Read more about the successful launch which took place on 31st May
A year ago some members of our wee village got together and decided to try and bring some life back into our community particularly for our children and young people by developing a youth club. The venue would be the village hall which was hardly ever used however we realised that we would require funds to set up the youth club as well as ongoing costs. Amongst our small group we were aware that one or two people were producing foodstuffs like eggs, pork, preserves and fantastic cakes and from there we decided that a Farmers Market might be an exciting venture for us to bring the community together, reduce isolation and create funds for our youth club!
After researching our ideas for six months and visiting other similar markets we applied to Scotland UnLtd for start up costs and ongoing volunteers costs - we were visited by Thomas McAlister who was very supportive and a while later we were told we had been awarded £3620 to develop the Farmers Market! The money has paid for signage, advertising and paint to decorate the hall inside and out, over 10 volunteers were involved in this process from the age of 12-83 years old.
The market was officially launched on Sunday 31st May 2009 and was due to open at 11am - we had people waiting to come in from 10.30am to buy the items from the 13 stalls inside the hall and of course treat themselves to tea, coffee and a homemade scone and jam.
Over 250 people attended the market, all the stalls were busy particularly a young girl from the village who recently lost her job and used her unemployment benefit to pay for her stall and the materials for her paintings and cards. She has secured 4 commissions for her work as an artist, handed out 78 business cards and has booked her stall in advance for next month as have eight other stallholders! Or an elderly neighbour of mine who lost her husband the week before arriving at the hall by herself but before long talking to other neighbours over a cup of tea.
As a community group we used some of our money to buy fruit and vegetables from a local producer and sell at a cut price to local people - the stall was sold out in an hour!
It was a great feeling to see so many local people from our village and our local area in the village hall talking, laughing and getting a bargain. The local kids helped out on hte stalls and with the teas and coffees alongside their grans, grandads, mums and dads. It was hard work but well workth the effort when we saw the looks on peoples faces.
