EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — April Himes started managing the Egg Harbor Township Community Farmers’ Market last year because she wanted to make sure this nice family outing remains in the community.
The farm market is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 11 and has a range of vendors. It is on the Atlantic County Library grounds at 11 Swift Drive.
“I took it over because I had been a vendor since day one,” Himes said about the farm market that’s been operating for five years and has changed hands several times. She operates April Made for Kitten Aid and sells crafts to help her pay for fostering kittens. (Her website is littlepawscrafts.com.)
Himes said her sisters began fostering kittens about eight years ago. “I just love kittens and I love animals and I wanted to foster kittens, too. I’ve been doing it since 2019. I love it so much.”
It isn’t cheap to foster kittens, she explained, “but I love it so much and it’s worth it.” She has fostered as many as 11 kittens at once and last week had six. She works with the Associated Humane Society South in Vineland, fostering the kittens until they’re old enough to go be adopted.
Himes said there is a variety of vendors at the Farmers’ Market, usually about 18 to 20. It is open to all types of vendors. Among them are those that sell cookies, hot sauce, dog treats, coffee, fresh-cut flowers and cheesesteaks. The vendors can change from week to week, “so you never know what you’re going to find,” she said.
There is live music each week and a kids crafting area that includes games.
“Families come out and play and make some crafts to take home,” she said. “There is more and more interest in the market and I constantly have vendors reaching out asking how to be a part of it.”
“I’m trying to make it just a fun place for families to come out. I want them to come out, spend the day, be outdoors, support local businesses, have something eat,” Himes said. “It’s just something else to do for the community.”
“I really want to see it continue. I want everybody to learn about it. I want everybody to be able to come out and enjoy it and I just want it to be a cool hangout place for everybody,” Himes said.
Vendors interested in taking part can go to her website, littlepawscrafts.com. They will find all the information they need, including fees and times.
Himes posts about it every week on Facebook, writing about the vendors. Look for Community Farmers’ Market in EHT, NJ.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff