The Great Santa Rosa Farmer's Market Controversy

[applefan]

The arguement that there are too many crafters is just bogus. Paula works to keep the market full, and there are times in the season where there is more, or less, produce that is ripe. during those times she allows more crafters in. when there is more food she makes space for food and less for crafters. Managing the market is a JOB that she has been doing well for many years. Keeping a balance requires careful planning and negotiating among many competing interests, and egos. No fair to criticize for too many crafters before the height of the season. Go in in the summer and count...

...
The real question here is who does the market serve. Do they serve the community as any 501C3 should or do they serve the market manager and the farmers who currently are in the market? If certified markets serve the farming community (as they are required to by state law), then they should give preference to local farmers, ranchers and ag producers. There should be due process for applicants and vendor termination. They should not fill up with craft vendors and resellers when there are serious local farmers who are not allowed in.

Take a look at the Sebastopol Market. If you read the city's use permit as I have, you will see that no more than 20% of the market booths can be allocated to non-farmers. And within that 20%, they must all be ag product crafts like wool or leather from animals that the farmers grew. This is not what you find so why are local farmers routinely told they cannot be in the market?

Having said that, we are not opposed to crafters or ag producers, but farmers markets should first and foremost be for farmers. If there are local farmers who cannot get thier eggs, meat, produce and fruit to customers because they can't get into a market, we all are penalized.

Dan

[rossmen]

i don't buy it. it sure looks like he set that cup right on top of a thick part of the seedling tray. i've met dan and he is a sharp guy who has made a lot of money and pissed a lot of people off trying to do good things, with his brain, i don't think he has got his hands dirty in a long time.

i am still trying to figure out this market mess. paula has put out some very precise and clear responses to specific questions about market decisions she has made in answer to dan and bloomfield bees. as far as playing rope a dope with county parks to keep venue cost low for farmers markets, good for her! but then her accounting as reported by the pd just didn't add up...

This just in privately from Dan Smith:

Barry,
Please assure your viewers that the cilantro microgreens are doing just
fine. There was spotty germination so there were bare spots. It's really
comforting to know that people were worried for my plants. How sweet!

Dan

[Peace Voyager]

This Farmer's Market mess makes me sad.

I have found things I really like about Dan; and things I really don't. I was giving him a chance to clear some things up; but don't have much hope. (Are you listening Dan? I'm very fair; and very motivated to work through these things. Please contact me.)

Let's get to something a bit bigger than a cup on seedlings. After all that's happened on John Jenkel's property and OUR hwy. 116 scenic corridor; why do you think Dan is willing to serve the "chainsaw wine" of Paul Hobbs.

I suggest we all boycott any place that wants to profit from "chainsaw wine".

https://www.gualalariver.org/vineyar...nsaw-wine.html

This will also be sad, because I love the French Garden; and all the good things Dan has done for our progressive community, such as providing space there for SC Progressive Democrats' & Transition Sebastopol meetings/events, and bringing Daniel Ellsberg in for a talk.

I'm hoping he will understand why this is so important, and make this change.

I'm hoping you will let all chainsaw wine profiteers know why you will not be giving them your business until they do. Look what happened to Rush Limbaugh when folks used the power of their voice and purchasing habits.

Also, the Bohemian did stop featuring Hobbs after some of us made some noise; then they let James Knight have ink for promoting Artesa; in the same column where he noted how controversial their west county project is.

With so many very good wineries, practicing very good watershed stewardship; there is no excuse for this. Please let the Editor and Publisher know. It's bad enough to get this stuff from the big daily paper, no one needs it from the alt. press. Again!

Much thanks,

Colleen Fernald

www.campaignforpeace.org
www.songsforaceasefire.org

i don't buy it. it sure looks like he set that cup right on top of a thick part of the seedling tray. i've met dan and he is a sharp guy who has made a lot of money and pissed a lot of people off trying to do good things, with his brain, i don't think he has got his hands dirty in a long time.

i am still trying to figure out this market mess. paula has put out some very precise and clear responses to specific questions about market decisions she has made in answer to dan and bloomfield bees. as far as playing rope a dope with county parks to keep venue cost low for farmers markets, good for her! but then her accounting as reported by the pd just didn't add up...

[wildflower]

I now boycot the Seb Farm Mkt due to my negative experience as a vendor dealing with the management of the market. I would like to see a new management team as I think Paula has used her position to further her own agendas and relationships for years. There is not much democratic, fair or unbiased about the choice of vendors and it truly is a dictatorship with a board that will ONLY back Paula's decisions.

I tried to figure this out for years and it was causing me so much stress that I had to let it go. I did really well at the market. I had locally made, well priced, original farm mkt themed wearable art that I sold. Customers LOVED my products, but I could almost never get a booth. It was very puzzling to figure out how to do this ethically. After 7 years, I gave up and now am boycotting the mkt. It's a shame, because not only was I an asset to the mkt, and have a product desired by customers but it was my only income. It was SOOOOO frustrating!

[ElizabethM]

I had a similar experience as Wildflower with the Seb. market managment. I was also very frustrated and stressed by the whole notion of dealing with Paula that I just let it go. There was something about her demeanor, and the energy of my first several attempts to connect to vend my unique, handmade ,local, natural material, Jewelry that I couldnt bring myself to call or approach her...Sad for me, sad for the friends strangers who have loved and bought my jewelry line for years and years: at the Harmony festival, The Goddess Crafts Fair,The Harbin Market, smaller private showings over the last 18 years.
Funny thing is that the African Gentleman with the baskets and then the Shea Butter lady, and of course Paulas friends, were given permanent booth spaces....right after I had been told there were very few, spaces for an entire season, Several seasons in a row.
I say CHANGE IS GOOD. I say UPGRADE. I say STAND UP. I say SPEAK UP.

I now boycot the Seb Farm Mkt due to my negative experience as a vendor dealing with the management of the market. I would like to see a new management team as I think Paula has used her position to further her own agendas and relationships for years. There is not much democratic, fair or unbiased about the choice of vendors and it truly is a dictatorship with a board that will ONLY back Paula's decisions.

I tried to figure this out for years and it was causing me so much stress that I had to let it go. I did really well at the market. I had locally made, well priced, original farm mkt themed wearable art that I sold. Customers LOVED my products, but I could almost never get a booth. It was very puzzling to figure out how to do this ethically. After 7 years, I gave up and now am boycotting the mkt. It's a shame, because not only was I an asset to the mkt, and have a product desired by customers but it was my only income. It was SOOOOO frustrating!

[Orm Embar]

While reading through this thread, I kept thinking: Wow! We are so lucky to live in an area where small farms abound . . . AND the community wants to get their food directly from those farmers. Not only that, the community wants to purchase handcrafted items made by local artisans.

Maybe the issues at hand have to do with too many vendors vying for too few market spaces? There will always be conflict when we live in community. There are many ways to deal with conflict. This current situation may have to do with individuals and the way they interact . . . or it may simply be the result of having too little space for too many vendors. I love a problem that occurs because of abundance. I'm sure we can find a way through this.

Anyone from Occupy or Transition ready to help us embrace this as a community? How do we turn this controversy into an opportunity to strengthen our connection to local food and handcrafted resources?

[oliviathunderkitty]

What a refreshing and insightful take on current market struggles. You're right on, in so many ways. When the Sebastopol farmers market moves (possibly later this year), this problem should solve itself.

While reading through this thread, I kept thinking: Wow! We are so lucky to live in an area where small farms abound . . . AND the community wants to get their food directly from those farmers. Not only that, the community wants to purchase handcrafted items made by local artisans.

Maybe the issues at hand have to do with too many vendors vying for too few market spaces? There will always be conflict when we live in community. There are many ways to deal with conflict. This current situation may have to do with individuals and the way they interact . . . or it may simply be the result of having too little space for too many vendors. I love a problem that occurs because of abundance. I'm sure we can find a way through this.

Anyone from Occupy or Transition ready to help us embrace this as a community? How do we turn this controversy into an opportunity to strengthen our connection to local food and handcrafted resources?

[Barry]

I want to point out that the comments below are from craft vendors rather than farmers. That's ironic since one of the new group's (REFM) complaints (see quote from Dan below) was that Paula let in too many non-farmers.

... They should not fill up with craft vendors and resellers when there are serious local farmers who are not allowed in.

Take a look at the Sebastopol Market. If you read the city's use permit as I have, you will see that no more than 20% of the market booths can be allocated to non-farmers. And within that 20%, they must all be ag product crafts like wool or leather from animals that the farmers grew. This is not what you find so why are local farmers routinely told they cannot be in the market?

Having said that, we are not opposed to crafters or ag producers, but farmers markets should first and foremost be for farmers. If there are local farmers who cannot get thier eggs, meat, produce and fruit to customers because they can't get into a market, we all are penalized.

Dan

I now boycot the Seb Farm Mkt due to my negative experience as a vendor dealing with the management of the market. I would like to see a new management team as I think Paula has used her position to further her own agendas and relationships for years. There is not much democratic, fair or unbiased about the choice of vendors and it truly is a dictatorship with a board that will ONLY back Paula's decisions.

I tried to figure this out for years and it was causing me so much stress that I had to let it go. I did really well at the market. I had locally made, well priced, original farm mkt themed wearable art that I sold. Customers LOVED my products, but I could almost never get a booth. It was very puzzling to figure out how to do this ethically. After 7 years, I gave up and now am boycotting the mkt. It's a shame, because not only was I an asset to the mkt, and have a product desired by customers but it was my only income. It was SOOOOO frustrating!

I had a similar experience as Wildflower with the Seb. market managment. I was also very frustrated and stressed by the whole notion of dealing with Paula that I just let it go. There was something about her demeanor, and the energy of my first several attempts to connect to vend my unique, handmade ,local, natural material, Jewelry that I couldnt bring myself to call or approach her...Sad for me, sad for the friends strangers who have loved and bought my jewelry line for years and years: at the Harmony festival, The Goddess Crafts Fair,The Harbin Market, smaller private showings over the last 18 years.
Funny thing is that the African Gentleman with the baskets and then the Shea Butter lady, and of course Paulas friends, were given permanent booth spaces....right after I had been told there were very few, spaces for an entire season, Several seasons in a row.
I say CHANGE IS GOOD. I say UPGRADE. I say STAND UP. I say SPEAK UP.

[neil]

As a farmer and member of a farming family, I have sold farm produce on no less than 25 different farmers markets in four states spanning several decades. I've dealt with the various market managers, other vendors, customers, and regulators. I sold on the Sebastopol market as "EasySweet Farm" for 5 years, 2001-2005, serving two years on the board and one year as board president.

I don't know the specifics of the current controversy, and so I cannot comment on that. However, I can say a few things about farmers markets, and their management.

First of all, in general, there is no shortage of conflicting interests involved. I'm not saying this to judge anyone, it's just a fact. Farmers competing with other farmers, real farmers competing with pretend farmers (re-sellers), quality producers getting undercut by low-bar producers, small farmers competing with larger better-subsidized growers, farmers selling field-run or better getting undercut by farmers selling seconds-masquerading-as-field-run, crafters competing with other crafters, farmers competing with crafters, farmers competing with other local food sellers--you get the idea. On top of all of that, every seller wants to be in one of the better-trafficked spaces--their livelihood may depend on it--yet there are only so many spaces available and only some of those are "good spaces." And even if there are plenty of available spaces, it doesn't work to just add more and more vendors. There are issues of seniority, and this is closely related to market stability and having year-to-year continuity of market character. I have never seen a farmers market without most or all of these dynamics going on.

So, it has to be one of the more thankless of jobs to be a market manager. Someone is always mad at you, regardless of how well you do the job. It is not possible to satisfy everyone. Someone will always feel you are treating them unfairly, even if you are being as fair as you can be, given everything.

I've worked with a lot of different market managers. Some do a good job balancing the various vendor interests and product representation, giving due preference to actual farmers, keeping the vendor base and the customer base in some rough balance, and making market a mostly enjoyable experience for (almost) everyone. Some managers do a crappy job. For the time I was on the Sebastopol market, I found Paula to be one of the better managers I have known. Definitely. That doesn't mean I thought every single thing she did was right, but all in all I found her to be a fair and effective manager, especially given the many interests involved.

Is it possible that someone might do a better job than Paula. Sure, but from my experience I would say that that is not likely. What is much more likely to happen is that any new market manager would come in with a limited, half-baked idea of "what needs to be changed," and in making those changes do a lot more harm than good.

I don't have any ponies in this race. I'm not arguing for a specific outcome. I'm just saying that compared to many other farmers markets I have known, Sebastopol market has been a place where vendors get along well and customers delight in who and what they find there, year after year after year. That may be worth keeping in mind.
Neil

[applefan]

Neil...this is so well written and dispassionate. I hope you will submit it to the Press Democrat. there are so many lies and misconceptions on the "other" side. We and the public need to know more about what the market manager job entails. Paula has done a great job of balancing conflicting interests while supporting small farmers who are trying to make a living .

As a farmer and member of a farming family, I have sold farm produce on no less than 25 different farmers markets in four states spanning several decades. I've dealt with the various market managers, other vendors, customers, and regulators. I sold on the Sebastopol market as "EasySweet Farm" for 5 years, 2001-2005, serving two years on the board and one year as board president.

I don't know the specifics of the current controversy, and so I cannot comment on that. However, I can say a few things about farmers markets, and their management.

First of all, in general, there is no shortage of conflicting interests involved. I'm not saying this to judge anyone, it's just a fact. Farmers competing with other farmers, real farmers competing with pretend farmers (re-sellers), quality producers getting undercut by low-bar producers, small farmers competing with larger better-subsidized growers, farmers selling field-run or better getting undercut by farmers selling seconds-masquerading-as-field-run, crafters competing with other crafters, farmers competing with crafters, farmers competing with other local food sellers--you get the idea. On top of all of that, every seller wants to be in one of the better-trafficked spaces--their livelihood may depend on it--yet there are only so many spaces available and only some of those are "good spaces." And even if there are plenty of available spaces, it doesn't work to just add more and more vendors. There are issues of seniority, and this is closely related to market stability and having year-to-year continuity of market character. I have never seen a farmers market without most or all of these dynamics going on.

So, it has to be one of the more thankless of jobs to be a market manager. Someone is always mad at you, regardless of how well you do the job. It is not possible to satisfy everyone. Someone will always feel you are treating them unfairly, even if you are being as fair as you can be, given everything.

I've worked with a lot of different market managers. Some do a good job balancing the various vendor interests and product representation, giving due preference to actual farmers, keeping the vendor base and the customer base in some rough balance, and making market a mostly enjoyable experience for (almost) everyone. Some managers do a crappy job. For the time I was on the Sebastopol market, I found Paula to be one of the better managers I have known. Definitely. That doesn't mean I thought every single thing she did was right, but all in all I found her to be a fair and effective manager, especially given the many interests involved.

Is it possible that someone might do a better job than Paula. Sure, but from my experience I would say that that is not likely. What is much more likely to happen is that any new market manager would come in with a limited, half-baked idea of "what needs to be changed," and in making those changes do a lot more harm than good.

I don't have any ponies in this race. I'm not arguing for a specific outcome. I'm just saying that compared to many other farmers markets I have known, Sebastopol market has been a place where vendors get along well and customers delight in who and what they find there, year after year after year. That may be worth keeping in mind.
Neil

[podfish]

Neil...this is so well written and dispassionate..... there are so many lies and misconceptions on the "other" side. .

shoulda stopped with the first phrase.
If you read Neil's post without focusing on 'is he on my side or on the side of those other evil bastards' you might have appreciated how well written and dispassionate it really is.
I have fewer ponies than he does, but if I had any I'd keep them away from this market "debate". From the sidelines it sure reads like a characature of a high-school after-school club power struggle. Very few posters can refrain from slinging darts at someone. My god, crushing poor seedlings as a hidden indicator of character? Gave me visions of Austin Powers' nemesis Dr. Evil petting his cat, then putting it into the greenhouse trays to use as a catbox.

[Barry]

Great post, Neil! I agree wholeheartedly! I don't have any ponies in this race either, or rather, I have good connections to both sides.

My experience with running this site, admittedly as a "dictator", is that while there are guidelines, most cases are not clear cut, and yet a decision needs to be made. And when the decision goes against what the petitioner wants, charges of unfairness fly quickly.

The REFB is lead buy at least 2 vendors who didn't get what they wanted. Some vendors did not get what they wanted from Paula. I can't say whether that it was fair or not. But I can say that difficult decisions do need to get made to uphold various standards and contraints.

In Dan Smith's video interview he talked about upholding/enforcing standards, giving priority to farmers, selecting vendors based on a point system, etc. As Neil points out so eloquently below, there's lots of competing interests. The new management is sure to run into plenty of controversy, albeit possibly with different winners and losers. The two crafters that have posted on this thread, for instance, may once again find themselves not included.

One thing that hasn't been pointed out so far, is that from what I understand, Paula is planing on retiring this year. So if in fact she is the "problem", that will change soon enough through peaceful means.

I'd rather see the new group start a new market, on a different day and/or location, rather than wrestling control away from the present leadership.

As a farmer and member of a farming family, I have sold farm produce on no less than 25 different farmers markets in four states spanning several decades. I've dealt with the various market managers, other vendors, customers, and regulators. I sold on the Sebastopol market as "EasySweet Farm" for 5 years, 2001-2005, serving two years on the board and one year as board president.

I don't know the specifics of the current controversy, and so I cannot comment on that. However, I can say a few things about farmers markets, and their management.

First of all, in general, there is no shortage of conflicting interests involved. I'm not saying this to judge anyone, it's just a fact. Farmers competing with other farmers, real farmers competing with pretend farmers (re-sellers), quality producers getting undercut by low-bar producers, small farmers competing with larger better-subsidized growers, farmers selling field-run or better getting undercut by farmers selling seconds-masquerading-as-field-run, crafters competing with other crafters, farmers competing with crafters, farmers competing with other local food sellers--you get the idea. On top of all of that, every seller wants to be in one of the better-trafficked spaces--their livelihood may depend on it--yet there are only so many spaces available and only some of those are "good spaces." And even if there are plenty of available spaces, it doesn't work to just add more and more vendors. There are issues of seniority, and this is closely related to market stability and having year-to-year continuity of market character. I have never seen a farmers market without most or all of these dynamics going on.

So, it has to be one of the more thankless of jobs to be a market manager. Someone is always mad at you, regardless of how well you do the job. It is not possible to satisfy everyone. Someone will always feel you are treating them unfairly, even if you are being as fair as you can be, given everything.

I've worked with a lot of different market managers. Some do a good job balancing the various vendor interests and product representation, giving due preference to actual farmers, keeping the vendor base and the customer base in some rough balance, and making market a mostly enjoyable experience for (almost) everyone. Some managers do a crappy job. For the time I was on the Sebastopol market, I found Paula to be one of the better managers I have known. Definitely. That doesn't mean I thought every single thing she did was right, but all in all I found her to be a fair and effective manager, especially given the many interests involved.

Is it possible that someone might do a better job than Paula. Sure, but from my experience I would say that that is not likely. What is much more likely to happen is that any new market manager would come in with a limited, half-baked idea of "what needs to be changed," and in making those changes do a lot more harm than good.

I don't have any ponies in this race. I'm not arguing for a specific outcome. I'm just saying that compared to many other farmers markets I have known, Sebastopol market has been a place where vendors get along well and customers delight in who and what they find there, year after year after year. That may be worth keeping in mind.
Neil

[Varda]

Hello Waccoland,

Wanted to respond to the critical posts I read lately on Wacco about Paula. As some of you know, I have been a vendor in the Sebastopol market for over 10 years, and on occasion I do the Santa Rosa market (crafts), have also worked with Paula on putting together two seasonal wellness fairs with the Sebastopol market last 5 years, so I have had the opportunity to get to know Paula.

First of all, let's get something straight - without Paula, both the Sebastopol and the Santa Rosa markets would not have amounted to much! some of you might remember the Santa Rosa market before Paula came aboard, it was dumpy and boring, didn't visit it very often, as there wasn't much there worth driving for. The Sebastopol market, when I got into it over 10 years ago was small and not very busy - look at these two markets today - they are busy, exciting, colorful, with varied and quality vendors with fresh, local produce, fresh baked food, ethnic delicacies, music, artisans, demos, events and more. They have become two of the best markets in this area. All because of the genius of Paula! So, let's first give credit where it is due before we lash out with criticism, as this community has benefited greatly from Paula's hard work and these two great markets!

In my personal experience with Paula, I found her to be a fair, caring, generous and gracious woman and market manager. She cares about people, about the environment, about causes and about social justice. And yes, she has her strong opinions and convictions. Is she perfect? no, and neither is any of us! were you not able to get into the market the way you wanted? perhaps there were already too many crafters doing similar items? might be other reasons you were not aware of, or perhaps Paula didn't think your product was right for the market. Did you ask her? and where is some personal accountability and objective narrative in any of these critical posts??? I did not notice one critic take responsibility for anything, it was always Paula's fault if the market experience did not go as expected.

so, to sum it up, I would like to thank Paula for her great work with these two markets for all of us, and am asking you to consider it before casting stones at her! and if your market experience was disappointing, do examine yourself, was there anything you could have done differently? any other insights?

Varda

[Varda]

The following is from Scott Wilson who sells pottery at the Santa Rosa and Sebastopol markets:

SR is not the only market Redwood Empire is trying to take over. They went to the City of Rohnert Park and tried to get that market. They spoke to Barney and tried to get Sebastpol....So the word "empire" is pretty relevant.

I don't care for imperialism. What the Roman Empire, the British Empire, and the Soviet Empire had in common, among other things, is that they all did more harm than good. They used coercion and brute force to reach their goals. They used their superior strength to sweep away anyone whom they perceived as an obstacle. They acquired their assets without negotiation, and proved to the world that they were dangerous adversaries. Passive communities with resources had a great deal to fear from all three of these empires.

The Redwood Empire, just out of the gate, has proven itself a powerful adversary. The Santa Rosa Original Farmers' Market has spent decades building itself from scratch to become a precious resource to producers and consumers. The hard work and creativity of thousands of dedicated individuals is evident throughout the market. The Redwood Empire has been very effective at disrupting and undermining the Santa Rosa Original Farmers' Market, and then claiming the venue as its' own. Only time will tell how far their glorious string of victories will extend. I can only hope that in our new location, the Santa Rosa Original Farmers' Market will at last be able to keep a safe distance from the REFM.

Scott Wilson

[Sabrina]

I haven't had a chance to follow everything in this thread, but where is the new SR location going to be? I'd heard rumor of under the freeway near railroad square; but just upon trying to scroll back I didn't find it right off (where there's a new location).

[lovejoy]

I too appreciate the posts that are supportive of Paula - I was a vendor in the early days - for many years I sold cut flowers. She was always fair and square - and fun, too. She took the manager position when it paid practically nothing, and really hung in there with the challenges of dealing with vendors, schedules, weather and customers. She has strong ties in the community, and really kept a "family" feeling alive in the market. I'm sad that she is under attack, instead of receiving the genuine appreciate she deserves for her consistent hard work over the years. She has a big heart, and the success of the Sebastopol market is in large part due to her diligence. Thank you, Paula for keeping the market together and helping it grow and flourish! And I hope that whoever takes over does so with grace and kindness and a big dose of honest humility. I'm also very grateful to Varda and others for speaking out on Paula's behalf. --Leana Sims Lovejoy

Hello Waccoland,

Wanted to respond to the critical posts I read lately on Wacco about Paula. As some of you know, I have been a vendor in the Sebastopol market for over 10 years, and on occasion I do the Santa Rosa market (crafts), have also worked with Paula on putting together two seasonal wellness fairs with the Sebastopol market last 5 years, so I have had the opportunity to get to know Paula.

First of all, let's get something straight - without Paula, both the Sebastopol and the Santa Rosa markets would not have amounted to much! some of you might remember the Santa Rosa market before Paula came aboard, it was dumpy and boring, didn't visit it very often, as there wasn't much there worth driving for. The Sebastopol market, when I got into it over 10 years ago was small and not very busy - look at these two markets today - they are busy, exciting, colorful, with varied and quality vendors with fresh, local produce, fresh baked food, ethnic delicacies, music, artisans, demos, events and more. They have become two of the best markets in this area. All because of the genius of Paula! So, let's first give credit where it is due before we lash out with criticism, as this community has benefited greatly from Paula's hard work and these two great markets!

In my personal experience with Paula, I found her to be a fair, caring, generous and gracious woman and market manager. She cares about people, about the environment, about causes and about social justice. And yes, she has her strong opinions and convictions. Is she perfect? no, and neither is any of us! were you not able to get into the market the way you wanted? perhaps there were already too many crafters doing similar items? might be other reasons you were not aware of, or perhaps Paula didn't think your product was right for the market. Did you ask her? and where is some personal accountability and objective narrative in any of these critical posts??? I did not notice one critic take responsibility for anything, it was always Paula's fault if the market experience did not go as expected.

so, to sum it up, I would like to thank Paula for her great work with these two markets for all of us, and am asking you to consider it before casting stones at her! and if your market experience was disappointing, do examine yourself, was there anything you could have done differently? any other insights?

Varda

[Peace Voyager]

Never wanted to be in the position to "choose sides". Also, due to my campaign, and some personal issues connected to Board members; my own gudiance told me to stay out of it. BUT...we all have a pony in this race if want to have the best Farmer's Market possible for all towns.

This thread has helped us examine what fair is. As I spoke with folks from both sides; I see pros and cons to each group.

What was not fair was; not letting the original market have time for their Board to accept, or reject the rate hike. This market had existing, long term advertising, and marketing contracts.

The County has been getting grants and funding for all kinds of Health Action related programs; keeping the booth cost low, and getting new vendors is such a no brainer it's silly!

Our perception of a "Brand", can have a lot of value; or be the reason for staying away. A Brand's value, is a reflection of our values.

Do the social and environmental values of a company or group, align with mine? What does that say about me if I continue to help a business, or elected official succeed, or profit; if their agenda, product, or service goes against our common good?

It's sad we have to even ask this question of our Farmer's Markets. In this case it's both a wonderful and rotten problem. How rich is our bounty, that we have too many farmers for our regular market? How sad it is that our decades old Brand is being forced to split, rather than grow together in Santa Rosa.

If it was Paula, whom the majority of the market vendors, or want-to be vendors, or market customers had a problem with; the Board of Directors always has the means to correct that.

If it's the Board that the majority of the inside/outside vendors, and customers have a problem with; then some capacity building, changes in members, or all new Board is called for. I think that shake up happen this last year; I don't know if anyone "won". These things always need time to develop.

I watched how the County of Sonoma handled this issue. I have a great more to say about that. This is a very important question for the Superviors' race. How would they have dealt with it, should be one of the questions for the debates & forums.

If Dan had taken the time to meet with me, any one of the dozen times I'd ask him; I could have given him better options than bulldozing his way in on this. Like being a main partner with the Spiral Foods Collective instead.

The real bottom line here, I hope you will speak to is...the County, and all the cities here; will never recover the funds needed, to sustain a budget big enough to cover our lost quality of life; until they send Congress, and the President a mandate: Fund free Vet's Building parking lot space for Farmer's Markets; NOT bombs, and strike-first drones for unconstitutional "wars" of choice! NOW!

Then let's take 1/2 the current optional war budget, spend much of that on healing our vets & our environment. Bring the entire National Guard home now. Supporting our troops looks like - retraining and ensuring them good paying jobs in: Clean/Green Tech, organic farming, parkland service, watershed recovery, Greener municipal infrastructure development and repair. The small businesses, and local governments who hire them should get a bonus or tax breaks; not the mega-profit, dirty energy companies.

In fact the Veterans should get free market stalls; and have help with community farms, as part of a mutual benefits project, for all Farmers' Markets to partner with a Veterans health & economic recovery program.

Having the arts involved too, as we are privileged to have in Sebastopol, with Artists, Crafters and Musicians and Dancers, are other grant worthy bonus for markets. That is, when we get appropriate appropriations from our government.

This is a recipe for happiness. Isn't that what you feel; when you stroll the rows and rows of good products, from good people; on a lovely day, with the friends you know, and new ones to meet?

Has a lesson been learned here we can use? The Original Farmer's Market contract was terminated, before it was fully vetted by all affected by it. Wacco offers us a great forum to vet the pros and cons of things, before the ink has a chance to dry on contracts, bills, ordinances, etc; if we are paying attention.

The American people cannot wait for government to fix itself; or fall apart.

This spring, let's renew our contract with the Constitution. Let's get our communities ready for anything; by trying to get along much better. Catalog, and network our resources; build our life rafts together.

If we face a disaster; we may need both Dan and Paula working full strength to feed us all; 'cause the County's emergency planning is woefully inadequate, (because they never take action on de-funding wars of choice). Their emergency vehicles won't be likely to get here to help us; what with all the potholes and failed roads, infrastructure and all.

Please make these action items for your Supervisors, representatives, and all candidates.

Soon my website will have some good tools for making social engineering work FOR us. Please send your support.



Your Patriot for Peaceful Farmer's Markets in every town,

Colleen Fernald

California's Constitutional Candidate
For PEACE & Thriving Watersheds Everywhere!

www.campaignforpeace.org
www.songsforaceasefire.org

Great post, Neil! I agree wholeheartedly! I don't have any ponies in this race either, or rather, I have good connections to both sides.



My experience with running this site, admittedly as a "dictator", is that while there are guidelines, most cases are not clear cut, and yet a decision needs to be made. And when the decision goes against what the petitioner wants, charges of unfairness fly quickly.

The REFB is lead buy at least 2 vendors who didn't get what they wanted. Some vendors did not get what they wanted from Paula. I can't say whether that it was fair or not. But I can say that difficult decisions do need to get made to uphold various standards and contraints.

In Dan Smith's video interview he talked about upholding/enforcing standards, giving priority to farmers, selecting vendors based on a point system, etc. As Neil points out so eloquently below, there's lots of competing interests. The new management is sure to run into plenty of controversy, albeit possibly with different winners and losers. The two crafters that have posted on this thread, for instance, may once again find themselves not included.

One thing that hasn't been pointed out so far, is that from what I understand, Paula is planing on retiring this year. So if in fact she is the "problem", that will change soon enough through peaceful means.

I'd rather see the new group start a new market, on a different day and/or location, rather than wrestling control away from the present leadership.

[dancingstar]

I want to chime in also regarding my experience with Paula. A big heart indeed she has. She supported the passion of my son when he was about 10 years old and a budding magician. She welcomed him into the market to set up a table to perform tricks for tips. At no cost! He made many contacts. People still remember him from the market. He now (at 17) has a thriving business performing professionally. My son and I are both so appreciative of Paula's warm support. Thank you Paula!

Judy

I too appreciate the posts that are supportive of Paula - I was a vendor in the early days - for many years I sold cut flowers. She was always fair and square - and fun, too. She took the manager position when it paid practically nothing, and really hung in there with the challenges of dealing with vendors, schedules, weather and customers. She has strong ties in the community, and really kept a "family" feeling alive in the market. I'm sad that she is under attack, instead of receiving the genuine appreciate she deserves for her consistent hard work over the years. She has a big heart, and the success of the Sebastopol market is in large part due to her diligence. Thank you, Paula for keeping the market together and helping it grow and flourish! And I hope that whoever takes over does so with grace and kindness and a big dose of honest humility. I'm also very grateful to Varda and others for speaking out on Paula's behalf. --Leana Sims Lovejoy

[Barry]

Sounds like everybody is happy! Yay! - Barry


Santa Rosa farmers market moving to Wells Fargo Center
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...p=all&tc=pgall

By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7:18 p.m.

Produce and pumpkins on sale at the Santa Rosa Original
Certified Farmers Market at the Santa Rosa Veterans
Memorial Building in February.
PD File

The Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market announced Thursday that it will relocate to the south parking area of the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts on May 19.

The market decided to move from its current location at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building after Sonoma County officials ended the market's lease in a dispute over higher costs.

The county has rented the space to the newly formed Redwood Empire Farmer's Market, which is partly made up of former and current vendors of the Original Farmers Market.

“We found a new home,” said Lesley Brabyn, secretary for the Original Farmers market. “We're absolutely thrilled to be part of Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. Their commitment to the community is a good match for our purposes and our mission as well.”

The market's vendors will be notified of the move by regular mail, email and through fliers this weekend.

“We are thrilled to have the market coming here,” said Peggy Mulhall, director of business partnerships and community relationships for Wells Fargo Center. “They are a 40-year-old community treasure and we are a 30-year-old community treasure.”

Mulhall said that negotiations between the two parties began in mid-March and that a one-year rental agreement was signed on Wednesday.

The Original Farmers Market said it would hold all special events at the new location, including Farm Animal Day, Heirloom Tomato Tasting and Honor the Gravenstein Apple Day.

County officials said that since 2002 they have been giving the market a rent break worth $156,000 compared to the standard rate for the facility. The market's rent was supposed to increase in 2009, but the county gave it a three-year reprieve.

The market's rent this summer was to increase from $23,875 a year to $57,660, a 140 percent increase market representatives said was too onerous.

Brabyn that Wells Fargo is charging $33,204 for about the same space but “many more amenities.”

Mulhall said the market also will complement the new hospital that Sutter Health is building.

The Original Farmers Market has operated every Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The new market at the Wells Fargo Center will have the same schedule.

Brabyn said she expects that about 75 percent of the market's current vendors will move to the new location. The Original Farmers Market has a maximum of about 90 vendors operating on any given day.

Rob Cary, president and spokesman for the Redwood Empire Farmers Market, said his operation has already taken applications and fees from 40 vendors, some of them new farmers looking to sell their products.

Cary said the Redwood Empire market would be in place at the Veterans building parking as soon as the Original Farmers Market leaves, and that there would be no gap in service.

Cary wished the new market well.

“I hope that they both thrive,” he said. “I am happy to hear that there are two markets in Santa Rosa. It's really important that we support local farmers and that we have them feeding as many people as possible.”

[Mudwoman]

We're 'Original' Market regulars. Very happy to hear the Wells Fargo Center has welcomed them with reasonable fees though it's about as far away from our west side SR home as can be. May check them both out, since NEW local vendors are going to be at the Vets market now. Curious to know who they may be. Certainly hope both markets thrive. Would be wonderful if one were on SAT and the other on SUN.

Sounds like everybody is happy! Yay! - Barry


Santa Rosa farmers market moving to Wells Fargo Center
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...p=all&tc=pgall

By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7:18 p.m.

[HoneyGirl]

I am so proud of my family.

My parents sole means of providing for themselves and their family is by selling their local honey and seasonal fruits and vegetables at these farmers markets. Being honest, and hard-working farmers are their only jobs.

They don't cheat farming whatsoever. They don't buy any products from outside farms. They don't use ANY type of chemical or pesticide to get rid of bugs. They don't feed their bees "sugary water" in place of real nectar from local flowers to produce honey. Raising bees is a 3rd generation deal. My dad and mother slave away in their farm everyday. On Fridays, before the weekend markets, they have stayed up until midnight or later getting things ready. And waking up early to beat the first few customers.

I also love the integrity of the Certified Santa Rosa Market. These vendors have worked as hard as my parents to bring these products for their customers for over 45 years. I love helping my family and seeing our regular customers, meeting new ones, and seeing our friends that are fellow vendors.

I recently heard that Paula is retiring this year. I am so thankful for the markets she has help build. She has delt with so much, keeping a balance between farmers and customer needs is not an easy job.

The original market feels alive to me still, even if it's at the new location. The music, the people, the food, and the vendors. I am proud to be a part of a group of farmers that decided to stick together, and continue the treasure of a market they have built.

The other market now sits at our old location, where we spent years of giving that place it's character. But they figured out a way to pay the high fees, and are trying to give chance to more farmers to sell where they think they feel is best. Good luck to them. In my opinion, it would serve customers ultimately best if they didn't have to choose where their faith lies, but instead have the original market on its original day of Saturday, and the new one on a new day of possibly Sunday. Like what mudwoman suggested. Let's remember it isn't the competition of markets or vendor disputes, it's for the customers, right??? I really appreciated Neil's reply. I also don't want to choose sides, as my family has friends who are vendors at both locations. And my father was recently asked by a member of the other market if he would like to sell there. My heart hurts at decisions like these that farmers had to make, like my father. And my heart hurts for the customers who also have to make that decision of where they choose to go as well.

Whatever the new market decides to do, and whatever may come of this split, I hope our community chooses the best for its people. As far as the Certified Santa Rosa Farmers Market, it is the original. And I will always be proud of it.