I must admit I am one who has never deliberately planned on visiting the local farmers market. I never really had a reason but whenever I needed something fresh or unique I would visit the market stands that are always there!
My husband and I learnt about this local farmers market that takes place once a month on month ends near our house as we were walking on a Saturday morning. We not only enjoyed our visit there but we decided to walk home and return with our children so they could also enjoy the little outing we had.
We saw quite a number of beneficial products even as a homemaker really came in handy. Exposing yourself to such an environment increases your sphere of influence and allows you to grow within your daily confines.
Here is what I learnt about visiting the local farmers market which I trust will come in handy for you and your family. So whether you are big on homemaking, beauty & fashion, interior decor, a foodie, coffee or herb lover, baker, blogger, vlogger then this is for you!
Enjoy!
A Farmers Market usually consists of people buying and selling things like home grown fruits, vegetables and other assorted baked goods according to agrotopics.com
SUPPORT LOCAL!
I know this sounds so familiar that it feels so cliché but it really gives you an open mind on the local talent and to support your own community. Sometimes we are unaware of these products we find here and what better way to contribute to supporting your neighbor.
Once a while opt to buy from someone who grows vegetables or designs their own earrings than always visiting a shop. You will find products that you absolutely love that are quite unique too.
One of the things we do know is that covid 19 pandemic left many people jobless and you find that they are trying other means to make a living and not only are they just making a living but they do offer really good products.
So next time you pass by a farmers market, do not hesitate to stop because you never know what gem you will find.
One of the things I am learning to master is to actually share people’s products even on social media pages so that it can reach the people who may need those products and they support other people as they see the products.
GET ORGANIC PRODUCTS!
Do you love herbs, plants, fresh vegetables, pure essential oils, unrefined oils, shea butter, fresh coffee and so much more. You will absolutely love the fresh products you get from there including fresh coffee that has been harvested by those selling at the stalls.
There are other home made products like jam, honey and atchar. These products are freshly made and can be used as sugar replacement, bread spread and sauce. This is also a chance to get herb seedlings/ plants to grow in your own back yard.
As you do that your children learn so much and know that food grows and its not just bought from the shop only. If you have a small space for a garden there are other ways you can start a small herb or lettuce garden with their seedlings and plants.
ECZEMA SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN!
Okay now, maybe not only for children but for the entire family. Some of us struggle with dry skin especially in winter and visiting the local farmers market might offer the best solutions for your skin.
What I loved about these products is that they are natural products and some of them are unrefined oils that you can be used on your skin without many ingredients in them.
Being a mother of three I have had major skin struggles with my girls who still struggle with dry skin from time to time.
You Try to manage skin problems with natural products so that they do not use harsh products at a young age.
During my visit I found unrefined avocado oil which is so amazing on my skin but was no good for my children’s skin as it reacted but amazing for my husband and i. However I hit the jackpot on beauty products for skin care which i enjoy trying on my husband. too.
I do believe when mixed with shea butter can be a great option for children and i will try that solution as we begin winter.
A CHANCE TO THINK BEYOND!
Doing new things, participating in activities, traveling and touring other places and your own country never leaves you the same especially when there is something beneficial for your journey in life. It broadens your thinking and you see beyond the usual environment that you see every day.
It exposes you to a different way of life and you get creative just by exposing yourself to such an environment. This makes me realize that I can actually set up a stall myself and participate in selling my products as we are a business minded family. Already This has allowed me to think of more ways to market my business, which you can absolutely market too.
MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR! PERFECT PLACE FOR FAMILY BONDING.
This is my favorite point! make it a family affair by going together as a family to attend or view products together. I am always looking for ways we can spend quality time with our families by creating memories. These farmers markets usually take place during the weekends whereby you desire to catch up with your spouse and children.
Then, go there together and just communicate how much you will spend prior because when children see what they love they just want to buy everything.
We have learnt that talking to children before and letting them know how many items they will each get and involving them in the shopping prepares them ahead and much drama is avoided.
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If your children are younger and it may be a struggle just to be there a few minutes I totally understand, I have been there too. If your nanny comes to your house a few hours on Saturday then use those hours to attend the market with your spouse and have your bonding time.
Getting outside as a family together to get fresh air creates really good memories where you can even take great pictures for the best memories. Who knows maybe they can soon introduce coloring, painting and some other games while offering hot dogs that children will enjoy.
HAND CRAFTED ITEMS
Do you love hand craft items? this is a great place to find unique hand stitched bags, pot mats, earrings and more. These are unique products that you will not find anywhere else. I found several handmade bags that I had not seen anywhere else. this much made it more exciting.
There was also an African doll that has its own bag which our children loved so much with a mat and pillow inside. This is one rare item that even the children are proud to own.
CHILDREN WILL LOVE IT
Children love doing new things and seeing different places. How much more a colorful place with different items where they can find really affordable toys they can add to their collection. There are really great finds for children offered and good snacks too like home made cookies.
I noticed there were books sold too which come in really handy when you desire to have off screen moments with your children. Although there were no activities for children they enjoyed the little outing and shopping and that can give an idea to someone who can offer activities for children to enjoy.
Children will get to have to choose vegetables from fresh produce and can even decide to love the fresh vegetables they bought themselves. This is a great chance for them to change their mind if they do not like vegetables.
PERFECT PLACE FOR GIFT IDEAS
Ever had a tough time choosing a gift for someone you desire to spoil? I recently had a tough time choosing gifts that some of my friends would love. I know now that I would have had more to choose from had I attended the farmers market the previous month.
This is a perfect place to find unique gifts for friends and families. Now that mothers day is coming up and if you love to spoil you mother it might be a great place to spot something unique.
If you know someone close to you that is a coffee lover, maybe a coffee tree would be a prefect gift for them.
You can pick gift ideas and good reading books for the children too.
GREAT AVENUES FOR VENDORS/GROWING BUSINESSES
This is a time when most of us are increasing our streams of income. As much as we do ads on social media there are still a lot of people that we hardly ever reach. The best way to get people to know your business and get your contact details is for people to see your products physically and love them.
I learnt that it is good for people to see your products and actually hear you talking about them and as they see the products physically people are drawn and desire to really try the products for themselves and also recommend them to their friends, colleagues, family and community.
FRESH PRODUCE
You will definitely note the difference when you get fresh produce. You will be lured by the the colorful flowers, vegetables, fruits and plants and you will be surprised just how much this opens your mind to new products you never knew you loved.
This can add variety to your dishes and meal planning for you as a mother and create meal plans that last the family for some weeks.
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GET CONTACT DETAILS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
It may happen that some of the products at the farmers market are not really something that you need at the moment. So the best thing to do is to get contact details from the companies or growing businesses or vendors so that you are able to contact them when you need them in future.
I noticed beautiful African print material that i know for sure i will be purchasing from the market or the lady selling them in the future to create beautiful outfits for the family.
RESTAURANT AND CAFE
There is a restaurant too at our local farmers market area that operates during week days and also operates during the farmers market day which is the last Saturday of every month.
Enjoy sitting, sipping coffee or tea while you also enjoy a meal as you watch a community exchange products that you have bought yourself or will be buying after your meal. I refer to the Dish Cafe at Computronics In Mbabane along Somhlolo Road In Eswatini Mbabane.
OFF SCREEN TIME FOR THE FAMILY
I really cannot emphasize the importance of off screen time for the family. There have been many distractions causing families to focus on TV, social media and family time has been neglected so much.
What is worse is that we are actually defending our focus on other things like growing our pages and focussing less on the people we are responsible for raising by taking time to be present with them, travel with them, show and teach them the way we desire them to grow up and be. At least there should be a balance where our household get the attention deserved.
When it is month end and you desire an activity to do with your children, take them out of the house and spend time with them while you keep your phone only for pictures and not let the phone take your presence from enjoying the moments.
I must mention there are plenty of stalls at the farmers market that may spark interest in you that i may not have mentioned here. More reason to explore this farmers market for yourself.
Would you consider spending a few hours of your time at the local farmers market?
Wrapped In Love,
Futhi Mkhwanazi
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