Despite the challenges presented by a long and difficult drought, the Tomball Farmers Market is ready to kick off the new season Feb. 4. Not only that, but the farmers market board is working overtime to turn it into a year-round affair, according to Sarah Starnes, president of the board.

The market is usually open from April through July for the summer season, and then again in October and November for the fall season. Starnes said she hopes operating throughout the year will get people into the habit of attending on a more regular basis.

"We started getting a lot of traffic right around the time we were ending in November," Starnes said. "This will get people into the habit of remembering we're there."

Starnes said operating year-round will also give customers a better understanding of crop cycles.

"People ask for tomatoes in February and lettuce in July," she said. "When you're there year-round, people will start to learn what comes to harvest at what time and can plan around that."

Starnes said she plans introduce live music to the farmers market at some point this spring. There are not any concrete plans yet, she said, but she hopes to see that come together in April.

Additional plans for this year include trying to get different food trucks in the area involved on a rotational basis, she said.

"We'd like to have three or four different ones switching off from week to week," Starnes said. "I'd love to see that just so we'd have something different each week."

The market already has 10 vendors that plan to be there opening day. An updated list of vendors can be found at www.tomballfarmersmarket.org.

Matt Brantley, who hand crafts and sells guitars, will join the market this year. Depending on the weather, he will start on opening day or the following week and be there through the duration of the summer, he said.

"It just seems like a great way to get my guitars in the hands of potential customers," Brantley said.

He said he plans to bring an amplifier with him and give interested customers a chance to play the guitars before they make a purchase.

Brantley became involved in the farmers market last year around the end of the fall season. He said he was drawn back to it because he wants to let people know he is a part of the community, and that if they buy a guitar from him, he will be around to service it if necessary.

He said is also considering using leftover wood pieces to make cutting boards and wooden utensils.

"With all the people out there looking for fresh produce, I think there would be some appreciation for a good wooden cutting board," he said.

The market is located in downtown Tomball at the corner of Main Street and Cherry Street. It will run every Saturday from 9 a.m. — 1 p.m.