Holland, MI—The Holland Farmers Market is excited to announce that the popular Summer Enrichment Series will return to the Market beginning this month! The Summer Enrichment Series features a monthly line-up of fun, informative, and affordable adult classes at the Holland Farmers Market from June through September. Topics include beekeeping, composting, healthy meal tips, and more, with all sessions hosted by local experts and friends of the Market. Attendees are invited to shop at the Holland Farmers Market from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm before or after each class.

“We’re excited to for the return of Summer Enrichment Series this year,” said Holland Farmers Market Marketing Coordinator Kara de Alvare. “Our entire team is passionate about providing learning opportunities for the community and the monthly Summer Enrichment Series allows us to do that for adults, in much the same way as our weekly Kids Activities for children in the summer. We’ve put together a great line-up of educational classes for the summer and we encourage everyone to check it out!”

The first class in the Summer Enrichment Series, “Welcome to Beekeeping!” will be held on Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 am. Beekeeper Donald Lam will be teaching audience members all about the hobby of beekeeping at home. During the class, beekeeper Donald Lam from the Holland Area Beekeepers Association will share the ins and outs of beekeeping as a hobby. Audiences will learn about the equipment needed, the support systems available, the benefits, and the costs of beekeeping.

Lam and his wife Jean have been keeping honeybees for 35 years in the Holland area. In addition to leading classes, they provide pollination services for growers, produce honey that is available in local stores, and provide bees and equipment to area beekeepers. Don and Jean operate a beekeeping store in Holland and represent the Holland Area Beekeeping Association.

All Summer Enrichment Series classes are held at 10:00 am on the last Saturday of the month. Classes are held in the upstairs Market View room inside the Holland Civic Center at 150 West 8th Street. Classes are approximately an hour long and are just $10 each to attend. Advanced registration on Eventbrite is recommended as space is limited, however, walk-ins are welcome if space allows for $10 cash or check at the door. The registration links can be found under the “Events” tab on the Holland Farmers Market Facebook page. Admission fees are non-refundable. However, canceled registrations can be transferred to another individual or applied to a future class. Please contact the Market staff at 616.355.1058 for assistance transferring your registration.

Upcoming Summer Enrichment Series Classes

Fresh Market Meals
Saturday, July 27
For the second installment of our Series on Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 am, you’re invited to join the Holland Farmers Market and the Lakeside Prep Chef to learn easy and helpful meal prep tips to make eating healthy an attainable goal for you and your family! Don’t let your fresh Market finds go to waste! Chef Julie Robbert will share food prep tips and techniques for easy recipes using fresh fruits and vegetables from the Market. You’ll even learn what proteins and pantry items to have on hand to prepare fresh meals in a snap all summer long!

Composting Basics
Saturday, August 24
For the third installment of the Series on Saturday, August 24 at 10:00 am, you’re invited to join the Holland Farmers Market and Master Composter Ken Freestone from the MSU Extension to learn all of the ins and outs of composting at home. Master Composter Ken Freestone will lead a demonstration about the different methods of composting, how to build your own composting bin, and what to do with your finished compost. Plans for building your own easy and low-maintenance composting bin will be provided as part of the class. Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfills and to create nutrient-rich soil that will benefit your garden, landscaping, and yard.

Wild Mushrooms of Michigan
Saturday, September 28
For the fourth and final installment of our Series on Saturday, September 28 at 10:00 am, you’re invited to join the Holland Farmers Market and our very own Mycophile’s Garden to learn everything you need to know about Michigan mushrooms! This class will discuss the 100+ wild edible mushroom species that can be found right here in Michigan and how to best learn to identify them, along with an overview of some of the best books, websites, and groups for learning about wild edible mushrooms as well as toxic ones. The class will finish with an overview of some of the most sought-after and popular edible mushrooms as well as information on where and when you might find them, along with a time for Q&A. Fresh mushrooms and mushroom growing kits will be available for sale at the Market that day as well.

Since 1917, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has worked to market the very best of West Michigan to travelers from around the world.
WMTA’s membership base consists of more than 800 attractions, lodging, events, and activities all across the west side of Michigan, from the Indiana border all the way into the Upper Peninsula. Over the past century, Michigan’s tourism industry has become second to only manufacturing in Michigan, making WMTA a vital resource for the area’s tourist destinations.
Today, WMTA continues its mission as a self-sustaining, membership-funded non-profit. For more information, please visit WMTA.org.