By Jordan Petteys.
Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Savannah’s farmers, bakers and other local producers gather at the south end of Forsyth Park to provide an array of wholesome foods for the community. According to its mission statement, The Forsyth Farmers Market aims to “promote understanding and participating in a local food system that supports sustainable production and increases access to local products.”
From classic spaghetti sauce to ripe fruit, the Forsyth Farmers Market intentionally supplies food that leaves a positive effect on Savannah’s air, soil, and water quality. Emma and Tyler from Readee’s Bees, vendors at the farmer’s market, have adopted not only a love for food which promotes individual health, but for bees, honey, and the environment. Straw hats, sweet sun tans, and sugary grins give their booth a welcoming atmosphere. “Our honey is raw and unpasteurized. We have quite a few different kinds of honey because we have over 500 hives. We have two kinds of honey that come from healing trees, so they have incredible antioxidants,” Emma said, “We also sell bee pollen. Bees are severely endangered so we try to inform everybody when it comes to honey.”.
Many vendors aim to create booths with personality, like Bootleg Farm, which brings their chickens on site every Saturday.
The farmer’s market is ideal for SCAD students thanks to the vendors’ affordable prices and its proximity to dorm buildings. Freshman Liv Mantenieks, film major from Westlake, Ohio, and her roommate Elise Mullen, photography major from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, love the healthy and organic options offered. “It was a really pretty setting at Forsyth so we were excited to come out and be in the community,” Mantenieks said.
Produce in one hand, and camera in the other, Mullen enjoys photographing the scenery and people in Savannah. “We really wanted to get more natural and organic foods instead of just living off the dining hall food, and we wanted to see all Savannah had to offer,” Mullen said.
Believing that “every citizen should have access to good food, [and that] food should be grown close to where it is consumed,” The Forsyth Farmers Market supports local organizations and the Savannah community every Saturday.
