If It's Wednesday

Today is Wednesday.  And, Wednesday is the day daughter Becky chose to be a vendor at the local Farmers Market in Staunton, Virginia.  Staunton’s Saturday Farmers Market is busier and better attended by both vendors and shoppers, but Becky wanted to start slow as this was her first experience as a vendor of self-produced, natural meats which include beef, pork and lamb. 

 

Becky use to sell pastured eggs too until recently when one night her entire flock of 50 laying hens was massacred by a predator who found a small opening into her mobile chicken enclosure (chicken tractor). The next morning Becky discovered all 50 carcasses lying still within their protective (?) confine. Unfortunately, no chickens…no eggs.

 

Ahhh…such is the life of a farmer… living the dream.

 

I, her Mother, go along to help (sometimes hinder) as much as possible.  After all, I regularly rise at 5:00 AM in the morning to begin my day. Why not put my early rise on Wednesday mornings to good use?

 

Becky quickly realized, on along Wednesday number two of the season,  that the Wednesday market is too slow.  But, she was already assigned to the Wednesday option.

 

The weekly revenue is not nearly as much as she expected to earn.  When preparation time, driving time, set-up time, selling time, clean-up time and unloading time is factored, the income received is close to pitiful; so much for trying to provide locally-raised, healthy, natural meats at a fair price.

 

But, there is an upside.

 

The people on the other side of the selling table, the purchasers, and the people next to our table, the other vendors, are fabulous.  Friendly, interested, informative, helpful, caring and supportive are just a few poignant adjectives.

 

Do these wonderful people make up for a meager bottom-line?  In a way…YES! 

 

But, surviving ‘in the black’ and more typically ‘in the red’ for many small farmers is a challenge not only to themselves, but as in my daughter’s case, to the animals she raises. 

 

Again, I repeat…she is living the dream as are the other vendors.

 

Wednesday regular vendors/farmers include:  Elizabeth and her fresh veggies;  Sarah and her mélange of plants,  vegetable oddities, flowers and more;  John and his herb bedding plants and aromatic dried herbs; Amanda and her vegetables and amazing baked goods; John and Gloria (with the cutest little kids in tow) preparing onsite an El Salvador favorite - meat/cheese/bean and/or veggie pupusas and my favorite, the Ensalada, a refreshing juice drink spiked with fresh fruit and mint (Wednesday would not be Wednesday without my purchase of this flavorful drink); Jose offering both flower and vegetable bedding plants along with seasonal  fruits and vegetables;  and of course, Becky with her meat offerings of pork, lamb and 100% grass-fed beef.   A few other vendors complete the line-up on a more sporadic time frame.

 

Check out each vendor. 

 

Elizabeth enticing Becky into buying some fresh vegetables.

 

 A picture is worth a thousand words...starting with colorful, flavorful and 'just picked' freshness. Yummy...take a bite!

 

 

 

Sarah and what I call 'her oddities'.  Go ahead...experiment!

 

 

 

John, the HERB man a.k.a. the Wednesday Market Manager

 

You don't have to be a good cook to enjoy these dried and oh, so very aromatic and so very flavorful herbs.  These niffy jars make great gifts, too! 

 

Amanda making some last minute display changes as market is getting ready to open.

 

 

Home baked goods - eat them now, or later, if they last longer than the trip home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grill is heating and almost ready for the start of pupusa making - tasty pockets filled with meat, beans, cheese or vegetables - try all for a super flavorful mouthful.  Made-to-order...you are just going to have to come to the market to try these delicious favorites of the regular market patrons. You, too, will become a repeat customer.  And, John and Gloria provide seating for your convenience. They thought of everything including 'take-away' containers.

My Favorite - I purchase a serving of this refreshing drink every Wednesday - I'm addicted.

 

 

More ripe and ready to eat tomatoes...you can never have enough tomatoes and Jose has a great selection.



Becky's Barnyard - it is difficult to display frozen meat (stored in the freezer just behind Becky) so she hopes the signage helps inform the public as to what farm products she is actually selling.

Sandwich sign near the road side advertising some of her meat offerings

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for fresh and tasty food, don’t miss next Wednesday’s Staunton Farmers Market which is located in the downtown Wharf Public Parking area starting at around 7:00 AM and ending between 12:30/1:00 PM, depending on the current crowd numbers, through the end of October.  Plan to arrive early for the best picks. And,

 

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS MARKET - YOUR LOCAL FARMERS NEED YOUR PATRONAGE.

 

Happy Eating!