It’s hard to believe that the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market is more than halfway through its season!

For those who’ve yet to immerse themselves in the magnificent offerings of Sequim’s vibrant locality, we invite you to join us on a “walk” through the market. We’ll transport you there right now. Take a deep breath … and here we go!

It’s been leisurely morning and you’re feeling relaxed when you find yourself at Sequim’s downtown market. You know that the early bird gets the worm when it comes to fresh, seasonal offerings. You hear the market bell ring at 9 a.m. First thing’s first, you’d like some coffee. You head over to Essence Coffee Roasters and order a lightly sweetened (with raw sugar please!) hand-roasted latte. The java buzz kicks in and your eyes are a bit brighter.

You follow the line of eager cookie fans to Blue Mountain Baking Co. where you pick up a hand pie showcasing a delectable, seasonal flavor. Taking a step back to savor your lovingly created breakfast, you review your shopping list for the week.

You drop your gardening shears by A Razor Edge Sharpening, those should be ready to go by the time you leave the market (excellent strategizing).

Starting down your list, you navigate to Sequim Bee Farm to secure a jar of your favorite Meadowfoam honey — you still can’t believe it naturally tastes like marshmallows! — and, now for something to mix that local honey into … you snag one of your favorite locally crafted teas from Goodness Tea. This week it’s a Mountain Ma’am Chai.

You zigzag around the market, ticking the boxes of your list to make sure you’re grabbing everything you came for … and all those things you didn’t know you absolutely needed to taste. You drop a vibrant pair of broccoli heads from Joy Farm into your bag, the succulent leaves of River Run Farm’s lettuce heads begged to join your dinner plans, pints of strawberries are picked up from Oceanside Nurseries — though you always opt for two, because you’re seasoned enough to know that one pint won’t last you the car ride home.

You marvel at the site of the giant, sweet, pink salad radishes from Jembe Farms. You stock up on Sea Basket Farm’s famous garlic. You say hello to Bill and Margarita as you pick up your weekly eggs from Chicken and Egg Farm. You can’t ignore Beanstalk Farm’s rosy tomatoes calling your name. You top off your veggie load with a pint of deep purple snap peas from Wildling Farm.

Your bag now contains nearly every color of the rainbow but preparing these treats wouldn’t be complete without a jar of Olympic Onion Farm’s famous Green Onion Powder to sprinkle on all of your savory meals for the week.

With your fresh-cut flower bouquet from Emily’s Flowers under your arm, you finish this food tour by dropping by Finnriver Farm & Cidery and Hurricane Hills Winery to see what’s seasonal and fresh in the world of local libations.

Now it’s time to think about wellness. No market visit is complete without a stop by Sativa Valley Essentials, a one-stop shop for farmstead CBD creations ranging from internal to topical. You stop to remember that your soap cupboard getting a little low, so you pop by Smoothie Essentials or Slippery Slope Candles and Soap to take an olfactory journey through the handcrafted bars.

After a chat with Sequim Bike Works — what is up with that new noise your bike chain’s been making? — and then it’s time for a lunch of smoked salmon chowder with farm-fresh sourced salad, from Red’s at the Market.

Congratulations! Sustenance achieved! Now it’s time to go say hello to your favorite artisans.

Creativity central

At Centennial Place (on the corner of Washington Street and Sequim Avenue) you browse through an incredible display of Clallam County talents. You peek at the handmade creations by Wicked Brooms, the wild peninsula-inspired pottery by Madrona Ridge, the lovingly crafted goods from Snow Creek Leather, and the millet-hulled therapeutic pillows that await you from BlissPillow.

You even get the chance to speak with local children’s author Mary B. Truly and pick her brain about the process behind her pieces.

Heading back up to City Hall Plaza (at Washington Street and Cedar Street), you notice artists expressing themselves across all mediums. Looking to fill that pesky blank space on your wall at home, you peruse Melinda Reed’s paintings and the coastal-inspired wood carvings of Behind the Sea.

You pick up your second macrame weaving from PNW GIRL. “This one will be a gift,” you promise yourself, while secretly knowing full well that it’s about to end up in your entryway.

Functional household art abounds in the form of extraordinarily crafted wooden bowls, cutting boards, and pepper grinders from Northwest Beach Works. Brightly colored ceramic cups, carafes, and serving plates splash the booth of Art of Pottery.

You flip through the vivid display of upcycled rugs at Raggedy Rugs before deciding on two. You let your nose guide you to your favorite scent of hand-poured candles from Dougerly Candle Co.

Looking for the perfect adornment to gift a friend, you enjoy an engaging chat with Erica of Wheat Stalk Boutique while browsing her brass creations. Susan at Rockin’ Rocks walks you through her collection of polished, wearable gems and gets to know your personal taste.

With a full market bag and heart, you wave goodbye to your friends and neighbors and bid your favorite market adieu for the week.

At home, you lovingly unpack your Saturday market haul and reflect on how darn lucky you are to live in a community where so much of what we need can be sourced directly from the folks we care about the most, our community, friends and neighbors.

Visit your community market at Sequim City Hall Plaza at North Sequim Avenue and West Cedar Street, and at Centennial Place at the Sequim Avenue and Washington Street intersection.

Emma Jane “EJ” Garcia is the Market Manager for the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market.