Farmers markets are more than just produce
Morgan County Master Gardener
“Are you a gardener?” This is what I ask those who walk by the Master Gardeners volunteers table at the local farmers market.
We can be found every few weeks at the Decatur or Hartselle farmers markets and at the annual Master Gardeners plant sale.
People often stop and ask questions about why their pecan tree isn’t producing, their tomatoes won’t turn red, or what they can plant in the fall. Maybe you are not a gardener in the traditional sense, but perhaps you want to become a beekeeper, cook with fresh herbs, or have the greenest grass on the block. As a partner with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Master Gardeners enjoy talking to those who come to the farmers market who might be too shy to ask the most basic growing questions. We usually have a table full of free information ranging from controlling those pesky critters that are eating your zinnias and green beans, to troubleshooting your lawn problems.
The farmers markets in Decatur and Hartselle are truly special places full of friendly faces and fresh crops and goodies. I have been known to get up early on a Saturday morning and drive the distance to Birmingham’s Pepper Place Market or the farmers market in Franklin, Tennessee. Every market offers something unique. In addition to the tradi tional fresh garden good ness, you can often enjoy extra events like live music and cooking demonstra tions.
When I travel, I look for local farmers markets. In Durango, Colorado, the farmers market was in an empty parking lot near downtown, and it included a tent for free yoga and meditation. Namaste.
A visit to Sante Fe’s farmers market offered unique flowers and vegetables grown in the hot desert climate, and I was able to find the Master Gardeners table and ask about some of the glorious flowers that grow in that region. This market was in a beautiful building with vendors inside and outside for year-round accommodations. It was teeming with energy, despite the limited paid parking, railroad tracks, and a very hot day. Apothecary items, mushrooms, goats’ milk, wool items, and – of course – fresh salsa were among the regional items available.
I am very excited about the new farmers market coming to Decatur. With better facilities, it will benefit the growers and makers with many more opportunities. Whether it is a small market in a municipal building full of equipment, an empty parking lot, or a beautiful inside/outside market building, the growers and makers are the same. They are proud of the crops and items they have produced and are hoping you spend a few extra dollars to enjoy them.
The farmers market is also a community within itself. I truly enjoy volunteering at the Master Gardeners table and seeing neighbors, co-workers, and meeting new people in the area. We want to hear your garden successes and disasters. We have plenty of our own to share, and that is how we gain experience in the vast world of Master Gardeners. If you think the farmers market is just fruit and vegetables, you are really missing out. Some of the best beef, pork and chicken that could ever touch your skillet can be purchased from the local farmers. The orange rolls and cinnamon rolls will make you forget your Weight Watchers meeting. There are plenty of makers and bakers with brownies, breads, jams, coffee, wood products, soaps, seasonings and succulents. But if you are not a gardener, you can still ask us which table has the best chocolate chip cookies. We can tell you from experience.
