I live in a small, rural area. The roads outside of town are all lined with produce fields (mostly corn and soy beans), and the streets in town are home to mostly trucks, four-wheelers and the occasional tractor, in addition to the usual cars, bikes and motorcycles. There are barns all over, deer out the whazoo and best of all, there are the farmer's markets.

Farmer's markets are great.

I've always enjoyed browsing all the brightly colored fruits and vegetables, the jars of jam and honey and the beautiful and fragrant baked goods. The people are always smiling and talking pleasantly with their neighbors and friends. They carry baskets and bags with veritable cornucopias of food stuffs and small crafts. As I wait, rather impatiently, for these vibrant summer centers to finally open up for the year, I wonder what it is like for the people on the other side of those booths. I mean, I love the market; I wonder if they feel as deeply as I do about it, or if it's just a job. Surely one of these guys can enlighten me. So, I talked to Farmer Rick.

I love how excited this guy gets when you get him talking about his garden and the impact that people like him can have on a community. Small, independent, produce farmers are energizing and cohesive for a community. Farmer Rick is proud of his part to play in his neighborhood and in our little rural town. It's a pride that is backed by real effect. Produce from the Market is cheaper than that from the local Wally World, not to mention the fact that we know exactly where Rick's veggies came from.

Where does this leave each of us?

Perhaps you're reading this with a newfound inspiration. You may be wondering how you can grow your own garden, how you can contribute to the local Farmer's Markets in your area, or simply how to find a market nearby where you can get some of the produce your neighbors have grown. So, here's a couple tips:

First, go check out the markets. A quick Google search should turn up at least one place to look into. Go and see what the scene is like in your area. You may have a thriving market just around the corner, or you may find an opportunity to bring something new to your area. Either way, you'll never know until you get out there and look. Talk to the sellers; find out how the process works in your area. Bottom line: get active and get involved.

Next, go to the big chain grocery stores. This is a good way to get an idea of the prices you should potentially be paying, etc. Rick, for example, goes to the store at the beginning of each season and finds the prices they charge for each of the items he offers. He then uses this as an absolute maximum he can charge someone. In addition to the better quality of his produce, and the positive impact of neighbors buying from neighbors, Rick believes it's vital to offer people cheaper alternatives to the big national chains. If you do plan to grow your own produce to sell, don't fret over price too much. While it is a business and there is always potential to lose money in business, it's not hard to sell food for cheaper than the big guys, considering you'll have to pay little-to-nothing in shipping/packaging costs, etc.

Speaking of business, now you need a plan. Do a little research. Find out what grows well in your area and what other sellers are growing. Look into techniques for optimizing your space. Come up with a catchy name for your new business and make a Facebook page for it. Create a neat logo, etc., and go for it. It's going to take a good deal of work, but it'll be worth it in the end.

Finally, don't give up. Growing things is certainly not one of those hobbies that pays off right away. Farmer Rick tells me repeatedly how this has been an endeavor that has taken him years to get off the ground. Every year he learns something new, and every year he is presented with new challenges to overcome. Especially if you plan on growing your produce organically, be ready for one heck of a challenge, but don't give up if it doesn't work out the first time (or first dozen times). Endurance is the name of this game, and the reward is great for those who endure to the end.

Is it worth it?

As I felt our conversation drawing to an end, I asked Farmer Rick if all the hassle was worth the reward. His answer was somewhat of a "depends on how you look at it." Financially, it can be hard to scrape by doing this and this alone; although, it can be done. Like any business, there's plenty of potential for failure and plenty of trial and error. But from the perspective of the impact on the community, there's nothing quite like it. Turning a neighborhood from a group of people who simply live near each other, but hardly know each other and rarely speak to each other, into a place that's eerily similar to old Mayberry, where everyone smiles when they see each other and waves and stops to talk to each other, this transformation is worth every drop of sweat and every dollar lost.

Farmer's Markets are great, and we should all take advantage of the great food—and friends—they have to offer.