Farmers Market

A saw an ad in the paper the other day advertising for merchants to rent space for the weekly Farmers Market this summer.  Have you ever been to a farmers market? No, not the farmers market advertised on television that is akin to e-harmony or match.com. My God, what is next?  What I am referring to are the summer and early fall weekend markets where local growers display their crops to sell to those of us without prosperous gardens or vast fields.  It is really inviting to see all of the ripe tomatoes, peppers, squash, apples, peaches,  sweet corn, pumpkins, and other assorted fruits and vegetables.  I wonder just what a Farmers Market looks like in Colorado or Washington?... those gardens would have “weeds”. Anyway, farmers typically do not make deals because they are already selling their goods at rock-bottom prices.  So how do you get a good deal at a Farmers Market.  Simple. Be a consistent customer.  You see, the farmer understands that he or she is cultivating more than just crops. They are also cultivating relationships that keep customers coming back weekend after weekend.  Side note:  our oldest daughter was asked out by a local a few years back. She asked him what he did for a living and he replied, “I’m a farmer.” Amanda replied, “Do you mean like E-I-E-I-O ?”  Witty girl…just like the Old Man.

In your “Farmer’s Market” called your classroom, remember that you too are selling.  While you are not selling potatoes and green beans, you are selling concepts.  You are selling knowledge. You are selling comprehension. You are selling application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.  Hopefully, the former sales are “Bloom”ing! (how’s that for wit).  Day after day, you present what you have to offer.  Are your customers consistently buying?  If so, keep on doing that and tell others just how you are making it happen.  If your students are not buying, perhaps it is because of an ineffective relationship or their perception of an ineffective relationship.  The good news is that either of these can be repaired…in time. Perhaps the tie-ins to real life just aren’t relevant for many.  That too is repairable…you just need to find out more information about your students and what makes them tick. Give them reasons for choosing to shop and buy in your market.  Create the farmstand that everyone flocks to.