The familiar change of seasons from autumn to winter is marked not only by the transition from falling leaves to falling snow. It is also marked by the closing of the downtown farmer's market.

The farmer's market has been open every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Locust Lane starting in June. Vendors are assembling today for the final time this season.

The closing begins a slower time of year for the 23 farms involved with the downtown market. They will spend the time preparing for next year's season and assessing the successes and failures of this year.

"It's not like we [will] sit and watch TV all day," said Chuck Mothersbaugh, owner of Mothersbaugh Farm in Spring Mills. The farm sells produce and flowers at the markets.

Though the pace around the farm is slower than during the harvesting and planting times, there is still a lot of maintenance work to be done. Building greenhouses and covering fields with plastic will take up time, Mothersbaugh said.

"There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work. The season starts again almost right away," he said.

Barrie Moser, owner of Moser's Garden Produce in Centre Hall, said planting usually begins at the end of January. But in the meantime, there is a lot of raking of leaves and renovating that must be done around the farm.

Moser said he would probably have some free time to spend.

"I like to hunt," he said with a smile.

Scott Case, the owner of Patchwork Farm in Aaronsburg, said the work on his farm resumes heavily in January. Along with taking care of business, Case said he likes to rest for a while during the winter months.

"I kick off my farm boots and relax for a while," he said.

The downtown farmer's markets are not the only way the farmers make a living. Some of the farmers sell their goods and crops at their own retail stores throughout the year.

Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda and Harner Farm, 2191 W. Whitehall Road, are two examples.

"It's not much more work than usual," said Sharon Way, co-owner of Way Fruit Farm.

Dan Harner, owner of Harner Farm, said he runs a roadside market that takes a lot of preparation even during the winter months, which traditionally have a slower pace for farms.

"It really isn't an off season," Harner said.

Students play a crucial role in supporting the farms at the markets downtown and in ensuring their economic success, Mothersbaugh said. And in turn, some students enjoy having the opportunity to shop at the markets.

"I come here every week to buy produce. It's the best place to come; it's fresher than the grocery store," Lisa Kolesar (junior-elementary education) said.

Last weekend saw the final day of the inaugural year of the Saturday South Allen Street farmer's market, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the street's 200 block.

A different kind of demographic -- other than undergraduate students -- attends the Saturday market than the Friday one, Mothersbaugh said.

"It's totally different. There are young couples with children, older couples and graduates. I thought we'd be selling to the same crowd," he said.

Mothersbaugh said the initial intent of the Saturday market was to get people to visit the downtown area, especially the South Allen Street area. But the market was not as busy because of several factors.

"No one knew we were here," Mothersbaugh said.

Also, because the Saturday market was not permitted to run on home football weekends, crowds were not as big as they could have been.

"We're optimistic. We gotta give it a chance," Moser said.

Clinton Van Gemert (graduate-graphic design), who shopped at last Friday's market, said he saw a banner along College Avenue for the Saturday market and thought it was a misprint.

"This is a good place to come and get fresh vegetables," Van Gemert said.

Both the Friday and Saturday markets will return during the first weekend in June next year.