St. Laurent is stepping into market season with its Hello Spring Market on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Laurent Recreation Centre.
Ducked Up Farm owner Tara Toole cuts a block of goat’s milk soap
With more than 30 vendor booths set up and ready for business, and free admission, St. Laurent & District recreation director Tammy Hiebert said she is excited to reconnect with the community.
She added that shopping with local vendors is a great way to foster community connection, inspire creativity and encourage local interaction.
Among the vendors is St. Laurent’s own Tara Toole, owner of Ducked Up Farm.
Toole sells custom-engraved items, goat’s milk soap, shampoo bars, knitted and crocheted pieces, and other accessories — all products that stem from personal and family passions.
“Hilariously, the goat’s milk soap was because we cannot drink that much milk in one day,” she explained. “And there was no way I could make that much cheese.”
Toole works alongside her partner, Lonnie, who specializes in product engraving. For the pair, seeing happy customers means everything.
“I absolutely love bringing people’s visions to reality,” Toole said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — small towns are the heart of any economy. I know that there is so much pride in helping a customer.”
She offers an array of scents for her goat’s milk bars, all made with minimal ingredients so customers know exactly what they are putting on their skin.
For Toole, part of the fun comes from naming her scents, with playful options such as “Crushed Elf” for a peppermint bar, “Float Around, Find Out” for a root beer float scent, and “Killer Clean” for a Fruit Loops-scented bar. She also offers a “Plain Jane” option for those with sensitive skin.
Toole said she has always enjoyed the chance to be creative. She learned many of her skills through trial and error, as well as tutorials she found online or received from friends and colleagues.
“I believe we can all find our talents,” she added. “Mine just happens to be a willingness to try a lot of different things.”
Ducked Up Farm also accepts custom orders, whether a customer is looking for a personalized engraved item or hoping for a fresh new scent. Toole and her partner are happy to help bring those ideas to life.
She noted that every product takes time, as they work carefully to ensure each item is exactly what the customer wants, often going back and forth for hours to perfect the details.
Their soaps alone take about three hours to make, a full day to firm up before being cut, and another 30 days to cure. But Toole said the time is always worth it if it means another satisfied customer.
“Local sellers have to make good quality items,” Toole said. “We want people to come back and support us — supporting local has never mattered more.”
For more information about Ducked Up Farm, follow its Facebook page, visit its website, or stop by its booth at the St. Laurent Hello Spring Market. The event will also feature many other local vendors selling a wide variety of goods, including clothing, skin care products, crocheted and sewn items, artwork, jewelry, accessories and more.
In addition to local shopping, the market will feature a silent auction table supporting the community pickleball program, a 50/50 draw supporting local recreation programming, a canteen benefiting the St. Laurent Recreation Centre, and a children’s craft table.
