FARMERS’ MARKETS
Make the most of your market stall
F
armers ’ markets are
becoming increasingly
popular because people
want to support local farmers
and artisans, they feel that
eating fresh, healthy food is
important, they want to
reduce the carbon footprint
of their consumerism and
they enjoy the community
atmosphere of the market.
As a smallholder you might
feel that such a market is the
best place to sell your
produce. But how do you
make a success of your stall?
You need to create an
attractive and colourful
display to grab the attention
of passers-by. Stand in front of
your stall to check how
oncoming potential custom-
ers see you. Choose a name
that tells people what you are
promoting and have an eye-
embroidered on it.
Temperature will vary
throughout the market day,
so start with layers you can
easily take off as things warm
up.
Be sure to wear comfortable
shoes, because you need to
be standing at your stall at all
times, preferably in front of
catching and clearly visible
Display the best examples of the stand. Smile and be
sign or banner, so that they
your produce and lay them
welcoming. You need to be
can see immediately what
out tidily and in such a way
approachable and certainly
you are offering.
that they are easy to pick up. not sitting looking at your
Less than perfect produce can phone.
Pretty tablecloths should
be processed, eg, use it to
reach the ground in front of
Eat a solid meal before the
your table or counter, so that make jams or chutneys,
market, and drink plenty of
which you can also sell.
you can store goods under-
water throughout the day.
neath them.
Think about your appearance Make a plan about how and
Add a dash of whimsy to your – crisp overalls or colourful
when you are going to eat if
aprons look smart and
display, with unique items,
you are there for the whole
such as chalkboard signs or a professional. In warmer
day. Get someone to relieve
rustic piece of art. If electricity weather you can wear a t-
you for a while, so that you
shirt that has the name of
is available, a string of lights
can have some lunch and go
your stand printed or
creates a fun, party-like feel.
to the toilet. Even though
your stall might be all about
food, it can be a turnoff for
customers to watch a vendor
From page 39
The second type has a single
original position. Another
eat.
row of discs divided into two important adjustment with
The most common is two
Engage your customers in
rows of disks, one behind the halves set at an acute angle to such a harrow is to ensure
that the disks are level, ie that conversation. When custom-
other, with each row set at an each other. The effect,
ers feel as if they've made a
the rear-most disks in the
angle to the other (hence the therefore, is that the worked
Continued on page 42
soil and material is thrown
centre are not lower than the
name “offset disc harrow”).
outwards
from
the
centre-line
discs
to
the
left
and
right.
The effect therefore is that the
on both sides. The most
Finally, if the field is to be
first row chops up the clods
effective way to use such an
used for a broadseed planting
(and roots and plants) and
such as grass or lucerne it will
throws the resulting material a implement is to travel out-
and-back, each pass working
need to be raked and levelled
little to the left, while the
only half of the previous track. to a fine tilth. Or, if it is to be
second row chops the same
Thus, the soil is thrown first to used for vegetable plantings a
material again and throws it
the right and then, on the
ridger may be necessary.
back to the right.
second pass, returned to its
IN THE FIELD
41
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