UDJ 6-20 Column
From CFI
HOGs in the Market
Last Saturday we had a great crowd and the TV commercial filming went well. I’ll let you know when to look for the final product.
Tomorrow’s market is the stripped down model, unlike many of the bikes on display. We are sharing the Plaza with the HOG benefit. But, more on that below.
First some market news. At 9:30 am this Saturday the Ukiah Saturday Farmer’s Market will be receiving one of this year’s Community Foundation (www.communityfound.org) Community Enrichment Grants, for which we are very grateful.
The Community Foundation uses local resources to boost activity that meets local needs and enriches our quality of life. That is very much what the Farmer’s Market is about at well. The Farmer’s Market boosts our local economy and our local family farmers. In turn, our local farmers boost everyone’s quality of life by providing the freshest, healthiest, tastiest foods available. The exchange enriches us all economically, with improved health and with increased community cohesion. Even homeland security improves when you shop at the farmer’s market!
The grant presented tomorrow, combined with funds donated by North Coast Opportunities (www.ncoinc.org), Mendo Lake Credit Union and a few noble individuals, will enable at least eleven families to experience the benefits of fresh local food weekly through October.
In exchange, the participating families will contribute hundreds of hours to help develop our community gardens and learning to improve their own gardening skills. They will also participate in before and after surveys administered by the Public Health Branch of the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency. Overall, the program is a win both for the participants and community in many ways.
Thanks to all of the collaborating agencies mentioned above and to the pioneering work at the Boonville Farmer’s Market (Cindy Wilder) and to Laytonville manager Marbry Sipila for her dedication in helping spread this great program throughout Mendocino County. Be there to help us celebrate at 9:30. With a few more individual or business donations, we could do even more.
Tomorrow we are sharing the market’s space with the local Harley Owners Group’s (HOG that is, see www.mendocinohog.com) biggest event of the year, the 11th Annual All American Bike Show and Poker Run (or walk). The event benefits Hospice. This year’s poker run highlights historic downtown Ukiah. It is open to the general public, so stop by Alex Thomas Plaza before 10 AM to register.
Don’t miss the bike show. Each is as unique as an heirloom tomato. Care in cultivating things and making them special is rare and worth celebrating .. be they vegetable, farm or motorcycle.
In honor of this event, the market has commissioned DJ Ace (KMEC radio, www.kmecradio.org, Sundays at 5PM) to develop a motorcycle-themed music set for the market café. It should be fun.
Market Tip #8: Bring cash and small chance. Farmer stalls don’t have credit card machines or safes with rolls change. If you forget to bring cash, stop by the Friends of MCFARM table in the pavilion and use a check to purchase market credits. Better yet, if you plan on coming to the market often you can open a market account so that you always have credit available.
Ukiah’s certified farmer’s markets are from 8:30 AM to noon Saturday and 3-6 PM Tuesday’s on School Street starting at Clay Street and in Alex Thomas Plaza. To learn more about our Mendocino County Farmer’s Markets, go to http://mcfarm.org/.
Have a good location to host one of our cool new John John’s Signs? Want to become a market sponsor? Want to book a presentation about the market for your group? Need space for your group event at the market? Have comments or questions about the Ukiah Saturday market? For any of the above, contact Scott Cratty at 462-7377 or cratty@comcast.net.
