Your Local Farmer’s Market

For the month of April, we’re going local! This week? We’re focusing on local food!
Today we’re exploring the farmer’s market.

So, I used to have pretty intense anxiety about doing anything unknown, especially when the unknown involves money. So until I determined that I was going to be a regular at the Golden, CO farmer’s market for a summer, I was very stressed at the idea of even going to a farmer’s market. When I went, I was delighted by the things I found, and could have spent all of my money, because a good farmer’s market is the best. Here are seven quick tips and expectations you can hold to make the most of your experience.

1. Go with cash. This can help with budgeting, but also reduces fees for your local vendors. I like to take $20-$40 in ten dollar bills so they don’t have to keep breaking larger bills for me. 
   
2. Bring a bag. I do well here with a simple canvas tote, but bring what’s comfortable for you.
   
3. Do a lap around the entire market before buying anything. I know it’s tempting. But all too often I have purchased that unusual salsa flavor at the first booth and found myself past my budget when I found the unusual vegetable that I want to try cooking. Do a lap around the entire place and see what sticks in your mind. 
   
4. When you’ve determined to buy, talk to the people selling. Ask them where their farm is. Ask them how to cook the thing. Ask them what their favorite other thing at the market is. Oh yeah, ask them their name. People are friendly. Talk to them.
   
5. You can ask for samples, but I say only do this if it seems obvious that they’re equipped to give you samples. 
   
6. You can often take dogs, but I don’t like to. The farmer’s market is one of the few dog-friendly places I don’t like to take my dog. There are often a LOT of dogs there, and I’ve encountered many ill-behaved dogs at a market. So I leave W at home for this and take him for a walk later. 
   
7. When you’ve used what you purchased, take a picture of it. If you go back the next week, you can show the farmer you purchased from just what you did with it and talk about it more easily if you have a picture to remember it by.
   

So give it a try! Your farmer’s market can be a delightful use of a weekend morning and a great way to get to know where you live.