Old Town Farmer’s Market has a New Home

By Kathleen Harris

The Old Town Farmer’s Market–Tianguis Cultural has begun a new and exciting relationship with El Jardin de Ninos Emiliano Zapata. The school, located on the west side of Pino Suarez between V. Carranza and B. Badillio, will be part of the Market’s new home when it opens in November 5th!

When Market founder, Charlotte Semple, learned recently that the school might have to stay closed due to the theft of all its’ copper water pipes, her immediate reaction was, “We can’t let that happen!” Within a matter of days the Market had purchased new pipes, they were installed, and it was back to business for the 176 students who attend kindergarten there. Morning principal, Olga Elvira Quintero, said that she and afternoon principal, Maria Concepcion Banuelos-Macias, could not be happier.

On Saturday volunteers, including Fast Eddie from Casa Isabel, Mark Rome from the Palm, Brenda de Retzlaff, Sylvie Scopazzo, Robin Spencer, Jae Palsce and Pamela Beltran, showed up to assist with the building of a new bodega to protect the schools treasured supplies. Previously supplies were stored in a classroom that was then rendered un-usable for other purposes.

The Market has hired a professional bricklayer, and architect Roberto Alvaro-Llamas is donating his expertise to ensure that the bodega is well built. When it is finished, the school would like to turn the old storage area into a library.

Everyone was very enthusiastic on Saturday, fueled by coffee and yummy muffins donated by Dee’s Coffee. Refreshments brought later, compliments of Apache’s Martini Bar were so appreciated after a hard, hot day moving bricks and breaking concrete.

Additional projects to aid the school were quickly identified. In the coming weeks and months Market volunteers will clean and re-paint walls and fixtures, repair and paint the school yard pool and outside walls, collect books for the new library and musical instruments for a proposed music room, and gather general school supplies for the students.

There are also plans to collaborate on building a raised-bed garden to teach the children about gardening, nutrition, and entrepreneurship, as Charlotte envisions the children selling their produce at the market. Won’t that be a popular booth!

Located in the heart of Emiliano Zapata, also known as the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, the Old Town Farmers Market- Tianguis Cultural is about to open its 3rd season of providing local fresh farm produce, artisan foods, handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and inspiring services and community education to locals and tourists from the entire Bay of Banderas Region.

So keep your eye out for more news coming soon and the opening of the Old Town Farmers Market- Tianguis Cultural on November 5th. The Market will be located in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta on calle Pino Suarez between V. Carranza and B. Badillo and inside the kindergarten school El Jardin de Ninos Emiliano Zapata. Market hours are every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. For more information visit the Market website at http://www.oldtownfm.com, or its Facebook page: Old Town Farmer’s Market Puerto Vallarta.