Time flies when you are building a neighborhood institution.
Three years ago Monica Albert organized a farmer’s market in her Grove Street neighborhood.
“We started out with 10 vendors and I was proud of myself,” said the owner of Grove Street’s Mo’s Garage Salon Experience. “I thought, ‘Wow! I’m awesome!’”
Ah, but from modest beginnings, great things sprout.
These days there are 75 vendors at the market. And on any given Monday, upwards of 1,000 people will amble through in search of all manner of goods, transactions and diversions.
“On the heels of the pandemic we wanted to give people the opportunity to have a safe, fun event that also accomplishes something we all have to do…buy groceries,” she said. “And here you can buy local.”
“The energy at the market exudes from our vendors.”
“They feel supported, and that energy translates and contributes to our success.”
And listen. If you can’t find what you are looking for at the Grove Street Farmer’s Market, you are one very picky customer indeed.
Frog Song Farm-raised pork, free range eggs, exotic edibles and Wizard of Odd hot sauce oh my!
Of course, you gotta know your fungi. Not to mention your algae.
How ‘bout them pickles?
All I’m sayin’ is that happy pigs are tasty pigs.
Plus cheese, cheese and still more cheeses.
Not to mention bubbles, baubles and beads.
They talk the talk and they walk the walk here.
Ah, but one does not subsist on bread and cheese alone.
One also requires music to, um, assist the digestion.
Not to mention beer.
And by great good fortune this farmer’s market is located right on the grounds of the C&G Brewery. At least the part of the market that hasn’t spilled out along the 6th Street Rail-Trail and onto the grounds of its neighboring businesses.
“I really have to credit the brewery for its increadible support,” says Mo. “Also Signs By Tomorrow and Mr. Goodbike (across the rail-trail from C&G) We have formed great symbiotic relationships.”
You can get anything you want.
Except Alice’s Restaurant. And Alice herself. (Apologies to Arlo Guthrie.)
I will refrain from saying that they are, um, milking this market for all it’s worth.
And listen, even I didn’t think you could get water buffalo here in GNV.
Oh, I almost forgot.
On Monday, March 6, they’re gonna have a third anniversary farmer’s market celebration. Vendor gift certificates will be raffled off and proceeds will go to the Bread Of The Mighty Food Bank, just across the street.
Last year Mo created a flower arrangement consisting of gift certificates from all 45 then participating vendors. One lucky woman won the raffle “and it took her six months to use up all the certificates.”
“Now we have 75 vendors,” Mo says. So this year’s winner had better pack a lunch.
Oh, wait! Turns out you can get lunch there too.
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