#1: Farmer's Market Musings

For many years, I’ve passed a farmer’s market on my way to my dog’s vet. Every time I would think, “Wouldn’t it be nice to go?” but either it wasn’t a Saturday between 10-2pm, or I had some excuse such as traffic, being tired, or thinking I was too busy. I never bothered to stop or make serious plans to go next time. Today, on the way back from picking up my dog’s prescription, my wife convinced me to go. It was cold and wet outside, and we had already been running errands for a few hours, but I said yes anyway because I knew if I always told myself no I would never end up going.

When we got there, it immediately became clear that we had made a good decision. A band of five musicians was playing Kermit’s “Rainbow Connection,” which is one of my wife’s favorite songs. Two kids were shaking maracas to the beat while a mom looked on smiling. At least three dogs were accompanying their owners to different stalls. One dog ran up to me and jumped on my legs for playful attention. Folks were bagging fresh fruit and vegetables, some of which I never see at regular grocery stores, all for what looked like reasonable prices.

It wasn’t a big market, maybe 10-15 tents with tables underneath. People were selling homemade jewelry, baked goods, fresh coffee beans, and local brewery beer. There were two food trucks making popcorn and kebabs. One stall, however, drew me in. There were three little kids behind a small table with artwork on top. Most of the art were colorful acrylic paintings on canvas. In front of the paintings sat four upside-down mason jars with glittery snowmen inside and water filled up to the brim: handcrafted snow globes.

Every time I go to art festivals or markets, I feel the urge to purchase something to support small businesses. Wouldn’t it be neat to have artwork made by an unknown local artist hanging on your walls? But the artwork is usually expensive (and rightfully so, I’m just not paid enough to justify that kind of purchase), or simply not my taste. But these snow globes were calling me, filling my heart with the same glee that I felt when that adorable muddy dog jumped on my legs.

Only one little kid was under the tent when I circled back after glancing at all the stalls. He stood right up as I approached the table. He was clearly the artist behind the snow globes. He spoke politely, like he rehearsed saying, “Hello, how are you?” and “Would you like a bag?” and “Thank you for your purchase.” He let me pick between two red and two white snowmen, explaining that the red snowmen were older models and the white ones were newer. I chose the white one furthest to the right. There was still some glue residue on the mason jar, and I found that to be terribly endearing.

The little boy led me to his mom in the stall over – I had just tried a free sample of her banana bread, which was delicious. The snow globe was $7, and she rang up the purchase. She thanked me for supporting her son, saying that he was so convinced he could make snow globes and was excited to share them at the farmer’s market.

I rejoined my wife at a stall with homemade jewelry. She was purchasing a pretty pair of gold earrings with dangling orange beads. I showed off my snow globe to the jewelry maker, and she told me she bought a piece of abstract art from that boy a few months ago at this same market. The three of us reminisced about making art as kids and our parents hanging them up on the walls even if they were unfinished.

I am very happy with my little snow globe, even though it leaked in my wife’s car and you have to shake it quite vigorously for the green and red glitter to swarm around the snowman. It now sits on our window sill and is the perfect addition to our holiday decorations.

This is a reminder that I should always stop at my local farmer’s market.