I just read an article about how Countryside Farmers Market is having a tough time financially:
No more farmers markets? Countryside facing money woes
It's possible they may not be able to survive.
I went to their market for the first time last week. It's a beautiful thing.
But apparently, it costs $250,000 a year to run. They have a campaign right now to raise $250,000 here:
https://givebutter.com/HarvestCampaign
There was a discussion on Facebook where someone asked why it cost $250,000 to let vendors put some tables in a field each week. Supporters of the market really bristled at that question. But I think it's fair to ask. Why does it cost so much?
The answer is that they have full-time employees that market the events, collect money from vendors, and all that stuff.
I love innovating things. I like to think about ways to take one idea and make it something else. I hope it is better. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it's not. Sometimes I just get bored and move on. I am a builder of things. I just like making things.
So, I'm trying something new. I'm starting "Market Middlebury.":
The idea is that anyone can come and put up a table or blanket or tarp to sell anything (except booze, drugs, guns, or people) from noon to 3 on Sundays. It's free to set up. There is no cost whatsoever for the vendors.
I did this as a way for homeless people to have a place to sell items they have collected. But anyone is welcome. I'd hope that other residents of Middlebury will want to come and sell some items. I'd love for it to be successful. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't.
But I'll tell you one thing that is a fact: It's innovating the farmers' market space. It eliminates the friction that costs $250,000 to run a farmers' market. I don't know if it will work. But it's fun to try.
It's undoubtedly not going to be as cute and charming as what goes on at Countryside Farmers Market (One of the reasons I put it on Sunday afternoon was to not compete with them. But that probably is not going to matter after this year.) But what it lacks in cuteness it hopefully makes up in innovation.
So, if you have something to sell, please come and set up a table. Space is first come, first serve. The gate opens at 11 am on Sundays to set up. The market starts at noon and goes till 3 pm.
I may ask for donated items to give to homeless people to sell down the road. But I think we have enough for this week.
Thank you for being open to experimenting with all my ideas. And come on down and see what is for sale at Market Middlebury on Sundays at noon at 15 Broad Street in Akron Ohio.
Paid For By The People for Sage Lewis