School is out for summer in the Buffalo Grove area, which means farmers markets are beginning to open.
Opening day for the “Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market” is June 17 at Mike Rylko Community Park, 951 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove.
The market operates from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Sunday, up through Oct. 14. This is the ninth year for the outdoor market, and it seems to get better and better each year.
The Buffalo Grove market also is run by volunteers. New volunteers always are welcome. If you would like to help or fulfill community service hours, call 847-459-2530.
While some new vendors will be at the market this year, many popular ones are returning, including Klug Farms, Geneva Lakes Produce, Sharpening by Dave, The Cheese People, Hardin’s Fruit Farm, Jimmy’s Donuts, Frillman Farm, Patz Honey, Madsen-Lefever Farm, Swirl Café, Apple Holler, Farmer Nick’s and Twin Gardens for that famous Mirai corn!
Entertainment also is featured every weekend at the market, along with occasional special events, including the upcoming Green Fair on June 24.
Sponsored by the Environmental Action Team of Buffalo Grove, the Green Fair is a free event for the whole family and will provide information on how to make friendlier environmental choices at home, work and in our community.
Items being collected for recycling that day include bicycles, bicycle parts, small electronics, eyeglasses, hearing aids, keys, clothing, shoes, crayons, books, CDs, DVDs, knives, scissors, blades, flower vases, coat hangers and small working appliances. For information, visit bgeat.org.
The Buffalo Grove Garden Club also will be at the Farmers’ Market on select dates this summer.
For those who are planting fruits and veggies at home this season, the Garden Club has some green gardening tips to help make your garden a success. Those include:
Using all natural fertilizers and pest controls. Nix the chemical pesticides and use all-natural compost.
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Harvest rainwater by using rain barrels. It’s chlorine-free water. Reducing storm water runoff also will prevent erosion and flooding.
Water with care by using soaker hoses or drip irrigation. Add mulch. Water early in the day and directly on the roots.
Bring on the butterflies and the bees. Gardens with 10 or more species entice more bees. Grow a diverse variety of native flowers.
Remember the power of the four “Rs” — reduce, recycle, reuse and re-buy.
Additional gardening and club information is available at www.buffalogrovegardenclub.org.
In other neighborhood news, Buffalo Grove resident Ellyn Ross is collecting gently used shoes for the nonprofit Soles4Souls, which is partnering with Brighton Collectibles. They provide shoes to children in third-world countries who need shoes to go to school and also for adults who need them for employment.
Since Soles4Souls began in 2006, more than 30 million pairs of shoes have been distributed in 127 countries and across all 50 states.
Ross works for Brighton at the Deer Park store. This year, her store’s goal is to collect 1,300 pairs of shoes.
They are accepting gently used men’s, women’s, children’s, athletic and dance shoes. All shoes need to be donated by June 30.
For information, contact the Brighton store at 847-550-0600.
Aileen Simons is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. Contact her at [email protected].