Musicians playing at the Olney Farmers and Artists Market on Sunday invited the crowd to join them in singing "Country Roads," their tradition for marking the end of the farmers' market season. In seconds, a dozen or so enthusiastic participants, belting out, "Country roads, take me home to the place I belong," joined band members Pat O'Neill, Mike Ferson and Eric Pletcher under the performance tent. "It's been fun!" O'Neill said of this year's market.

The farmer's market on Sunday November 7^th was the final market in a season that began on May 9^th.  The market will host, however, a one-time only Winter Market Day on December 5th, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Montgomery General Hospital's Thrift Shop
. (The address is 2801 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., at the corner of Prince Phillip Dr. and Rt. 108.)

Fred Goldberg, an Olney resident, raved about his experience this season, "It's a beautiful day.  They always have fresh food and the vendors are always friendly," he said. "It's a great ambiance to buy healthy food.  We like to support the local community and economy whenever we can."

Laurita and Ralph Portee from Ashton have made Sunday at the Olney Farmers Market part of their weekly routine. "We come regularly," Laurita Portee said. "Today is the last day, so we couldn't miss it.  We come to get our vegetables for Sunday dinner."

"My father who lives with us and became 90 in May loves the Trinidadian food," her husband Ralph added. "So we come to get him lunch.  Sometimes, on a nice sunny day, we come and get our treats and listen to music from the local musicians."

Phyllis Taylor, another regular customer said, "I come for the produce and baked goods.  I love having fresh and organic stuff in the community.  It's the end of the season now.  In summer, they have an abundance of great stuff – flowers, baked goods, plants for the yard.  I'm sorry that it's closing."

For the farmers and vendors who work the market, it's more than just fun festivities--it's hard work.  Ivan Flores, who works the Pleitez Produce stand said, "Produce takes a lot to grow.  It's hard work and we had quite a few troubles this year, like no rain.  We had to put in irrigation."  Flores, who brings the produce from the Pleitez Farm in Montross, Va. had to travel two hours to get to Olney and was up at 3:30 a.m. to be able have everything ready on time.

Stan Rappaport, who runs the "She's Gone Nuts" stall together with his wife, noted that the customers at the Olney market do understand the effort involved. "People are great, customers are great," said Rappaport.  "It's interesting to talk to other venders.  It makes you have a greater appreciation for the people that do this because it's a lot of work.  You have to love it, because it's a lot of work.  I love the people.  They're friendly.  They appreciate the vendors."

Sergio "Junior" Izaguizze who runs the Penn Farm stand agrees. It was his first year and he didn't know what to expect.  People came, especially for the cantaloupe, watermelon, and corn, he said, adding that "hospitality is very nice.  We have strong supporters who always come out even on rainy days and on long weekends.  They still come out."

For some vendors, the market offers a chance to give back to the community. Gigi Goin, a personal chef gave a cooking demonstration on how to cook signature greens such as collards, cabbage, kale and chard in a way that is both tasty and nutritious. Alicia Cuerve of the YinYang Yoga Center, ran a fitness and wellness tent weekly that offered some acupuncture, reiki and other wellness sessions for free.  Sligo Creek Farm sold organic produce grown in partnership with Our House Residential Youth Center, so young people could learn farming skills and earn some money.

Elis Franzen, co-manager of the Youth Garden said that this was the third year that Sligo Creek Farms participated in the Olney Farmers Market. Franzen was selling sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, but her group was already preparing for next season: "Most everything has died from frost. We're tearing up produce to put down cover crop which protects and rejuvenates the soil."

Other vendors, too, were already looking forward to the Winter Market on December 5^th.  Rappaport described how his wife has made special spices for the nuts that they will sell in holiday gift bags at their "She's Gone Nuts" stall.  The spices are cinnamon sweet, savory spice, mild curry, and "coffee in a nut."

"You should come," Rappaport said, "It's a feel-good place!"