Market Day

Farmers Market Bliss

Our community is blessed to have a great Farmers' Market and for it to be located next to a community green space.  This "Green" was once a slough, then it was a dump, and finally it was covered and turned into a green urban corridor/park that borders the, street held, once a week, Farmers Market. 

On Market day the street is alive: a swarm of people moving this way and that way. Flags blowing in the wind to greet neighbors who have gathered to shop at the market, find a bite to eat for dinner, or to just enjoy the festive feeling of seeing neighbors, hearing buskers, doing community art, and just being.  In a society filled with planned activities and rushing around, families that make time for market day carve out a unique "unstructured" time for themselves and their children.

Our family often meets at the market.  The boys and I travel by wagon the few blocks from our home & head into the fray.  We never get further than the entrance before we meet at least one neighbor or friend. Then a bit later with calls of "Daddy!" we are reunited.   This allows both mother and father to have a few moments of time shopping, grabbing hot quesadillas for dinner, or chatting with other adults while the kids play.  JUST PLAY!  Although we usually bring a ball or chalk or frisbee along with us, there is also plenty of just rolling around on the hill and running with big smiles across their faces. Smile invitations to one another to play together:  It is beautiful.