I am a college student living in Columbia, Kentucky. Recently I have had the privilege of working side by side with some wonderful people at my local farmer's market. I didn't even know we had a farmer's market until word got out that they were needing help in the food truck. I got the job and I have been working there for around three weeks now. It's been a blessing and a curse, but mainly a blessing. 5 'o clock comes early, but knowing a good amount of children in Columbia, Kentucky are not going hungry that day is enough to keep me fueled and ready to work my seven hour shift. The Farmer's Market on the Square, better known as FM²
, gives a healthy, FREE breakfast and lunch to any child or college student who wants to eat. Adults can eat for a small donation of $4.00. This helps buy food to feed the children. Barbara Armitage and her fabulous friend Diane West plan ahead 2 weeks so that every meal is organized and has all the ingredients needed to make it. Together they team up and make the meals come together for the children. Here is 5 reasons you should visit the farmer's market in Columbia, Kentucky.1. All of the food we make the children is healthy, home grown food. Most of the food that gets bought to make the meals comes from right there at the farmer's market! The vendors there sell everything from soap to salsa and everything in between. All of the eggs we use comes from Blackaby Hill.They are right there on the square with us. How convenient! Things like salsa comes from the program coordinator and master mind, Barbara Armitage and her husband Wayne Armitage. Right down to the cheese we grate, you can bet it is 100% farm made and crafted with hardwork from one of our many talented vendors. When you bring your children to FM²
, you don't have to worry about us giving them sugar filled snacks or deep fried foods. They'll get wholesome meals like meatball subs or sausage and cheese omelettes.2. All the children are encouraged to try foods they have never tried before. Until working in the food truck, I had never tried guacamole. It turns out I don't like it, but most of the kids really enjoyed it! We tell the kids that they have to try something, and if they do they will be rewarded with fresh baked cookies or some other baked good Barbara has made. This is really good because most kids will hear their parents say they don't like something so they just adopt that idea too. When they come to the Farmer's Market they are encouraged to try at least one bite of something. This gets children out of their comfort zones, trying new foods can broaden their horizon.
3. When you buy from the Farmer's Market, you help local families instead of big corporations. Instead of feeding corporations, you can help your local farmer pay their rent, help their child get a new sports uniform, and maintain farm equipment. Also, the food or crafts they make is made with love. They have put hard work and dedication into those green beans! they weren't mass produced and pumped full of chemicals, they were out at the crack of dawn making sure their harvest was a quality product that was ready to be took from their farm and onto your plate.
4. Children who might not get to eat that day, can eat for free. Yes, all children and students eat for free. Maybe the parents can't afford to make a meal that day, FM²
will gladly feed them. Even families that have WIC or SNAP can benefit from the market as well. You can spend WIC and SNAP just like regular money. FM² will even double what you spend. All you do is let us swipe your food stamp card, and we give you tokens equivalent to how much you want to spend. Also, if you get $10 worth of things from the farmer's market, we will double it and you can spend $20 instead. Anyone can have a good meal regardless of your financial standing.5. Cooking demos for the kids! Coming very soon to FM²
is cooking demos for the kids! There will be a tent set up where the kids can go and learn how to make some of the meals that we prepare in the food truck. School teaches them trigonometry, FM² wants to teach them life skills!Being apart of the FM²
family has been such a privilege for me. It warms my heart to see regulars. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like the kids who come back to the food truck just to tell me how much they loved the meal I helped prepare. Come out every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and help local farm families, leave a donation for the kids, or bring the children out and let us feed them! Get involved and better know the community of Columbia, Kentucky.
