When thoughts about the spring and a Farmer’s Marketwere being discussed for Quitman, PJ and I were asked if we would like to be in charge.  Hmmmmmmm…..working every weekend was not on my agenda as I am retired.  But, as we talked about it, brainstormed it, and prayed about it (yes, we needed higher wisdom for this undertaking), we decided we would do it.  Why?  Well, it seemed an excellent way to be able to accomplish what we were trying to do!  Create more community support and togetherness!  But, we decided to change it up a bit!

If you know either of us very well, then you know we both like to think and color outside of the box.  Why have it on Saturday like most do, and compete with them?

 

 

Why not have it on Sunday afternoons?  Why not have it at our Jim Hogg Park and enjoy the pavilion and basketball courtsand splash pad and new musical area?  Why not create a fun atomosphere with music and demonstrations?  Why not have a swap meet area too?  Why not?

The Sunday Market in the Park idea began!  A place to gather on Sundays and have a chance to 

see old friends and meet new friends

enjoy seeing children and grandchildren play together in a safe enviornment

learn new skills through demonstrations that will be offered

play some games with others, both table games and sporting games

hear local entertainment

shop and sell local

attend an outdoor worship hour at 11 with visiting churches and speakers

learn more about local organizations and social groups as they are featured

So yes!  We are doing our “not your normal farmer’s market” and we hope you come out and be a part of it!  It begins April 11 and continues through mid-September.  If you’d like to volunteer or want to know more, please let us know!  We’ll be there every Sunday…if the creek don’t rise …

Hope to see you there!

Ilavu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are all looking forward to a New Year and New Beginnings.  What a year 2020 turned out to be for so many reasons!  But so thankful we have a new beginning to look forward to, be it a new year, a new month, new week, or even a new morning!

 

PJ and I are looking forward to new things at HomeGrownetx!   After the great Hometown Christmas event where so many local vendors had an opportunity to show off their local goods, we realized what an opportunity we could offer to local suppliers.  We are in the planning stages for at least six events this year, every other month, to have some fun and showcase just what is available in our area.  Many of our vendors were able to reach so many people on that magical Christmas Saturday evening in December where the square in Quitman was filled with smiling faces and families and laughter!  We feel it really epitomized what we are trying to do–to bring local suppliers and buyers together!

Working as a community is getting more and more important daily.  We need each other to depend on.  We can help each other in times of need, and we can celebrate with each other when there has been success.  Buying and selling locally helps more than just the two people involved.  In fact, it can affect the whole community.  I had always heard a tale about my Great Grandfather, Press Farmer, who had acquired a $20 gold piece from renting out a cornfield to a horse-trader passing through the Fort Worth area in the 1870’s.  He took it to town to show everyone, the first money many had seen in four years,  and one friend said, “Let’s brand it!”  Press then took the branded gold piece to pay one of his creditors, Dr. Burts, who had attended his family all during the Civil War without being paid one cent.  Press felt good about paying off one of his debts and stayed in town for a while.  He was getting ready to leave, and he heard a man yell out, “Hey Press, I’ve got something for you!”  He wanted to pay part of his debt to Press, and he handed him the same $20 branded gold piece.  All the male citizens of the town were on the square and they got to counting just how many times that gold piece had paid debts that day.  It had changed hands 10 times that day, from the good Dr. to the feed store to the mercantile to the blacksmith, and all the way back to Press.  That one coin paid $200 in debts that day!  That’s community support at it’s best!

Here’s an opportunity for you to shop local! 

There will be a “Let Me Call You Sweetheart Market” February 13tfrom 10-2 at the Speakeasy Coffeehouse in Quitman upstairs.  Here you will be able to find unique and special Valentine gifts for that special someone !  Or, you can look on the website and see what is available and order ahead of time and pick it up that day! Many of the other store fronts will be having specials that day too, so think about buying in Quitman rather than on-line.  We might have to get a few $20 bills ourself and mark them that morning and see just how far around town they can travel.

Only Happiness and Health to you and yours this 2021,

Ila Vu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are all looking forward to a New Year and New Beginnings.  What a year 2020 turned out to be for so many reasons!  But so thankful we have a new beginning to look forward to, be it a new year, a new month, new week, or even a new morning!

 

PJ and I are looking forward to new things at HomeGrownetx!   After the great Hometown Christmas event where so many local vendors had an opportunity to show off their local goods, we realized what an opportunity we could offer to local suppliers.  We are in the planning stages for at least six events this year, every other month, to have some fun and showcase just what is available in our area.  Many of our vendors were able to reach so many people on that magical Christmas Saturday evening in December where the square in Quitman was filled with smiling faces and families and laughter!  We feel it really epitomized what we are trying to do–to bring local suppliers and buyers together!

Working as a community is getting more and more important daily.  We need each other to depend on.  We can help each other in times of need, and we can celebrate with each other when there has been success.  Buying and selling locally helps more than just the two people involved.  In fact, it can affect the whole community.  I had always heard a tale about my Great Grandfather, Press Farmer, who had acquired a $20 gold piece from renting out a cornfield to a horse-trader passing through the Fort Worth area in the 1870’s.  He took it to town to show everyone, the first money many had seen in four years,  and one friend said, “Let’s brand it!”  Press then took the branded gold piece to pay one of his creditors, Dr. Burts, who had attended his family all during the Civil War without being paid one cent.  Press felt good about paying off one of his debts and stayed in town for a while.  He was getting ready to leave, and he heard a man yell out, “Hey Press, I’ve got something for you!”  He wanted to pay part of his debt to Press, and he handed him the same $20 branded gold piece.  All the male citizens of the town were on the square and they got to counting just how many times that gold piece had paid debts that day.  It had changed hands 10 times that day, from the good Dr. to the feed store to the mercantile to the blacksmith, and all the way back to Press.  That one coin paid $200 in debts that day!  That’s community support at it’s best!

Here’s an opportunity for you to shop local! 

There will be a “Let Me Call You Sweetheart Market” February 13tfrom 10-2 at the Speakeasy Coffeehouse in Quitman upstairs.  Here you will be able to find unique and special Valentine gifts for that special someone !  Or, you can look on the website and see what is available and order ahead of time and pick it up that day! Many of the other store fronts will be having specials that day too, so think about buying in Quitman rather than on-line.  We might have to get a few $20 bills ourself and mark them that morning and see just how far around town they can travel.

Only Happiness and Health to you and yours this 2021,

Ila Vu