There is more than one element to The Farmer & The Flea Outdoor Market, which debuts Saturday, June 5, and continues through Oct. 30 on the expansive parking lot at the Circle City Industrial Complex.
Element one is the usual – healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meats, cheeses, vegan and gluten-free options.
Element two – local handmade goods for skincare and body, clothing, jewelry, pottery, art and clothing.
Element three – Food trucks, beer and live music.
And if that’s not enough, there’s:
Element four – Artists who call the Circle City Industrial Complex home.
Another wrinkle for a Saturday market – it’s an afternoon event, running from noon to four p.m.
Jessee Matracia, the market’s “queen bee,” is organizing the weekly event in partnership with Ian Kistler and Tyler Cohen, owners of Mako Hemp Co., a hemp and CBD company. Matracia is owner of FloraEn Mass, a plant-centric wellness business. Both of those enterprises are housed in the Circle City Industrial Complex.
Matracia is stacking up lists of businesses and craftspeople to take part in the weekly event. She is especially excited about Soul Food Project, a Black-led nonprofit urban farm which seeks to end food apartheid. “They were the first farm to sign on with us and we are incredibly proud to host them,” Matracia said.
She said visitors to The Farmer & The Flea Outdoor Market “can expect to see artist doing metal work, clothing design, live art demos and more. This will be more interactive than your average art display and full of the ever-growing creativity of Indianapolis.”
She is also organizing a constant rotation of pop-up vendors. “You will always be able to come to The Farmer & The Flea and find great veggies and take home food like with any great farmers market, but the treasure hunt aspect of all the local makers is what really sets us apart.”
The list includes a new florist; a local leather goods company called 1979 Co which specializes in unique bags, wallets and belts; a company called Lucky Dog that makes human-grade healthy dog food; Simply Spoiled Pups, which makes handmade shirts, decals, /bags and more for pets; and Rare Brew, a tea purveyor with options including sparkling iced tea and cocktail-inspired mixes.
PHOTO ABOVE: The Farmer & The Flea will take place on the parking lot across Brookside Avenue from the Circle City Industrial Complex.
