Rain or Shine: Why Visiting the Market in Any Weather is Worth It
Make way for water and wind! To all of our readers, we hope you’ve been able to stay safe these past few days. As a native northerner, this was my first experience with tornado sirens and confusing warning messages. And despite the fact that I’m physically safe, my nervous system has definitely seen better days. I hope you’re being extra kind and patient with yourself today and throughout the week, and if you can’t, I hope you can reach out to someone who can.
In light of the less-than-ideal weather we’ve been having, I thought it would be fitting to talk a little bit about what it means to show up to market on a day that isn’t exactly full of sunshine and rainbows, literally and figuratively. Let’s get into it.
Last weekend while I was doing my routine pre-opening walkaround to chat to some of our vendors, I had a conversation with Kyle from Nourish, a company that specializes in fair-trade coffee, local honey, calendula-infused body oils, and products made from the incredibly beneficial Moringa tree, aka the tree of life. At some point during our chat, Kyle, always ripe with something inspiringly kind to say, said to me, “little drops of water make the mighty ocean.”
I hadn’t heard this saying in a while, and it was a welcome reminder. Is the big picture important? Absolutely. But the big picture could not come together if every pixel didn’t reflect its own unique shade, saturation, and tone. Small actions making big waves is what defines the impact of supporting local businesses and makes Farmers Markets such incredible places. Where else can you have such an impact in such a short time span, all in one place? Supporting small businesses with your dollars is one thing, and an important one at that, but it’s another thing entirely to exchange physical currency, hand-to-hand, face-to-face. To participate as an audience member, to bear witness to someone enacting their dreams! In a world where the performance of business has become so transactional, so goal-oriented, so two-dimensional, markets re-humanize a beautifully HUMAN ritual.
Tammi from Kuyah Jamaican patties doing what she does best!
In the exciting wake of the Tennessee House of Representatives passing the Tennessee Farmland Preservation Act, a bill that will give farmers a financial safety net that will curb the rate of farmland loss in Tennessee (which, at the moment is steady at a staggering rate of 10 acres an hour, amounting to 87,000 acres a year), a recent conversation with Blue Heron Farmstead’s Rose Wahlberg reminds me of my days working and selling for Athena’s Harvest Farm and Training center (during which I met so many of you lovely readers!). Rose shared anecdotes of establishing relationships with customers where she gets a peek into their daily lives. In return she receives an opportunity to care for them. During the summer, for example, Rose knows which families have picky toddlers that refuse to eat kale, but could be swayed to try tatsoi when spinach isn’t readily available. Yes, it might earn her a loyal customer, but for her, the satisfaction of making a sale is nothing in comparison to the feeling of seeing a need, meeting that need, and being seen and appreciated in return.
This is where the difference between market and grocery store chains lies. Are you going to find a bargain at a farmer’s market? Likely not, but we hope that’s not why you come. We hope you come for the community, to be cared for, to remember that you’re not in the throes of life alone, and to offer compassion and support to folks who work hard to give you the same.
Nowadays, we are in a massive economic transition period. The cost of living relative to the distribution of wealth is the highest most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. It can feel scary, hopeless, even, to witness all this change. But luckily for you, markets are here to give you the chance to take action that has an immediate impact on the very same day. I’m talking instantaneous.
Showing up on days when spirits are high is one thing. It’s easy to bask in the glory of a vendor having a good day of sales. It’s one of the things I love most about being a market manager. Nothing beats being in a room surrounded by charismatic salespeople in their stride. But integrity doesn’t come from doing the easy thing. Luckily for you, neither does creativity, nor participating in communities built on resilience and deep-rooted trust. Because on rainy days, when the jokes come out with a touch more sarcasm than normal, and when rickety tents have to be held together with zip ties, duct tape, and a prayer, vendors sometimes have to dig deep in their reserves to get through the day. And nothing, I repeat, nothing, gets a genuine heartwarming reaction out of a tired, soggy farmer than seeing their favorite regulars braving the doom and gloom right alongside them.
Yes, supporting vendors materially matters. A lot. But at the end of the day, our vendors are people first. They care about providing for themselves and their families, larger market families included. By showing up when they need you most, you’re sending the message that you value what they’re doing. Even if you’re not the expressive type, doing the uncomfortable thing by leaving the warmth and safety of your home on a gloomy day says something incredibly valuable: “thank you.”
A few littles learning about beef tallow skincare! Who’dve thunk?
To wrap things up, here are a few bonus reasons that are downright sensible!
Better parking availability - Rainy days typically mean easier parking and quicker access to the market area, saving you time and hassle.
Better for certain produce selections - Some fruits and vegetables display better and maintain freshness longer when purchased during higher humidity conditions.
Teach children about commitment - A big reason folks don’t tend to come to market on rainy days is to avoid young ones complaining, which is totally understandable. But, if you have the bandwidth, bringing kids to markets in different weather conditions demonstrates the importance of supporting local businesses consistently.
More relaxed atmosphere for conversations - Rain creates a more intimate setting to learn about how our vendors’ wonderful creations make their way to your reusable tote bag.
All that being said, the weather for this Saturday is actually looking pretty good! Overcast, and maybe a little windy, but definitely not at risk for an old-fashioned twister. But you never know, so just in case, grab your raincoat and umbrella, and join us at the Nolensville Farmer's Market—because supporting local farmers, artisans, and your community shines brightest even on the rainiest of days. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces this Saturday as we welcome spring together, rain or shine.
With love,
Manager Juno
