In the heart of Miami's agricultural district, a new market is opening up in a setting with a farming past. The Redland Country Market is debuting Sat., Nov. 19 at the historical Redland Farm Life School at SW 248 St. and 162 Ave., just west of Knaus Berry Farm. Market organizer Tyra Hearns says they'll feature not only local farmers and their produce, but local nurseries, artists, craftspeople, bakers and others.
"The idea behind the market was to create something unique for the area, not just to focus on the farmers, but all other local entrepreneurs that would like a special venue to showcase their specific specialty to the Redland area," she says. Some of the vendors who have already signed on include Cool Runnings Organic Farm, Eclectic Exchange, V & V Farms, Paw Patrol Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, Av’s Bites & Invites, Angel Light Holistic Healing and G’s Dream Farm.
Historically, the 1916 Farm Life School was the second largest rural consolidated school in the U.S., where girls learned cooking, sewing and homemaking skills and boys learned vocational agriculture classes, according to historian Bob Jensen of the nonprofit South Florida Pioneer Museum. Over the decades the school was the hub of the pioneer community, until Hurricane Andrew tore through Homestead in 1992. The South Florida Pioneer Museum is spearheading the renovation and restoration of the school, with plans to develop a visitors welcome and farm-to-table enterprise center, with commercial kitchens for use by local farmers. (See story at left)
The market could not have been made possible without the backing of the nonprofit Redland Ahead," says Hearns. "In conjunction with FIU’s Agroecology Department, Redland Ahead helps support the underserved and veterans to become interested in farming opportunities. Some of those very successful farmers will be vendors at the Redland Country Market and we are proud to be able to showcase their small businesses and talents. The idea is that the market will help generate much-needed funds to help in the renovation and restoration of the Farm Life School."
Market hours will be 8-5:30pm. There's plenty of free parking.
100 years later, a historical school remains true to its mission to be a center of agricultural learning and a hub for...
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