June’s Arrival
June is here, and with that comes fresh fruits and veggies, gorgeous flowers, and so much more to the Millbrook Farmers and Makers Market. With the new arrivals, the start of summer, the holidays, and all of the seasonal activities, there seems to be so much going on, so it’s no surprise that June is a packed month!
Dairy Month - June is Dairy Month which started out as a way to distribute extra milk during the warm months of summer. The commemoration was established in 1937 by Grocery Organizations sponsoring “National Milk Month.” By 1939, June became the official “dairy month” and is still celebrated today. One more bit of trivia is Gail Borden founded the New York Condensed Milk Company with his partner, Jeremiah Milbank, and opened the first successful plant in Wassaic, NY, in 1861. You might recognize their label in most grocery store baking aisles now.
The full moon on June 3rd is called the Strawberry Moon – this name originated with Native American tribes as it was the start of summer berry season. It is also called the Honey Moon, as bees are now in full honey production – since June has been historically a very popular month for weddings, the term “honeymoon” is believed to be connected to this moon’s name.
June is Pride Month – The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar on Christopher Street, in neighboring streets, and in nearby Christopher Park. This was the catalyst for the gay pride movement, and very soon after, June was deemed Pride Month in honor of these efforts.
June 18th – Father’s Day - The nation’s first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington. However, it was not until 1972—58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official—that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States.
June 19th – Juneteenth Day - Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas. This holiday has been celebrated in the African American community since 1880, and only in recent years has it become more well-known and recognized as a federal holiday.
June 21st is the Summer Solstice - No world body has designated an official day to start each new season, and different schools of thought or traditions define the seasons in different ways. In meteorology, for example, summer begins on June 1. And every schoolchild knows that summer starts when the last school bell of the year rings. Yet June 21 is perhaps the most widely recognized day upon which summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere and upon which winter begins on the southern half of Earth’s globe. There’s nothing official about it, but it’s such a long-held tradition that we all recognize it to be so.
However, you choose to celebrate the month is up to you, but know that each Saturday, the market will be in full swing, and I am hoping you’ll stop by to say hello, see what great items our vendors are offering and spend a few minutes visiting with neighbors and friends. Thank you all for your support, and looking forward to seeing you at the market.
One last request – If you are an artist or know an artist who might be interested in participating in our upcoming Open Air Art Festival on August 5th, please contact me thru the website or stop by and see me at the market for more information.
See you all Saturday.
Greg
Market Manager