The Sun Dog Farmers To Market
The rain dance that Elliot and I have been doing for the past few days has finally payed off. A cool, dampness took over our little part of the world this morning and our plants are thankful for the relief (and frankly, so am I.) The weather in Georgia has gone from Winter to Summer in a matter of days and it has taken all of us a little time to get used to (especially those of us who are accustomed to having snow on the ground in April.) Elliot on the other hand, much like our tomato plants, is thriving in the heat he was raised in and is taking my misery as revenge for the frigid weather I put him through in the North.
We have been putting long days of poop moving, dirt mounding, and re-potting in getting ready for the Farmers Market Season that is quickly and mercilessly approaching. Our plants are developing quickly and our fields are coming together with the aid of amendments and tilling in certain areas. Much of our work is done by hand and while our impact is small, it seems our muscles are destined to be large! There is nothing like sleep brought on by physical exhaustion and mental peace.
As the Sun Dog Farmers, we have our first Market this Weekend on Saturday at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market in the Buckhead area. We won't have much to show for ourselves yet (just some eggs and some honey) but we will have a hardy list of things to come. We are thankful for all the support we have had from friends so far and we can't wait to meet all of you Farmers Market shoppers! Following the Peachtree Road Market will be the first Crop Mob Atlanta Volunteer Meeting at the Market and I definitely look forward to meeting all you foodies who want to make a difference.
The Farmers Market really is something that all people should experience. From my journey I can't think of anything more enjoyable than connecting to the people who buy my food or buying food straight from the hands who pick it from the stem or pull it from the ground. The Sterile, plastic, frigid environment of the supermarket really disconnects people from the natural, organic, raw nature of growing. I see the Farmers Market as a great way to start re-establishing that connection. For many, the Supermarket is the only place they have ever seen food on display and the image of a strawberry on a plant or a potato in the ground is not a part of reality. The Farmers Market is a perfect place to reintroduce a self-insufficient culture back to the basics and teach them an old definition for where food comes from and what it means to be "clean."
We'll see ya'll in the city on Saturday. Feel free to give me a high five; I dig those.