Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.

✓ Unlimited website access 24/7 ✓ Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 ✓ The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill.

Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Checking back? Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again.

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Saturday morning’s weather was overcast and cool, perfect for vendors selling wares at Keokuk’s River City Mall parking lot. Over 15 merchants gathered to sell goods ranging from produce to handcrafted and fair trade goods. According to the vendors, the biggest problem is that not enough people know about the market. Here is a walkthrough of the market and what you might find every Saturday morning from 8:00- 11:30 a.m. until October 9.

Joyce and Don Reidner from Donnellson sell homemade jams and jellies. Beekeepers, they sell their honey and even infuse some batches with habanero or jalapeno– perfect for the grill. They are involved in fair trade business and have baskets and fans handwoven from elephant grass by women in Ghana. In addition, they sell dyed and woven purses and satchels from another fair-trade company.

A woman who wished to remain anonymous has had a stand in the market for years selling baked goods. Her most popular item is the triple berry muffin.

Two Amish women have been coming to the market for over 15 years. They sell baked goods, berries, and home-cooked jams. Be sure to grab their flaky, glaze-covered fruit hand pies as they are the first to sell out.

Karen VanBrocklin from Alley Greenhouse on Hwy 218 has been in the growing business for over 30 years. She boasts nearly 20 varieties of cherry tomatoes. She said she would have an abundance of sweet and savory tomatoes in two weeks. Green tomatoes took up ample space on one of her tables, which she noted folks like to use in pies, “When finished, they taste like apple pie!”

The Flower Mom, Jessica Longshore, of Keokuk, is in her first year of selling flowers in the market. She exchanges friendly conversation with patrons and sells her colorful bouquets as if she has been in the business for years. After purchasing her home, Jessica created a gorgeous, 500-square-foot organic, pesticide-free flower garden. “Grown with love, not funky stuff,” is her motto. All her flowers are grown from seeds or bulbs in her backyard; she is ready for the upcoming fall season and Mother’s Day next year.

Robert Hoadley and his mother, Barb, are the faces of Cherokee Bobs. From Montrose, they are famous for their Cherokee purple tomatoes. When asked about the origin of the name “Cherokee Bobs,” Robert said he named the business after his grandfather, a half Cherokee man who raised Robert through high school. “He taught me everything I know,” said Robert.

Spring Water Produce has been at the market for about five years and is run by Melissa Riney from St. Francisville, Missouri. She sells herbs, greens, and succulents nestled in colorful thematic vases. Her kale and lettuce are some of the first items to sell out.

Julie Knoche, from Sutter, Ill., runs the market and sells goods at the Sutter Produce Co. stand. Jars of bread and butter pickles, pickled vegetables, pie fillings, and deep-colored jams stand in straight lines, three rows deep. Julie makes jams, filings, and pickles in her commercial kitchen. Sutter Produce Co. also had an extensive collection of dried herbs.

Billy and Christina Smith live in Carthage and sell produce at the market for Aaron Ferguson, owner of Home Fresh Products. They sell heirloom tomatoes that need two hands to hold, crooked cucumbers, squash, potatoes, and hearty zucchini, “We just sold a seven-and-a-half pound zucchini,” Billy said, “That’s not too strange, though. There will be some that size next week.”

Connie and Curtis Clark from Keokuk bring homemade baked goods to the market. Their strawberry rhubarb pie is a crowd favorite. In addition, they have sugar-free options like brownies and pies and gluten-free cookies.

Steve and Karla Wixom from Argyle sell produce, and Karla has begun to make hair bows, jewelry, and other craft items with her twin girls, Katy and Karley Cannon. Juniors this year at Central Lee, Katy and Karley are making and selling craft items to raise money for their school trip to Washington D.C.

Ariel Scheihing, 16, from Hamilton, Ill., is a local artist selling her work at the market. She said she paints whatever comes to her. However, she said she was proudest of her painting Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog.”

Melissa Smeltser of Clark County was a first-timer at the market selling Gagoti Healing products. Located an hour south of Saint Louis, Gagoti Healing is a veteran-owned and operated company specializing in natural healing products. Melissa’s favorite product was called ESP15 Woundcare. ESP stands for echinacea, slippery elm, and plantain, plants all effective in healing cuts, abrasions, and bug bites. Melissa uses it on her toddler, who regularly gets scrapes and scratches. “It’s all-natural, and it works!” she said.

Tony Kaucic of Keokuk was another first-timer at the market. An excellent machinist, when his daughter got married five years ago, he made a set of six steak knives and a block. On SSDI, Tony said he was desperate to find something to do. “Forging knives is my passion,” Kaucic said. His knives are beautiful, one solid piece of metal from tip to hilt and polished to a shine. Kaucic also has several pieces of leather work, including bracelets, key chains, holsters for his knives, and “get back whips” for motorcyclists.

Lavender and Daisies is an impressive stand by Michelle Mortimer from Keokuk. Michelle’s stand has been around for ten years. She is a master of tie-dying and making jewelry. Everything in Michelle’s stand is handmade by her. Her favorite thing she makes are beaded dangle earrings, which are meticulously strung with tiny iridescent beads to create hanging designs like roses, moons, clouds, and more. In addition, Michelle has started using a geode tie-dye technique on linens in homage to Keokuk.

Butterfly Kisses and Creations by Kat are family businesses that share a stand owned by Kathy and Karson Kennedy. Kathy, 18, creates beaded jewelry and key chains. She loves making her bracelets and seeing the finished product. Kathy’s father, Karson, is a woodworker who creates signs and chests from wood. His wife, Shanda, stains and decals his work.

Sublimation Designs is a business started by Hamilton resident Rita Howard two years ago. Her insulated sippy cups are popular, but Howard is excited about her placements because they are versatile. “You give me a design, and I’ll put it on a place mat,” Howard said.

The best part of the market, is the chance to support local vendors and the community people find themselves instantly apart of. The greetings of neighbors and friends, laughter bubbling from the stands, the murmuring of a deal being closed, and the sound of bulging bags knocking against strollers and legs as patrons return to their cars with new purchases is sound track of summer that will be missed when the season ends.

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Sunshine. High 97F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Get the latest local and national news.