A ho ho ho-liday market at Round the Bend Farm
Sage and Oliver Dellecese pet the farm dog. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Indigenous shell jewelry. 
Kai Thornhill stamps a piece of paper.
Greeting cards.
Felted animals. 
Pine tree decorations.
Bracelets.
Jelly by Round the Bend farm.
Painted shell ornaments.
Sage and Oliver Dellecese pet the farm dog. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Indigenous shell jewelry.
Kai Thornhill stamps a piece of paper.
Greeting cards.
Felted animals.
Pine tree decorations.
Bracelets.
Jelly by Round the Bend farm.
Painted shell ornaments.
A dog walks around greeting everyone, kids roll down a hill and families complete some last minute Christmas shopping. Round the Bend farm held their final open farm day of the year on Saturday, Dec. 20, which included a Kwanzaa celebration and an artists market.
The day included all the open farm day favorites of a lunch, farm tours, fresh produce and meats and free thrift market.
“I think we’re living in a time where we are really less and less part of a community,” said Desa Van Laarhoven, the executive director and co-founder of Round the Bend Farm. “I think the thing that’s special … about this place is that so many people know each other, and even when they first come they get to learn and to meet one another.”
There were about 25 vendors at this year's market, with a variety of goods. Some were holiday themed, such as pine trees and painted seashell ornaments. Others were year-round goods such as jewelry and plants. Round the Bend farm also sold jellies, sauces, produce and meats.
One of the vendors, Ella Wilda, was selling jewelry and crocheted tops. This was her first market she has participated in, which she said went “pretty well” and that she enjoyed it.
“I used to work on the farm,” said Wilda. “I was here for the season, and I love this place, and it was a possibility for me to sell here, so I joined.”
Owen Dellecese, 10, said that the market was his favorite part of the open farm day. He and his sister, Sage, made gifts for their mother in the kids’ corner where kids could decoupage tissue paper onto recycled jars to decorate them. He also enjoyed the food.
“I think these places are important, just in terms of really putting out love and manifesting love in a way that’s around building community,” said Van Laarhoven.
