It was one of those rare days when the wind was only slight, producing cold in the shade and warmth in the sun. The Curtis Brothers out of Denver played time-worn covers and originals, a trio making their entry into the Colorado music scene.

The Gilpin County Community Center (GCCC) hosted the last outdoor farmer’s market on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The Holistic Homestead, Mountain Made, Skeen Acres, Burro Ears Bakery, and Pakamana Hemp were among those that vended cottage-baked goods, skin-care products, pumpkins, chicken by the pound, and pottery.

Arwen Ek, Director of the Holistic Homestead, organized the event as she has done many times before. The Homestead brought an array of apples, fresh vegetables, and fruits, as well as pumpkins for the Halloween season.

New to the market but not to the craft, Shannon DeSlover and her daughter offered their Mountain Made goods such as organic candles, soaps, pasta sauce, jams, essential oils, paintings, and vases. Deslover said, “This is what I do for fun,” when referring to her other jobs.

DeSlover paints beautiful mountain scenes with acrylics and lived in Evergreen before moving to Black Hawk seven years ago. Those that believe essential oils boost vitality and treat ailments would benefit from her organic herb salts, sugars, and body sprays. DeSlover can be reached at 303-345-3922 and plans on being at future markets in the area.

Amanda Skeen from Skeen Acres almost sold out of stew hens by the end of the market. Stew hens are egg-layers that have reached the end of their career as egg producers. The Skeens like to cycle through all of their birds to keep the population healthy. They weigh about three pounds and are perfect for stews and soups.

Burro Ears Bakery is a fully licensed cottage food business, owned and operated by Wendy Gutcher. Gutcher attended the CSU Extension class on Cottage Kitchen Licensing. She registered her LLC this past summer and this is her second farmer’s market.

All foods produced in a cottage kitchen must be packaged beforehand, be shelf-stable, and contain ingredients lists, and disclaimers for allergens. The license costs $50 and doesn’t expire for five years.

Cottage licenses are not taxed in the State of Colorado or at events held outside of city tax regions. “If it weren’t for the cottage foods program, I don’t think I could do this,” Gutcher said thankfully. She said the program is also there for continuing support and any questions practitioners may have.

Gutcher hopes to have a presence at the Holistic Homestead Market and is interested in finding out what people would like to have available. She can be reached for custom orders at burroearsbakery@gmail.com.

Her sister, Molly Hobbs, is a printmaker and shares the booth with the bakery, selling handmade postcards. Hobbs draws a design and then carves her own stamps to decorate greeting cards and postcards. You can buy a postcard for $2, and for $3 the sisters will mail it for you.

The Friends of Gilpin County Community Center (FGCCC) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation and Colorado Charitable Corporation made up of citizens of Gilpin County, Colorado, who support the mission of the Gilpin County Community Center and its vital position in the life of Gilpin County.

They created “The Heart of the Community” fund to support residents who need financial help to participate in Parks and Recreation activities. The fund currently accepts applications based on need and funds availability; there are no income qualifications.

Assistance includes scholarships to cover registration fees for youth sports, such as basketball, soccer, baseball, and swim lessons. The funds can even be used for a session fee or punch card for any other programs, including yoga, taekwondo, body movement, pottery, etc.

Speaking of pottery, Karen Eye was vending her goods along with others who practice the art at the Community Center’s pottery studio like Hannah Schuette, who started about a year and a half ago. Eye has been throwing clay since the beginning, almost 20 years!

The Curtis Brothers just so happen to be Gutcher’s cousins, twins who have grown up playing upright bass and guitar together, a third player on mandolin, and a drummer that’s present for other gigs.

As the brothers echoed “Hallelujah”, the final outdoor market of 2023 came to a close at the Community Center, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. The Spooky Stroll will be held on October 20, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gilpin County Community Center located at 250 Norton Drive in Black Hawk, CO 80422.

Fun for all ages awaits with activities like a cake walk, hay rides, carnival games, trick or treat trail, and bounce house.