Coolspring Farmers Market!!! Now opened!

The Coolspring Farmer's Market opened it's doors on June 17th and has so far been a success. The market is a collaboration between me, Zeb of Thousand Suns Farm who is certified naturally grown, and Lucinda of Paradise Farms and Garden who is certified organic. It is the area's first and only indoor, organic market. I was initially concerned that folks wouldn't find it or travel to it in Sykesville, but have happily been proven wrong! Many people drop in to check it out and comment on how happy they are to have us here. We are open three days a week: Wednesdays from 4-7 (that's when I'm there, come have tea with me); Saturdays from 12-4 (Lucinda's there with free coffee) and Sundays from 12-4 (Zeb's there with mintade) to make it easy for people to fit us into their schedule. The produce is always changing and the bread is always fresh, so I think that people are going to be supportive of the market overall. We plan to stay open throughout the holidays and possibly year round. The market has really evolved from where it started, appearance wise. I sewed up some patchy curtains and Steven painted the floors and walls. Lucinda got matching table fabrics and we both sewed patchy runners for them. I put some fabric on the walls and hung some great recycled fabric market bags. The children love it when the baby goat is there, and do a great job of entertaining themselves each time they come. There is a little apartment above the market that Lucinda and Steven really want to rent....the children go back and forth....when we're there, they think it's a great idea...when we're home and they have gazillions of kids to play with, they don't think it's so great....I'm really thinking about it though. I love that it has a yard with a natural hedge fence and some huge pine trees. Makes it feel like a home instead of an apartment, like we have now. No neighbors hooked on to the sides of your place, and I would work right downstairs. The children could be playing happily in their own home instead of minding their manners in the market. There is a sidewalk for bike riding and they could have their dog and maybe the trampoline too...the playground is a very short distance away too. The one issue would be school...they've decided they want to go this year to public school instead of homeschooling, and so I've already enrolled them in what I consider to be the best elementary school in the district... if I move to Sykesville, that would mean they'd attend the local school there...I'm not thrilled about that, though I do know the principal and he's great. Or, perhaps I could keep them enrolled in the other school and drive them....I haven't really decided yet. The other thing to consider is that the apartment itself, though it has a great yard, is tiny....very small. Really just one big open space plus a kitchen and bath....we're feeling cramped in the three-bedroom we have now and we also have many large closets and a shed....the apartment above the shop has no closets, no basement or storage and no walls to call bedrooms... There is an enclosed porch along the front that I could claim as storage or a toy area...I love the windows and the privacy of the space and the character..the bones of it if you will. It feels like my space....chill, calming, private, peaceful. Much different than the zoo I'm living in now. Ideas anyone? Downsizing would be a must again...(we just did that in January when we moved from the house to the townhouse) I'm fine with that. I could let go of a lot more...I just don't know what I'd encourage the children to let go of...they've already given so many possessions away and have been through so much this year....we're still normalizing (whatever that means)....trying to weigh the pros and cons right now and see if I could swing it. For me, I'd love to do it. It would mean I'd have more control over the children's environment again and wouldn't have these neighborhood kids influencing them constantly and I think they would thrive in such a peaceful place. They would love having their dog too....I do worry though that it's so secluded compared to where we're at now. Safety wise, I feel like if anything happened here, everyone would see/hear/know about it and get involved. There, it's pretty dark and quiet at night with minimal people around....that worries me. But, I'd have the dog, too....

This is what Dalai Mama is pondering today....

Come and build community with us at the market. We offer free samples and complimentary fair-trade coffee, herbal teas and infusions. Lots of reading material to peruse and always lots to talk about. Hope to see you soon!
Oh, Teah lost her tooth on one of the first day s the market was open! She was thrilled!!! My girl is growing up! I hope I'm prepared!!