BROOKHAVEN — Farmers Market returns to the railroad park in two weeks and locally owned Pell Farm is looking forward to the first event of spring. Brookhaven’s market is held when produce is available from local farmers. Arts and crafts are also welcomed at the market. 

Spring Market will open up at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 7 in downtown Brookhaven. Markets are from 8:30a.m. to 12p.m. on Fridays. It is the second annual spring market, according to the Brookhaven Farmers Market Facebook page. MSU Extension agent Keith Whitehead will present on how people can grow tomatoes from 10 a.m. to 11p.m. 

Elizabeth Pell said the farmers market means a great deal to her and her daughter Ashley to be a part of the Brookhaven Farmers Market when Spring Market returns. They started farming in 2014 and became a vendor five years ago when Ashley wanted to sell goat milk bath and body products. 

“Brookhaven Farmers Market has created a network of vendors supporting locally both the farmers and the consumers for a true agriculture to community experience,” Elizabeth said. “We are ready and excited for the Market season to return. We enjoy being involved in the farmers market and the community it creates. We enjoy meeting the people in our community, making connections and developing relationships.” 

Pell Farm, located in Silver Creek, will be at the market to sell features such as the Spilanthe plants and Malabar Spinach plants. According to their Facebook page, Spilanthe is a medicinal plant used to treat toothaches and other pains. It is a fast growing plant and takes four to six weeks after planting to bloom. 

Spilanthe likes hot summer days but “can be a little dramatic if it is thirsty but does bounce back after being well watered,” Elizabeth said. They do have a tendency to self seed. 

Malabar spinach grows on a purple vine and its berries can be used as a dye. It is a tropical and leafy green suitable for the hotter times in summer. 

“The plant is so prolific, just two plants can produce enough for most families to eat it multiple times a week,” she said. “It is also beautiful so if you don’t like the flavor of greens, you have a showy visual in the garden.” 

They will additionally sell Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) at the farmers market. Roselle is a medicinal herb with a tart fruity flavor similar to cranberries. Pell claims the plant is excellent for “tea, jelly or syrup.” Elizabeth said it is delicious every way she has tried it. 

It grows as a large bush reaching six feet in height with an equally proportioned girth. The farm said it can be used to control hypertension by reducing blood pressure and the treatment of UTIs. 

“I love the cranberry citrus flavor combo it provides in tea. Tea is one of the easiest ways to use it,” she said. “The raw leaves also make a lovely addition to a green salad.” 

A few other plants up for grabs at the farmers market will be lemon balm, basil, thyme, bee balm and San Marzino tomatoes. If you miss Pell Farm at the Spring Market do not worry, Ashley and Elizabeth will have a booth set up at every Brookhaven Farmers Market event possible. 

The Gardeners Shop is one of a few other special guests who will be at the market. They are asking people to bring any donations of canned or non-perishable food items. In exchange, they will give packs of flowers and vegetable seeds. Donations are given to the Brookhaven Outreach Ministries Food Pantry. 

Gardeners Shop will sell a variety of tomato starter plants including Beefmaster, black beauty, cherokee purple, better boy, blue gold berries and minibell cherry, brandywine, big boy, early girl and sweetie cherry. 

Oopsie Daisy will sell a variety of baked goods at the Market on April 7. They will be selling Easter Macarons and other Easter themed items. Brookhaven Honey Company will also be at the market selling honey products.