Rayl and Dick Crawford, president of the Adirondack Farmers Market Cooperative and manager of Keene Valley Farmers Market, pose on Sunday, Oct. 9, the last day of the market for the year. Rayl grows plants and vegetables and has been selling them at the farmers market for 15 years. (Provided photo — Martha Allen)

KEENE VALLEY — The last Keene Farmers Market of 2022 was chilly and breezy, the sun going in and out of the clouds on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Foliage colors on the hills behind the market were peak, or near peak, depending who you asked, looking more intense against the dark sky. The market was busy, crowded with local people, hikers and visitors to the area from near and far. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

The Keene Farmers Market opens the last Sunday of May, on Memorial Day weekend, and continues weekly through the second Sunday in October, on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend.

In 2020, in order to safely open the market during COVID, a parking area was set up, with parking volunteers — easily identified by their red and yellow attire — to direct traffic. Volunteer greeters were there to explain to market-goers the new system of physical distancing, masking and one-way foot traffic to avoid spreading the virus.

On this, the last day of the farmers market for 2022, parking volunteers were still directing parking, but the physical distancing rules had eased up, and the field was alive with activity.

Anna Morineau and Jean-Sebastien Blais were traveling from Quebec on their way to Lake Placid when they saw the Keene Valley Farmers Market on state Route 73 and turned off their route to check it out on Sunday, Oct. 9. (Provided photo — Martha Allen)

“After the masks and one-way foot traffic were no longer necessary, they kept the parking system and wide center aisle because it seemed to make the market feel safer, less chaotic and crowded — it’s gotten tweaked a bit every year,” said Nancy Both, who has served as a volunteer.

Dick Crawford is President of the Adirondack Farmers Market Cooperative and manager of Keene valley farmers Market. As one of the founders of the cooperative, he was active in the Plattsburgh Farmers Market 32 years ago.

Crawford used to be known as the Bee Guy. Readily recognizable, he wore honey bee antenna headgear at the market, where he sold honey from his own hives.

Now, “I’m downsizing,” he said. He doesn’t wear the antennae anymore. Walter Wilson has taken over the honey stand, but he has his own bees.

Marcy Field was originally an airfield and is still sometimes used as such.

Elvin Gaitos and Coralys Santiago were pleased with their purchases and their experience at the Keene Valley Farmers Market on Sunday, Oct. 9. Both are from Puerto Rico and have recently been living in Massachusetts. (Provided photo — Martha Allen)

Years ago a pilot visited the farmers market, according to Crawford.

“He told me he was allergic to bees and if he got stung he was going to sue me,” Crawford said. “I told him fine, if that happens just bring me the bee and if it has my brand on it, I’ll pay you.”

Wilson said that honey bees generally fly within a 3- to 5-mile radius to forage, but during a drought like the one we had this last summer, they will travel farther afield.

There are currently 70 farm and artisan stands at the Keene Farmers Market, Crawford said. Farm produce of all kinds is sold, as well as woolen yarn, meat, wines, baked goods, snacks and artisan made crafts. It’s been a good year for the market, he said.

Jasper Williams, manning the Blue Pepper Farm stand, agreed.

“It was a good year, but it was tough because of the drought,” he said.

Blue Pepper Farm, owned by Shannon and Tyler Eaton, is located in Jay, where they pasture friesian sheep. The market stand has made wool (80% Friesian and 20% alpaca), sheep milk yogurt and other products available, and they also sell to stores in the area, as well as Etsy.

Toward the end of the day, the temperature was falling and a cold rain began falling sporadically, then quickening. Customers, still laughing and chatting, were thinning out. Sellers were cleaning up and clearing out, laughing as they helped each other to pack up. The mood was a little giddy.

Visiting with Ian Ater at his Fledging Crow Farm stand, with Jane Desotelle of Underwood Herbs and Cedar Jones, a Fledging Crow employee, Nancy Both said, ” A lot of hard work, long hours, and heart go into the Farmer’s Market season. A break for friendship, celebration and silliness is sometimes needed.”

Desotelle founded Underwood Herbs in 1978.

“I started working in 1988 with other producers to create farmers markets in the area. The first was in Plattsburgh,” Desotelle said.

Cheryl MacFadden said that the weather on every market Sunday all summer had been pleasant, until the end of the last day. Presumably this was the silver lining of the summer drought. MacFadden, who recently retired from a 20-year career teaching art at Keene Central School, has been selling her ceramic wares at the Keene Farmers Market for 15 years. At her stand, a young woman was selecting two blue-glazed mugs.

“My mother loves these,” the young woman was saying. “I’m going to get her two more of these…”

As MacFadden wrapped the mugs in newspaper, she said, “The last market of the season is bittersweet because, while you’re ready for a break, you know you’ll miss your market family in the off season.”

What will MacFadden do, now that the farmers market is over for the year?

“I’ll work to make more for next year,” she said.