Check out this local market in Montgomery where “everything is homemade, hand-made and homegrown.”

On a beautiful Saturday morning in early October, a couple from Houston suburbia travels north on F.M. 149 toward Sam Houston National Forest. When they approach the old Montgomery Community Building in Montgomery’s historic district, they see dozens of canopies in the shade of enormous oak trees. Overcome by curiosity, they stop to check it out.

Homemade, hand-made and homegrown

Many people stumble upon Lone Star First Saturday in just this way, says Shannan Reid, executive director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. Other attendees are regulars, who have come to appreciate the many unique items for sale on the first Saturday of each month. “Everything is homemade, hand-made and homegrown,” Shannan says. A typical market includes 30 to 35 booths, she says, while a “full house,” usually during cooler months and around the holiday season, might have as many as 40.  “These folks are out there every month, rain or shine, hot or cold. They are lovely people and they have precious stories.”

Consider William (“Coach”) and Kathy Barrett. They are not newcomers to Texas. Kathy’s family “came with Stephen F. Austin,” she says; her grandparents were the Kuykendahls—a name familiar to many Houston-area residents because of the often-mispronounced Kuykendahl Road.

Kathy started canning fruits and vegetables during the years that Coach taught in Montgomery schools and she operated a home-based daycare center. Using family recipes, as well as a cookbook for home economics students, she created a variety of pickles, jellies and jams, which she gave as gifts. After Coach and Kathy retired, their daughter suggested that they turn Kathy’s hobby into a business. They have been regulars at Lone Star First Saturday for nearly six years.

“I keep coming back every month,” one customer says. The first time she came, she bought a jar of Kathy’s cantaloupe jam and was hooked. If this sounds a bit unusual, ponder Kathy’s other offerings, such as watermelon rind preserves and jalapeño peach jelly. Kathy also makes an astounding variety of pickles, such as bread and butter, jalapeño dill and crazy Cajun habanero, as well as pickled okra, green beans and asparagus.

Meanwhile, Coach is the site manager of Lone Star First Saturday. He helps designate where canopies will be placed, shows new vendors around, and makes sure the grounds are suitable for foot traffic, even if it means spreading sawdust on muddy areas or whacking unruly weeds.

At a nearby booth, Justin Hood mans the Texas Pioneer Creations booth. His mother, Dorothy Hood, has been in the soapmaking business for 13 years, he says, and makes all-natural soaps at her home, using “old school” methods and “the same recipes Great-grandma used to use when they were crossing the Great Plains.” One of the booth’s biggest sellers is beer soap, which produces exceptional lather. Texas Pioneer Creations soaps are made with lye (which Justin promises is gentler than detergent) and essential oils, but no synthetic coloring.

Texas Pioneer Creations offers a wide variety of scents, including charcoal bay rum, ginger peach, black raspberry vanilla, and a blend of oatmeal, goat milk and honey. “It’s a classic that has stood the test of time through all 13 years,” Justin says. Regulars also like whiskey soap and seasonal items, including bluebonnet fields, which is a customer favorite in the spring.

Some vendors sell jewelry and home decorations (for both inside and out), while others offer homemade baked goods. On some Saturdays, booths feature homegrown produce, vegetable starter plants and local honey. One booth, Annalisa’s Garden, sells wellness teas that Annalisa Mazzarella makes from her own homegrown herbs. Annalisa, a certified holistic nutritionist, is currently participating in a doctoral program with the American College of Healthcare Sciences, specializing in nutrition and herbal medicine. In addition to teas, she uses her knowledge to make tinctures and syrups that are available at her booth. “They all have a wellness objective,” she says, such as digestion, sleeping, detoxification and reduction of inflammation.

At one booth, Lee Smith, who worked for many years in county law enforcement, sells the seasoning blends he created while participating in cooking competitions. He attends every Lone Star First Saturday so that he can serve his loyal customers, who return again and again to purchase his seasonings for meats, fish and vegetables. Lee offers mild, spicy, extra spicy and southwest blends. “You get a sweet hit on the front, and in about eight or 10 seconds you get the heat on the back end,” he says.

Lee has also created a Cajun blend based on family recipes he learned from his wife, who is originally from Louisiana. “I changed one ingredient so Mawmaw won’t haunt me,” Lee says with a laugh. “I ain’t messing with Mawmaw.” He is currently developing another blend specifically for beef.

Nearby, Terry and Jeannine Muilenberg greet customers at Fred’s Custom Leather. About six years ago, Terry admired a friend’s handmade leather holsters and figured he could do leatherworking, too. So, he purchased some leather and made a Bible cover for his mother. Before long, Terry had a new hobby. It’s now a full-time business, offering a variety of handcrafted leather goods. Terry also accepts custom orders.

A colorful sign displaying the iconic image of “Rosie the Riveter” entices customers to visit a booth called We Can Sew it. Sarah Richmond is the seamstress for the business, and has help at the booth from her mother, Victoria Croston. Victoria’ mother, Rose Will Monroe, was a professional seamstress, a talent that skipped a generation before settling on Sarah, Victoria says.

History buffs take note: Sarah’s grandmother was more than a seamstress. While working at an aircraft factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan during World War II, actor Walter Pidgeon came to her workplace to make a film advertising war bonds. He realized that Rose, with her suitable given name, was a real-life “Rosie the Riveter,” and she appeared in the film. “The song, ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was popular,” Victoria says, “and she became the human face for the song.”

We Can Sew It offers quilts, “boas” made from kitchen towels, bowl cozies and other unique items. Sarah also accepts orders for custom quilts.

Making a day of it

Shannan suggests making time to visit every vendor at Lone Star First Saturday. “Don’t skip right to the honey and leave, because you will miss so many. There is something for everyone and something for every price point,” she says. Furthermore, she says, “Historic Montgomery is full of merchants and cafes and bistros and coffee shops and antique stores and boutiques. Don’t come for the market and skip the merchants. I would make a day of it. Shop all up and down the streets of Montgomery and find something for everyone on your list.”

While some people might wonder where to park, Shannan tells them not to worry. “Parking is available all around. You just have to look for it,” she says, noting that parking lots are available, and there is “nose in” parking along every street. “There are only five blocks [in historic Montgomery], so everything is closer than parking at Walmart and walking in the front door.”

Lone Star First Saturday is held on the first Saturday of every month between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, visit montgomeryareachamber.com/lone-star-1st-Saturday.