To participants in Farmers Markets, conversation is extremely important. According to sociologists, people who shop at a Farmers Market engage in ten times as much verbal exchange as those shopping at a big-box store.
At a market in late July, I pay close attention to the number and types of conversations I engage in. The amount of information exchanged and the number of problems solved amaze me. Here’s what that morning looks like.
Emmy is a distinguished woman. Every hair is in place. She stops by to say she’d consider taking Buff The Cat for the winter while I travel to California. Else, a mutual friend, told here I need a caretaker. ( “Hostess,” Emmy calls the position.)
A few minutes later, I see Else and thank her for encouraging Emmy to consider my cat as a houseguest. Else does not remember any such suggestion.
“Don’t think Emmy ever had a cat. Don’t think she’d do well with one. More a dog person, really,” Else says in her brusque, good-natured way.
My next conversation is with Tucker, president of the Stonigton Small Boat Association, and his wife Sandy.
“By the way, Tucker, I’m looking for a buyer for my Laser. Any ideas who might be interested?” I ask. After several windy, white-knuckle racing seasons, I have decided to acknowledge that I am underweight and over aged for the boat.
I know just the person for the boat!” Tucker replies. “Consider it a done deal.”
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