NEWS

Room to Grow: Florida Agricultural Museum kicks off Farm Swap & Music Jam

Aaron London
alondon@news-jrnl.com
Ag Museum volunteer Henry Beaulieu with mascot Olive, a miniature donkey, at the Farm Swap & Music Jam. [News-Tribune/Aaron London]

Like a seedling requiring just the right amount of sun and water, officials at the Florida Agricultural Museum are hoping a new effort to engage the public will produce a bumper crop.

The creation of the Farm Swap & Music Jam at the museum is the latest step in an ongoing effort to revitalize the attraction, which has struggled at times since moving to its 460-acre site in northern Flagler County in 1997.

"We've always wanted to do this," said Gail Carson, marketing manager at the museum. "Now was the right time to do it."

Carson said the Farm Swap & Music Jam is part of a larger effort to add programs and increase awareness about the museum.

"We are expanding our programs," she said. "We look forward to expanding all of our programs and festivals."

The Farm Swap, which will be offered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday on the museum grounds at 7900 Old Kings Road, is just the beginning, Carson said.

"We are hoping to bring music and dance back to the Ag Museum," she said.

While last week's inaugural event featured five vendors along with several musicians, Carson said there is plenty of room to grow.

"We have the land and we have the location to be a major farmers market," she said.

Mike Malloy, owner of Mike's Home Grown Farm, a hydroponic farm in Flagler County, agreed that the Farm Swap & Music Jam has the potential become a premier farmers market.

"This is great," he said Thursday while working his booth. "Hopefully this will build up so it will be the one I have to do."

Malloy said he has also participated in farmers markets at European Village in Palm Coast and in DeLand in Volusia County.

Malloy said the small size of the event now is not necessarily a bad thing.

"You shouldn't expect anything grander until seven or eight months down the road," he said. "That's how a good market will grow."

Vernon Purdham, owner of Chantilly Ridge Alpacas in Port Orange, said he also has high hopes for the Ag Museum market.

"I like it here," he said. "I think it will be a good market."

Purdham said a key ingredient to a successful farmers market is organization.

"It's all about organization," he said. "If it's not organized, nothing is going to happen."

Kara Hoblick, the museum's executive director, said museum staff and volunteers are focused on making sure the market is promoted and thriving and will enlist all the support they can get.

"For us to succeed, we need healthy relationships with Flagler County, the state of Florida and the Department of Agriculture," she said. "Our relationship with Flagler County is incredible and we're getting support from the Department of Agriculture."

In addition, the Ag Museum website at floridaagmuseum.org was recently updated and revamped to provide residents and visitors with more information about upcoming and ongoing events.

Hoblick acknowledged the Ag Museum has had a checkered existence since moving to Flagler County, but she is optimistic about the future.

"The museum has had a rocky past," she said. "This is the year where we are going to shine."

Flagler farmers markets

Flagler Beach Farmers Market: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday/Saturday, Veterans Park

Salt Air Farmers Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Marineland Marina

European Village Gourmet Farmers Market: noon-4 p.m. Sunday

Farm Swap & Music Jam: Thursdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.,  Florida Agricultural Museum