Tag: Farmers market

A Land of Lost Manners

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I have been working at my local farmers market selling produce for the past 5 years. I work every Sunday from 9am to 1pm. During my 5 years I have questioned something that I still have yet to find an answer to. Why are people so rude?

Are manners something that were just not learned or taught and just forgotten? Or never taught at all? Clearly the lack of manners crosses all generations, not just the young and socially inept teens but also the old farts.

Photo Credit: http://www.rodamarketing.com

Working as a vendor has given me insight on being behind the cash register. Now I’m not saying that there isn’t ever any nice people who come to the market because there are. I have met incredible and amazing people. However, in all of the Sundays I have ever worked, I have never gone a day without encountering at least one rude customer. Normally I just ignore it and get over it because it is just something that comes with the job. However, today I had a situation with a customer that really just annoyed me. It’s weird because this situation that happened is normal and isn’t even close to the worst thats happened.

Photo Credit: http://cdn.maypalo.com

Today towards the end of the market this lady came up asking to buy some carrots, I told her the price and she asked for a plastic bag. I said the same thing which I say every sunday to more than half of customers that buy items that are not loose or weighable, ” I’m sorry but I can’t give you a bag for that. I can only give bags for weighable items or loose items because of the ” No Plastic Bag” ordinance.  Now most people usually are annoyed and roll their eyes but eventually get over it. However, this lady kept pestering me for a bag saying things like, ” Just give it to me, I wont tell anyone”. It wasn’t even that big of a deal, it was one bag. But it was the way she was talking and how she kept asking, even after I told her that it was a set law that I couldn’t give her one. Finally she gave up begging for a plastic bag, she threw her carrots on the table and told me, ” Fine, if your going to be like that I don’t want to buy your carrots.” I said okay and she walked away.

I just started laughing after. No matter how many times I see it I can’t help but think how funny and ridiculous it is the way people react over such pointless things.

Everytime it happens I just ask myself how people are okay with themselves when they are so rude to people that they don’t even know. I feel like I am working in a land of lost manners.

Farmers Markets

Daphne PsaledakisLeave a comment

One of the underrated aspects of American culture is the farmers market. Most towns or cities have one, and most often they sell things like organic fruit, handmade soaps or clothing, and delicious  desserts. In my opinion at least, they’re all pretty good, and definitely affordable.

Most everybody these days has realized that the healthier the food is that you buy, the more expensive it is. Example #1: Whole Foods. While it’s delicious, and unquestionable healthy, it can cost up to 200 dollars for a single bag of food.

That’s ridiculous.

As a result, many people forsake healthy food and decide instead to go with the cheaper, more filled-with-preservatives option. What they don’t realize, is that they could get the organic veggies and homemade natural goods at a much cheaper price – and much fresher. Enter farmers markets.

Farmers markets generally take up a block or two, and are crammed full of different sorts of stands. Many of them sell fresh produce. Others include homemade gelato, honey, soap, clothing, and the ever-important desserts. What’s especially nice about it, besides the fact that it’s all delicious, is that it’s affordable. Prices aren’t marked up to the jaw-dropping expense you would find the same items for at Whole Foods.

For those looking for a healthy alternative, of the less expensive variety, I highly recommend you visit your weekly farmers market. You might be surprised at what your hometown locals can offer you.

A Time for Change.

yrreskrap2 Comments

Change is healthy.

Today, before I left the dorms for the Ojai Farmer’s Market, I made a spur of the moment decision to change my room around. My bed has been rearranged. My dresser once cluttered with various cosmetics and toiletries is now bare, my small pink and white refrigerator brandishing those same perfumes and toothbrushes.

It feels good.

I spent a large part of my day cleaning and reorganizing and reopening and removing. I usually feel a need for this sort of change at the end of the school year in the dormitories.

Today was different though.

As I am beginning to sum up my five years at Ojai Valley School, writing the last pages of my high school days, priming for the next chapter of my life, I am slowly growing more anxious, scared, and unsure.

What is undeniable is my insatiable desire to graduate. 

I don’t know what it is. A part of me does not want to leave, knowing how much I will miss this place, a part has been growing since September. I guess I am scared to leave this small hill that blessed me with so many happy, great memories but, I think I am too scared to leave the people I love so much behind.

But time is surely passing by faster this year…

I only wish that I make sure this year is great. I am happier than I ever was with my friends and the people I surround myself with. And I want to leave feeling elated and proud.

COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that is what I cannot get off my mind. Where will I GO!? I find out the results of my Early Evaluation application to Wellesley College. But after that, I have another dreaded MONTH of waiting for results. Goodness gracious. The college process is absolutely dreadful. Hopefully, great news will unfold in the upcoming weeks!!

Wish Me Luck.

 

Farmers Market

venturatreker1 Comment


Every Sunday is the farmers market, most towns have these.  For me we have one within walking distance right in the harbor.  Except I never go.  Yesterday though, I went, and it was really nice.

It brought back memories from when I was younger and we would go every weekend to pick up our local produce.  These days though it has changed quite a bit, it has grown about twice as big and has more than just produce.

The entire front section is now devoted to street vendors selling  homemade wares and kettle korn stalls.

In the central area there is now a live band every sunday, an espresso bar and you can go down to the wharf to buy fresh fish the fishermen caught just that morning.

It was really nice to finally go back to the farmers market after its been almost a year since last I went.