Letter: Lakewood Spring farmers market in the planning
By Cynthia Powell, Lakewood
LAKEWOOD — A Community Farmers Market to start in Lakewood in late Spring (May) on Saturdays is in the planning. I’m working with Little Church on the Prairie to host. I’m looking for people in the community to help me with the project. For example:
- Opening day is going to be Filipino day with Filipino dancers, food, games for the children and of course farmers selling their produce.
- Second week: German day: German food, dance, games, etc.
- Third week: Latino day: Pinnate’s filled with candy for the children, Mexican dancers, food, games, etc.
So I would like to hear from people from those communities to help me get this going. Contact me, Cynthia Powell, at 253 582-1635 or PowellDandC@aol.com for more information.
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Lakewood
I see no reason why there is a need to form a competing Farmers Market in Lakewood. The one put on by the city was fantastic. I have a hard time believing there will be enough interest to sustain all of these theme days.
Oh, Our market will be much better then the one put on by the City of Lakewood! Our market will be on the week-end, when most people will be able to attend! And it will be FUN! And we will not treat volunteers badly after they do all of the work!
Oh yeah! LC Thayer works for the City of Lakewood! Conflict of interest, Sir!
Uh, no I don’t.
After reading what Mr. Thayer had to say about my idea for a different type of Community Farmers Market in Lakewood! I had a lot of time to think about it today and first I would like to say: I have had several people from the community contact me: Who want a different type of market! A market that will represent the different cultures we have in Lakewood! 2nd: We have every right to have OUR OWN Market! Not one put on by the city to make money! Yes, you have to make enough money to support a market! Do not let that be your motive for starting a market! We should be having a community market to support OUR COMMUNITY! Not make money off of our community!
I attended each farmers market as a volunteer. I even got teens to volunteer along with me. We were treated wonderfully. Free chocolate milk – how cool is that? Brandon and the Parks staff did a great job.
Anyways, the “baby steps” taken by the City for the 2012 Farmers Market were admirable. The ability to add to the 2013 market (cultural offerings, entertainment, different hours, special events, etc..) to me, will better build a sustainable market that represents a solid partnership between the community and the city. Make the existing market a little bit better each year with some new offerings.
I totally agree. It’s ludicrous to throw in the towel after one year. Every new venture has growing pains. It takes time to build a sustainable product, and it seemed that this year was about getting the project off the ground and seeing how people responded.
For what it’s worth, my attitude is not directed at the city, but rather others who have smeared the Lakewood Farmers’ Market’s name and tried to bogart the concept and start something that I highly doubt will last.
Oh, and the chocolate milk was FABULOUS.
LC Thayer
(a female, who does not work for the city, contrary to what “Cynthia” thinks).
Sounds good guys! I am working on starting my own farmers markets! It will have nothing to do with the City of Lakewood! So why don’t you go put your posts some where else, Please!
I am sure the city will have their farmers market this summer and I plan on having my own farmers market! And be able to use my own ideas of what I think a farmers market should be like! After some of the comments being made here, I do feel I need to defend myself! When I contacted the City of Lakewood several times over the years about starting a farmers market, I told the woman in charge I was willing to be in charge of the farmers market! I met with different people over the years! Finally the city of Lakewood was ready to start working on a market! I told the woman in charge that I was willing to volunteer to help if I would be a perm. board/committee member over-seeing the market! Putting together a farmers market is a lot of work! I had already been down this road with the town of Steilacoom a few years back and wasn’t going to let this happen to me again! Where I do a lot of work and then I am JUST a Vendor! I attended every meeting and did whatever I could to help! Including bringing my mother to meetings in a wheelchair! I recruited vendors! Recruited Artist to make posters,put together applications and rules for the market! Then when the market started: it was, Now you are just a vendor! Don’t feel I need to get into all of the details! If anyone ever really wants to hear the whole story, they can call me! 253 582-1635. So this is why I have decided to start my own farmers market! My last thought to city/town government agencies! In the future maybe you should listen to your volunteers! Why they are getting involved and what they expect in return!
I am so glad they gave you chocolate milk! I would like to stand corrected I thought Ms. Thayer worked for the City of Lakewood! I thought there was someone who attended all of the market meetings with me, by the name of Thayer. I am sorry if I thought you were someone else! And the New Lakewood Community Farmers Market will not be held at the Little Church on the Prairie! I have found a different spot on a busy road, with better visability!