Hey Phtha going great I would have to say. Sounds like a great idea...moving to some organic land and growing some vegetables!
When I first started my market I emailed my local township council. In my case I asked to use the local park. There is a recreation advisory committee that looks after all the recreation and park issues. Then there is the township council member of 7 or 8 councilors. The township has shown some support in a local community guide for business with our listing in it. I have also received free printing from the economic development committee. As for financial support I'm mostly on my own. We have to pay the township $100 a month to rent. My township is the only one and Grey and Bruce county that charges rent. Guess I'm just gonna have to get a little more radical this year. I sort of don't mind paying some rent though because it is a very nice park. No free rides round here. lol I used to have a job but once avalon opened in September things in my life just got way to weird and i had to quit just to keep up with it all
So now I'm just going at my market full time...Its all I got. Its been the most amazing experience of my life, yet. This year I am just floating through the winter and have been working hard to get ready for THE SUMMER OF AWESOME!
Anyway. Lots of councils and meetings. Plan for things to take a little longer then you plan. Sometimes dealing with this many people it can take days for things to happen. I contacted the local health unit and have had good communications with them as to the guidelines for keeping people safe at a farmers market. There was a farmers market package available with some posters to hang up at the market and a DVD for Food safety at a farmers market. WASH YOUR HANDS! We have to provide a hand washing station with potable water that I have been driving to the closest free UV water filter at a conservation park a few KM from my market. This year I have permission to use the UV water filter that is located in the Pavilion building where someday I hope to be able to grow the market into. I am also getting a deal on the insurance so that will save us at least 500 bucks! But the insurance is not as good. The other cover me and the staff. Forget lottery tickets...I gamble with my life...i know I have some friends that watch out for me much better then any insurance agent in a suit ever could.
So I have found a way to reduce our costs and this will in turn give us a few more dollars to spend on special events and guest speakers and advertising. I'll be working around the clock as usual. Gotta get me a watch that tracks spiral time.
I also just found out that I am accepted into a market garden grant program. The Super Funk Power Market Garden just got five hundred big ones. So I am putting in a much larger garden this year to help support my market. So long story short I would contact your local health office and ask them to dig out any info they have. Also contact the local municipal office. The mountian of information you get from there should keep you busy for a while. More importantly tho contact your neighbor and everyone you know. Call the papers and media people. Make posters and come up with some cool ideas...call it a galactic market and keep on rockin in the free world Best Wishes for you and your market Peace JT
