Thursday, February 16, 2023

Paranormal Places to Lay Your Head in Nebraska

 

Anna Lehman           

What do you imagine when you picture visiting a haunted location? Perhaps a vision of an old, abandoned building from a horror movie floats into your head. Maybe you envision a cold cobwebbed-filled house that hasn’t seen a touch of human hospitality for years. What if I told you that you could stay in a cozy inn or even a luxurious mansion and still experience the thrill of possibly encountering the paranormal? You can do just that in the Midwest! Nebraska is the home of four famously haunted hotels that are open to the public, ready to be investigated.

Our first haunt is located in the northwestern corner of Nebraska. Formerly known as the Chadron House, the Olde Main Street Inn is often described as old and rustic, yet comfortable. According to one Tripadvisor reviewer, omatraveldog, the place is kind of like “staying with your favorite Aunt” (“Old Main Street Inn”). As Regulski describes, the Olde Main Street Inn is a unique bed and breakfast with paranormal activity. This historic building once served as the site for General Nelson Miles’ headquarters during the Wounded Knee incident (Lefevers). However, the paranormal activity here is reportedly not anything from Wounded Knee.

According to Lefevers, friendly ghosts named Jack and Anna are said to haunt the Old Main Street Inn, Anna appearing in a red satin dress. Guests claim to hear footsteps and one even reportedly had a glass of water move during the night from the bedside table to the other side of the room (Lefevers). Regulski adds that once when the hotel owner went to pour a beer, the beer came out green. The owner checked the keg, and two more beers came out green before returning to normal. The hotel owner figures it was just a prank played by the ghosts of Jack and Anna (Regulski). According to Tripadvisor, Olde Main Street Inn offers kitchenettes, family rooms, free wi-fi, and even has a bar in the hotel (“Olde Main Steet Inn”). This cozy inn has a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and promises to be a comfortable stay with a possible phantom-filled night!

The next hair-raising haunt is located right in the middle of Nebraska. The Arrow Hotel is a quaint hotel that features both family rooms and suites. This building was the first three-story building in Broken Bow (Stephen). Tripadvisor lists the room from $107 to $125 on a given night and shows such amenities as free breakfast and free wi-fi. It’s pet friendly and even has an attached restaurant that features a formal dining room. The hotel also has a pub and a historic cigar room. In fact, the Arrow Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1986 (“Arrow Hotel”). According to Bebensee, Anne and R.J. Thomas invested in the Arrow Hotel in 2005. Anne began hearing stories from the current staff, different guests, and community members about strange occurrences at the hotel, so she contacted the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE to find someone serious about investigating the paranormal activity and, as Anne Thomas put it, “not just doing it for fun” (Bebensee).  A team called RIPA, Research and Investigation of Paranormal Activity, was one of those teams that were able to investigate the Arrow Hotel. They captured numerous audio clips, heard the sound of a cat meowing, and even say they saw an apparition of a man in the hallway (Stephen)!

Anne herself has had a paranormal experience in the hotel. While on the first floor with the housekeepers she claims they heard a door across the hall shaking and when they went to investigate further, they opened the door to find all the pillows in the room stacked on the bed (Bebensee). Abby Mattox is the manager of the attached restaurant, the Bonfire Grill, and has also had her own paranormal experiences. She claims to have seen a man on the camera system in the cigar room smoking inside, which was not allowed. When she went to put a stop to it, no one was in the cigar room and all that remained was smoke rolling on the camera. She even investigated further to see if she could catch the man leaving the building but there was no trace of the smoking man (Bebensee). Some guests have reported hearing voices talking, voices singing, being touched, and seeing a ghost cat (Stephen).

Other guests have heard strange noises and one even reported her son sitting on a sofa bed talking to someone who wasn’t there (Bebensee). According to Lefevers, one of the former owners is said to have died at The Arrow and his apparition can be seen traveling along the stairs to the kitchen. There have also been reports of apparitions of a grey-haired man and a red-haired woman (Lefevers). The Arrow is open for business and located at 509 S 9th Ave. in Broken Bow, NE (“Arrow Hotel”). There are so many reasons to consider a stay at the Arrow Hotel. Whether you plan to go alone, bring the whole family or just your pet Fido, the Arrow Hotel is ready to accommodate your stay. Who knows, perhaps you’ll also encounter something a little more spiritual!

Our next haunted hostel is no hostel at all but rather a luxurious mansion. The Cornerstone Mansion is the only bed and breakfast in Omaha, NE. According to Tripadvisor, it is historically known as the Offutt house, built by Charles and Bertha Offutt with no expense spared on this 10,200 square foot home. The bed and breakfast offers family rooms, suites, free wi-fi, and free breakfast (“Cornerstone Mansion”). However, this luxurious mansion holds a few extra surprises. Disembodied footsteps are said to haunt the Cornerstone Mansion from dusk to dawn. The apparition of a young man is sometimes witnessed and what is thought to be the spirit of a previous owner can often be seen rocking in a chair in the mansion’s parlor room (“Cornerstone Mansion Bed and Breakfast”). There is reportedly a poltergeist that makes its presence known during special events while there is more activity on premises (“Cornerstone Mansion Bed and Breakfast”). On the side of the house, there is a small structure called the Carriage House. There are stories that a woman known as Emily was beaten to death there by her husband after an argument and she is said to haunt the grounds to this day. Emily is also said to have a strong dislike for any male presence (“Cornerstone Mansion Bed and Breakfast”). The Cornerstone mansion is located in the eastern part of Nebraska at 140 N. 39th St. in Omaha. Whether you experience some spooky spirits or ancient apparitions, you’re sure to have a lavish stay at the mysterious Cornerstone Mansion Bed and Breakfast.

Our final petrifying property is the Historic Argo Hotel Bed and Breakfast located in the northeastern corner of Nebraska. This hotel in Crofton is perhaps one of the most well-known haunted hotel attractions of Nebraska. Even the tv show Ghost Hunters covered an investigation detailing the hotel and, according to Hytrek, the episode, entitled “Lost Bones of the Argo”, will most likely “bolster the Argo’s ranking as Nebraska’s number one haunted hotel” (2B). During the Ghost Hunters episode, guests and employees describe seeing a child-like presence, a middle-aged man wearing both a hat and a long black coat on the second floor, a woman crying, doors slamming, and a player piano turning itself on. They have seen drinking glasses falling from the bar area and breaking on the floor. Even a female presence in Room 1 has been known to occasionally touch people (“Lost Bones of Argo”). According to Lefevers, The Argo was once a medical clinic and, during a renovation, a burlap bag of bones was found that could possibly explain the sounds of a baby crying. LeFevers speculates that the spirit of the mother of the possibly deceased baby still roams the Argo searching for her baby. The Historic Argo Hotel is located at 211 W Kansas Steet. According to Tripadvisor it features a lounge, family rooms, suites, free breakfast, and free wi-fi. Like the Arrow Hotel, this quaint building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the hotel has also been fully restored, making this location the perfect getaway (“The Historic Argo Hotel”). So, a stay at the Historic Argo Hotel Bed and Breakfast is sure to be a memorable one.

Who says that ghost hunting must be inhospitable? Whether you are interested in a quaint bed and breakfast, a fully renovated historic location, an upscale mansion, or more rustic lodging, you can still comfortably ghost hunt during your stay. If you decide to dip your toes into the world of specter sightings, these four hotels offer the perfect setting for perusing the paranormal. Regardless of whether you encounter eerie apparitions or not, you are still sure to have a memorable experience.


 

Works Cited

“Arrow Hotel” Tripadvisor, 2022, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45461-d248768-Reviews-Arrow_Hotel-Broken_Bow_Nebraska.html. Accessed 22 Nov. 2022.

Bebensee, Ashley. "4 Places (Rumored to Be) Haunted in Central Nebraska." The Grand Island Independent, 31 Oct. 2018. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/16F6D14F72D58CC0.

“Cornerstone Mansion Bed and Breakfast-Real Omaha Haunt.” Nebraska Haunted Houses, 25 May 2017, https://www.nebraskahauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/cornerstone-mansion-bed-breakfast.html.

“Cornerstone Mansion” Tripadvisor, 2022, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60885-d79071-Reviews-Cornerstone_Mansion-Omaha_Nebraska.html. Accessed 22 Nov. 2022.

“The Historic Argo Hotel” Tripadvisor, 2022, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45512-d1026395-Reviews-The_Historic_Argo_Hotel-Crofton_Nebraska.html. Accessed 22 Nov. 2022.

Hytrek, Nick. "'Ghost Hunters' probe tales of Crofton hotel 'Ghost Hunters' investigate haunted tales of Crofton hotel." Omaha World-Herald, 23 Jan. 2022, p. 2B. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/187B47C56D872E90.

Lefevers, Delana. “These 5 Haunted Hotels in Nebraska Will Make Your Hotel Stay a Nightmare.” Only In Your State, 17 Aug. 2022. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nebraska/haunted-hotels-ne/.

“Lost Bones of Argo.” Ghost Hunters, season 14, episode 3, A&E, 30 Apr. 2022. Discovery +, https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/ghost-hunters-us.

“Olde Main Street Inn” Tripadvisor, 2022, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45485-d269779-Reviews-Olde_Main_Street_Inn-Chadron_Nebraska.html. Accessed 22 Nov. 2022.

Regulski, Elisa. “Ghosts Named Anna and Jack Roam the Halls at Olde Main Street Inn, A Haunted Nebraska Hotel.” Only In Your State, 19 Oct. 2019. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nebraska/olde-main-street-inn/.

  Stephen, Kamie. "On the Hunt for Ghostly Haunts." The North Platte Telegraph, 31 Dec. 2016. NewsBank: Access World News, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/161A4A552992C2E0.

 
    

           

             

           

 

           

 

 

Monday, January 9, 2023

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

 

 

An Argument for Farmers' Markets 

 

Ashlyn Simonson

Booths lined up in the streets like books on a shelf, the sound of laughter and shoes on pavement, the smell of fruit pies being sold at the end of the row. Growing up, going to the farmer’s market in the town where my grandma lived was an occasion to look forward to. The entire experience felt magical to me, like there was some quality that farmer’s markets had that nothing else did. I adored examining all fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and other produce, purchasing lunch from a booth that was cooking stir-fry in a giant wok and selling it in those Chinese takeout boxes, and trying to decide which homemade jewelry booth to spend my birthday money at.

I was shocked when I learned that farmer’s markets were becoming a thing of the past, because how can anyone not love them? As I did my research, though, I discovered that the positive aspects of shopping at a farmer’s market were much more abundant than childhood nostalgia. As it turns out, shopping at farmer’s markets is good for the community, the environment, the economy, and you.

 One of the great things about farmer’s markets is how beneficial they are for the local economy. Common sense seems to dictate that commercial grocery stores such as Walmart or Target are far better because of the jobs that they create, and while this is a huge plus of having a commercial grocery store, farmer’s markets can boost the local economy as well! Wetherbee (1999) emphasizes that, in addition to all the other benefits of shopping at a farmer’s market, they “enable consumers to support local businesses” (p. 34). Supporting local businesses not only includes the businesses in town, but also the small ranches and farms within your community.

As someone who grew up on a ranch, I know personally just how important it is to support local ranchers instead of buying from commercial grocery stores. When members of our family purchase beef directly from us, they get their pick of cuts of meat, and they decide the amount. This also helps our ranch with stability, as we know for sure that we can sell our beef for a set price, whereas selling it to commercial stores can vary wildly depending on how much they need and how the cattle market looks. It is so important to “support the grower rather than a middleman,” stated Organic Gardening magazine (“Local Favorites,” 2009, p. 15). This would not even be a problem if commercial grocery stores were stocked by local farmers and ranchers, but most of the time, they are stocked by commercial farms and ranches. More often than not, stores like Walmart put small farms and ranches at serious disadvantages, and can even cause them to go bankrupt (Conniff, 2015). It is vital to support the small businesses in your local economy, because if you don’t, there might not be much of a local economy left to support.

About eight years ago, my small town decided to put on a farmer’s market. It was advertised that it would be held in the gym, and small businesses, like local boutiques and distributors for Multi-Level Marketing businesses (MLMs), and farms could rent out a booth, and people could walk around the booths and shop, eat, and have fun. The goal was that the rent and the money made by the concession stand would go to the Mullen Girl Scouts, my Girl Scout troop, and the small businesses would make a substantial profit. I vividly remember thinking that this was going to be a colossal waste of time when my troop leader pitched the idea to us. I thought I knew about every business in Mullen, and who would want to come to an event when you could just stroll down Main street and hit them all?

The day of the farmer’s market came, and my mom dropped me off at the gym kicking and screaming because of the work I was dreading. I walked through the doors, and my jaw dropped. I observed that, instead of the ten booths I insisted would be standing alone, there were over forty booths lined up around the painted boundary lines. Surprised, I saw lots of people I never knew had small businesses; the nice lady from church was selling crocheted potholders and embroidered tea towels, a little girl in the grade below me was selling socks and t-shirts she tie-dyed with her dad, and my neighbor was selling homemade fishing lures.

I reluctantly took my place behind the counter, eager to complete my shift, no longer dreaming of leaving, but of exploring the booths in front of me. When I was finally done with my shift, my friends and I wandered around the booths, gazing at feather earrings, fresh bread and pastries, hand-carved chess sets, knitted clothes, and everything in between. I had never dreamed there were that many small businesses in my town of four hundred people. I certainly never thought that something as simple as a farmer’s market could be so beneficial to so many people.

Another compelling reason to shop at farmer’s markets is to lessen your carbon footprint. It isn’t any secret that with the sheer amount of single use plastics employed by commercial grocery stores, they care little for the environment and the planet they are on. The same goes for online shopping! Temming (2020) explains that the emissions caused by packaging for local shops is less than half of that of commercial grocery stores or e-shopping (p. 5). This really cannot come as a surprise to anyone who has experienced online shopping, which, in 2022, is almost everyone. We have all met the UPS deliverer at the door, excited to open the item we were waiting for, and dug through one, two, even three layers of plastic that goes straight to the garbage can the moment it escapes its cardboard home. It seems unnecessary, we think to ourselves, but oh well. That is just the way the world works, right? Much like most things we just accept because of ‘the way it is,’ there is a very simple fix to reduce the amount of single use plastics that are hand-delivered to our doors: shopping locally at farmer’s markets. Farmer’s markets do not necessarily have to package with plastics, because the items being sold are not ever being shipped. Rather, they are handed directly to the customer.

A significant example of this is a farmer’s market on Aksarben in Omaha, Nebraska. The last time I went there, they had a challenge to their vendors to see who can be the most sustainable in their packaging. This results in purchasing necklaces in little velvet bags, putting your cardboard food container in the recycling bins located along every street, and buying cloth bags made from recycled t-shirts. My personal favorite of these things is buying a lemonade from Just Bright, and receiving my drink in a reusable plastic cup in the shape of a light bulb. The bottom of the cup even has lights that come in different colors! This clearly shows that not only do farmer’s markets care about sustainability, but they do it in a way that is fun and interesting.

Another way farmer’s markets can cut down on your plastic usage are the things they sell! Almost every farmer’s market I have ever been to has sold reusable bags, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. Some of the sustainable products I have seen have been really creative. Some vendors sell cloth soaked in beeswax that can replace Saran Wrap entirely. I own a travel case with bamboo utensils and metal straws, so I don’t have to use plastic silverware, which I bought at a farmer’s market. A personal favorite of mine is a plant sold in a pot that dissolves into the soil, so you just stick the whole thing into the ground and water like normal! If you want to find a way to lessen your single use plastic consumption, go to a farmer’s market!

Despite being the most well known, cutting down on single use plastics is not the only way to lessen your carbon footprint. Shopping at farmer’s markets greatly reduces the risks of additives, pesticides, processing, and any other unnecessary chemical being in and on the food products being purchased. In short, the produce is more organic. In a study by the Public Library of Science, Adanacioglu (2021) found that the most loyal group of consumers to farmer’s markets were the “conscious consumers,” or the group of consumers most concerned with food safety and absence of chemicals. According to this study, farmer’s markets come out victorious to commercial grocery stores in terms of quality and freshness (p. 1-17). It was found that people who shop at farmer’s markets have a better understanding of ‘good food choices,’ or food that is higher in nutritional value, and better for you in general (Connell et al., 2008).

The absence of these chemicals from your food is more important than you could ever imagine. Interdisciplinary Toxicology (2009), a scientific journal, reported that pesticide poisoning is the cause of over one million deaths and numerous chronic diseases a year. Moreover, it is toxic to the animals who depend on insects for food, who eat the poisoned bugs and then in turn, also die. Pesticides also contaminate the soil, and kill plants, animals, and insects that were not intended to be poisoned. These chemicals even kill fish, as runoff from commercial farms gets into the groundwater, lakes, rivers, and streams. This contaminates the drinking water of everyone who depends on these sources (Aktar et al., 2009). Smaller farms do not employ the usage of chemicals and pesticides, maybe not because of the environment, but they are saving it nonetheless.

If helping the economy and saving the environment don’t provide enough incentive to shop at local farmer’s markets, it is also a way to bring your community closer together. Something about farmer’s markets promotes speaking to those around you in a way that commercial grocery stores never do. Commercial grocery stores boast efficiency in their shopping, which can be really convenient, but they do not really help in terms of getting to know the community you live in or the people with whom you share a neighborhood. Although an efficient in and out Walmart may be a lot quicker, sometimes in life we as people can benefit from slowing everything down. It feels like everyone is rushing to the next place and the next task.

Farmer’s markets are the perfect places to just take a minute to decelerate in a world where it has been demanded that we keep going as quickly as possible for as long as you can. In an article for Parks and Recreation magazine, author Kevin Roth (2019) describes farmer’s markets as “a place to bring family, friends and neighbors together through education, entertainment and community engagement”(p. 14). In short, he argues that farmer’s markets are a place where a community can come together. He provides statistics stating that 62% of farmer’s markets have cultural events, and 38% offer learning opportunities. Roth (2019) goes on to outline the vitality of the farmer’s market, labeling them a ‘staple’ for small towns. Whilst his article focuses mainly on the benefits for the community, Roth’s article supports several of the points in this essay; he touches on how farmer’s markets boost local economies, they are more eco-friendly, and how they provide a wide variety of fresh and organic foods, which promotes a healthier lifestyle.

I personally have been to a lot of different farmer’s markets, but one that stood out to me was in Kansas City, Kansas while I was visiting family; my one request was that we go to a farmer’s market on Sunday morning. We googled some locations, and ended up at a little recreation center. The courtyard outside was stuffed with booths, curling around the perimeter of a little grassy area with a large crowd accumulating around it. My family and I made a lap around the booths, perusing the fresh baked goods, homegrown produce, and homemade beaded  earrings and bracelets, and we stopped to wait in line at a little kiosk selling bags of pumpkin  bagels. Disinterested, I wandered over to the crowd, puzzling over what could possibly be so interesting. This particular farmer’s market had a weekly block-car derby, but instead of making cars out of blocks of wood down a ramp, they were crafted from various produce. Enraptured, I watched people race squashes covered in glittery stickers versus a potato with a large pinwheel fastened to the top. Children no older than two years old would toddle up to the sponsors to present their car, and proud parents would cheer as their kid’s cucumber truck crossed the finish line. I found myself engrossed in the event, making mental bets on which car would win, high-fiving and congratulating victorious strangers. It was touching to see a group of friends, families, and strangers being brought together by nothing more than a local farmer’s market promoting zucchinis with wheels.

The final and arguably most important reason to shop at farmer’s markets is how valuable they are for your health and eating habits. As mentioned earlier in this essay, smaller farms typically forego the usage of chemicals and pesticides, which cause cancer, chronic illness, and even death. In addition, produce at farmer’s markets is fresher, more likely to be organic, and better quality than that in a commercial grocery store, which likely rode on a truck for several hours, and then sat in the back, possibly for days, before ever seeing the shelves. One of the biggest ways shopping at farmer’s markets can promote a healthier diet is the lack of junk food (Colman, 2018). It is so easy to just pick up a frozen pizza or some ramen noodles when you go to Whole Foods, but those things are usually never sold at farmer’s markets. That is not to say that the markets don't still sell a variety of foods. I have seen everything from homemade pasta, baked breads, oven-ready homemade enchiladas, tomato and pesto sauces, smoothie kits, and everything else you could think of. While that means the groceries you buy at a farmer’s market require more effort in the kitchen, the result is a delicious and nutritious meal that you and your body love.

Those that know me personally know about my deep love of cooking. Recently I have been obsessed with making homemade pasta. I had already made attempts at regular spaghetti, fettuccine, and three cheese ravioli when I visited a farmer’s market in Lenexa, Kansas. As I wandered around the booths, I spotted a homemade pasta stand at the end of one of the rows. We made our way over, and while my family browsed the wide array of pasta types, I worked my courage up to ask the vendor some questions. I noticed he was selling garlic infused linguine, along with multiple other varieties of infused pasta. I tentatively told him about my latest endeavors into making pasta, and asked him how to infuse my dough with other foods and flavors. I worried that he wouldn’t want to tell me, given that that was how he was making money. To my surprise, he seemed pleased with my questions. He walked me through the steps, and gave me some tips on how to make my noodles more flavorful and tender. We ended up purchasing three or four bags from him, and he gave me an extra bag with a wink and a smile. The pasta we purchased from him, paired with pesto from another booth we had come across that day, was absolutely decadent. Every time I make pasta now, I think of his delicious food and the kindness he treated me with. In my opinion, that’s not the kind of interaction you can have at a Sam’s Club.

One of the underrated health benefits of farmer’s markets are as simple as walking around in the fresh air. It can be difficult to carve a chunk of your valuable time out for exercise and spending time outdoors. Shopping at farmer’s markets combines those things; you also get to go grocery shopping! Author Sarah Mahoney (2007) lets us know that in her studies, she has found that interaction with nature “reduces depression, promotes healing, sparks creativity, and even increases life expectancy” (p. 193). It has also been proven that fresh air promotes deeper breathing, bringing more oxygen to your cells and brain. The amount of oxygen being received by the brain vastly impacts that amount of serotonin, or the chemical that makes you happy, you are able to produce. More oxygen equals more serotonin. Going on walks also improves blood flow, joint movement, and mood. As someone who is extremely intimidated by the thought of going to the gym to get my exercise, I would much rather go to a farmer’s market to go on my walks, get some fresh air, and save the economy, community, and environment all at once. Think about all the time I am saving, and I get to enjoy myself!

Last year, while visiting my grandparents over Thanksgiving, my whole extended family, who all insist on family walks every time we get together, decided this walk would be to the farmer’s market in the next neighborhood over. We made our way to the farmer’s market, and looked around. It was late in the season, so there wasn’t really a wide variety of produce anymore, but there were plenty of other booths to look at. There were old ladies selling knitted mittens and hats, a man selling beautiful carved wooden figures, a woman selling Pampered Chef, and much more. After we had made our purchases, we saw a basketball hoop across the park, and some basketballs for public use. It was a beautiful day, and after careful deliberation of whether grandma would kill us for being late for lunch, we decided to play a short game. We were matched up cousins versus our parents, and we played for almost two hours. We yelled, laughed, ran, jumped, and had an amazing time. By the time we were walking back to the house, we were all sweaty faced and rosy cheeked. That was one of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving, and we probably would have never done anything like that if we hadn’t already been at the park for the farmer’s market.

If you still have doubts or reservations about why shopping at a farmer’s market is so much better than shopping at a commercial grocery store, allow me to address some of your potential questions and arguments. If your main concern is that produce at farmer’s markets can be more expensive than that of commercial grocery stores, remember that you are paying for better quality, and you’re investing your money into your local community. The produce at farmer’s markets is fresher, more organic, and you get the moral satisfaction of knowing where your food is coming from and what is in it (Leiper, & Clarke-Sather, 2017). 

Maybe you are wondering what you’re supposed to do in the winter months when farmer’s markets aren’t open. This is a very reasonable concern, and I am usually very sad when farmer’s markets close for the season. But the fact that they aren’t open all year round is only more incentive to shop at them when you can! Take advantage of all the pros of shopping at farmer’s markets while you can, so you don’t get sick of eating the same mediocre Walmart produce all year long. If you’re really worried about the cold season, remember that shopping locally whenever you possibly can will bring a lot of the same benefits that shopping at the farmer’s markets brings you.

A common argument for people in rural areas is that there isn’t a farmer’s market close. I’m not suggesting that people drive 45 minutes every week to get their groceries at a farmer’s market instead of their local grocery store. That would be unreasonable. Just do your best to remember to visit one when you go to bigger towns and cities. I live an hour and a half away from the closest Walmart, so I understand the struggles of living in small towns. At the end of the day, doing your best to go to a farmer’s market when you can is still going to be better for you than always shopping at commercial grocery stores.

Now we have gone through lots of information, and a few anecdotes, about how shopping at farmer’s markets is good for the community, the environment, the economy, and you. In the very beginning of this essay, I revealed that when I was little, I thought farmer’s markets were somehow magical, and I still believe that to this day. If feelings of pure excitement, anticipation, togetherness, and joy aren’t magic, I’m not sure what is. Farmer’s markets were very special to me, long before I knew just how beneficial they were to people who shop at them, the people who work at them, and the communities that they are in. They have something for everyone who goes to them, and it is fun for the whole family. It’s a great opportunity to, as the Mullen Farmer’s Market motto says, “put your money where your heart is.”

 

References

Adanacioglu, H. (2021). Factors affecting the purchase behavior of farmers’ markets consumers. PLoS ONE, 16(7), 1–17. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255435

Aktar, M., Sengupta, D., & Chowdhury, A. (2009). Impact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 2(1), 1-12.

Colman, A. (2018). Farmers Markets: Access to healthy, fresh and local fruits and vegetables in your community park. Parks & Recreation, 53(9), 54–58.

Conniff, R. (2015). The Urban-Rural food movement. Progressive, 79(7/8), 6–7.

Connell, D., Smithers, J., & Joseph, A. (2008). Farmers’ markets and the “good food” value chain: a preliminary study. Local Environment, 13(3), 169–185. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13549830701669096

Leiper, C., & Clarke-Sather, A. (2017). Co-creating an alternative: The moral economy of participating in farmers’ markets. Local Environment, 22(7), 840–858. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13549839.2017.1296822

Local Favorites. (2008). Organic Gardening, 55(6), 15.

Mahoney, S. (2007). The Fresh-Air Fix. Prevention, 59(8), 193–195.

Roth, K. (2019). Connecting communities through farmers markets: Where healthy food, education, entertainment and community engagement all meet. Parks & Recreation, 54(6), 14–15.

Temming, M. (2020). Buying local is greener than e-shopping. Science News, 197(6), 5.

Wetherbee, K. (1999). Farmers’ market favorites. Organic Gardening, 46(5), 34.