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  • From: <somersfarm AT dishmail.net>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands
  • Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 05:52:26 -0400

The way the entrance doors open on the farm stand (two doors that open from
the center) allows us to leave one half open and it ends up facing the
customers as they come up the walk way/deck to the stand. We have painted
it with chalk board paint so that we can write on it daily. During self
serve days we will have a message stating we are self serve. On the shelf
beside the scale are step by step directions for using the digital scale
which by the way can be a HUGE confusion to customers. So basically we walk
them through the weighing process and payment process. We have a locked box
which is also bolted to the wall of the stand with a slot in the top. It is
very unusual for city folks to come to any place of business and have to
wait on themselves. Some are even almost afraid to do so as they feel they
are doing something wrong!! So we have a step by step. 1. pick out your
produce 2. place on scale 3. key in the price per pound 4. we tell them
where to look on the scale for they "Pay" price.(I have noticed the scale is
confusing to the older people and to those who have never used one before.
5. add up your purchases 6. place check or cash in the box and we tell them
where the money box is, although it is plain sight :) (Have seen confusion
on that also). Also who to write the check out to.

I have tried to walk through the self serve process myself in the light of
being in a place I had not been before so that I could think of all the
things I would need to have help with the "first time". The other thing we
do to make it more convenient it to pre-bag and pre-price all we can...
spinach, beet greens, carrots, green beans etc: in either a pound or more
increments depending on what it is, so that there is less weighing and
confusion. It takes a lot of time but makes our customers happier and it is
all about convenience for them, not for us! Tomatoes, peppers, etc: still
have to be weighed.

Kathy Somers
Somers Family Farm
Barnet, VT 05821
visit us on www.facebook.com/somersfamilyfarmstand

-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Beth Spaugh
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 7:46 PM
To: 'Market Farming'
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands

Kathy - what kind of step by step instructions?

Beth Spaugh
Rehoboth Homestead, Peru NY
http://rhomestead.com http://www.facebook.com/rhomestead


"How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used." -
Wendell Berry

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe



-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
somersfarm AT dishmail.net
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 2:52 PM
To: 'Market Farming'
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands


-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Richard
Robinson
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 9:52 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands

On 9/8/2011 at 10:45:20 AM, KAKerby AT aol.com wrote:
> How many folks on this list have a farm stand? We're thinking to set one
up
> here, but it would take some effort to create a new driveway, build the
> building, etc. And wow, we've seen some really successful ones and some
real
> losers. Any guiding principles? Any good books or other information
sources
> that could help us make the most of it?

We have a small (4x8) open-air honor stand at the end of our driveway. Over
the past few
years, we've improved the parking area, but it's otherwise as we built it.
We probably
have 3-6 customers per day, and collect between $20 and $100, usually (the
most during
pumpkin and strawberry seasons, less other times). We could probably triple
or quadruple
traffic without changing anything; after that, we'd need more retail space
and better
traffic flow. Not sure if that info is any use to you!



Richard Robinson
www.nasw.org/users/rrobinson/
Hopestill Farm
www.hopestill.com


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