Farmers' Market Lovefest

Saturday’s farmers market was a blow out, literally. High winds kept us gripping our sunshade for the first half of the market. We then peeled off the fabric as we could no longer take all the tent gripping we were doing – can’t grip the sunshade and serve customers at the same time. Some sunshades were damaged – mostly bent legs. Feel sorry for the folks who now have to replace the sunshade. We really can’t be without them as there’s no shade and constant exposure to sun wilts produce in a hurry.

And the best part of the day was selling out – well, almost selling out. It was truly incredible. One Hmong lady stopped by and purchased all our 6 year-old asparagus roots! She wants to grow asparagus and sell at the market next year. All the garlic is gone and only three or four raspberry plants remain. One chap on a bike purchased raspberry plants, and shoved them in his backpack. He spent quite some time trying to figure out how to get a 3 ft. tall tomato plant home on the bike, and decided to return next week better equipped to transport a tall tomato. Off he pedaled, all happy with his farmers market purchases packed into his backpack – he was grinning from ear to ear.

About 15 minutes later, a guy arrived in a car, which he parked right in front of us (we sell in a community park, and our stand is right on the sidewalk next to the street; so people can park right in front of us). He came right over to us, with a big grin on his face. I thought he was bike guy sans baseball cap, especially when he headed for those same tomatoes that bike guy was coveting. Not so – not bike guy, totally different guy, equally interested in tomatoes. The sale is quickly completed, and off he goes with tomato just as the market is closing. We’ll have to wait for next week to see bike guy and how he plans to transport tomatoes on his bike. I think we’re gonna have some cardboard boxes and twine at the market that can be used to make a temporary bike transport device for those folks have found so many good things at the farmers market.

All excited to have local honey for the next market. And cds from our friend Becky, who just cut her first cd. Is that the right way to put it – cut a cd? Anyway Becky will be performing at our booth one of these Saturdays. She has an incredible voice, and is so positive and friendly. I love being around her.

And I’m busy sewing market bags from reclaimed, upcycled fabrics and findings. Today saw two pretty yellow and green kitchen towels – the cotton kind with the design printed on – become really cute market bags. One has green handles cut from a Thai skirt; the other has handles made from yellow ribbon with white polka dots. Both look so good – makes me want to run to the nearest farmers market and fill them up with the freshest veggies I can find.

The newest sewing trick is adjusting the size of the market bag and making it a bike bag. It has long handles on is so one can carry it through the market or grocery. A couple buttons and fabric loops allow the bag to be attached to bike handlebars. Got the idea from a Copenhagen bike blog I read each day. I’m thinking these will sell at the farmers market, as we note more and more bike traffic each week.