My Own Farmer's Market

Do you have older folks in your life that recall the halcyon days of their youth, or their longings for old ways or times? They will wistfully begin their prospective narrative with a "back when I was a lad," or "when I was a young girl." I realize at this stage of my life, I am one of those older folks that drifts off into narratives about my own good old days.

Bill Miller, Miller's Dairy, Lemon Grove

Before there were "farmer's market's" there were dairies around town that operated "drive thru's". When I was newly married, Miller Dairy in Lemon Grove was a going concern. Imagine buying milk within sight and smell of the cows that produced it. It seems only right to buy milk right from the farmer and his very conspicuously present herd. I loved it. And oh the milk...it was rich and delicious. My favorite dinner in those days was Miller's Dairy milk and a Fillipi's pizza picked up on the way home.

Mission Valley before the freeways

In my "younger days" Mission Valley was still farms and dairies. I read that Ted Williams used to go fishing and hunt ducks down at the foot of Texas St. My brother and I used to fish those ponds too. Things look so very different now, but back in the day, one could go to the the farmer's market which was operated by the farmer himself; usually out of the back of his truck on the apron of the fields he tilled. Mission Valley was full of such little farms. Farmer's markets used to be just stands on the land the farmer owned. Funny to think about it, but Chino's farms is really a piece of living history of the way farmers used to exist. The only thing is, today people shop at Tom and Kay Chino's marvelous little, world famous, "farm stand" in Gucci loafers, and take their produce away in Range Rovers and Ferrari's. It isn't at all unusual to rub elbows with celebrity chefs while picking out your brussel's sprouts. My, how things have changed.

Farmer Tom Chino at his world famous little farm stand

While I am certainly a fan of old school farm stands, and I do my best to support them, organized farmer's markets have become wildly popular. And why not? It is a bit like going to the fair, the swap meet, the nursery, the farm stand, and often times a concert, all rolled into one. I love going to farmer's markets; so much so, when I am out of town I will investigate whether there are markets open during my stay. I have shopped them from Big Bear to Monterey, from Carmel to Cambria, and all points in between.

Carmel farmer's market

Carmel farmer's market

One of my all time favorite markets is the Carmel event held every Thursday. It is small, but well stocked, in a lovely part of town, and has a great variety of goods for sale. You know, you might even run into Clint Eastwood or Doris Day. When I ponder why I like the Carmel market and others like it throughout the state, I began to analyze why I like it so much. There is socializing. There are colorful and oh, so fresh crops. Invariably, there is some kind of music playing; usually live music. There are plants for sale: orchids, ornamentals, succulents, edibles. Cut flowers fill buckets awaiting a lover of beauty to escort them home. There are eggs, cheese, honey, and other products that are so healthful and delicious. There is scrumptious food! Food glorious food.

Why do I call my nascent business SoCal Urban Farmer? Here is why. I realize that I want to philosophically and realistically turn my piece of earth and home regardless of size into my own farmer's market. My desire is to incorporate all the elements that compose a great farmer's market into my own small space, and I want to encourage you to catch the dream and do it for yourself too.

I like to socialize. I love people and hospitality. Tea and conversation are all too rare these days! I want to raise my own beautiful crops. I want my own chickens with multi-colored free range eggs. I want orchids and beautiful ornamentals brightening my garden. I want music, great food, and wine to gladden my heart, and the hearts and souls of my guests. I want to bring cut flowers from the garden into the house in a seamless celebration of beauty and nature. That is what I envision for myself. My own complete farmer's market as a daily part of my life.

What is your dream? "Without a vision, the people perish."