Homemade baked goods, fresh produce, artisan soaps, herbal products, soy candles, coffee, tea and locally produced honey and root beer were just some of the items offered for sale at the new Birdsboro Farmers Market held outdoors in Main Bird Park.

The market, which opened on May 22, will be offered every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October by the Birdsboro Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to vendors, children's activities and musical entertainment will be offered. On May 22, Threefold Blessing was featured.

All local crafters and small businesses are invited to set up a booth at the farmers market; it is not necessary to be a resident of Birdsboro to participate. Those interested in selling items are asked to complete a vendor application.

"I'm looking for producers. They have to grow it or make it," explained Parks and Recreation board member Christen Thompson, noting that shoppers should consider visiting the market when it first opens. "A lot of people showed up early. Some vendors sold out."

Board members also manned an information booth at the market and offered T-shirts for sale. "We heard some people say that it would be nice to have a farmers market in Birdsboro, and we ran with it," Thompson added. "It's nice to see the neighbors gather and enjoy themselves."

Vendors will be asked to pay a fee to rent a space. "All the money we get goes right back into the parks," said board president Bruce Godfrey. In addition to Main Bird Park, Birdsboro's premier park is the Rustic Picnic Park, which is located along Hay Creek at 1314 Haycreek Road.

Among those who rented a booth at the event were representatives from St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Birdsboro, including Sharon Dragovich and Maryann Farnsworth, the wife of pastor Jim Farnsworth. They offered loaves of fresh-baked bread for sale along with homemade whoopie pies, pineapple upside-down cupcakes, fresh radishes from the pastor's garden, herbs and flowers. The baked goods were prepared at the church in advance by Pat Feick and the ladies of the church.

All proceeds will be used for the new senior group that will meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month at St. Mark's, located at 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro. Attendees will enjoy bingo, a craft, a guest speaker and lunch.

The Birdsboro Farmers Market will be open on June 19; July 3, 17 and 31; Aug. 14 and 28; Sept. 11 and 25; and Oct. 9 and 23. Main Bird Park is located at 226 N. Water St., Birdsboro. For more information about the Birdsboro Farmers Market and to complete a vendor application, search for "Birdsboro Farmers Market" on Facebook or email thompson_christen@yahoo.com.