A idea for the Farmers Market
As you know, I don’t publish anonymous comments on my blog, but I got one this week that included a link to a website about a British community that was trying to become as self- sufficient as possible, mostly by growing their own food, and relying less on supermarkets. The idea is, I guess, to look for ways to promote a healthy lifestyle by becoming less dependant on processed foods. It also mentioned the need for alternative fuels (the comment came in the blog about wood burning furnaces).
Anyway it sort of reminded my of my college days in northern California where we had a local food coop, and lots of mother earth types to run it. Arcata California, home to Humboldt State University, is one of the most liberal places in the country thanks to a large college population.
It also sits smack dab in the middle of the more conservative Humboldt County, where many residents make their living from logging and fishing. Confrontation between the locals and the college crowd was inevitable, but, in my experience, infrequent and usually more loud than dangerous.
It is without question one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country, right in the heart of the giant Redwood forests. My love of the outdoors, and concern for environmental issues, are due in large part to the years I spent there. It is also where I first confronted the idea that when it came to emotional issues, such as logging old growth redwoods, there could diametrically opposed, but no less sincere or valid, arguments on both sides. Not every logger was a beer swilling, earth-raper, nor was every college student a pot-smoking, hippie, tree hugger. There were gray areas, and it seems to me that’s where reasonable people could come together, and if not agree, at least compromise.
I don’t think we need to abandon supermarkets, it’s thanks to them that we have access to the most healthy, diverse diet on earth. The fact that many make less than healthy choices is hardly their fault. Besides, the chance of that actually happening is, thankfully, zip.
But I do like the idea of giving consumers more choices, and developing a community identity, through ideas such as developing a vibrant Farmers Market.
I know we have a Farmers Market in Atlantic, last year it was set up in Orscheln’s parking lot. I believe it was held on Tuesday or Thursdays and seemed to be pretty well attended.
But maybe it could be better.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it could be held on Saturday mornings along Sixth Street between Chestnut and Poplar. The poo-pooers will claim you can’t close down the street because of the terrible traffic problems it will cause. But that section of street is routinely closed for other events without problem. And what it would do is draw people to downtown and the city park.
Events could be scheduled in the park such as craft shows, music concerts and art shows, to coincide with the Farmers Market. Maybe expand the idea to an outdoor market, and welcome other types of vendors.
Why not hold contests or games that draw people down Chestnut street? There are lots of walkers in this community, so how about a weekly 2, 3 or 5K walk through the downtown area that begins and ends at the city park? Maybe something like the “poker runs” motorcyclists and snowmobilers hold with downtown businesses? Maybe a historical tour?
Why not come together as a community and promote a healthy lifestyle, including exercise and fresh locally grown foods? If we can envision it, we can make it happen. The power to change is in our hands, we just have to use it.
Trail Update
Last week SWIPCO officials presented the “Cass County Recreational Trails Plan” to the County Board of Supervisors. Thanks to John McCurdy for the work he put into it. It’s an interesting plan, and filled with good ideas, and yet I can’t seem to get too excited about it.
It seems to me the key to developing new trails, an idea I support, depends on finding a committed, determined, individual to carry the ball. Without that the plan becomes little more than a dust-collector sitting on a shelf somewhere in the courthouse. I’m not sure we have that person.
That’s too bad because I believe trails are important to communities, not just for the recreation benefits they bring, but for the health and economic development aspects as well.
In fact the study references studies by the Center of Disease Control about the benefits of outdoor physical activity. It also noted several economic benefits, stating that a study in Minnesota, a state with lots of trails, “estimated that trails systems provide an additional $1 million in annual activity for cities with trails.” Nice!
A couple more from the study:
• In a 2002 survey of recent home buyers sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders, trails ranked as the second most important community amenity out of a list of 18 choices.
• a 1998 study of property values along the Mountain Bay Trail in Brown County, Wisconsin showed that lots adjacent to the trail sold faster and for an average of 9 percent more than similar property not located next to the trail.
A couple of communities are already actively working expanding their trail systems, notably Lewis and Anita.
Atlantic, which has its own plan and was not included in the study, is also expanding its trail system. But it’s been a slow process, with little enthusiasm from council members, other than councilman Dave Jones.
Whether there will be a pedestrian bridge across Troublesome Creek, connecting to the well-field trails and Little League fields, remains up in the air. The city’s bike trail continues to cross the Olive Street Bridge, (now without paint marking the pedestrian area and in a state of disrepair.) It is, I believe, an accident waiting to happen, and a needless one, since a solution exists. Why not get some bids and find out what it costs? Maybe then we could start raising some money or help to install the bridge. Why the delay?
