In November 2008, a group of Bala Cynwyd residents got together to discuss bringing a farmers market to their neighborhood. They canvassed the neighborhoods, distributed surveys in schools, talked to local businesses and scouted for a good location. They organized a "test run" of the market in September 2009 at St. Matthias Church on Bryn Mawr Avenue, and it was a wild success. Since farmers markets were not a specifically permitted use in Lower Merion Township, a new ordinance was required to permit markets to operate. On April 7, 2010, the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioner approved an Ordinance to permit farmers markets as a use by-right in Commercial Zones throughout the Township. Though the Friends of the Bala Cynwyd Farmers Market had hoped to operate the market at St. Matthias Church, their parking lot is zoned residential and not commercial. The Commissioners voted down an Ordinance to permit Farmers Markets in residential areas, prohibiting the St. Matthias site from consideration. Click HERE for article and video from the Main Line Times.
September 2009 Harvest Day was a Great Success! Thank you to our farmers and vendors, and to everyone who came out to enjoy this community event, shop for produce and support the market! In case you missed it or are just reading it about it now, the Friends of the Bala Cynwyd Farmers Market and Farm to City hosted a Harvest Day on Thursday 24 September in the Parking Lot of St. Matthias Church at 128 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Bala Cynwyd. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the abundance and beauty of fall produce, and get a taste of what a Bala Cynwyd farmers market would be like. Vendors included: Featuring vegetables and fruits from Wimer's Organics, Fruitwood Farms and Frecon Farms, cheeses from Shellbark Hollow Farm, baked goods from Wild Flour Bakery and Bala Avenue's own Cafe Avril, as well as from local bakery, Sarah Bakes. Sweet Mabel organized a craft table, making kitchen witches for the kids, and keeping many children entertained for hours!
