Turning My House Into A Fall Farmer’s Market For My Friends
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Last weekend, I hosted a Fall Farmer’s Market swap party!! I had been seeing these parties all over social media and LOVED the idea!! Basically, you invite your friends to make a homemade gift for each guest joining the party! Everyone gets to “shop” and go home with lots of homemade goodies!!
My plan was to make 4-5 homemade gifts and provide lunch for everyone as well! I wanted to be sure that everyone would get to leave with lots of goodies even if it was a small gathering (which it ended up being!)
I think one of the sweetest parts of hosting seasonally is creating little traditions you can come back to year after year. Last year, one of my friends told me that my Christmas party felt like the beginning of the holiday season to her, and that meant so much to me because that’s exactly how it feels to me too. I didn’t really grow up with a lot of those seasonal traditions, so creating them now has become really important to me. Whether it’s a farmers market gathering in the fall, a Christmas party, or simply making the same cozy meal together each year, I love knowing that these little moments can become something we all look forward to and remember.
Before we get into it:
In case you see anything you love while taking a look at this post, you can shop everything below. I added details to my basket installation, all homemade gift packaging, and my kitchen essentials:
Decor
Harvest Basket Installation
The basket installation was one of the most fun pieces to put together. I zip tied baskets all along an arch, then filled them with pumpkins, squash, flowers, greenery, and all kinds of little seasonal touches. It only took around 35 minutes to make, but it added so much texture and color to the space. The best part is that I can use this piece all season long!! I can’t wait to move it around for an outdoor Fall dinner I am dreaming up!
I used zip ties to attach the baskets to the arch! Some needed a bit more support than others but this was quite simple to do! I recommend keeping heavier pumpkins and squash under eye level in case someone bumps into the arch!!
Below I am adding the arch and zip ties I used. I got all the baskets pictured in the photo above from an antique store for $30! Check secondhand before shopping new for these!
All the homemade gifts I made
Vanilla Extract
A few years ago I received vanilla extract as a Christmas gift and it’s something I still reach for weekly!! It’s made from vanilla beans and vodka and takes 6 months to be ready to use! Once it’s ready, you can continue to top it off with more vodka and beans for years to come! This is probably the most functional gift you can give to someone who loves to bake!! Plus, it was so fun teaching my friends how easy it is to make this pantry staple. I feel like the supermarket always provides us with everything we need so we can overlook just how easy it is to make these types of things at home. Huge money & time saver + confidence builder in the kitchen!!
Apple Cider Caramel Sauce
Salted Caramel Sauce is incredibly easy to make and such a fun addition to ice cream sundaes, brownies, pancakes, and more!! For this party, I made it with a Fall twist by adding some apple cider to the mix!! It has a warm and cozy flavor perfect for Fall…Ooooo oh my goodness would this be delish as a dip for apples!!
Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows
I took my standard marshmallow recipe, added some pumpkin puree, and warm spices to make the most tasty Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows!! These would be sooo tasty for a cozy fall movie night at home! My friends LOVED these!
Glazed Oatmeal Chai Cookies
These glazed oatmeal chai cookies are similar to my spiced oatmeal chai sandwich cookies! They simply taste like Fall! I opted to make these cookies instead of my sandwich ones as they are smaller and made without the cream cheese buttercream that needs to be refrigerated! These cookies taste SO tasty with the spiced chai icing on top!! I love the dense and chewy texture of oatmeal cookies!
I loved the way these cookies were packaged! They remind me of the Christmas cookie boxes I made last year!!
Farm Fresh Eggs
Ever since my trip with Simple Mill’s to Luke Peterson Farms, I have been prioritizing supporting farmers in all the little ways that I can. I picked up a lot of the pumpkins, produce, and flowers for this party from a farm as well as these fresh eggs. Many of my guests were surprised to see blue eggs existed!! It makes me sad to see grocery stores only sell brown or white eggs when SO many stunning colors exist.
Watch my trip to Luke Peterson Farms
Eli’s Homemade Green Juice
Eli decided to do green juices for his homemade gift!! He has been into having juices for breakfast lately so this was right up his alley! These were so refreshing to enjoy while “shopping”
What's on the menu?
“Take what you need” Chocolate Trifles with Whipped Mascarpone Chocolate Frosting
These little garden inspired Trifles were perfect for the party theme and such an easy way to put a smile on guests’ faces! I put different positive affirmations on each one so people could pick what they needed that day. I used a boxed cake mix for this as I am still perfecting my chocolate cake recipe, however, I did make a tasty whipped mascarpone chocolate frosting!
Apple, Brie, & Turkey Sandwiches
My turkey, apple, and brie sandwiches worked well for my farmers market party because they were easy to make and worked well with the theme. They were also a simple option that everyone could enjoy. Lucky for me, these only took around 15 minutes to prepare!! We also served them last year at our Fall Coffee Shop At Home Party
Butternut Squash Soup Served In An Acorn Squash
Butternut squash soup served inside roasted acorn squash makes the prettiest little fall presentation. The acorn squash’s naturally scalloped edges create the cutest individual bowls, while the creamy butternut squash soup kept everything cozy, seasonal, and perfect for our farmers market-inspired table.
Not pictured: Kale Date Salad!
I will be sure to share a recipe on this soon ;)
Charcuterie Garden Pots
Mini charcuterie garden pots are such a fun way to serve individual snacks while keeping with the farmers market theme. I filled each little pot with fresh vegetables, cheese, crackers, and other bite-sized favorites, then tucked in sprigs of fresh herbs to make them look like tiny edible gardens. I made these in spring too so I felt is was only right to make them again for this party!!
Veggie Baskets
The mini veggie garden was such a fun way to serve a classic veggie platter. I filled little berry baskets with fresh vegetables and added dips alongside them with tiny garden shovels for scooping. It made something as simple as veggies and dip feel playful and perfectly on theme for the farmers market table.
Check out the full timeline on Substack
Watch this party unfold on Youtube!
Looking For More Homemade Gift Ideas?
Check out these videos on my Youtube channel for more inspiration!
More on this party coming soon!! This is just the sneak peek ;)
I love how this party turned out!! I can’t wait to host another one for the holiday season! A Christmas market will be SO cute!
