This Saturday is our Mother’s Day Market, one
of the biggest markets of the year in every respect. The pavilion will be full
of growers and other vendors, we expect lots of customers and usually sales
skyrocket (although that term might be more appropriate for our BIGGEST day of
the year – our Independence Day Market – which will be Tuesday, July 3, this
year.)
Why the excitement about the Mother’s Day
Market? Flowers! That’s the day our
growers aim for when they plant because flowers make such lovely gifts for
moms, grandmothers and other special folks. We will be loaded with hanging
baskets and planters, as well as bedding plants. It may be our prettiest market
of the year.
And there will be other delightful gifts as
well – Jane’s Glass Art, Twitters ‘n’ Tweets bird seed wreaths, Rada utensils
from Joplin Business Women, baked treats and more.
It will be a fun day for the kids too. The
Kids Garden Club will plant sweet potato slips and learn about sweet potatoes. Adults
are welcome to learn about sweet potatoes too. I plan to stop because I have
heard about slips for years and we have planted them in the Kids Community
Garden but I have no idea why the plants are called slips. I think it’s the
propagation method but after Saturday I’ll know for sure.
Cooking for a Cause benefits “Inch at a Time”.
According to Debra Royce, the driving force behind the project, “Inch at
a Time was started to raise $500,000.00 to build a new track and football field
with artificial turf. If the community raised $500,000,the school board agreed
to build the $2.5 million facility. As of this date, we have raised
$475,000.00. We have had some donations but the majority of the money
came from selling hot dogs, hamburgers, and tacos at every school event. Cooking for a Cause has been a big help.”
I love that our community comes out to support
this smaller school system. It shows heart and generosity. And, let’s face it,
our market includes many vendors, customers, musicians and even volunteers who
are not Webb City residents. Our community extends far beyond city limits and
we are the better for it. So come support Sarcoxie and enjoy a good breakfast.
Richard Hugh Roberts will be playing on the
market stage. He is such a versatile musician that I can’t guarantee his
repertoire but I bet it will include some pieces from the Great American
Songbook.
To back up a bit, tomorrow Rob Pommert will be
on the market stage and Granny Shaffers is making a special appearance at the
market. We are between regular lunch providers and Mike Wiggins agreed to step
in with his delicious chicken salad sandwiches. Only $4. Lunch starts at 11
until they run out.
Tuesday Ghetto Taco is back with their popular street tacos and Scott Eastman plays.
Now just for those of you who made it to the
end of the column – the first of the strawberries are ripe! We only had about
40 quarts yesterday but we have a larger supply next week.
But don’t wait till next week to come! See you
soon at the market.
