 Amherst Farmers' Market - Beyond Happiness LLC By Aaron Andrews Where Did It All Start? I have personally dealt with depression and anxiety while I was growing up and I wanted to create a space where I can deal with all of the emotions I was feeling. I did not have any friends to talk to and I did not have anyone who understood what I was going through at the time. I naturally started to take matters into my own hands as I began to focus on taking care of myself more. Beyond Happiness Is broken into two main avenues of wellness that I have built for myself. Products: One of the ways I practiced wellness was through skincare. Unfortunately, I could not find any products on the market that were a good fit for my skin type as a man of color. The market for beauty products for black men was very limited so I did my research and started creating my skincare products that worked for me. The products became a way for me to check in emotionally with myself through physically being present with what I'm putting on my skin. I developed each product intending to help me with the different emotions I was dealing with at the time. For example, there was a time when I was dealing with a lot of anxiety so I made a cream with lavender to help calm me down. Events: Beyond Happiness began as a simple skincare routine but quickly evolved into a holistic wellness journey. My commitment to self-care led me to explore active lifestyles, social connections, and healthy coping mechanisms. Inspired by my personal growth, I founded Beyond Happiness with the goal of creating a community where people can connect, learn, and grow together. Our farmers market events, such as candle making and soap making workshops, offer immersive experiences that go beyond traditional transactions. We believe in providing products and services that can't be replicated online and fostering meaningful connections among our community members. As a result of taking care of my skin, working out, eating healthy, creating new friendships, and learning about wellness I was able to create an environment where I was actively managing my depression and anxiety and completely changed my life. This is something that made my life better in all areas, and I got excited about figuring out how to help other people overcome their wellness struggles. I am not saying I can cure depression or anxiety. I can share with people the tools that can help them manage it themselves. That is how Beyond Happiness was born. Our mission is to help other people love who they are and provide tools where people can learn more about themselves while engaging with amazing sustainable skincare products grown/made in MA. I am grateful to be apart of the Amherst Farmers' Market family and share my products and create holistic wellness experiences with you. “Happiness is not what you go get, Happiness is what you do every single day”. -Aaron CEO/Founder of Beyond Happiness LLC
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 Supreme Microgreens of the Amherst Farmers' Market - Our Story! Supreme Microgreens began as a humble school project that quickly blossomed into something much greater. In the Spring of 2023, Robert Stark, a Horticulture student at UMass Amherst, was tasked with a unique final assignment: to apply his agricultural knowledge through a hands-on, interactive project. Inspired by a casual conversation with a fellow student, Rob decided to focus his project on the cultivation of microgreens—the nutrient-dense shoots of salad vegetables harvested just before their true leaves emerge. Determined to succeed, Rob took an unconventional approach. He built a custom TV stand in his dorm room that could hold four trays of microgreens at once, transforming his living space into a mini indoor farm. For 14 days, he meticulously tended to his plants, waiting for the typical microgreen harvest period. However, when the time to harvest came, the plants began to wilt, and no edible crop materialized. Despite this setback, Rob's innovative approach and dedication earned him an A on the project. More importantly, the experience sparked a passion for sustainable, small-scale agriculture. Red Cabbage, Rambo Radish and Romaine Lettuce, although not successful in the first trial, were the varieties on debut in Rob’s home TV display in the pic shown! As the spring semester came to a close, Rob’s curiosity only grew. He reached out to his friend and fellow student, Alexander Ayanian, who had recently developed an interest in microgreens as well. The two bonded over their shared enthusiasm for the greens and began discussing their potential—not just as a hobby, but as a way to provide healthy, locally grown food to their community. What started as a casual conversation about growing a few trays of greens soon turned into a full-blown vision: they wanted to bring fresh, nutritious microgreens to the entire Pioneer Valley. Driven by this dream, Rob and Alex decided to take their knowledge of agriculture to the next level. They co-founded Supreme Microgreens, converting the basement of Rob's family home in Ashfield, MA, into a dedicated growing space. The First Appearance of Supreme Microgreens at the Shelburne Falls Farmers Market, July 2023 As demand for their microgreens continued to rise, Rob and Alex knew they needed to expand their team to keep up with the increasing workload. In the fall of 2023, they welcomed two new members: Kagan Sherson and Cameron Sullivan, both fellow students at UMass Amherst. Kagan, with a strong background in sustainability and a passion for environmental stewardship, was eager to enhance the farm’s eco-friendly practices. He focused on improving energy efficiency and reducing waste, ensuring that Supreme Microgreens maintained its commitment to sustainability as it grew. Cameron, with a background in agriculture and hands-on farming experience, brought valuable expertise in crop management and scaling production. His knowledge helped optimize the growing process and increase yields, allowing the team to meet the ever-growing demand. With their combined efforts, Kagan and Cameron not only eased the workload but also brought fresh perspectives, propelling Supreme Microgreens closer to its goal of becoming a key player in the farm-to-table movement at the Amherst Farmers' Market and beyond! From day one, their mission was clear: to grow healthy, organic microgreens and bring them directly to consumers, promoting a farm-to-table lifestyle. Supreme Microgreens is committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly methods to ensure that their crops are not only nutritious but also grown with minimal environmental impact. The Supreme Microgreens team continues to experiment with new growing techniques and innovative ways to increase yield while maintaining their commitment to quality. With plans to expand into larger-scale farming and introduce home delivery services, Supreme Microgreens is on track to become a cornerstone of the farm-to-table movement in Western Massachusetts. Their ultimate goal is to inspire others to think differently about food—where it comes from, how it’s grown, and its impact on the world around us. Supreme Microgreens isn’t just a business; it's a passion project built on the idea that healthy, sustainable food can be grown locally and enjoyed by all. What began as a small dorm-room experiment has quickly grown into a thriving, community-focused venture with big dreams for the future! |
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Bringing you organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, locally-sourced blog posts on a semi-weekly basis from the Amherst Farmers' Market. Archives
September 2024
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