NORWICH – In December of 2014, unique effort to generate interest and support of the Bullthistle Farmers' Market was pitched to a group of Chenango County women fond of the knitting pin. The idea was to draw on the curiosity of pedestrians and passerby traffic – and according to event organizers, the curiosity paid.
The collaborative effort spun out of control when the idea of yarn-bombing small trees flanking both east and west sides of South Broad Street in downtown Norwich came to fruition.
Patty Stimmel, Horticulture Educator – slash – Bullthistle Farmers’ Market Monitor for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County, says that the group’s “sweaters” that were placed upon as many as twelve trees brought nearly 200 customers into the Bullthistle Winter Farmers' Market, which is regularly held inside The Artists' Palette
Once observers approached the vividly donned trees, tethered tags invited community members to cast their ballot for a favorite tree inside the Farmers' Market.
“We just thought that this would be a very different, fun and vibrant way to gain the attention of the everyone passing though the area,” said event organizer Stimmel in December.
The voters came out in droves.
“Voting on the bombing brought around 200 people to the grand opening of the market, we were pleased,” said Stimmel.
Stimmel indicated that the tree dressed by Nancy Mirabito, Linda Mason, Mary Jane Benenati, and Janet Mirabito received the most votes.
Currently, the weekly market is held within the newly renovated “Fishmans” building, home to The Artists' Palette – which regularly hosts several community enrichment events in addition to various arts programming, gallery and retail sales.
The Bullthistle Farmer's Market convenes every third Saturday throughout the winter months until May of 2015 when it will return to its fair-weather home in East Park.
As far as the yarn-bombing is concerned, Stimmel said that the trees will most likely remain donned in their winter attire through January when the group will assemble in much the same fashion to undress the trees. Those who participated in the bombing, including Stimmel, were impressed with the community involvent of the first-off event – and are just as eager to bring a splash of color to the dreary winter sidewalks next year.
“All the bombers loved it and want to do it again next year, so looks like it is going to be an annual thing,” said Stimmel.
While this year's yarn bombing was exclusive to “tree sweaters,” Stimmel adds that the 2015 event may include a hand and heart-warming twist. “We are all leaning towards a bombing [that includes] scarves, hats and mittens; tie them to the trees for people to take for free if they are cold,” she said.
For more information on the Bullthistle Farmers' Market, contact Patricia Stimmel at 607-334-5841 Ext. 16 or “like” Bullthistle Farmers' Market on Facebook.