Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  An autumn breeze rustled through the corn stalks that were propped up by bales of straw and neighbored by plump orange pumpkins. It was the last of Third Annual Nederland Farmer’s Markets and it was the best since the event was organized.

Guercio’s field in Nederland was filled with tents and stalls of organic products, food, oils, lotions, massage therapists and visitors with kids and dogs. The pumpkin patch in the middle was a great attraction for the kids. It seemed like the youngest wanted to pick up the biggest pumpkin while the older kids looked for a good jack-o-lantern shape.

The tantalizing aroma of smoke baby backed ribs and pulled pork drew people to the High Plains Meat booth where everyone got to sample their wares.

Owners Lana Puskarich and Tony Arenas are running the Hop Inn across from the shopping center, Nederland’s newly renovated hostel.

Lana and Tony have been in Estes Park since 2010 and have brought their business to Nederland. They plan to operate the Hop Inn as a hostel, with five rooms and a cottage in the back. They plan to also have a sandwich cart and already have the necessary vendor’s license.

Under the shade of a tent, non-force chiropractor Brandy McCans demonstrated her technique on anyone who needed a little adjustment. She moved to the area in December and works out of her home on CO. 72. and was delighted to have a chance to introduce herself to Nederland residents.

The Nogo Gilbillies played their infectious blue grass music and Hillary Stephenson served up her famous bratwursts and Dynamic Roots education people about her Colorado Grown Hemp products, therapies for pain, sleep and mood.

Eleven-month old Nora Dettman toddled around the pumpkins that came up to her waist and enjoyed the cheerful chatter and color of the day.

Local Lester Karplus carried a large baggie full of quinoa to show the vendors. Karplus planted a tenth of an acre this summer and had a huge starter crop going on when the first snow came and the elk wandered down to feast on his hard work. He carried the baggie full of the grain needing people to know that the project had been success even though it was cut down before its time.

The success of this past season means that the Farmer’s Market will return next summer and with the word spreading rapidly and the project gaining interest, it will become one of Nederland’s summertime main attractions.

(Originally published in the October 12, 2017 print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)