July 2, 2015

Good morning, Deb and I have been doing the farmers market in alpine for quite a few years now. The venue has changed but it always has been an enjoyable event for us. It has been about three years that we have been at our latest venue. Hands down Deb and I think it is the best.

At the previous venues there never was any one person in charge so that important market decisions could be made. So there never was a central focus or  a path forward to grow.

 

Shortly after we had moved to Murphy Street, Deb and I entered into a lease with the owner of the Hotel Ritchie courtyard and then became the managers of the market. We do feel that it takes all of the vendors to make a spectacular market. Yes we are the leaders but are always very interested to hear what anyone has to say. We feel this helps everyone have a vested interest in the operations of the market.

 

One of the things Deb and I felt was very important was to develop a means to make improvements to the market, help pay for advertising, and also to help pay the monthly rent. We settled on an approach to encourage vendors to grow by only requesting a donation of $10 dollars after a vendor has procured $100 dollars in sales. This really has worked exceptionally well. To date we have built a shade structure, purchased several EZ up canopies, sand box with toys,  cloth sign for Saturday display, a yearlong ad in the Alpine Chamber of Commerce magazine and also have been paying a portion of the rent.

 

It is always so rewarding to see donations made knowing that the market is growing and each vendor is growing too.

 

Since moving to Murphy Street one of the things that we have cultivated is helping each other to set up and take down after the market. This helpfulness has really enhanced the “family” feel of the market.  This really showed on a recent Saturday when I was ill and could not make it to market. Everyone pitched in to put up canopies and all the other little things that need doing before our customers began to show. It also was especially nice how folks stuck around to help Deb close the market for the week. This is such joy as to how We All do make the market. It really is a joy!!

We continue to grow. Most weeks we have at least 20 vendors. I think if all of us were to show, we would be zeroing in on 25 to 30 vendors. It is real cool how we are getting more veggie producers. This will help immensely with growing our customer base. We are not selling out of veggies at market within the first hour of market. This is real cool stuff.

 

Recently a customer was wondering what one of our competitors was selling. I did ever so kindly say that they are not competitors but are complementary to what we sell. After all WE are a market.

This is why I really look forward to opening the gate each and every Saturday year round. What Fun!!!

 

The garden continues to mature. I am finally harvesting out of the last okra bed. The first butternuts are ripe. I am curing them and then they will be ready for market. I am starting to get a few chilis and the eggplants are starting to mature.

 

The squash bugs have been beaten back but I still seem to be pestered by cucumber beetles. Just not quite as bad. Started to get “skylights” in the sweet greens and have applied son cold pressed neem oil. Another spraying in a week and hopefully that should take care of the grasshoppers until we start to get regular rain.

 

It is nice to have a mature garden!!