James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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{ The Bluestone 2011 } Many took advantage of the Farmers Market by sarah lockwood {writer} he sugar)- aroma of kettle corn loomed in the air. The parking lot was full; bikes leaned against trees. The happy chatter of voung families, older couples, pets, farmers, crafters and bakers rose from what was once just a municipal lot. It was a tvpical Saturday morning at the farmers market. The Downtown Harrisonburg Farmers Market was established in 1979. Turner Payilion was built in 2008 and has housed the market since. A row of merchants under tents stretched beyond the payilion. The market ran through Thanksgiying on Saturdays and Tuesdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. Customers had a wide yariety of selections to choose from. The pavilion was lined with produce, cheese, sausage, baked goods, jewelry, photography, tie-dye art, knitting, candles and woodwork. While some venders sold their products for a living, Char Turner didn ' t take home a cent. Turner began her booth, Cause for Creation, three years ago and raised thousands of dollars for Liberian orphan relief. Her crafts included handmade paper, art cards and other handmade paper items constructed from plant materials grown on her farm. Many people try to do a lot of their gift shopping here because they want to support the cause, said Turner. The Doughnuts and More booth experienced a constant stream of business. Junior John Mills said he came to the market frequently just to pick up a couple oi freshly made doughnuts. Oddly enough, the well-known bakery items were originally meant to be raspberries. Well, we had extra raspberries in the garden so we thought we ' d sell raspberries at the farmers market, explained owner Rosalind Byler. Until the raspberries got ripe, we said we ' d sell doughnuts and pies. By the time raspberry season came around, eyeryone else had raspberries so we decided to just not do raspberries. Her six homeschooled children helped to make the doughnuts, beginning at tour in the morning Some were led to the farmers market by their sweet tooth, but others came with a healthy mindset. I like being able to know where my food comes from. I like to know how far mv food has traveled, who ' s handled it and what ' s going into it, because I ' m putting that into my body, which is important, said graduate student Kelly Patullo. Patullo shopped for vegetables, bread and cheese at the farmers market during most weekends and many Thursdays. She said these trips probably replaced 95 percent of her grocery shopping. Patullo brought her friend and fellow graduate student, Jessica O ' Brien, along for a visit to the market. I just typically go to the grocery store every week, but Kellv always comes to class with wonderful smelling bread and cheese and I just wanted to come, said O ' Brien, who liked the Harrisonburg ' s Farmers Market is located on South Main Street, less than a mile from campus. Voted Best Place to be on a Saturday Morning by the Daily News Record, students did not mind investing 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the weekly market, photo by {heidi Campbell) 2 { Farmer ' s Market

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Students listen to the guest speaker the Thursday before graduation. Due to Bridgeforth Stadium being under construction, the class of 2010 could not have a large graduation ceremony like graduates had in years past, photo by (gareth nermann} Wiley also appreciated his message about giving. She felt Mycoskie ' s main point to give throughout your lire will apply to us soon since we will eventually, finally be in the position to give. To each graduate, Mycoskie ' s message meant something different. I just liked his message about how vou can start with an idea — no matter how absurd it sounds — and you can make it happen, said graduate Julie Watson. The general consensus through the crowd of graduates leaving the convocation center was clear. That was the best speech ever and He ' s so genuine could be heard through the giggles about Mycoskie ' s decidedly favorable looks. From there, many of the seniors made their way up to ISAT to receive T-shirts and attend a candlelit ceremony to further prepare themselves for graduating on Saturday, May 8, and stepping into the world beyond the university. Strong winds blew hard against the graduation gowns and tassels as the 2010 graduating class took their seats. Many thought of their future, I while some thought of their past four years at the university. However, some remembered a promise made to them their freshmen year. I attended the Pep Rally at 1787 Orientation my freshman year and was told that it was the last time we would be with our class until graduation, said graduate Paige Abe. When I found out that we weren ' t going to be together on graduation day with our entire class and parents, ■ I felt sad that that promise was not fulfilled. Due to the construction on Bridgeforth Stadium, the typical graduation ceremony where all of the graduates gathered together with family and friends was cancelled. Instead, the class of 2010 had a special ceremony the Thursday before graduation, where relatives were not allowed to attend. Along with those relatives, were some graduates who couldn ' t fit the ceremony into their schedule. I wasn ' t able to make it to the speaker the Thursday before graduation and I feel like I missed out, said graduate Glenda Cosby. Graduation day didn ' t feel as important as it could have. Graduation day consisted of six separate graduation ceremonies that began at 9 a.m. and were spread out across campus.} Features } 23

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Harrisonburg ' s Farmers Market is located on South Main Street, less than a mile from campus. Voted Best Place to be on a Saturday Morning by the Daily News Record, students did not mind investing 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the weekly market, photo by (heidi Campbell) freshness of market food. I like seeing the people behind the table and you know that the} ' made it. You can sample eventhing and I like that. In reference to price differences between grocery stores and the market, O ' Brien said, I would say maybe it ' s a little more, but because vou can taste it and because you can see where it came from I feel like it ' s worth it. This idea of knowing where vour tood came from was becoming increasingly important to people. The Harrisonburg Farmers Market webpage recognized this trend stating, As the awareness of the importance and benefits of eating locally and supporting local sustainable agriculture continues to grow, the Harrisonburg Farmers Market looks forward to being an even more vital part of the growing community it serves. There was another key element in the lure of the farmers market. Students ran into friends and stopped to talk. Families sat down to nibble on their purchases with strollers and dogs on leashes. Instead of hurrying off to their cars once their bags were full, townspeople sat down on benches to converse with each other. A farmer took a handful of kettle corn he had bought from across the pavilion and offered some to the Mennonite woman in the booth next to him. There was definitely another reason people ventured to the farmers market and no, it was not because Saturday morning cartoons are not what they used to be. It was the atmosphere. It ' s a friendly place, said Byler. Turner also agreed that the atmosphere was welcoming. I just think it ' s a friendlier atmosphere here, echoed Patullo. You can talk to people and people have time to talk to vou and explain things and answer vour questions and I think that ' s important. } Shoppers flock into the Turner Pavilion on a Saturday morning. The city built the pavilion as a permanent meeting place of the Farmers Market in £008. photo by (heidi Campbell} Visitors at the market find products in the Turner Pavilion as well as in the parking lot. The market served as a meeting place for both locals and students, photo by (heidi Campbell} Features } 25