Rain or Shine

So, the much needed rain has come. And come. And come some more. Despite the rain and breezy conditions, the market continued on. The bake sale for Serenity Animal Rescue and Adoption went better than expected considering the weather. Serenity took in over $400 in donations and sales of shirts and food! That's not including a $200 written a few weeks ago by a very generous animal lover who wasn't going to be able to come to the bake sale. Thanks to everybody in the community who donated food and/or came out the market and the bake sale.

Here's the market recap for August 16:

• Justina Garcia and Mechelle Wallace braved the rain and wind to hand out coffee and water to folks as well as sell shirts and bags and give out stickers and info.
• Farmers present/ represented: Mr. Toole, Basil Boy Jesse, the Sellers Gang, Blue Lake Honey Farm, the Gregorys, and Mr. Smitty
• Customers counted: 83 (down only by about 25%!)
• Approximate total farmer revenue: $400
• Products sold: yellow squash, okra, tomatoes, jams, jellies, preserves, relishes, cucumbers, eggplant, honey, basil plants, pesto, watermelons, purple hull peas, banana peppers, hot sauce, pre-sliced yellow squash, pickles, eggs, cantaloupes, corn, zucchini, tomato sauce, and salsa
• Just for show and conversation: Mechelle's "funky pumpkin"

We also had the monthly meeting. On the agenda were tent issues, money update, upcoming events, farmer updates, progress report on the statistics, welcoming new folks to the market, saying good-bye to Ryan, and a petition to the city for a storage shed.

• Tent issues: The free green tents are having some issues. As in the tarps don't want to stretch over all four corners. We made a decision to push through and do our best (with minimal grumbling, if possible) and come up with a solution in the winter.
• Money update: The newly opened bank account has almost $2100 in it, thanks to grants and shirt and bags sales. The money will be budgeted for next year's market or for supplies for the remainder of this season.
• The bake sale was a huge success. Our next events are a cooking demonstration on September 6, a breast cancer awareness event in October, and harvest dinner in November.
• Farmer Updates: Farmers are planting fall crops of greens, pumpkins, and other produce. Also, pecans should be plentiful this fall.
• Statistics: I'll get a fancy chart in here soon, but the market is operating at all time high numbers for customers, farmers, friends, and revenue. Well done!
• Welcome to Miranda Walker, a new VISTA/Americorps member. She'll be taking Ryan Betz's spot as a worker for the market.
• Petition: A petition will be going around for the next few markets to petition the city of Cleveland to allow the market to have an on-site but portable storage shed to store tents, tables, signs, and other supplies.