COMMISSIONERSGary R. McGillivray, ChairmanJ. David VanderVeen, Vice ChairmanEbony Bagley, Secretary Christine Long, Executive Committee Member

Yolanda Charles Amanda Herzog Andrea LaFontaine Jim Nash E. Lance Stokes Nancy L. Quarles

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES2800 Watkins Lake RoadWaterford, MI 48328-1917248-858-09061-888-OCPARKS

2021 Events & InformationOaklandCountyParks.com

All Abilities WELCOME

From Farm to Family Oakland County Farmers Market is a mainstay for providing grower-direct fresh produce and flowers to county residents and visitors. The market hosts nearly 100 farmers and artisans, representing 17 Michigan counties.

A producer-direct market, participating vendors must grow or make the products that they bring for sale during the main season (May–October). During the off season (November–April), vendors may bring approved farm market type items not produced by themselves.

More than just fruits and veggiesFresh fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year. Think asparagus and rhubarb in the spring; berries and tomatoes in summer; apples and Brussels sprouts in the fall; and root vegetables and potatoes in the winter. Additionally, shoppers can find baked goods, fresh flowers, holiday décor, fragrant evergreens, artisan crafts and products like eggs, honey and maple syrup in season.

Spend the day and enjoy a breakfast sandwich or barbecue lunch served by market vendors. Catch an educational program, participate in children’s activities and join in the fun during special events. The facility can also be rented for private events. There is always something happening at the market.

Many market vendors are available seasonally based on their product offerings, but others attend year-round.

CONTACT US2350 Pontiac Lake Road Waterford, MI 48328

Market Manager: Jeremy Brown248-858-5495 or 248-858-0906OCmarket@oakgov.com

MARKET HOURS7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

May-DecemberTues., Thurs. & Sat.

January-AprilSaturdays only

MARKET HOURS

7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

May-DecemberTues., Thurs. & Sat.

January-AprilSaturdays only

Rent the MarketThe Oakland County Farmers Market is available to rent on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. This unique venue is ideal for parties, weddings, showers or meetings.

Available are 7,000 square feet of indoor space and a 6,400 square foot outdoor pavilion. Cost is $800 for eight hours. Contact market staff at 248-858-5495 or OCmarket@oakgov.com for rates and reservations.

02/21

Answers for youInformation at Stall #15:• SNAP/EBT and Double Up Food Bucks tokens• Market and Oakland County Parks and Recreation information• Vendor information• Sign up for email updates

Food Assistance benefits at the MarketTo ensure access to healthy foods for all, Oakland County Farmers Market is proud to accept food assistance benefits, including:

SNAP/EBT available year-roundThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest. SNAP Market tokens can be obtained at Stall #15 located inside the market.

Double Up Food Bucks available year-roundWhen you use a SNAP Bridge Card to shop at the Oakland County Farmers Market, the amount of money you spend is matched with Double Up Food Bucks. Double Up Food Bucks can be used to buy fruits and vegetables that have been grown in Michigan. Maximum $20 per day.

Senior/Market Fresh CouponsCoupon distribution dates: June 17, July 1 and Aug. 5. Participants must attend an informational presentation at 9 a.m. , after which coupons will be distributed. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, known as Senior Project FRESH/Market FRESH in Michigan, provides older adults who qualify with unprocessed, Michigan-grown products from authorized farmers markets and roadside stands throughout Michigan.

WIC Project Fresh CouponsCoupon distribution date is July 24 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Project FRESH is an educational program providing participants with coupons to purchase locally grown fresh vegetables at participating farmers markets. For information, call 248-858-1272.

*Find details about food assistance benefits at Mifma.org (Michigan Farmers Market Association)

Pet PolicyAnimals, with the exception of service animals, are not allowed inside the market, under the canopy or within 10 feet of a vendor. Service animals are defined as dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

SMART Access Look for the sunflower icon at 73 bus stops along the SMART #752 bus route. Oakland County Farmers Market access is now easier than ever— all buses along the route stop at the market. Find route information and schedules at Smartbus.org.

What to buy? Inside this brochure you will find a handy Produce Availability chart.

Forgot to bring cash? Oakland County Farmers Market has an ATM machine. Select vendors accept credit cards. Inquire with individual vendors as to which cards they honor.

Grab a Wagon Shoppers love the Oakland County Farmers Market wagons. Accumulate your purchases and roll on over to your vehicle.

Parking Options Saturdays at the market can be very busy and the parking lot fills up quickly. Overflow parking is available at the Road Commission of Oakland County lot located west of the market.

Accessibility OptionsA wheelchair is available for patron use. Also on site is a large, accessible family restroom.

Member

Shop and learnLearn from the experts. Michigan State University Extension Master Gardeners and Health and Nutrition Educators, Oakland County 4-H, Oakland Conservation District and Oakland County Health Division have teamed up with the market to offer educational programs for all ages. Many thanks to Genisys Credit Union for sponsoring the MSUE programs. Topics include garden and lawn tips; healthy food choices; recipes and canning/preserving produce; backyard habitats and sustainability efforts; free health information and screenings; and more. Also be sure to look for market artisans demonstrating their skills to create one-of-a-kind art for purchase.

May 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6 – Sunday Spring Flower Market Days 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.Make your garden the envy of the neighborhood with a wide variety of plants, flowers and garden art.

July 24 – Healthy Oakland Partnership Family Market Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Enjoy fitness demonstrations, inflatable bouncers (socks required), crafts and other activities. Eligible participants receive a $5 coupon for the purchase of locally-grown produce.

Aug. 27 – Oakland Uncorked, 7-10 p.m.Experience the best food and fine wines in Oakland County. Register at WaterfordChamber.org or call 248-666-8600. Sponsored by Vibe Credit Union.

Sept. 4 – Corn Roast, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.Enjoy a complimentary ear of freshly grilled corn, courtesy of market vendors – one per person while the corn lasts!

Sept. 9 – Healthy Oakland Partnership Senior Market Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Eligible participants receive a $5 coupon for the purchase of locally-grown produce.

Oct. 10 – Art Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Experience an exciting array of fine craftmanship in a variety of mediums, produced locally.

Oct. 30 – Trick or Treat at the Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Trick or treat with market vendors and enjoy kids’ games and activities.

Dec. 1 – Holiday Market, 3-7 p.m.Find unique items for everyone on your list while supporting local small businesses. Vendors will offer holiday gift items, food and more. Call 248-858-5495 or email OCMarket@oakgov.com to reserve a spot.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

FARMERSMARKET

Featured Food Truck, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Second Thursday of each month May-October. May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14Food Truck Rally – Sept. 11

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cooking Demonstrations with Winter 2022:Jan. 8, 22Feb. 12, 26March 12, 26

New VendorsInterested in becoming a vendor at the Oakland County Farmers Market? Visit OaklandCountyParks.com for a vendor application or call 248-858-5495.

Free Document Shredding for Oakland County Residents April 21, 5-7 p.m. at Oakland County Farmers Market (enter through Pontiac Lake Road entrance)

Aug. 16, 9-11 a.m. at Catalpa Oaks County Park

Oct. 6, 9-11 a.m. at Red Oaks Youth Soccer Complex

Confidential and personal documents will be shredded on site. Limit documents to three or four boxes of paper only. This service is available to residents; no commercial or business use. Sponsored by Vibe Credit Union.

Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard

Note: Events are subject to change and/or cancellation due to Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.

Community Garage Sales July 11 and Sept. 19, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Shop to your heart’s content or rent space to sell items. Rental space is $15. Call 248-858-5495 or e-mail OCmarket@oakgov.com.

2 0 2 1 F R E E E D U C AT I O N A L P R O G R A M S

May 1 - Food SafetyLearn how to keep the food you bring home from the market safe for you and your family, with information on purchasing for quality, safe storage and safe preservation.

May 22 - Early Greens Learn about Michigan early greens: How they fit into a healthy eating plan, creative ways to use them, how to store them and how to choose the best quality greens. Taste a sample of something made with early Michigan greens.

June 5 - Herbs High blood pressure is a major concern for many people. Learn how to use herbs, both fresh and dried, to enhance the flavor of foods without adding sodium. Make and take home a sample of a saltless seasoning and learn how to dry herbs.

June 26 – Berries, berries, berries Michigan berries are some of the best in the world. Learn about the nutritional benefits of berries and try a sample of something berry good.

July 3 - PeachesPeaches are packed with nutrients and antioxidants and also contribute to healthy digestion. Michigan peaches are some of the best. Learn creative ways to get healthy peaches into your diet, as well as buying for quality, safety and storage.

July 17 – BeetsBeets are healthy and tasty. Learn about beets and taste a recipe prepared with Michigan beets.

July 24 – Family Market Day, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Learn about MyPlate. Kids can do a “healthy eating” project.

July 31 - Cherries Michigan is known for its wonderful cherries, tart, sweet, fresh, frozen and dried. Learn about Michigan cherries: buying for quality, safety, storage and preservation. Taste something made from Michigan cherries and take home recipes.

Aug. 14 - CauliflowerCauliflower has become very popular in the past few years as a low carbohydrate replacement for other foods. Learn about cauliflower, taste something made with this vegetable, and take home recipes.

Aug. 28 - Watermelon Sweet, juicy and delicious, watermelon is a great treat and a good way to stay hydrated during the dog days of summer. It also contains significant amounts of lycopene. Learn how to pick a great watermelon and different ways to enjoy it.

Sept. 11 - Grapes Many kinds of grapes are grown in Michigan. Learn about the nutritional value of grapes and raisins. Sample something prepared from Michigan grapes and take home recipes for using grapes straight off the vine.

Sept. 25 - Winter Squash Winter squash comes in many varieties and can be used in a variety of ways. Learn how to buy and store for quality, sample something made from winter squash and take home recipes.

Oct. 9 - Turnips Turnips are a great root vegetable. Learn about turnips, how they fit into a healthy eating plan and taste something made from turnips.

Oct. 23 - Onions There are a number of different varieties of onions. Find out which are the best for what you are cooking up. Try a sample of something oniony and take home some recipes.

Healthy Oakland Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP)Partnership (HOP)

Blood Pressure / BMI checks

May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28 and Sept. 18

Health EducationMay 27, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19 and Sept. 9

Oakland Conservation District9 a.m.–1 p.m.

April 10 - Soil HealthSoil is where it all starts! Meet our new soil conservationist and learn how to keep your soil healthy.

May 8 - Tree SalePurchase remaining seedlings from the spring tree sale fundraiser.

June 12 - Invasive SpeciesLearn to identify, manage and prevent infestations of invasive species on your property.

July 10 - Produce SafetyMeet our produce technician and learn how to safely store your produce.

Aug. 14 - Monarch Butterflies LIVE!Come see the beautiful Monarch Butterfly. Learn about its life cycle and how you can help its declining population.

Sept. 11 - FREE Well Water Testing Well owners can bring water samples to be tested for nitrates on site.

Oct. 9 - Tree & Shrub MaintenanceAsk questions about trimming trees and shrubs on your property. Find out the proper time of year to prune them.

Yoga at the Market

Free, 45-minute yoga lessons take place on the grassy area to the west of the market building. Yoga lessons by Studio 8 Fitness of Waterford.

Saturday Morning Yoga, 9:30 a.m. May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4Free yoga mats for the first 10 participants.

Thursday Lunchtime Yoga, NoonMay 20, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 Free yoga mats for the first 10 participants.

MSUE Master GardenersMSUE Master GardenersDrop in between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.Drop in between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

May 29 - Native PollinatorsLearn about and take home native Michigan wildflowers that attract and feed native pollinators, including butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and other insects.

June 19 - Herb GardenAn herb garden allows children to observe plants growing and how they are used in food preparation. They will discover that the plants continue to grow for future use.

July 17 - Rain Gauge How much rain really fell? Children will make a sturdy rain gauge that can be hung outside. After a storm, they can figure out the amount of rainfall.

July 24 - Hummingbirds ( 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)Hummingbirds are attracted by “tube like” or “bell shaped“ flowers of many colors, but especially red. Favorite flowers include Agastache, coral bell, cardinal flower, blue/black salvia and cuphea ‘David Verity’. Plant these varieties in an area from which you can watch the hummers’ amusing behavior.

Aug. 14 - Tree Saplings Do you know what our Michigan State Tree is? Plant a white pine bare root tree sapling and transplant it in your yard to help create food and shelter for birds.

Sept. 11 - Bird FeederBirds will be attracted to your yard if you provide food, water and shelter. It takes just a few minutes to put together a prefab bird house, so you can start enjoying the beauty of birds in your garden.

Oct. 2 - Create a Terrarium Plant two to three small plants in a see-through container. As children watch them grow, they learn what plants need to survive and thrive.

Oakland County Health Division9 a.m.–noon

Note: Events are subject to change and/or cancellation due to Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.