Farmers' Market Nellysford, Virginia Saturday Mornings, 8:00 a.m. to Noon May through September

STOP PRESS:  Amy Childs, Farmers' Market Manager, describes the scene: "On Friday, September 1st, around 6:30 pm, several gusts of wind lifted and carried both Farmers Market tents up, over the board fence, and into State Route 151.  The larger tent merged with the power lines (poles and all!) and then landed on and enveloped the Wintergreen fire truck.  This created an emergency situation that ended safely with many volunteers working with the fire department in the pouring rain to clear the road of dangerous debris."

Despite the loss of the large tents, the Farmers' Market will continue through the end of September, as scheduled. If they wish, MG volunteers can pick up our small tent, along with the regular materials, from Rosemary's garage.

Project Manager: Jamie Heard (434) 361-0444

Purpose of Project:  To answer the public's horticultural questions at the Nellysford Farmers' Market.

Number of Volunteers Needed:  See Roster below

Skills Needed:  This is what Master Gardening is all about; meeting the public, listening to their questions, and providing an answer (even if it's "I don't know; but I'll find out and get back to you").

Jamie's Guidelines for Farmers’ Market

The following are guidelines to be used to facilitate a smooth process when you are volunteering for the Farmer’s Market. It is the responsibility of each Master Gardener and Intern to know this process. Should there be a problem please let me know and I will assist.  If you have an idea for improving these guidelines, please let me know.

Sign up Sheet:  Please sign up (See schedule below). Two Master Gardeners and one Intern are required each Saturday.  Assign amongst yourselves a team leader who will coordinate for that Saturday. Interns are required to work at least 8 hours as part of their 50-hour commitment. If you cannot do your shift, please call someone further down on the list and swap. Once you’ve worked it out, let me know so I can update the sheet. Please note we need volunteers for the Nelson County Summer Festival in June.

Logistics: The traveling Farmer’s Market library is stored in Rosemary Connelly's Stoney Creek garage. Her address is 193 Black Walnut Drive. Everything required for setup at the Farmer’s Market is in her garage along the front right wall -- the brochures, books, chairs, the banner, carousel and table. Talk to your co-workers a day or two before the market and arrange the best way to transport the equipment to the market. The table and carousel will not fit in a small car. It takes two people to load (and unload). Remember many hands make light work.

The Farmers' Market manager, Amy Childs, expects everyone to be set up by 8:00 a.m. Give yourselves enough time to be organized. Closing time is noon.

When setting up, the boxes of pamphlets are in alphabetical order and are to be displayed on the carrousel.  Be sure to arrange them such as to make it easy to re-file them alphabetically back in the boxes. During your shift, please check the publications inventory. If you get low on a particular brochure, the team leader must contact Bunyan at the Extension Office and he will get copies made. Also let me know if we need more contact forms, soil testing boxes, etc.

Meet and Greet the Public: Bring samples from your garden – they’re a great conversation starter. They can be anything from weed identification to an infestation of a particular pest to an unusual flower/plant.

The Extension Office needs to know what sorts of questions are being asked. When questions come up, please log ALL questions into the blue binder using one of the two forms.

1) If you get a question that CANNOT be answered using the reference material available in the boxes, please fill out the Horticulture Help Desk Contact Log with as much detailed information as possible. Tell the client that their question will be forwarded to the Extension Office for further evaluation and resolution. The team leader needs to take all unresolved problems, and plant specimens to the Extension Office by the following Tuesday so Bunyan can respond quickly. Please place specimens in the baggie and MARK the baggie with client name.

2) If you get a question that CAN be answered, just fill out the Visitors Sheet.

Most of all have fun and enjoy the great attendance of people that show an interest in our program.

Thank you for all your help. We recognize you’re volunteering your precious time and we appreciate it. Have a great summer!

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