A growing concern: Plans underway for a Bay Village Farmers Market

There are over 50 farmers markets in Northeast Ohio. It’s been reported that by increasing the amount of food we eat locally from the current 2% to around 25%, we can create more than 27,000 jobs, add $4.2 billion to the economy, and contribute $125 million in taxes. Impressive, right? But how can these statistics ever translate into an even slightly meaningful reality?

You may have heard that we “vote with our wallets.” It is also true that like almost any other kind, wallet-voting is much more difficult with incomplete or misleading information. It seems the most unsettling part of the “election” comes when you commit to making an informed decision. Can you trust the picture on the front of the box? Can you identify any ingredients on the back of the box? How long has that been in a box?! It is now time to give up and risk feeling guilty later, or continue to face the consumer anxiety head-on. Unfortunately there are so many ways to vote “wisely” that trying to do them simultaneously and consistently eventually becomes unwise.

Returning to our original question regarding the statistics, the answer is simple: literally, simplify things. We all know a good vegetable when we see one and it is generally a safe bet that any product that arrived fresh from a nearby farm is likely higher quality then something that has been sitting on a shelf. Go to the source, or better yet, meet the source halfway at a farmer’s market.

A step towards realizing these statistics and keeping pace with what the rest of the Cleveland area already knows is to have a farmer’s market designed specifically for Bay Village. Such a project will take a tremendous amount of coordination and planning (otherwise we would already have one) but it will undoubtedly be an economic, social, and even educational asset to the community.

In recent months I have been off to a good start to this process by making a plan for locating a market next to Bay Square at the former Shell gas station as an (in my opinion) ideal location. My plan includes a basic outline, possible layout, and financial considerations that are justified through online research as well as contacting experts in the area.

Apart from the overall awesomeness it would bring, there are several other features that would make this farmers market unique to Bay. These include: the ability to operate 10-12 months by providing protection from inclement weather through a pavilion; a long term goal to make a “solar canopy” by installing solar panels on the pavilion that would create an energy surplus; and finally, involving individuals and local organizations.

There are over 100 plots in the Bay Community Garden. There is tremendous opportunity for people with gardens at home as well as individuals and groups who currently use plots in the Community Garden to raise funds, connect with people, and learn a little something along the way.

If you are reading this, please take this brief survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time and will help us gauge the interest in a Bay Village farmers market.

If you would like to help organize or hear more about the market send an email to BVFMKT@yahoo.com or show up at a Bay Village Green Team meeting as it is a frequent topic of discussion.