It’s a wrap – part two. Last week’s column featured some of 2018 at
the market and though I have no hope of covering everything, I’ll share some
other highlights of 2018 in this column.
Perhaps the most important event was the
decision of the city council to help secure the market’s future.
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| Dad with his first great-granchild |
About three years ago, it became clear that
the market should not rely solely on a volunteer manager. If you know me and my
family, you know that date coincides with the death of my father, Bob
Nichols. Dad was a force for good and a leader in many
areas. Losing him left a big gap, not
only for me, but also for the community and it made me realize how unwise it
was for the market to rely so heavily on me, a volunteer. I won’t live forever, and I plan to spend
much of my future time with my grandchildren, being a good influence I hope! |
| Remember the market before paved parking? The city has been good to us! |
I wrote a grant that allowed us to hire a
manager and by the end of that grant the market had increased its revenue
sufficiently to pay 50% of the payroll. Thankfully,
the city has stepped in to pay the other half.
That should secure the future of the market, regardless of my efforts. With a paid position, the market can be sure
of a manager. Of course, the market
continues to work towards more self sufficiency. Getting the market kitchen fully in use is a
big piece of that, so send food businesses our way. We have a great kitchen, inspected by the
health department, with reasonable rates.
It’s just the place for a start up or small business.
We continue to depend on volunteers. At every market you will see one, or two or
more volunteers helping at the market. During
the summer you’ll often see even more. We
have a software consultant that keeps our data in order, a CPA that handles our
bookkeeping, folks who drive the market cart, who help with the kids’ meals and
kids’ activities and many others. Plus
our vendors pitch in, whether it’s setting up umbrellas or cleaning the
bathrooms. We are, as a consultant once
said, labor-intensive, but that’s how we like it because that means we’re
keeping all the “T”s crossed and the “I”s dotted. I’m a big fan of clean bathrooms and safe
comfortable facilities, happy, well fed kids, and a welcoming community. |
| The fire & police department brought in lots to show the kids |
So hats off to the city that helps us be that welcoming
safe community. And to the parks workers
who are such wonderful market partners, and to the police and fire departments
who interact with the kids at the market. And while we’re talking about local government,
let’s not forget the Jasper County Health Department who helps us make sure the
market kitchen puts out safe food, whether for the market customers or the
customers of our renters, and that the market vendors are handling food safely.
At the state level, we can’t forget the
Missouri Arts Council which has helped with our music program for 16 years.
The nutrition educators at MU Extension shared
recipes and tips with our customers almost every week last summer. And of course our terrific MU Extension and
Lincoln Co-operative Extension horticulture educators are a constant source of
information and guidance for farmers that sell at the market and at other
markets throughout the region.
Here I am, out of room again, but we’ll leave
2018 here because this year, 2019, deserves all our attention. The market is 20 years old this year!
The forecast is snowy this Saturday, but as
long as the roads are not icy we should be open. You can call the market manager (and that
would not be me!) for an update at 417 499-4831 or the market’s facebook page. Right now the forecast is calling for
temperatures above freezing, so we should be good.
I hope so because we expect a lovely market. The Kids Garden Club starts up Saturday with
the ever popular Face-on-a-Pot. Kids get
to make a face on a flower pot and plant wheat grass which then sprouts into
green “hair”. Its free, courtesy of our
wonderful master gardener volunteer Eric.
Mama JoJo’s will serve their hearty breakfast
and their artisan pasta with sauce and a bread stick for eat-in or take-away. Little People’s Garden will sell their fresh
egg rolls. Richard Roberts is on the
market stage.
In addition to fresh, local produce, we expect
freshly roasted coffee beans, baked goods, lots of eggs – chicken, quail and
duck! – honey, meats, smoked salts and spices, soaps and more. After our brief spring this week, bundle up
and come back to the winter market. Hurray
for 2019!
