Small gardens have big impact at the Farmers Market

This story submitted by the San Juan Island Farmers Market…

Sandy May thinks of herself as a farmer. However, she does not have all the things you might associate with a farm. She does not have great quantities of rolling pasture land, grain fields or hundreds of farm animals. Instead, she keeps a modest garden just outside the town limits of Friday Harbor. There is a collection of raised beds, some herbs, fruit trees, and a happy flock of chickens clucking in the background.

This may not be your typical farm, but the much loved and well tended piece of land is May’s way of contributing to the San Juan Island Farmers Market, and by extension, the way we think about feeding ourselves. She does this by participating in the San Juan Island Farmers Market Garden Coop.

The Market Garden Coop is a collection of people with small to large gardens who share a booth at the Farmers Market. Each week, the members pool whatever vegetables they have to spare from their gardens. These goods are then sold at the cooperative’s booth every Saturday. The group is both a great way to introduce more fresh produce into the Farmers Market, and involve small scale producers in the market environment. The group feeds the “eat local” mentality simply by promoting the diversity and productivity of small scale growing.

“I’m passionate about growing good food and being able to share that with the community is one of the main highlights [of the MGC]” say May.

May says that the feel of the group is as positive as it is productive. Members are not told what to grow and are under no obligation to produce a certain amount.

“This is a great way to encourage new gardeners or new farmers to try the farmers market out. It’s very collaborative. It allows us to test out what sells, what sells well, how much effort some things take over others and so forth.”

In some cases, this results in a huge diversity and cultural education for those customers who frequent the MGC booth. Member Carol Liu (originally from China) started growing Asian vegetables, joined the MGC and found a receptive customer base,

“The reason I grow Asian vegetables is because they are not available on the island. I am so glad that people here like my Asian vegetables which makes it easier for me to grow freely. I don’t worry if I have too much, or if no one else knows what to do with them. I am so amazed that there are so many people here who know what they are or willing to try new things.”

Indeed, in some cases, the MGC proves to be a successful incubation program for independent farms. Todd Gardner was an avid MGC member until he struck out on his own with his Lost Valley Farm. Gardner had a vegetable garden at the time of joining the MGC, but his experience proved formative and allowed him to move towards his long term dream.

“I wanted to have a small farm for a long time, and after doing the Market Garden Coop I knew it could be done.”

Gardner and May both talk warmly of the people aspect to the MGC.

“The social part of it took me by surprise,” says Gardner. “It didn’t enter my mind there would be social value to it… it feels like a real community”

May also talks about her love of being included in the hustle and bustle of the Saturday morning Market.

“The whole process is very rewarding. We all share our best growing practices. We are able to ask other farmers how to grow things better, it feels collaborative, not competitive.” Also, May points out, gardening and farming can be hard, solitary work and thus the relationship building that goes on at the MGC and at the market itself is hugely rewarding.

Call it farming, gardening, kitchen gardening or messing around in the earth. The fruits of a few small patches of property yield huge results when worked collaboratively.

For more information about joining the San Juan Island Farmers Market Garden Coop, contact Sandra May at sandra.may [@] tigercello.com

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