MASTER GARDENERS AT THE MARKET
By: Reggie Reeves, Project Coordinator, CMG
This year the Master Gardeners of Rutherford County have taken a hands on and very active role in supporting
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Like last year, our activities at the Market include the Master Gardeners information table, but new this year we are also operating a concessions stand offering hot coffee and cold soft drinks and water. Called Master Gardeners at the Market, two or more of our membership will be on hand at every Market this year offering information about our organization and classes, answering gardening questions, and operating the concessions stand. Vendors and patrons alike have expressed their appreciation for being able, for the first time, to purchase fresh hot coffee or cold beverages to enjoy while at the Market. One of the Market vendors was so appreciative the he donated his coffee pot to us! Proceeds from concessions sales will benefit our 4-H Scholarship Fund.
Through our first partial month of operation (the Farmers Market was only
open for 6 days in May) we generated $143, including donations. Sales are expected to pick up and be fairly brisk as the Market picks up speed going into the busy summer season. We began the month with $200 in start up funds from our treasury and incurred $100.76 in supply and material costs. We should be able to return our initial $200 in start up funds to the treasury at our June meeting. Perhaps most importantly, our Master Gardeners at the Market presence is providing us with a great opportunity to meet the public and promote about our many activities and classes.
This year we are also offering First Fridays at the Market, a free garden inspired workshop series taught by some of our own Master Gardeners. These workshops will take place at the Farmers Market on the first Friday of each month at 8:30 am and again at 10:00 am. Topics include composting, organic gardening, herbs, hypertufa, fall gardening, and fall pruning. First Fridays at the Market will again provide us with a fun and exciting opportunity to support the Market and interact with the public. Our own Mark Murphy gave our May First Fridays at the Market workshop, entitled Better Compost-Better Vegetables.
Additionally, we are helping Janie Becker, the Farmers Market Manager, with the promotion of Terrific Tuesdays. This is a new promotion where shoppers who visit the Farmers Market on each Tuesday of a given month will have a punch card that we will validate each Tuesday. That card is then entered into a drawing each month for $25 worth of produce from Market vendors. We will also soon be helping with the sale of Farmers Market totes that will be sporting the new Farmers Market logo.
So, as you can see we are quite involved in the Rutherford County Farmers Market. This involvement not only provides valuable assistance to Ag Extension and the community in administering a fast growing Market, but also provides a wonderful opportunity for our membership to meet and interact with the public. Many thanks go those Master Gardeners and Interns who have volunteered with our May Farmers Market activities and been so instrumental in making our first month so successful!
Any Master Gardener or Intern who would like to participate in any of these Farmers Market opportunities is welcome to contact Reggie Reeves via e-mail at reevesj1@comcast.net , or by phone at 615-210-3050 We typically try to complete sign-ups for the following month at each of our monthly meetings.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET
By: Katherine Smith, Editor, CMG
The Rutherford County Farmers Market opened this year with several changes including a new logo and banner; market rules revisions; “Terrific Tuesdays”; a TAEP Grant which provides for advertisement, flyer distribution, recycling bins and bike racks; as well as collaboration with Master Gardeners of Rutherford County. The Manager for the Rutherford County Farmers’ Market is Janie Becker, Agent, UT/TSU Extension.
Extended Season:
· May—October 6:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
· November through Sunday before Christmas—Sunday afternoons only
Market Rules Revisions:
· 100% producer only — no exceptions.
· Advertising Fees—$25/season; $2/day for daily vendors to cover in-season print & radio ads, reusable RCFM shopping bags, and
· “Terrific Tuesday” punch card. All Tuesdays punched for the month are eligible for drawing of a basket of items purchased from the vendors.
· Seasonal Booth Location Drawings are based on vendor support of the RCFM. Those vendors who attended 70% or more of all market days in the previous year will have priority in the drawings.
Food Donations:
· To “Meaningful Gleaning of Rutherford County”. Volunteers will pick up food from RCFM at 11:00 every Friday.
Collaboration with Master Gardeners of Rutherford County
MGRC will be assuming a larger role in the RCFM than in the past. MGRC will be:
· Selling concessions
· Man a question & answer table
· Selling RCFM tote bags
· Stamping and collecting “Terrific Tuesday” cards
· Composting vendors’ waste at the end of market days
· Holding workshops on the first Friday of the month
· Counting the crowds occasionally
Keep an eye out for great things to come at the RCFM, and in the meanwhile the market is on Facebook.
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