On Saturday I WORKED at the Farmers' Market

Those of you who read this blog (yes, all three of you) usually find me basking in the glory of one farmers' market or another, venerating those who bring us the bounty that is local, healthy food. Saturday was different though, for on Saturday I became what I most admire; the purchaser became the purveyor! Well not really. I just worked the Piazza at Schmidts for Mark Skinner of Natural Meadows Farm. Mark is my "meat and eggs guy" and he found himself short-handed for the Piazza market on Saturday. As a budding blogger, I could not pass up the opportunity to participate in immersion journalism. So there I was, and the first thing I have to relay to you about the experience is the wind. It was way windy. Like, I was doing a one man show of The Wizard of Oz and although I have a heart and a brain (some might debate), my courage was being blown around all day as well as some of the products on the table. Nothing fell or broke but by the end of the day I did feel like I went 10 rounds with an industrial fan. Due to those circumstances, I consider my bout with nature a draw.
On Saturday there was a fashion show going on in the middle of the Piazza with the Farmers' Market vendors operating on the peripheral. On occasion, a few of the fashion show denizens would meander by the stand and I would dutifully hand them a price list and try to explain the health benefits of pastured meats and eggs. One gentleman bought some soup and told me he loved me as he left. Quite a rousing endorsement.
Eggs and honey sold like hotcakes and plenty of people bought plenty of meat. Although the market was quiet  compared to other times I have seen it, I still had a chance to interact with plenty of foodies and locavores and I definitely had fun. I also ran into some familiar vendors also working the market like Three Springs Fruit Farm and Savoie Organic Farm. I felt my "market cred" increase with each vendor I said hello to. Speaking of Three Springs, I want to give a special thanks to them for letting me use their scale when ours went on the fritz. Famers helping farmers...what a concept!
I'm looking forward to the next time I can work a market. The experience left me tired but definitely eager to they my hand at it again. If anybody out there needs an extra hand, you know where to find me!