Don’t let the name scare you: Spooky Acres offers fresh eggs, baked goods and more on Des Moines’ north side. Photo: Duane Tinkey
Writer: Mathany Ahmed
Every summer, Iowa farmers, bakers and makers bring their wares to markets across the state. Recently, some small businesses have flipped the script, inviting shoppers to find them right at home.
If you know where to look, you can find these mini markets in many neighborhoods here in Central Iowa. Enterprising vendors set up stands on porches and in front yards to sell everything from flowers to cookies to candles. Most operated on the honor system, built on a very Midwestern sense of community.
These five markets are worth a detour:
Homemade by Ashley C
304 Elm Ave., Norwalk
Hours: Saturday mornings and one evening a week
Ashley Caskey began baking sourdough in 2017 for health reasons. “When I saw how much better we felt after eating it, I wanted to share it with the community,” she said.
Her stand offers sourdough loaves made with fresh-milled flour and organic ingredients, along with items like pancake mix that contain a dehydrated starter. Community service is central to her mission, so last fall, her stand hosted a food drive where customers traded pantry donations for sourdough products.
Pretty Petunia Floral
7500 N.W. 16th St., Des Moines
Hours: 7 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, as long as supplies last
This cottage-core roadside stand began two years ago as a way for florist Sarah Wilkinson to offload the overflow from her wedding business. All of the blooms are grown in the urban garden surrounding the stand, where customers will often find Wilkinson.
Each $20 bouquet comes in a cup that fits into a car cup holder and has a just-picked-from-the-garden flair. “The stand is really just me sharing my love of flowers with my neighborhood and anyone who drives by,” Wilkinson said. “I am obsessed with flowers!”
Rosie’s Bakehouse
9012 Longview Drive, Johnston
Hours: They vary; check Facebook for openings
Destinee Koromo started Rosie’s Bakehouse in 2021 to honor her late grandmother Rosie. “I wanted to bake year-round and create desserts for people’s special days,” Koromo said. “My Grandma Rosie always enjoyed doing stuff for others.”
The porch stand features pie-inspired cookies, cookie cake slices and cookie decorating kits. “It’s very convenient for people to just grab and pay,” Koromo said. “I love seeing all the young kids getting excited about the stand.”
Spooky Acres Farm & Bakery
6820 NW Sixth Drive, Des Moines
Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
It’s Halloween all year long at Spooky Acres. The striking black farm stand draws drivers in with homemade sourdough bread, cookies and treats, along with homemade non-toxic cleaning and personal care items. The spooky theme carries through everything from caramel apple body scrub to candy corn-inspired hand soap.
Owner Erin Acres says the stand has become a meaningful way to connect with neighbors. “My favorite memories are any that involve meeting members of my community,” she said.
Sweet Spot Bakery
115 S. 49th St., West Des Moines
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Chastity Cronin, a daycare teacher turned baker, started baking to unwind after long days with kids. So opening a porch stand last fall felt like a natural step. Customers flock to staples like gourmet monster cookies and artisanal breads, including a popular jalapeño cheddar loaf. “I’ve gotten to know so many people in the community since opening,” she said. “There’s nothing better than hearing my baked goods made someone’s day.”
Contributing writer Mathany Ahmed grew up in Iowa City in a family with roots in Sudan. She now lives in Des Moines and covers arts, community and dining.
