for people who live in the area to buy food. “I want to focus on food,” says Joy, a difference from some of the other area markets. She has reached out to potential vendors and gotten interest from people who sell crafts and other items, but for now, food is priority. Along with her own stand where she sells vegetables and seeds, there are several other new-to-farming stands. “We’re all learning how to sell,” explains Joy. Lisa Boggess of Wishing Willow Farm and Garden echoes that sentiment. For her, having a stand at the new Delphi  Farmers’ Market is not about making money, “It’s just about learning,” she says.

“This is a good place for people just starting out,” adds Joy.

delphi farmer's market
Delphi Farmer’s Market is just getting started, but draws a steady stream of customers each Friday evening from 4 – 7 pm. Photo credit: Courtesy Delphi Farmer’s Market

They held their first market on September 15 and the number of vendors varies each week. “It’s the old chicken and egg conundrum,” laughs Joy. Vendors are interested if there are lots of shoppers, and shoppers are more likely to stop if there are lots of vendors. She is working to get the word out to people who live in the Delphi Valley by putting up signs and adding vendors. Joy would like to include a hot food vendor for people wanting to grab dinner on the way home as well. “A food truck would be ideal,” she suggests. A mobile coffee stand is also on the wish list.

In addition to the farm booths, recent vendors include Wild Yeast Breads selling artisanal breads, Sofie’s Scoops has been there with a gelato cart and Olympia Beekeepers Association offered honey and knowledge about pollinators. A soup vendor, a soap vendor and an herbalist have participated, too.

Farming and selling what they have produced at the new Delphi Farmers’ Market is about bringing great food into a great community for the farmers involved. “My intention was to have a farm, and I’m doing that,” says Joy. Starting a farmers’ market was an additional venture that has enabled her to meet many of her neighbors and others in the wider community. “If nothing else, I’ve gotten to meet some really great people.”

delphi farmer's market
Big basket of cucumbers just one of many fall vegetables on offer at the new Delphi Farmer’s Market. Photo credit: Lauri Martin

Delphi Farmer’s Market is hoping to hold markets into November this year as long as there is interest. After that, look for the market to start up again in late spring when seedlings and tender spring vegetables are starting to shine. After conferring with Joel of Ellis Creek Farm, Joy says, “We’ll aim for June.”

The market will be open most Friday nights from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Old Delphi Schoolhouse, 7601 Delphi Rd SW. For market updates follow the Delphi Farmer’s Market on Facebook.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, contact Joy at 214-215-0758 or prairieoakfarm@gmail.com.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share via:

18 Shares
  • More
Previous articleYouthWorks Youth Impact Program Changes Young Lives
Next articleOlympia Furniture Company Goes “Clicks and Mortar” with New Vlog Series
Lauri Martin

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Latte in a white cup on a brown counter

Where to get Coffee in Olympia’s Downtown Historic District

chocolate dipped strawberries on a plate

Olympia Thriftway Stores Makes Hearts Smile this Valentine’s Day

person standing in front of the glass display at Blue Heron Bakery

Blue Heron Bakery in West Olympia Goes Co-Op in a Unique Way and Invites You to Join

Upcoming Events

Feb
2
Thu
9:00 am Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Feb 2 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Each February we promote healthy smiles by joining with our dental community to offer free dental screenings right inside the Museum! Kids can pretend to be the dentist in our Puget Sound Dental Office exhibit[...]
7:00 pm Legally Blonde the Musical @ The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Legally Blonde the Musical @ The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 2 @ 7:00 pm
Legally Blonde the Musical @ The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
Fabulously fun and international award-winning Legally Blonde – The Musical is the ultimate Broadway tribute to Girl Power! The story follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery and scandal in[...]
7:30 pm Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sher... @ State Theater
Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sher... @ State Theater
Feb 2 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery @ State Theater
Directed by Corey McDaniel. Starring Russell Matthews as Sherlock Holmes and Nick Hall as Doctor Watson, with John Serembe, Eleise Moore and Xander Layden. Get your deerstalker cap on — the play’s afoot! Ken Ludwig’s[...]
Feb
3
Fri
12:00 am Register now for Free Tax Prepar... @ AARP Foundation Tax Aide
Register now for Free Tax Prepar... @ AARP Foundation Tax Aide
Feb 3 @ 12:00 am – 12:00 am
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation services in Thurston County starting February 1, 2023. For an appointment, call 360-474-3869 and leave a message. Or make your own appointment at https://taxaidewa20.org/online/. Or walk into one[...]
9:00 am Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Feb 3 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Dental Health Month @ Hands On Children's Museum
Each February we promote healthy smiles by joining with our dental community to offer free dental screenings right inside the Museum! Kids can pretend to be the dentist in our Puget Sound Dental Office exhibit[...]
View Calendar

Local Community Sponsors

Local Community Sponsors

Business

Cary Hamilton on the floor with a crown on her head with a child at Olympia Therapy

Play Therapy Equals Mental Wellness with Olympia Therapy

The mental health of children and their parents is pressed to the max. Endless disruptions of routines with pandemic lockdowns, financial insecurity, housing shortages,...
a mental health professional talking with someone

Mental Health Professionals are Working Together at The Practice NW in...

Mason Health surgical team in scrubs

Mason Health Is Heading Into the New Year Ready To Serve...

women standing at an OlyFed bank counter

Saving for a Rainy Day Starts Now at OlyFed

Pharmacist Ryan Martin at NW Remedies holding two supplement jars in his hands and smiling at the camera

NW Remedies is Olympia’s Local Pharmacy for Supplementing Your Health and...

Trending Now

Kelly Wilson, a first-time hiker on The Evergreen State College's trails, standing next to a trail sign

Walk, Hike or Run The Evergreen State College’s Trails in Olympia

Swing Wine Bar in Thurston County, outside patio

From Wineries to Wine Bars: Where to Sip Wine in Thurston...

Where to Workout Near Olympia: Gyms and Yoga Studios in Thurston...

Editor Picks

couple stand close together outside the Port Ludlow Resort

Plan a Romantic Getaway at Port Ludlow Resort on The Salish...

chocolate dipped strawberries on a plate

Olympia Thriftway Stores Makes Hearts Smile this Valentine’s Day

Olympia Brewing Company building in the 1960s

Architectural Drawings of Olympia Brewing Company Lobby 1961 Remodel Donated to...

Recent Posts

  • Public Comment Sought on Proposed Amendments to 2022-2023 Official Dockets
  • Three Days of Razor Clam Digging on Copalis Beach Starts Friday, February 3
  • Where to Workout Near Olympia: Gyms and Yoga Studios in Thurston County
  • The Washington Center & Ballet Northwest Present 2023 Olympia Dance Festival
  • Living Well Thurston
ABOUT US
ThurstonTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Thurston County Washington, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and the surrounding area. Advertise with ThurstonTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@thurstontalk.com
FOLLOW US
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
© ThurstonTalk, Inc.
Share via
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap