The Highs, the Lows, and the Orange Tent: Our Market Debut

Well that was a big day. We survived the first day at the local farmers market yesterday, and I was floored by the interest, the conversations, the encouragement and the support of our local community. A market doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it was somewhat of a milestone for me, something I set for myself as a concrete goal this year, which I have also secretly feared, from some form of internal turmoil with imposter syndrome mixed with a little bit of my Neuro Behcet’s and cognitive decline.

I’ve had so many humbling experiences because of this disease, and many goals I set for myself which I had to step back from and accept they were too lofty many times. The stepping back used to be the hardest part, and now it seems like every time I do that process helps me grow, and accept my cognitive decline a little more. When I am able to meet a goal though, I feel full. Yesterday I rode a high of amazing conversations, inspiring music and energy exuding from every corner of the market. And then I got home and crashed. Hard. It was absolutely worth it.

I don’t think I could have done the first one without Dominique, and spending a day with her was such a bonus. The kids are in the middle of exams and won’t be joining me until the end of the month, but by the time they come I’m hopeful we can work out the kinks that come with being at the market as a vendor for the first time. Like packing and unpacking the “one touch tent”.

We had a lovely spot on the corner for the day, but it seems we are moving into the back alley of the market starting next week, away from plant booths and into what’s called The Artisan Alley. At first that seemed like a little bit of a blow, but then we realized this gives us an opportunity to increase our market offering not just to plants, but also to some of the incredible native plant themed art created and donated by our Pollinate Aylmer members and community. We have a starting collection of prints and pollinator ‘minis’, but it opens up ideas and possibilities of bringing together some artistic minds and creating beautiful garden art. Maybe. Probably one of those ideas that will end up swirling in my head and morph into something else by next year. I’d love to find time to make art again. Also continues swirling in my head.

Regardless we have art , and we are moving to the little alley at the back, but you can’t miss our orange tent!

We didn’t really do the best job of displaying our art his week, but we have all summer. I have some leftover lino prints of my carvings, which will be available at the market starting next week, as well as ‘minis’ donated by Suzanne. All proceeds raised from selling this art will go towards continuing our work in the community, under our growing Canopée (yup, purposeful pun).

I had thought about posting a list of plants I’m bringing to the market each time before I go, but it just seems like too much planning for me, and also reliance on social media that I’m really trying to avoid after my 100 day cleanse this winter.

I know some people would be interested in knowing what I bring, but I am content to show up at the market with a small random selection each week, as that seem to work at well for us. This let us have conversations about the ecosystem value of each of the plants at the market, in addition to how they might fit in an urban Garden space.

For anyone that’s curious here’s what made it to the market yesterday. I only know this because of the labels that we had to print. I really need a better system as this was a scramble the night before, and took Dominique and I most of the day to individually create and waterproof the tables. I can’t imagine writing it by hand though. I’ve looked into what other micro-nurseries do but it seems just as laborsome, so for the time being we’re labeling at the market. Here’s what made it this week.

Market plants week 1

Trees & Shrubs

• Prunus nigra 🔑 🐛 ❄️ (Prunier noir / Canada plum)
• Larix laricina 🔑 🐛 ❄️(Mélèze laricin / Eastern tamarack)
• Cephalanthus occidentalis 🐛 ❄️(Céphalanthe occidental / Eastern button bush)

Everything else

• Physostegia virginiana ❄️ (Physostégie de Virginie / Obedient plant)
• Heliopsis helianthoides 🔑 🐛 🐝 ❄️(Héliopsis faux-hélianthe / False sunflower)
• Elymus canadensis 🐛 ❄️ (Élyme du Canada / Canada wild rye)
• Verbena stricta 🐛 🐝 ❄️ (Verveine stricte / Hoary vervain)
• Agastache nepetoides 🐝 (Agastache faux-népéta / Yellow giant hyssop)
• Zizia aurea 🐛 🐝 (Zizia doré / Golden Alexander)
• Muhlenbergia mexicana (Muhlenbergia du Mexique / Mexican muhly)
• Hypericum kalmianum 🐝 (Millepertuis de Kalm / Kalm’s St. John’s Wort)
• Symphyotrichum oolentangiense 🔑 🐛 🐝 ❄️ (Aster azuré / Sky blue aster)
• Elymus hystrix 🐛 ❄️ (Élyme brossée / Bottlebrush grass)
• Asclepias incarnata 🐛 ❄️ (Asclépiade incarnate / Swamp milkweed)
• Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 🔑 🐛 🐝 ❄️ (Aster de Nouvelle-Angleterre / New England aster)

I got asked a lot about opening up the nursery, and I still don’t know how or when I want to do that. I really enjoyed the potting parties that we had last year, but everything is so chaotic here still, and the kids are in the middle of exams, so we are a ways away from that.

Maybe it’s a vanity thing where I want the nursery to look good before people see it, and right now it’s full of wires bricks random pieces of wood and pallets and I have no idea where anything is. As I write this I consider how stupid that sounds. Our house is a mess and a construction zone and I’ve gotten much better at not apologizing for it, so if I could treat the nursery the same, asking for help might be my best bet to get it ready. I need help, and can’t wait for exam periods to be over and have my ado labour-force back to help. We are inching closer to the end of the year for both, but a prom and graduation and a huge milestone for Noa, who is off to Cegep next year.

We put together a little survey to understand the market of the market better, and help us figure out the best plants to bring. The day passed in a flash though, and we mostly forgot to ask people to fill it out. If you’re reading this and have a couple of minutes, we would love to add your perspectives.

In the meantime, I rely on the kids, their muscles and ideas, and grow with them. Today I’m tired but my heart is full. I am so grateful to the people surrounding me who show up and carry water logged trays and string up maps and leave their kids in the car to come say hi and show up just to support us and cheer us on, sometimes invisible from sidelines, but I know you’re there. 🥰