I'm Such a Traitor

Posted on Saturday 19 August 2006 at 12:51

Guess what I did today? (Well, technically it's yesterday now.) I skipped out on veggie deliveries and went to a farmers' market. While Dave hauled the veggies around town and collected his bio-diesel oil, I had the best time visiting with a bunch of very interesting people.

I couldn't believe how co-operative this market is! Some are fairly competitive in tone, or at best, highly impersonal. You just hope you end up beside someone reasonably polite and friendly. But at this one, all the vendors co-operate in pricing, in selling, and even in buying and bartering from each other. It's very small right now, but I really, really want to go back next week. I was waffling about it, but suddenly started already planning and packing up things to take for next time.... At which point it clicked in that I really would like to do it again.

It might not be so much fun with Mr. Boo, the 4-year-old, though. I may see if I can drop the younger two at my sister-in-law's in exchange for taking in some of her goods. Hm, yes, my evil plan might work.

I want to try taking some artwork as well next time, and focusing in a bit more on what precisely I take for veggies. The two main vendors go together with their gardens to create the most wonderful display, and they have great produce. Plus, they're known, so people buy from them rather than anyone else. My tricky gimmick, however, seems to be that my beans are still producing. Theirs apparently gave out already.

I have to say, though, it reinforced to me why I want to do TYDOS rather than Farmers' Markets. With TYDOS, I can enjoy the picking and the packing and know stuff is getting sent to people who want it. In fact, they want it enough to prepay for it. At the FM, a lot of great produce was given away - verily hoisted on other unsuspecting vendors, though with great jollity. I mean, what are you going to do with that many beets?

I hate the disappointment and inconvenience of having leftovers. With the bread and buns, it was no biggie. Dave needs something to take to work. But I had a stack of cucumbers and a bunch of chard to find homes for. (I gave them to Dave's sister. HA.)

Yes, I much prefer TYDOS. One of the veggie vendors was telling me they'd looked into doing something like it, but had learned that it was too labour intensive for what they wanted in their lives. He also figured it would take several families selling together. But that's the great thing about being young, idealistic and full of energy - relatively so, anyway. There's a lot I'm willing to try right now, and I also have secret plans for taking over the world using organic produce.

For local folk, the market is at the Forrest Rink, and next Friday (from 4:00-7:00) is the last one. I'll be there with stuff I don't usually put in the box - some edible, some not. Come on, let's have a coffee together!