Strawberries in pints, June 2017 (A.Gross)

Since 2008, I’ve worked at tons of farmers’ markets as a farmworker or helping out some of my friends. I enjoy waking up early, creating bold, visual displays of high quality local produce, grown with care and sustainability in mind, and interacting with people. For food growers, market days are a time to celebrate the harvest, bring food directly to consumers, deepen community relationships and, hopefully, return to the farm with a full cash box, an empty truck, bartered goods from fellow producers, and a brief reprieve before starting the harvest-market cycle again. I’ve observed the consumer-farmer relationship countless times and I thought I’d offer some tips - all rooted in common sense - into making the most out of your market excursion:

• Unfamiliar with an ingredient? Ask! Farmers and farmworkers are some of the best cooks whom I know. During peak season, they are the masters of cooking simple, clean (and not-so-healthful), and tasty food. Market days are the best days for seeking inspiration in the kitchen. And, if you are really nice, they may give you a taste test of that unfamiliar ingredient before you purchase it.

• Be patient. Respect the market start time. Farmers and their crews are creating a literal pop-up market stand. They’ve most likely been up since dawn, packing their vehicles, schlepping food and traveling some sort of distance, all with the goal of creating a bountiful stand for you. They’ve worked tirelessly all week. They need all the time they have to create their inviting displays. Another consideration: Farmers don’t get out much - most farmers look forward to going to market and interacting with civilians/non-farm folk. Patience and kindness go a long way!

• Arrive somewhat prepared. I strongly suggest bringing your own bags or baskets. Of course, life happens and you may happen upon a farmers’ market/stand or end up buying more items than the number of bags - or hands - that you have. And, most stands do provide some sort of bag for use. But, if you have bags or baskets, why not bring them?

• Small bills go a long way. Cash most likely remains king for many market vendors. If you have the time to break those larger bills, it's appreciated.

• Pro-tip: Separate items that need to be weighed versus those that are by the piece. This may fall in the category of “Advanced Market Shopping” but, If you do bring your own bags or the market booth has baskets for your items, separate items that are priced by weight from those that are priced by the bunch or unit. This makes the transaction experience as seamless and quick as possible.

• It's not the time to play Let’s Make A Deal. It's slightly infuriating when people start haggling…especially during market rushes or when the market is over and farmers are visibly packing up for the day. Would you go to a grocery store and bargain with the cashier or produce department manager? Probably not. Farmers set their prices to cover their costs of production...and barely that, including the rising costs of labor, infrastructure, fuel, land use, etc. And, if you want to know why something is the price that is listed, just ask! You’ll get a thorough answer, which, by the way, is unlikely to include the farmers wanting to get rich. And, bonus insider tip: the friendlier and more loyal of a customer you are, the more likely you are to get occasional, unspoken friend-of-the-farmer deals. Just please don’t be presumptuous.

• Mind your hygiene. Markets and farm stands are public spaces - please cover your mouth if you cough, sneeze away from the produce, and, if you’re really feeling rough, ask for assistance and market purveyors will help you. And, if you’ve acquired trash from other other vendors - napkins, plastic cups, etc. - please do not leave it behind on the display tables, especially near produce and other food items. Would you want to buy a head of lettuce sitting next to an old tissue?

• Please don’t overshare - especially medical stuff. Farmers’ markets and farm stands give consumers a unique and invaluable opportunity to directly connect with food growers. The informal, pastoral settings are often open invitations to build reciprocity and share aspects of your personal life. It’s a great feeling when customers feel such a closeness with their food producers. But, as much as farmers value your patronage, please do not divulge too much about your medical ailments. Example: During my first farmers’ market ever (!!), I was told by a bold individual that the farm’s organic produce was the thing responsible for treating her gout and she proceeded to show her slightly less inflamed foot to me. (She told me that my “kind face” was inviting...thank you??). Sure, this is an extreme scenario and, while I know this is not the majority of customers, just be mindful - farmers and their crews have a lot going on, mentally and physically, on market days, so please respect their time and the good ol' Golden Rule.

• Above all, be pleasant. You don't have to be perky but being kind and courteous goes a long way at farmers’ markets. Again, it’s a day to appreciate local food, the local economy, and our local communities. And, in a world that seems to be lacking in humility and civility, we could all use a little more kindness and optimism.

And, remember: Keep being an advocate for local, sustainable food and your local economies. In an era of uncertainty, your support goes a long way!

Cover/header photo: Bunches of basil, ready for market, June 2017 (A.Gross)

Have other tips for making it through a farmers’ market? Leave a comment below!

Welcome to Speak With Your Craft, a (semi-)regular feature that profiles the many creative individuals in my life and my attempt to shed light on what inspires them. I also want to expose readers to crafts, talents, and skills that may be slightly offbeat or unusual and encourage the support of the movers and makers in the handmade world. The first profile of 2017: Bailey Raha! Bailey, an Northwest CT-based artist, is an incredibly talented quilter, who specializes in natural dyes and recycled and natural fibers. Her designs merge traditional patterns with a modern, thoughtful perspective and one that is heavily rooted in nature. I could get into a major discussion of quilting and its relationship to modern feminism and self-expression, but I'll refrain for now and let Bailey speak for herself. Settle in and learn more about Bailey and her beautiful wares!

When did you first realize that you like to create?

As a small child I was always making, creating, and collecting things. I think I took to creative outlets to help quell anxieties I had about the world. Working with my hands continues to bring me peace.

Who or what are some of your creative influences?

Maura Ambrose, Andrew Wyeth, Season Evans, the women of Gee’s Bend, Edward Hopper. The collective history of the quilting craft and all the female quilters who came before me.

Describe your process: Do you map things out? Just go for it? How do you get to the end product?

I spend a lot of time looking at quilts in books and online, both old, and new. By looking, I collect little fragments of things I like, things that stick with me. On the whole, I tend to be drawn to traditional, simple patterns. I sketch a lot, but most of my drawings will never become quilts. Even after I’ve settled on a design, there’s always a bit of improvisation that goes on as the fabric I use speaks to me in a different way than a paper and a pencil. I trust my ability to make decisions and don’t take the process too seriously.

A lot of your work (as seen on your Instagram feed) has a strong aesthetic, with a focus on natural light, textures and colors, and, well, nature in general. What inspires you about nature, or, more generally, what inspires you to create?

Every breath yields new ideas, new processes, new excitement. With every inhale there comes an exhale, but the landscape plays on. I look to honor that cycle through my process. My work is materially born out of the landscape. The fabric I use begins in the ground. The dyes I use are both harvested and foraged. There is something about being in nature that is so humbling. I am reminded of how minute my existence is, as I couldn’t do what I do, live the life I live without the natural world in all its quiet grandeur.

Your quilting work uses a lot of repurposed or natural fibers, and you dye your own fabric with different roots and flowers. Why did you choose to integrate sustainability into your wares?

Being able to spend my time creating is such a privilege. As an artist, I believe it is important to be conscious of how I source my materials. I use only natural fibers and naturally hand dye my own fabric. Beautiful dye colors can be achieved with food scraps, weeds, and natural debris with little to no chemical mordants or modifiers.

What’s one of your favorite projects - past, present, or one in the works?

Every piece I make teaches me something new. My two most recent quilts were satisfying for different reasons. The Winter Sky quilt for its large size, and the Cowgirl in the Sand quilt for the way all the naturally dyed fabrics interact with each other. One of my goals for the new year is to expand my natural dyeing practice.

Cowgirl in the Sand quilt, designed and made by Bailey Raha. (photo by Bailey Raha)

What’s the best piece of advice/quote that you’ve received about creating? Or, conversely, what would you recommend to other artists?

“Be kind to yourself, others, and the world. Trust your instincts. Be persistent and stay true to what you believe in. ”

— Bailey Raha

Bonus: What are three of your favorite books and why?

East of Eden by John Steinbeck, for its extensive multi-generational narrative.
The Betsy and Tacy series (a childhood favorite) by Maud Hart Lovelace, for its quiet scenes of girlhood.
In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney, an incredible catalog of successful women, all of whom inspire me to keep pushing forward.

Thanks, Bailey! Check out her quilts and quilted pillows (like the ones below) and learn more about her process her site: baileyraha.com! I strongly recommend that you follow Bailey on Instagram and her images from the Northwest Hills of CT.

Madder quilted pillow, designed and made by Bailey Raha. (photo by Bailey Raha)

Have an idea for Speak With Your Craft? Know some interesting makers, crafters, cooks, bakers, food growers, woodworkers, herbalists, photographers, writers, actors, musicians, painters, fiber artists, and creative forces in your life? I have friends lined up in the near future, but I'm open to suggestions! Leave a comment or contact me! Remember, makers or creators need not fit into a neat box to be featured. So, here’s to more creating, crafting, listening, learning, and collaborating in 2017!

Farmers’ Market Tips From An Insider: Do's and Don'ts of Market Shopping