permaculture

[Marjory <forestgarden@gvtc.com>]

For those of you working to make a living from your land in Central Texas... here is an 
excellent method for selling your produce.  Hopefully, this market will also be an inspiration for other communities.

From Jacque Gates:

This is to tell you about a unique local farmers market opening May 14, 
2008 just west of Bastrop, Texas. Bastrop Producers Market, Inc. is an 
indoor farmers market where one person sells for many producers. It 
allows producers to sell at fair farmers market retail prices without 
sacrificing time to be at market, and without resellers. BPM, Inc. 
offers more consumers a better opportunity to buy local sustainable and 
organic products, and to become better educated about these products.

Open 5 days a week, (Wed-Fri. 11:00am-7:00pm, Sat/Sun 1-6pm) the market 
is located between FM20 and SH21, on the south side of IH71. It has been 
a green building project, using SIPs construction. Because it is open 
retail hours in an indoor setting, it will be easy to have educational 
displays. Because it opens on Tuesday afternoon for producers only to 
come and set up their bins, farmers have a chance to get together to 
visit without customers around.

Bastrop Producers Market, Inc. was created to give the serious small 
producers the boost they need to survive and expand by giving them their 
time back. At the same time, producers will have input into BPM, Inc. 
because I can’t do this without you. Primarily, we are looking for 
sustainable and organic producers that are within 150 miles of Bastrop, 
Texas. Secondarily, Texas producers that are not competition for local 
farmers, such as sustainable and organic citrus from the Valley. The 
more variety we can give the customer, the more customers will come.

BPM Inc. understands that a balance of vendors in market is important 
and will strive to maintain a balance that benefits everyone. BPM, Inc. 
is also aware of the problem with resellers in a grower’s market, and is 
sincere in the goal of making and keeping BPM, Inc. a growers only market.

My husband and I have invested our own savings to buy the land, and to 
build and run the market. To state it clearly: We care, because our 
future and money are invested locally. This is a win-win deal: we can 
help the environment and each other. BPM, Inc. intends to set a high 
standard that, with local producer's help, we will achieve and maintain.

So, come and be part of a new kind of farmers market. Bastrop Producers 
Market, Inc. will have a producers meeting on April 21st (this Monday) 
at 5:00pm at 977 Hwy 71W so you can check out the site and ask questions.