One crisp morning in April of 2011, a conversation might have been overheard between two neighbors on the southeast side of Ann Arbor. A snip-it of it went something like this: Neighbor #1: “I’ve often thought about how great it would be to have a farmers market on this side of town.” Neighbor #2: “What a great idea. It would make local produce easier to access, plus we have a great location for it!” The “great location” is in reference to Buhr Park, a 39-acre recreation park that includes a public pool, outdoor ice/roller rink, playground, 4 baseball diamonds, and Cobblestone Farm.
The two neighbors are Jeannine Palms and myself, and this conversation – along with many more conversations with neighbors and potential vendors – is what eventually led to the opening of the new Cobblestone Farm Market, located on the picturesque grounds of Cobblestone Farm.
Our vision was this: to create a place for local farmers and local consumers to come together and share in the many advantages of community economics. All of the produce must be grown in Michigan and sold by the farmer, and it all must be grown without the use of chemicals.
It was a great idea, but as with many great ideas, it had its share of stumbles and took a lot of hard work. And it took time. But we were patient.
About eight months after that first conversation, the idea gained momentum when a third neighbor, Shawn Severence, joined our mission. It was then that we had the idea to invite the Cobblestone Farm Association (CFA) to partner with us. It was a match made in heaven and our wheels were turning again. Almost one year to the day of our first inquiry with the city, the logistics between all parties were finalized and we began actively advertising this new venue to farmers. It was very exciting to see this idea come alive. We now had a “core group” of volunteers who worked together on every aspect of event planning. Four more neighbors joined us: Jackie Young, Carisa Wilder, and Fruma Taub. And George Taylor, CFA President, participated in our planning meetings every week.
Fast-forward again to June 19, Opening Day. It was better than any of us could have imagined. It was a beautiful hot day. The farmers set up their tables under the shade of the tall walnut and maple trees, and the children’s “corner” was situated in a shady spot by the farm animals. The trees seemed to find a way to bring enough of a breeze that helped us forget that it was over 90 degrees. Activities included a strolling accordion player, face painting, and pioneer lawn games. The farmers brought us produce from their early-summer crops – blueberries, spinach, lettuce, kale, green onions and potatoes. We had other vendors who sold baked goods, crafts, and prepared foods. The CFA hosted free tours of the house.
Over 500 people joined us that day, and I realized then that what we created was more than just a market. What I saw when I looked around was a true commitment to community. All of those people were there for a shared purpose. And everywhere you looked, there were smiles. People were practically giddy. The setting on the grounds of Cobblestone Farm made it perfect. The thing that struck me the most was the thought that those children who were there (and would continue to come) will grow up feeling that having a neighborhood farmers market was normal. And hopefully, one day it will be.
We didn’t initially intend to have entertainment every week, but opening day was so much fun that we decided to try to keep it going. We usually had at least two activities booked every market, usually a children’s activity and a band or musician. All the folks who provided entertainment did so free of charge, showing their commitment to this community project. We had dozens of neighbors, adults and children, who volunteered their time to help in many ways. CFA board members came every week to give tours of the house. It truly has been an amazing collaborative effort, and it goes without saying that this market couldn’t have happened without the support of all these people.
The market will run through the week of Thanksgiving, weather permitting. That would make it the only evening market in Ann Arbor open in November. Next year, we hope to start in May.
It’s been great fun to collaborate with Cobblestone Farm. It feels like we are part of the “continued history” of this historic landmark, and that makes this whole effort even more special.