Spring Has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung

Take a peek into what the Iowa City Farmers Market is about.

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Dancers on pointe

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The ins and outs of Breathe Collection

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Picnic 101

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Fresh outta Iowa

Let’s start thrifting!

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04

12 What’s new

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from the editor: Dear Reader, I’m glad you’re here right now, reading this issue of Spring Has Sprung. Whether you’ve been doing school online or in person, this year has been tough. While we could dwell on those tough times, I think our time would be better spent looking forward to the upcoming summer. With so many things to do after being cooped up in our homes for so long, this issue will highlight many things to look forward to.

Speaking of something to look forward to, starting on page 8 you’ll find our cover story on the Iowa City Farmers Market, outlining the many vendors and why customers enjoy the market.

Is one of your favorite summer activities thrifting? It’s become increasingly popular in recent years specifically with the younger generation, see why and its positive effects starting on page 12.

As the 2020-2021 school year comes to an end and the 2021-2022 year approaches, many will be going back to a renovated school. Find pictures of the new additions to West High on page 14.

Thank you and enjoy reading!

Zaira Ahmad

Meet the Staff: Zaira Ahmad Editor in Chief, Writer, and Designer

Alexandra Filerio Writer and Designer

Sophie Richardson Photographer and Writer

Defne Bayman Photographer and Designer

Helen Cui Designer

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Dancers On Pointe Take a peek into the 2021-2022 school year Dance Team tryouts at West High, starting with the first two clinics and ending with finals.

I was extremely impressed when all of the dancers went into full splits because I’ve danced with many of these people and I still can’t do my full splits. Kudos to them!

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Stretching Out: The dancers go into a kneeling quad stretch This was when the dancers split into two groups for a jazz before starting to learn the routine. routine. From a photographers persepective, I loved how they had a jump reaching up in the routine, it’s so cinematica and I thrive off of it.

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Synchronized Leaps: With their backs to the camera, dancers Taylor Stevens and Ava Waddilove leap and demonstrate their flexibility while staying suspended in the air.

Keeping On Your Toes: The dancers show their technical skills to the judges by lifting their legs to the air while staying balanced on their other foot.

Suspended In Air: To show off flexibility and more technical skills, the dancers take turns doing aerials, staying suspended in the air with nothing but their trust in themselves.

Success Together: The dancers congratulate each other for a completed tryout after doing their improv dances across the gym floor. However, they also keep an eye on the judges for their reactions, which will decide whether they join West’s Dance Team.

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The ins and outs of Breathe Collection Being a student in today’s day in age is already a challenge in itself, but running a small business on top of that is a stress circus. Ruba Ahmed ’22 does it all as she juggles running her small business Breathe Collection and her schoolwork.

Ruha Ahmed ‘22 Ahmed’s Instagram: @breathecollection.iowa Photo used with permission

One of Ruba’s masks from Breathe Collection. This specific mask has a white, embroidered face upon the grey fabric.

Photo used with permission

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Ruba sold her first mask in mid-January when she was “testing the waters” of starting a small business.

In the midst of quarantine and all the extra free time, Ruba decided to start making masks when her family bought sewing and embroidery machines.

As she started giving the masks away as gifts, Ruba’s friends encouraged her to start a business. At first, she was unsure about the idea of having to handle her own line of work but eventually decided that she had nothing to lose.

“I gave them to people as gifts and stuff, and they thought it was pretty cool. So they were like, ‘Why don’t you just make a business?’” Ruba said. “I was pretty scared because I didn’t know anything about entrepreneurship, so I was kind of hesitant at the beginning, but then I was like, ‘I have nothing to lose, I’m literally in high school, nothing’s gonna happen,’ so I just went for it.”

While naming her business, Ruba kept a specific word in mind. As chaos erupted during 2020, she constantly reminded herself to breathe, always keeping a calm mentality. Ruba decided that was the message she wanted to convey—her business would be a point of positivity during a challenging time. Thus, the name Breathe Mask Collection was created.

After coming up with a business name, it was time for Ruba to start advertising and selling masks. She began by placing her products in stores such as Al Salam to see who would buy them. Through trial and error, Ruba learned the best way to sell her products was directly to the customers through contacting and social media.

“I left some also in the store just to see who would buy them.

That wasn’t as successful as direct to customers, so I started to do that.” Ruba said.

Not only did Ruba learn the best way to sell her masks, but she also learned how to grab customers’ attention. At the beginning of her advertising journey, Ruba decided to create an Instagram account where she could reach many more individuals.

“At the beginning especially, my friends and I would post my account on our stories, and our story viewers would be able to click on the posts we shared,” Ruba said. “Then they would look at my account, and it just spread through conversations and people talking to each other.”

Once Ruba had figured out how to start her business, she came across other challenges she had to face—one being time management.

“Making a mask is a pretty time-consuming activity.

Also, just photographing the masks and making posts and making sure they’re all perfect and fitting my aesthetic,” Ruba said. “But I feel like it’s helping me manage my time.”

While juggling school and her buisness is a challenge, Ruba enjoys taking time to make masks when school gets tough. She not only sees it as productive, but as a “mental break” during a school day.

“Just having that creative outlet when I am in the middle of a math problem, there’s something productive that I can do but also just kind of a mental break,” Ruba said. “It’s pretty fun to cut fabric and sew it together and have a finished product.”

Muhammed Ahmed ‘28, Ruba’s younger brother, feels that her business is a distraction but also sees the positive qualities it brings to her life.

“I think it’s a good idea for her to make masks, but it kind of distracts her from her school stuff,” Muhammed said. “I think it’s not a bad idea, it teaches her how to run a business and responsibility, as long as it doesn’t distract her too much.”

Creating unique products is something Ruba aims to do. With her customizable masks, customers are able to find products that match their style.

“My goal is to just provide something unique and elegant for people to buy. I think it’s hard to find something that’s your style just in any place,” Ruba said. “I want to have this personalized option that you can give as meaningful gifts.”

Through running Breathe Collection, Ruba has been able to break out of her shell and try something she’s never done before. “[I want] to be able to put myself out there and be able to interact with people that I don’t know,” Ruba said. I’ve never had an actual job, so I feel like I need that experience of interacting with people and creating connections.”

Clare Loussaert ‘21, a friend and customer of Ruba’s, feels that her business accurately reflects her perfectionist mentality.

“I’ve always known Ruba to be a perfectionist. So I think that her masks reflect that because they’re very professional,” Loussaert said. “I think she really strives to make them as perfect as she does with most things.”

As mask mandates change, Ruba sees herself transitioning from making masks to making clothing, keeping the same goal in mind: creating unique and elegant pieces that fit any customer’s style.

“I think I’m going to pivot towards embroidering clothing,” Ruba said. “Something unique that you wouldn’t find in a random big chain store.”

While Ruba continues her journey of running a small business, she lets others know that it is never too late to start something new.

“I think a lot of people believe that you have to start a hobby when you’re young, but this just started on a random Saturday in the middle of a pandemic. I started making a mask, and I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool,’ so I made a bunch of other masks and started selling them. It seems scary, but it’s really not that hard,” Ruba said. “I encourage everyone to start their own business if they have an idea. Even if you think it’s stupid, just ask people, it’s probably something that’s useful and can grow in the future.”

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PICNIC101 There’s a Right Way to Picnic?

Before I started researching picnic etiquette I thought that it was just going to be about how to fit the movie version of picnics. The red gingham blanket and the woven picnic basket with some sort of sandwich but to my surprise all of the picnic etiquette is to benefit you and the people around you. The rules are also pretty loose. Jokes on me for not trusting in the internet.

Basic Picnic Etiquette: icnic basket p a d n a r le o o c nd Bring a your drinks cold a

ep r So that you can ke t it would be bette u b d o fo r u o y f o ll carry a od icnic basket or a fo p a t e g ld u co u o if y mpartment co g n ti ra e ig fr re a carrier that has

Keep all your stuff in a specific area (can be marked by yo ur blanket) and keep your dog on a le ash You should do this so th at you don’t disrupt people who aren’t in yo ur picnicking group but are still in your gene ral vicinity

Another thing to do that will benefit people around you is for you to set up your stuff that you bring along with yo u a pretty decent distance away from othe r people’s stuff

Bring foods that don’t have sauces or curries

You need to limit sa uces and food wa ste so that you have an easier time cleanin g up and if you can’t cl ean it up you don ’t leave as much of a mess in the place that y ou had the picnic

r children Make sure to keep you a and to close to your picnic are keep your eyes on them the

portant for This rule is extremely im rs and also for the ke ic cn pi r he ot of y ac iv pr safety of your children ics like parks and cn pi r fo es ac pl on m om C eeps so you really beaches have a lot of cr on your kids need to keep your eyes

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Fresh Outta Iowa

here’s a subtle breeze that blows through your hair as you traverse the stalls of many different vendors. You hear the conversations of customers as they talk amongst themselves while shopping. A crowd of people litter the nearby patch of grass as they eat and drink the items they’ve purchased. You’re in the farmers market, a familiar place to many Iowans come spring and fall.

The Iowa City Farmers Market is open two days a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays in downtown Iowa City. It is known as the largest farmers market in Johnson County with over 150 vendors on Saturday mornings. The Farmers Market houses vendors who sell items ranging from baked goods to Iowan grown plants and vegetables.

Many will notice The Farmers Market is organized and well kept. One of the many people behind this is coordinator Tammy Neumann. Neumann has been working as the Administrative Secretary for Parks and Recreation since 2005.

While there are many aspects of the market Neumann loves, one of her favorites is all the different people that come out to the market.

“You really get to know them, and you get close to some.” Neumann said. “Sometimes when I’m leaving, and I look back at the crowd and everything, it’s just a very proud moment.”

After COVID-19 struck the community, The Farmers Market planned to close down for 2020. This was up until an organization called Field to Family contacted Neumann with an idea to partner up.

“They had the computer program and such to run an online market,” said Neumann. “We partnered with them for the whole summer and ran an online market.”

“

You really get to know them, and you get close to some.”

-Tammy Neumann

Plants for Sale: Two customers buy herbs and vegetables from a vendor near the front of the parking lot that hosts the market.

Brunch at the Market: Another customer hopes to get some food for bunch, standing in front of a food vendor who is working on

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gathering the products out of their open trunk.

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The online market did unexpectedly well with about 600 orders on the first day. However, with larger numbers of people came challenges that had to be faced.

“We found out very quickly that that was a lot for us to manage,” Neumann said. “That first week we had 600 orders but learned very quickly that we had to cut them off at a certain point.”

The first Iowa City Farmers Market was held in 1972 at City Park with 13 vendors. This year the market is back in person and receives about 500 customers on Wednesday nights and 4000 customers Saturday mornings.

During a normal year, Saturday markets would have 100 vendors. This year, it has been cut down to 70. Wednesday night markets struggle with only 13 vendors every night.

after COVID, “ Especially it’s just nice to see everyone out and about, together.”

-Jen

After last year’s virtual farmers market, many customers have been excited to be back in person—two of these customers are Jen and Mystic. Jen and Mystic have been attending the market for about five years. After a long year of maks and social distancing, the pair is happy to say that The Farmers Market has brought back a sense of community.

“Especially after COVID, it’s just nice to see everyone out and about, together,” said Jen.

The variety of food offered is one of the main reasons people attend the market. Dana Van Der Heide, another customer, feels The Farmers Markets breakfast is one of the best things you can get there.

Van der Heide believes the market has been a great place for her and many others to reconnect with loved ones and friends especially after not having seen each other in a while.

¨The market is a good meeting place for the people of Iowa City,” said Van der Heide.

The Farmers Market has many functions and benefits. It not only assists the local economy and farmers, but allows customers to learn about the local politics.

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“People are always coming and talking about political issues that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.¨ Van der Heide said.

Along with the numerous vendor stalls in the parking ramp, you will find food trucks of many sorts lined up outside. Katherine and Jacob Simmering are two customers that have been attending The Farmers Market since 2015. They enjoy the market so much that they participated in last year’s online market.

Katherine and Jacob’s favorite part of The Farmers Market is being able to get breakfast from a variety of vendors and food trucks. The Simmerings recommend trying out the food trucks.

“You have to go get samples from the salsa guy and then buy some,” Katherine said.

Not only does the market provide food and political information, but support for local farmers.

Jan Locher, a loyal farmers market customer, has been attending since the very first market. The main reason Locher likes to attend The Farmers Market is because it is local. Shopping at the market supports the town of Iowa City.

¨It supports small farmers rather than giant corporations,” Locher said.

Most of the vendors and shops you see in the market are from people growing and selling products that are produced right here in Iowa.

Vendor Steve Westerham is the owner of Honey War Bee Company and took over the job after his daughter left for college. The Farmers Market allows the community to understand where their food comes from.

“I think [it’s a] chance for people to get locally grown produce,” said Westerham. “There’s a lot of organic producers here, and it’s a good chance for people to ask questions, get to know where their local produce comes from.”

Art of Nature: Trúe Chook stands by her products while offering art classes to customers.

For A Pet: The owners of Furever Bandanas pose in front of their stand, where they sell hundreds of different designs on bandanas for buyers to get for their pets.

One of the many interesting things about The Farmers Market is people watching. As vendors stand waiting for their customers, they often become accustomed to what type of customers come at what times.

One vendor who is familiar with this pattern is owner of Furever Bandanas, Mackenzie.

“I like people watching, so I think the 7:30 time is interesting,” said Mackenzie. “For my business wise, I think the 9:30 point is where people are actually starting to get out of bed and coming to shop at the other vendors that aren’t just selling produce.”

In the future, The Farmers Market sees itself growing larger. With new additions such as composting, the market will become a bigger point of positivity in the community.

Overall, The Farmers Market is a place where the community can learn about local produce, support local farmers, interact, as well as grow. The market continues to expand, so in the meantime, head to the Iowa City Farmers Market while it’s still open to enjoy the many things it has to offer!

Leafy Greens: Customers line up in front of a vendor selling plants of all kinds.

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Customer Recommendations

A Pleasing Display: The jams and jellies for sale

by Skyline Farm are arranged in a smooth display on the stand.

lemon pancakes enchiladas quessadillas rubarb egg rolls

Floral Decor: The owner of NowADays Sudio poses in front of their works

Coffee with the Sun: The owners of Cafe del Sol pose in front of their stand.

wake up Iowa City coffee salsa

donuts

corn jamaican jerk

The Beauty of Nature: The owner of ‘Floral Envy’ laughs with our photographer

shipwreck sauce Tofu Truck: Outside on the road, Old Capitol Tofu is selling to new and old customers.

mini cucumbers

Outside the Market: Buyers wait outside the Farmer’s Market after buying from the stalls. Some of them sit on scattered tables while others lay on the grassy hill.

Trucks Lined Up: Buyers flood out of the parking lot where the Market is located after getting their items, and head to the food trucks to get some brunch after shopping.

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Let’s Start Thrifting!

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hen people think of thrifting people usually think old clothes, antiques, and just old in general. Well, thrifting is exactly that, reusing old clothes that people don’t want anymore and making it your own, creating your own style out of old clothes.

In today’s world, we use many one-use items from silverware to clothing. People tend to use something for a short period of time, get tired of it, and throw it out. Most of the clothing sold today follows trends and once those trends die down people throw out that clothing and factories that mass produced “trendy” clothing that were sold end up at thrift stores or in clothing pills somewhere in the word.

second hand object instead of a brand new one.

Things like clothing and furniture can be bought in good condition from thrift stores and can cost half the price a new shirt or dresser will cost at the mall.

Thifting also doesn’t always have to be about buying something for yourself. You always look for old goods and resell them at good prices if they are valuable. Things like dressers, tableware and clothing can be found at thrift stores. You can buy an older dresser give it a few touch-ups and resell it at a good price and essentially make more money from thrifting.

How clothing harms our planet

“Kitty Hawk Thrift Store” by Lance McCord is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

The benefits of thrifting?

Thifting has many benefits and not all of them are directly related to us but many are. If you thrift you are essentially saving more money than going out and buying the same things from a store. The only difference is that you will be getting a

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In the world we live in today we waste a lot. We have many items that are one-time use things, like plastic plates, cups, and silverware. We tend to use single-time use objects to make our lives earlier but in reality, we are messing with our future creating more problems for our environment and plant.

Not only are we irresponsible in how we make and use things but the way we dispose of our trash and items we no longer want is also irresponsible and harmful to our environment and planet.

Textile waste is a real problem in today’s world. We produce too much clothing (usually trying to keep up with trends), and that causes our landfills to pile up with

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shirts, pants, dresses, and more just because we made more than we need. Textile waste directly affects us and our planet since one cotton t-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water. That means in order to make 20 t-shirts we waste about 54,000 litters of water, water that is a resource not everyone has access to and we are using to make T-shirts that end up in landfills.

Thrfit Stores in Iowa

Goodwill Stuff Salvation Army Crowded closet Overflow Thrift shop Upscale Resale Ecore Thrift shop Renew Resale ship

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WHAT’S

NEW

Walking back to West High for the 2021-2022 school year, many will notice it has changed. Take a look at the new rennovations in West High and get to know the geography of the school a little better.

I took a picture closer to the building to get a good look at the new windows. I think this rennowvation made the building look a lot better. It really fills up the empty space well.

Even though this picture doesnt have any of the rennovations actually in it, I kind of got distracted and took a picture of a part of the building that I thought looked interesting. I hadn’t been to the school before this and the photo turned out pretty good so I kept it around. It’s grown on me.

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I was dead set on taking pictures of some cool rennovations but I found out that the rennovations were literally just windows. Despite all that though, I still managed to take some really nice looking pictures.

I saw some construction materials so I decided to get a closer look.

When I took a picture closer up, I got this extremely nice picture that makes West High look way more like a university than it really should be.

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