Market Farming

[Joan Vibert <joan AT windwalker-farm.com>]

October 19 will be the last day for our market, as we know it.  We have been
12 years at a beautiful location on the property of a private school in the
suburbs of south Kansas City.  The school has basically provided the space,
some structure and insurance but has also does our decision-making and left
us with less-than ideal control over the market, including our market
manager.

Last fall with the possible need to relocate in mind we secured a small
grant to do a market survey and study in order to be more informed about our
customers, their motivations, concerns, etc.  This has been extremely
helpful in our planning.  In early November we will do a final strategic
plan for the market based on the survey information.

It appears that we are moving en masse so between the 10 or so vendors we
have a good core of experience from which to draw - and lots of opinions!

We are very excited about the move.  We are the only certified organic,
grower-only market in the area (and, as we understand it, one of a few in
the country).  We will be moving towards the heart of the city where our
core customer base is located.  One of the locations we are looking at right
now is a charter school with parking lots located on the two major
crossroads of that area.  We will first of all watch the location with an
eye to infringing on the merchants available parking - we don't need to make
enemies of the merchants.  Right now the merchants are quite enthusiastic.

I suspect we will be asking lots of questions of this list and I know I can
do an archive search on some of this but I wanted to throw out a couple of
questions to get us started right now (and before someone mentions it - we
have one copy of Marcie's book, the New Farmers' Market and I'm buying a
second tomorrow - we wouldn't do a thing without it!)

One - we will have to set up a structure for our group, non-profit corp. or
something.  What kind of structure do other markets use and do they work for
you?  Is there a format you would care to share?

Two - we will have to provide liability insurance wherever we end up, most
likely, and we've heard everything from $100 to thousands annually for this
protection.  Where have you found insurance and what are you paying for it?

Any information you can pass on is greatly appreciated.  We will basically
have six months to get this all together (and, of course, continue farming).
Whew!  sort of feels overwhelming!

Joan
Windwalker Farm
Ottawa, Kansas

P.s. I hope we never have to read a personal attack again on this list - I'm
sure that Willie identified the source and blew it off but we don't need
this kind of viciousness among us.