Busy With Farmers’ Markets

I haven’t been posting lately because, well, I’ve been busy.

Here’s what’s been happening…..

THE QUAIL

The City has closed the case on our quail adventure and we will not be fined.  Jolly good of them.  I still don’t know which neighbor turned us in, but I am looking forward to finding them and talking to them about the concept of community.

The quail are all moved over to our son’s farm and they are happy. The new aviary over there is almost completed.

And we are now immersed in the farmers’ market phenomenon.  Every Saturday, Bev and I sell quail eggs and goat cheese at the West Olympia Farmers’ Market….our eggs are also being sold on Tuesday at West Oly, on Wednesdays at Steilacoom Farmers’ Market, and on Saturdays at the U-District Farmers’ Market in Seattle.  I hope our quail can keep up with the demand.

In other words, all’s well that ends well!

Yesterday we did our first Steilacoom Market.  Busy place, about 2000 people…sold some stuff, met som people, enjoyed the sun and scenic setting….good times!

THE CHICKENS

Our chickens are about done with laying eggs. They are all three years old and it is sporadic at best this summer. The folks at the Urban Garden Center tell us that’s to be expected….three years of good laying is great. Anything beyond that is a bonus.  They are about to transition from “working pets” to just pets.  Will we eat them now that they are done laying?  We named them, for God’s sake. That should answer the question.

GREENHOUSE

It’s a work in progress.  We still have to buy the plastic to enclose it, but the workbenches are all built, so we’re getting closer to completion.  We need to plant the fall harvesting plants soon, so stay tuned…..

MY BOOKS

We may be selling my novels at the farmers’ market soon….that would be cool.  I’m busy increasing my supply of them and preparing point-of-sale merchandise for marketing.

THE TO-DO LIST

Oh God, I have to make an arbor for the grapes, which have gone crazy this growing season, and we have to harvest the berries, and the greenhouse of course, and I don’t have any firewood for the winter, and ……I’m tired just thinking of it all….

But it’s a good tired.

BACK TO THE FARMERS’ MARKET

Here’s the thing:  I really enjoy them. I enjoy meeting like-minded people who are interested in healthy foods grown organically.  I enjoy meeting people who would rather spend a little extra money for locally-grown food and locally-produced products.  I enjoy meeting people who are actually concerned for the environment and our community and want to make a positive change.

And it’s kind of cool, working a booth, selling items made by our family….the eggs, the goat cheese….a real family effort, capped off with one of Bev’s sons providing live music during the market….

This is what community should look like.  Community isn’t giant box stores and impersonal clerks….community is neighbors spending time with neighbors, and bartering, and sharing ideas, all of which fosters a sense of belonging……

Yep, I really enjoy it!

SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD

Have a great week….have a great month….have a great life!

Bill