A bustling scene at the newest farmers’ market on Myrtle Avenue at Wyckoff. — Photos courtesy of EcoStation:NY

Bushwick is full of back yard gardens, loft farms, and farm-share programs, and we can’t seem to get enough. After establishing two farmers’ markets in the neighborhod, new community organization EcoStation:NY is starting yet another at a third location under the elevated M tracks at the Myrtle-Wyckoff hub.

Bushwick’s first market, at the Secret Garden, an old horse paddock behind a row of houses on Linden Street, was started two years ago by the Dept. of Health. The market sold some produce from the organic garden itself and from a handful of local vendors, but it languished; with no customers, vendors dropped out.

The next year, invigorated by a federal grant that enabled the DOH to hire a market manager who could deal with the paperwork necessary to accept public assistance programs, the market did well. This year, with the founding of EcoStation, another previously existing market, at the corner of Knickerbocker Avenue and Starr Street next to Maria Hernandez Park, was brought under the organization’s aegis. The continuing success of both markets prompted the EcoStation to expand — this time without the help of federal cash.

The new market will carry produce from the Secret Garden Farm, Roberta’s breads, along with cheeses, pickles, herbs and spices, and other items from several NY farms and businesses. Colombian pastries from Son de Cali, a nearby bakery, will also be on offer.

	David and Petra Uvalle of Uvalle Farm with their wares at the Bushwick Farmers’ Market.

“Bushwick Farmers’ Market continues to grow,” said Kendall Morrison, Produce Manager and a co-founder of EcoStation. “People want to know where their food is coming from!”

This is not to say that all the produce on offer is organic, but it is all local and farm fresh — qualities local food advocates say make farmers’ market produce better than anything trucked across the country to sit on a shelf.

At the grand opening on Thursday at noon, there will be live music, food tastings, and hourly drawings for food prizes, including two $50 Bushwick Farmers’ Market shopping sprees.

The markets accept all manner of public assistance dollars in addition to cash, an important point for EcoStation’s founders. Their posters exclaim “Farmers’ markets are for everyone!” as if to dispel the view that organic produce is just for yuppies. In fact, the organizers visit WIC centers to let low-income families know about the fresh-food options available to them in their neighborhood. Sean-Michael Fleming, a co-founder of EcoStation who has been involved in the Secret Garden for many years, cites Bushwick’s high obesity and diabetes rates as part of their motivation to open these markets.

“We’re not just out there selling vegetables,” said Fleming. “And that’s not to say that we are the be-all and end-all to the crisis, but we’re doing our part to build a healthier community.”

The new market will be open Thursdays, 10am-6pm, on Myrtle between Wyckoff and Gates. The Linden/Bushwick market is open Wednesdays 10am-6pm and the Knickerbocker/Starr market is open Saturdays 9am-5pm. The markets will operate until mid-November. To volunteer with set-up and break-down of the markets, which takes approximately two hours — and earn a bag of fruits and vegetables in exchange — contact Travis Tench, Market Manager, at 502-494-0628.