Drama at the Farmer's Market
Saturday morning Lydia and I (Terry) got up early and trucked down to our friendly farmer's market to see what veggies and plants were available.
I have been going to this place for the last 20 years, every summer; it used to be filled with country farmers from all over the area bringing their summer vegetables to sell to the "urban" community. I remember many faces and some names of those fine people; early morning conversations mingled with heat and humidity.
One thing about the market was that you had to be an early bird if there was something you really wanted. When the green beans start coming in....or the butter beans...or the first tomatoes....you had better be there at the crack of dawn, literally, or the goods would be all gone!]
Many a summer morning 5am would find me with a cup of coffee in hand on my way to the market.
Well, Lydia and I remembered a man who always sold plants, healthy and at an excellent price. We decided that Boston ferns would be a great way to decorate for the wedding; if we could buy them now, and nurse them through the summer, by August 11 they ought to be be beautiful.
Maybe we could buy them cheaply now...and cut some costs.
Jared is working the night shift, 6pm to 6am at MUW, so he met us about 6:15 downtown at the market.
To our surprise, there were only a few cars parked underneath the awning! Usually things are in full swing by 6am. We stood outside in the morning chill watching as people began to show up and set up tables and put out their wares.
What was going on? I approached Mr. Lacy, from whom we have bought veggies for years, and asked. He was livid.
"Do you see that police car out there in the parking lot? Do you know why he is here?" "No", I said. "They are gonna' arrest me if I sell anything before 7am!", Mr. Lacy said.
As all the black ladies began to surround us looking and grabbing his new potatoes and collards he motioned me to come closer. I leaned over the table and he whispered in my ear, "You ain't gonna believe this. They won't let us sell 'till 7! I gots all these people here who want to buy from me, and they gotta' wait 20 minutes; do me a favor; call the mayor; tell him this is crazy!"
Old ladies, both black and white, were complaining. "I cain't wait out here; it's too cold. Why cain't you sell me just one little bunch?" Mr. Lacy replies, " I am so sorry, but they don't feed ya' real good down at the county, mam. I don't want to go to jail."
Last summer many of the old faces were gone; some had died, some had become too infirm to stand the heat of summer gardening in Mississippi, some had become residents of nursing homes....and the lot was about half full of folks selling their produce. It was going down. The younger generation was not taking the places held by the elder gardeners...I don't think we like to sweat!
It seems that some prominent community members (the late birds) took the farmer's market on as a project...and they decided to make changes to entice more customers and merchants into the Hitchin' Lot.
So, now we have more than just veg and plants for sale; we have wonderful Seattle's Best Coffee, ceramics, birdhouses, and all sorts of crafts...a ploy to interest the younger generation (both buyers and sellers).
The late birds want everybody to have an even chance at the goods, so no one sells 'til 7.
The early bird used to get the worm; but, the late birds have the clout!
I have been going to this place for the last 20 years, every summer; it used to be filled with country farmers from all over the area bringing their summer vegetables to sell to the "urban" community. I remember many faces and some names of those fine people; early morning conversations mingled with heat and humidity.
One thing about the market was that you had to be an early bird if there was something you really wanted. When the green beans start coming in....or the butter beans...or the first tomatoes....you had better be there at the crack of dawn, literally, or the goods would be all gone!]
Many a summer morning 5am would find me with a cup of coffee in hand on my way to the market.
Well, Lydia and I remembered a man who always sold plants, healthy and at an excellent price. We decided that Boston ferns would be a great way to decorate for the wedding; if we could buy them now, and nurse them through the summer, by August 11 they ought to be be beautiful.
Maybe we could buy them cheaply now...and cut some costs.
Jared is working the night shift, 6pm to 6am at MUW, so he met us about 6:15 downtown at the market.
To our surprise, there were only a few cars parked underneath the awning! Usually things are in full swing by 6am. We stood outside in the morning chill watching as people began to show up and set up tables and put out their wares.
What was going on? I approached Mr. Lacy, from whom we have bought veggies for years, and asked. He was livid.
"Do you see that police car out there in the parking lot? Do you know why he is here?" "No", I said. "They are gonna' arrest me if I sell anything before 7am!", Mr. Lacy said.
As all the black ladies began to surround us looking and grabbing his new potatoes and collards he motioned me to come closer. I leaned over the table and he whispered in my ear, "You ain't gonna believe this. They won't let us sell 'till 7! I gots all these people here who want to buy from me, and they gotta' wait 20 minutes; do me a favor; call the mayor; tell him this is crazy!"
Old ladies, both black and white, were complaining. "I cain't wait out here; it's too cold. Why cain't you sell me just one little bunch?" Mr. Lacy replies, " I am so sorry, but they don't feed ya' real good down at the county, mam. I don't want to go to jail."
Last summer many of the old faces were gone; some had died, some had become too infirm to stand the heat of summer gardening in Mississippi, some had become residents of nursing homes....and the lot was about half full of folks selling their produce. It was going down. The younger generation was not taking the places held by the elder gardeners...I don't think we like to sweat!
It seems that some prominent community members (the late birds) took the farmer's market on as a project...and they decided to make changes to entice more customers and merchants into the Hitchin' Lot.
So, now we have more than just veg and plants for sale; we have wonderful Seattle's Best Coffee, ceramics, birdhouses, and all sorts of crafts...a ploy to interest the younger generation (both buyers and sellers).
The late birds want everybody to have an even chance at the goods, so no one sells 'til 7.
The early bird used to get the worm; but, the late birds have the clout!
posted by Gargano-Coffey at 5:28 AM
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