The Marketplace DFW that forms a horseshoe of vendors of farmers & artisans, on the square in downtown Garland, is nearing the end of another season with the last two trip to Garland on October 7th and 21st. The final weekend this year will be in Mesquite on the 28th of October. The schedule alternates one week Garland one week Mesquite each Saturday from April through October.
Usually, there is something that always catches my eye and this week it was several things. The old Library buildings that held the Theater company is now gone and the empty space is a grassed over green space with some interesting outdoor past times. The first thing that caught my eye was the arrangement of colorful slat-back chairs in the center of the green space. I had to try them out! I love those chairs. Many may know them as adirondack's named for the mountains in New England or Cape Cod's beaches. The classic is, of course the white and the red. Some like the cedar stained. But, they are very comfortable and I do enjoy them. These, along with the view, might find me here more often when the cooler fall weather sets in just around the corner. The ping pong table and the corn hole bean bag game boards (there were a set of three) were interesting as well.
When I started my walk around the horseshoe, some of the vendors I recognized from trips past. The thing that I look for is the unusual, the well displayed and organized tables as well, of course, something of a bargain or new source of healthy foods and the like. Then, I go sit down and just observe where the people gravitate toward. All in all, this weeks pick would be a thumbs up to the
Wholesome Farms and Gardens of Van Alstyne, Texas. Wholesome Farms and Gardens
A blue gingham table cloth covering the table. It reminded me of my paternal grandmother's
kitchen table. She had both the red and the blue. The blue was always my favorite. Next, the young man at the booth was polite and knew his product well. I ask a few basic questions and he answered those questions straightforward and articulated his take on the products well. The egg cage was a clever and creative display of fresh eggs and he proudly produced the carton of fresh grass raised free range chicken eggs in brown shell. When I ask about the meats that he had mentioned in his presentation, he immediately produced packages of fresh ground beef and pork brats frozen and did not hesitate to mention the companies that dressed out their beef and made their brats for them. I ask if they raised the beef themselves and he answered that clearly as well. Yes, they raise their beef on their farm in Van Alstyne and then provided me with a folded 8 1/2 x 11 pamphlet printed on both sides with information on what we discussed and contact information phone number, Email, website and both face book and twitter social media addresses. The well cared-for frozen meats were solidly frozen and when people take care to store there products on the road well, they do the same when producing them as well. That impressed me a lot.
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| ♫ Slat-backs in Fall Colors for relaxing--they ain't for sale! ♫ |
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| ♫ I like this company! ♫ |
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| Chalk Board for Freshness! |
Being an old marketing guy...this guy was a winner hands down. With the holidays coming along soon, I have a heads up on some healthy eating of locally grown foodstuff that I already feel comfortable with even before trying it out the first time. As Arnold is so well know for: "I'll be back!"
