Oak & Rye is "two farm girls doing their thing”

The rain stopped just in time for the Saturday, Aug. 29 Waseca Farmers Market. Despite a forecast calling for more precipitation, the clouds cleared up so those at the market saw the sun peek through around 9 a.m.

 

With the threat of rain, there were a few less vendors at the fairgrounds. But among those who persevered was Oak & Rye Farm out of Janesville. As the Pioneer approached, there was a hearty discussion with a customer over everyone's shared frustration with the green bean crop this year, “I don’t know what the problem is, we started out not getting any earlier this summer, but now they’re exploding in growth.” The customer, arms filled by a bouquet of flowers, nodded  in agreement.

 

Manning the Oak & Rye Farm stand were Kathy Witt, 55 and her daughter Katey, 23. These two were carrying out sales in their 1993 refurbished horse trailer, offering both flowers and vegetables. “But,” said Kathy, “we sell mainly flowers right now. In the coming weeks we’ll be selling raspberries, strawberries and blueberries as the crop comes in, and yes, more flowers.” Vegetables on display included green beans, cucumbers, red and yellow onions and cherry tomatoes.

 

Toward the back of their display were two buckets of stemmed flowers, not bundled, but loose.  Katey said, “Those are for the kids as they pass by, we give those flowers away for free and they can take as many as they want.” The flowers were not “seconds” in any way, and included zinnias, asters, scabiosa, celosia, sunflowers and much more. Continued Katey, “We pick those when they are only half open so that way the kids who get the free ones will have them for that much longer.” 

 

Flowers available for purchase were mostly done up in arrangements, some in vases, others in mason jars or single bud vases. The two explain they have no specific training in growing or arranging the flowers. Said Kathy, “We’re just two farmgirls doing our thing.” Also for sale at the booth were some handmade keychains and sewn items including handbags.  

 

Randy Peterson from Otisco, who stopped by to say hello and check out the vegetables, was kind enough to pose for a photo. Kathy says she wants everyone to know, their entire farm is chemical free:  “We don’t spray. Also, in the coming weeks Oak & Rye Farms will start selling pumpkins, gourds and squash alongside our berries.” She admits she’s not running a full farm, “We’re just a hobby farm, three cows, two donkeys and ten goats.” Oak and Rye Farm expects to be set up on future Waseca farmers market Saturdays. More information is available on Facebook at @oakandryefarm.