To this day on any given Saturday, you can find Hummel, clipboard in hand, hopping from booth to booth to ensure that everyone has everything they need. The first year of the market Hummel managed 20 vendors. The second year she had 60, and this year she has 72. As the market continues to grow, she does all she can to ensure its continued success. In addition to working a 40-hour week at her full-time job, Hummel spends 15 to 20 hours each week coordinating vendors and preparing her own goods for the market. She sells herbs, peppers, mosaics, sunflowers and zinnias in her booth. She also attends classes for six weeks each year to keep up with the latest information for vendors at the market. She learns about everything from new farming methods and health department guidelines to proper livestock slaughtering and marketing. “You can never have enough education,” she said. Hummel said the market is all about the vendors, and she attributes its success to them. She said it is a great place to try to launch a business, and she encourages vendors to market themselves while they’re out there. Flourishing farm Lori Moses, co-owner of Double Oak Farm, does just that. When her children went from being home-schooled to parochial school, she started selling her produce at the market to help pay tuition.
July 2010 • she magazine
page 17