Farm Market Heaven

The farm markets have been so much fun this summer! I started attending the Birmingham market 2 weeks ago, and have been pleasantly surprised by the attendance and interest in my products. It's great to have people walk up to me and start conversations about their skin and their lifestyles in general. Many have even suggested contacts for me to help get my products into stores.

I also want to mention a great book I am almost finished reading. "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" is written by Barbara Kingsolver, who also wrote The Poisonwood Bible. She takes on a whimsical, educational and fun ride through a year in her family's life. They move to a farm in Virgina and live completely local for that year- everything they eat is made or produced in that state, and most of what they eat (vegetable, fruit and animal) grows right on their farm.
This is a non-fiction piece that reads like a beautifully crafted fiction. It is honestly one of the most interesting books I have read- but then I am totally into the whole gardening and 'living off the land thing'!

Kingsolver inspired me to make an even greater effort to reduce the amount of goods and foods I buy globally- I am going to focus on buying as many locally produced foods as I can. I encourage everyone to do the same- by buying local, not only will you be getting nutritionally superior food, you will be supporting the important men and women who we call neighbors. It is good for your pocketbook, your health and your soul. There is something so magical about eating food when you know where it was gown, and the person whose hard work and heart went into producing it for you. I enjoy my food much more when I have this special connection to it. And of course, there is nothing as satisfying as walking out your own door and cutting fresh lettuce leaves for your salad, or picking a vine-ripe tomato for your pizza.

So, visit your local farm market each week, start a garden- it is not too late! You can still plant crops like green beans and lettuce- I plan to continue planting lettuce, spinach and chard right into September- last year we harvested our lettuce and spinach up until Christmas! We keep a glass cover over our garden box on the deck and that protects the plants from the wind.

Go for it!

Well, my marathon of selling is done for this week. I was at Williamston farm market on Thursday, then I attended the Brighton Ford networking event that ran from 6:00 AM to noon- you read that right, folks! I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to get over there and set up by 6! Crazy!

At the Williamston market I was next to a vendor who sold tye dyed dresses and velvet Renaisance Festival capes and pirate shirts- who buys those? Anyway, mom and I got hungry around dinnertime so I called the local pizza place and had them deliver the pizza to the market- I told him to just look for the Organic Girl booth- it was a first! Having pizza delivered to a farm market-

Today at the Brighton market, a lovely young woman came to my booth with her mom and she saw my business card and asked me if I was Jim's mom- she is a good friend of my daughter-in-love Meredith! Small world- we chatted about Jim and Meredith- and she said she is coming to the baby shower I am hosting for Meredith in a month. I also had a couple from a church we used to belong to come to my booth- and it was nice talking with them, as well. I had not seen them in about 9 years! You never know who you are going to meet up with at these markets.

Famers Market in Brighton

The farmers market in Brighton was a success. Mike helped and stayed for the whole day with me. We got there at 6:30 a.m. ( not the best time for me- I am not the early morning riser) - set up and the show began at 8:00. It was flower day, so they closed down Main Street and it was a street fair atmosphere- fun! I had many people come to my booth and check out the products. Lots of nice sales, and met tons of great people. That is one of my favorite aspects of this business, I get to meet so many amazing and interesting people!

There were so many people with dogs, that I decided to incorporate gourmet dog biscuits into my mix- I am thinking that will draw people to my booth, and the dogs will get a super treat!

Next market is Milford this Thursday, May 27. It is supposed to be another warm, sunny day. I can't wait to get there and meet more fabulous people!

Next week I will post photos from the markets.

This week I need to print the labels for my new products, and then make a visit to the Ann Arbor botanical gardens to take photos for the website. That is always a fun day- setting up the products in the best light, angle and background. Many of them are very photogenic, but sometimes it is a challenge to get some of the bottles in just the right pose! (Those organic products can be such the tempermental models to work with :)

Day before the first farm market

So, this is my first entry in my first every blog! Quite a momentous occasion. My first farm market will be this Thursday, and it is supposed to rain- blah! I have not set up my tent or tables and products yet at a farm market- so this will be a fun experience in the rain. I will let you know how it goes.
My mom will come to help me, so that will be something, although she broke her big toe last week, so I do not know if she will be doing more than sitting and taking the money for me at the booth, but it will be fun to have someone to talk and laugh with!
My hope is to start an organic skincare revolution- The challenge is getting people to see and try my products- once they do- they are hooked! Switching from store brand cleansers and moisturizers to my products is like driving an Escort and then finding out you can drive a Cadillac for the same money! Who wouldn't? WE are precious beings and our skin and health are of the utmost importance- we deserve the best- and I bring that in Organic Girl products. Check out the site- www.organicgirlskincare.com- pure, natural, botanical ingredients- every formula is my own- I have worked hard to bring the best ingredients to every one of my products. Try them and see!