By Himanee Gupta-Carlson
Winter has truly been wintry this year. Getting out has been a challenge for even the hardiest.
Now, however, begins the countdown to spring. And with that, vendors, volunteers, and staff at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market invite you to join our celebration tomorrow of the city’s annual Health and Wellness Week.
Our goal is to bring you indoors to the market and get you outdoors. To that end, members of the Alpine Sports Shop will offer a free snowshoeing demonstration in front of the Lincoln Baths Building from 10 a.m. to Noon. Everyone who participates will receive a coupon for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate from “Coffee Lady” Beth Trattel at Something’s Brewing.
Indoors, our vendors will have heart-warming indulgences that are good for you, too. Check out Puckers Gourmet Pickles limited offerings of lacto-fermented cherries, the heart-shaped homemade cheesecakes from Constance Capasso’s Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes, the delectable handmade sweetness from Saratoga Chocolate Co., the artisanal roasted brews from Jim Williams’s Upper Hudson Coffee, and the cookies and teacakes from Marcie Place’s Chocolate Spoon.
Joining our regular produce, dairy, meat and prepared food vendors will be Cornell Cooperative Extension with recipes and food samples, information tables and demonstrations from local wellness organizations, and children’s activities hosted by the Northeast Parent & Child Society, and the Friends of the Market.
Many market regulars make health and fitness a part of their Saturday morning routines. They stop in to shop after running with groups like the Saratoga Stryders or arrive at the market with cross-country skis or snowshoes.
Yet, as runner Frank Lombard admits, it takes a bit of a push to get outdoors in the winter when the weather is bleak. “The biggest challenge is getting in motion,” he says. “But once you’re outdoors, it’s euphoric. There are so many benefits to being outside, to being with nature. It’s just a matter of overcoming that 10 to 15 minutes of resistance.”
So join us tomorrow morning. Try out some snowshoeing, and have a warm beverage. Fill your bag with our farm-fresh produce and a few other market treats. Your body and mind will thank you. We promise.
Visit the Saratoga Farmers’ Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in Saratoga Spa State Park; follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; and contact friends@saratogafarmersmarket.org for volunteer opportunities.