An artist and Sewanee native, Sarah Campbell majored in anthropology at Sewanee and has owned two art galleries. Her mother lives in Sewanee, and Sarah regularly asks her to order her a few things from the South Cumberland Market since she doesn’t have a farmers market nearby. When Sarah realized the Signal Mountain Farmers Market is not reopening, she decided to do something about it. She reached out to the SCM for guidance on how the farmers market is structured, and she found it.
You may wonder how her background prepared her for this undertaking, which may seem like a long time coming but actually makes perfect sense. “I’ve taken slow steps over many years to make changes in my life to better support local businesses, the environment, and my own health. I have always loved going to farmers markets. I still have close ties in Sewanee and have been in awe of its farmer’s market, the South Cumberland Market, for a number of years. The market is all online, and you pick up your order on a certain day. They have a huge base of vendors and things run really smoothly,” Sarah said.
This community-minded gal has organized a farmers market on Signal Mountain, and lots of folks are not only involved but excited! Every Thursday, you will find everything from fresh vegetables and herbs to soaps, tinctures and nursery seedlings!
The well-organized market should run like clockwork. Able to easily check the offerings for the week, customers can order and pay online. But they can’t dawdle. There will be a four-day window to order, which will close on Tuesday morning. At that point, the growers and vendors will receive their orders and get to picking and plucking and preparing their goods for market. “This way farmers only have to harvest what orders they fill, and it will also save customers time,” Sarah explained. All orders will be delivered on Thursday mornings and ready for pick up at Bachman Community Center between 4-6 p.m. If that’s not easy enough, there is also a delivery option.
Want to know who grew those fabulous, juicy flavorful tomatoes or who made that amazing moisturizing bar of soap? Sarah plans to encourage a community spirit with the market, introducing makers on a regular basis.
"We will at times likely showcase a vendor and have them set up in Bachman with their products so people can meet our growers,” Sarah said.
Although the market has yet to open, Sarah has big plans for it and believes it has the potential for great growth. And she is committed to this endeavor.
“I have been told that the hardest part of any farmer’s market is to continually have fresh produce since produce is often seasonal, but we are going to work really, really hard to find fresh produce throughout the year. I think this will be a big asset to the people of Signal Mountain and for the farmers who participate in it. It also has room for great growth,” Sarah said.
Part of that growth involves a community outreach program that is dear to Sarah’s heart.
"Once we get this market going, I will be starting a nonprofit program to take a home-cooked meal to folks who wish to remain in their home as they age. I want to help be part of changing the way we care for our elderly, and this will be the first step towards that vision. By delivering home cooked meals, this can help combat loneliness, [concerns about nutrition], and is a good way for families to supplement and have someone check in on their loved ones,” Sarah explains.
The market is scheduled to open the second week of March, but you can stay up to date on details at https://www.signalmountainfarmersmarketpickup.com or email Sarah at sewaneesarah@gmail.com.
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Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series “If Bugs Are Banished.” “Making Arrangements” is her first novel. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.
Ferris Robinson