Photo Credit - Wayne Dementi www.dementimilestonepublishing.com
The Goochland Farmers Market started out as a project for the Center for Rural Culture. The question was raised by its board members – “What does it mean to be rural?” County residents were surveyed, and the response was as varied as the people that were surveyed! There was an underlying message, though. People felt that a farmers market best exemplified what it meant to be “rural”. The idea for a market came out of those surveys.
The Center for Rural Culture ran two pilot markets in 2005, both of which were warmly received and highly successful. With a small, dedicated, all volunteer staff of some of the hardest working people on the planet…the 2006 season was launched as a weekly Saturday market in May of 2006. The Market ran as a “destination market” for customers in the greater Richmond metropolitan area, but attracted folks from as far away as Charlottesville, Chesterfield, New Kent, Fluvanna, Buckingham, Powhatan, Louisa, Hanover and Henrico.
For customers seeking a “rural experience”, the Market offered farm and artisan products that were unique and sustainably produced, in an environment that gently informed them about the value of rural character in the community. It showed people how the land was sustained, and from where they got their food and artisan crafts. Rural music was offered by local musicians, and demonstrations were given by wood-turners and bee-keepers. By all accounts, the first year received high marks from customers, vendors, and community members.
The 2007 Market Season offered up many challenges for the already stretched volunteer board. There were still only a few very dedicated board members who were willing and able to tackle the daunting task of another 26-week Market Season. Somehow, every hurdle was overcome.
The Center for Rural Culture received a small grant to help off-set the cost of hiring a part-time Market Manager. When one door shut, another door opened. Everything seemed to fall into line somehow. In May of 2007, the Goochland Farmers Market opened its second full season. After having to move the market from its Centerville location, the CRC board and the Market’s vendors were a little bit unsure of how much traffic would drive by and stop at the new location in Goochland Courthouse, which is about 20 miles farther west of Centerville. Located on the grounds of this beautiful church, the site offers many charming rural features – big, old shade trees, picnic tables and plenty of open space for customers and vendors to mingle on Market Day.
From opening day, vendors and customers alike have seen tremendous growth and success. Throughout the summer, local singers and musicians played their instruments and sang songs; we had local artisans demonstrate painting and pottery turning; we had a clown and lots of other children’s entertainment; we had local chefs demonstrate their cooking skills; we held a community-wide Pie Auction. The Market brought a sense of community to the Village of Goochland Courthouse. It brought many reasons to stop the car to explore the rural charm of a real country farm market. It brought a boost to our local economy and a reason to come to Goochland from the city.
We participated in a USDA Farmers Market Week promotion, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which brought us over 100 new customers from the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Region. The Market’s third full season opened in May of 2008. The season brought as many as 20,000 customers to Goochland to visit the market. (We were recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as one of the organizations in the county that brought in the highest number tourists in 2008). We had several more entertainers playing music, which added to the wonderful atmosphere of the market.
Comments such as “This place has great energy” were overheard by many. Our popular “Kid’s Days” were introduced, bringing many young entrepreneurs to the market with products that they had grown or made themselves. We adopted “Atlas”, a beautiful white alpaca, as our mascot. We also held two special Holiday Markets after the official market season ended, indoors at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Local businesses benefited greatly from the steady flow of traffic streaming into the County. It was a great season!
THE FUTURE - HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The Center for Rural Culture looks to provide Market customers with a unique, rural experience, while providing them with fresh, local, sustainably grown food and artisan made crafts, thus sustaining the rural culture of Goochland and the surrounding region. We hope you will share in our dream of an even larger Market for 2009. We couldn’t have come this far without a very dedicated and talented Board of Directors, a great number of passionate volunteers, a dedicated and talented Market Manager, our generous Market Sponsors and donors, our talented entertainers, our wonderful and dedicated vendors, and most importantly – our customers.
There are many ways that you can offer assistance for next year’s successful Market Season: we need volunteers to assist on Market Days, we need entertainers and musicians or help with children’s activities; we need expertise in marketing and media; we need writers to contribute to our newsletter; we need sponsorships and CRC memberships.
If you, or someone you know may be interested in assisting in any way, please email Lisa Dearden admin@centerforruralculture.org, or call the CRC @ 804-314-9141 for more information. Thank you all for your support of the Goochland Farmers Market.
