The Clintonville neighborhood has become well known as a family-friendly area over the past century of its existence. Originally farmland, the area developed as professors and students from the nearby Ohio State campus moved north into the area. By the 1950s, rolling green pastures had given way entirely to Bungalow, Colonial Revival, and Dutch Revival homes on brick-paved, tree-lined streets.
Over a century later, Clintonville Resident Lynne Genter had the desire to unite her beloved community with fresh, local food. Their first market season in 2003 was run by volunteers and local businesses, which included six producers and ran for seven weeks in 2003. The community pulled together and the market has expanded throughout the past 13 years, and is now in its 14th running season with over 50 producers setting up booths. They have also expanded the market from solely Saturday mornings to also offering a Wednesday evening market, running from July through September.
As if the open-air market isn’t enough to draw local shoppers in, live music, chef demos, book signings, and taste testing are all featured events of the market. Since 2014 when the market obtained its nonprofit status, the advisory board, which holds true to its volunteer-based roots, have added a kids’ garden club and an organic farmer initiative.
The Clintonville Farmers Market clings to its original intent of uniting the community. Many of the local business that are located along High Street between Orchard Lane and W. Dunedin Road participate in the market. The Wine Maker’s Shop offers wine-inspired spritzers as part of their #sodasaturday initiative, Wholly Craft offers various activities for kids, and Global Gallery opens up their outdoor space for local music as well as a seating area for market goers. A few other organizations that partner with the market are Acre restaurant, the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center, and Lineage Brewing.
While not the largest Farmers Market in Central Ohio (that designation belongs to the Worthington Farmers Market), the Clintonville Farmers Market has managed to grow a good reputation for itself through its community-centric efforts. It is a common sight to see attendees walking through the market carrying a coffee mug from home, as if they just stepped off of their front porch. It is also common to hear neighbors calling greetings to each other as they compare their purchases of the day. The market started with a goal of uniting neighbors and businesses, and it has done exactly that.
For more information, visit www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org.
Looking for more Farmers Markets in the Columbus Region? Check out our 2016 Farmers Market List.
All photos by Randi Walle.
