I got up before 6 am knowing it was daylight. Put clothes on and ran to put signs on each corner - for campaign you're thinking - no, I sell blackberries. I have flags, hand-painted (my work), and a banner at the corner of 117 and Heywood Hill Road - and one flag at each corner that you need to turn to place. I dropped down at Whataburger in Sapulpa and pick up David's breakfast - he's addicted to coffee.
I set up two pickers with baskets a few minutes before 7 am and before they could get started - too busy taking pictures - three more show up with baskets and off they start picking. Five pickers wipe out berries and then I am picking more tomatoes and getting ready for Farmers Market in Downtown Tulsa, 3rd and Boston. I leave the house a few minutes before 9, get to market about 25 minutes later and start unloading. The place is full - not packed but there's about 10 vendors, two more show up late. We sit out in the heat, at 2 pm we begin to reload back into our cars. I manage the market - no pay, strictly volunteer. It gives everyone a chance to sell their wares.
Carissa Pankey is selling shaved ice with her own recipe of syrups - homemade. She uses Sapulpa Cafe to make them - I talked Jane and JoAnn into letting someone rent their kitchen after hours. More income for a restaurant - we could use a Certified Kitchen in Sapulpa. One that is used as an Incubator Business - that helps people get involved in the food services. I wrote a complete business plan some years back - Margie was selling the Custard place next to Rib Crib. The Broker fell thru, she needed to sell and I let the restaurant go but I have regretted not having started this Certified Kitchen for the public to use.
I spoke to a customer yesterday who would like to use a Certified Kitchen - I literally passed this idea past the Mayor who never looked at the plans - men!
I don't even know what party the Mayor may be and not sure I care. I just know that when it comes to new ideas a lot of men tend to think we should stick to what they have been doing and frankly I am ready for a new point of view. I've created a place for very small businesses to thrive at the farmers markets. My attempt to build a Certified Kitchen wasn't to make me rich - it had potential if kept busy - but my real reason was that every week or so I get a phone call from someone wanting to know if they can sell something at the market that is edible and needs to be prepared - food, mustard, cookies, barbeque sauce, breads and other assorted goodies. I am tired of telling them they must be legal and knowing they will not have an easy time finding a kitchen to cook in.
People can be enterprising - if you give them a means. A lot of women tend to want to be independent but we have a male bird house builder, a farmer and plant grower as well but the rest of the group is mostly women - some are daughters of the farms they represent.
Can I make a difference in representing District 30 at the Capitol? I'd be one voice - but I am willing to be a squeeky wheel. Do I listen or think outside the box (rolls eyes - I don't really like some cliches) and all you have to do is ask one of the vendors at one of my markets. Da Yang attends many markets for her family. She told me today she really loved my market - said I do a good job. One of the things I do is make everyone help everyone - putting up tents, taking down and leaving, no woman (or man) left behind. It is my unwritten rule - I don't enforce it - it simply happens and it makes me very proud to see someone just get to market late and have two/three vendors simply walk over and grab a corner of a tent. It's an old fashioned value - neighbor helping neighbor. If you all vote for me, I promise I will pitch in - it's my style.
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