Bishop's Homegrown Produce/Face Of The Earth Seed: Washington County Artisans and Farmers.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Washington County Artisans and Farmers.

One of the many projects which has kept me busy this year (and subsequently away from the blog and messageboard) is my hand in helping to foster the birth of a new local Artisans and Farmers Market. You may remember from a few months back that I had quite a falling out with my previous market over ego-trips and a general "do nothing" attitude as well as their disallowing of local artisans (and dismissal of some produce vendors). Luckily a local civil group called Washington County Awarness had targeted a Artisan and Farmers market as their class of 2011 project!

I was extremely lucky to hook up with these forward thinking folks made up of citizens, who also want to see a local food and art shed thrive, in order to develop and foster a new market for Washington (and surrounding) counties which will highlight the amazing breadth of local goods available to consumers living locally and regionally! To boot we got the support of my hometown Pekin Indiana who offered us the lovely Pekin Park (Gill's Grove historically) in which to host our main season market from April-October!

On top of all this we decided to exploit the winter months to offer artisans and farmers a place to sale their wares at a time of year when income on a farm is at it's lowest. Once again my community stepped to the forefront offering Pierce Polk Vol. Fire Dept. as a venue for a once monthly winter market hosting up to fifteen vendors in concert with the fire dept. holding a benefit breakfast. The first of these markets is knocking on our door as I type.

November 19'th from 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM we will be at the first ever Washington County Artisans and Farmers Market peddling our homegrown Face Of The Earth Seed, Wood Crafts, and our brand new project; Penn Wilsons Circle W Soap (which I will write about in short order).

Come see us if you get a chance!

By the way perspective local vendors, theres still room in our main season market for many more, just shoot an email to wcaf@ymail.com

-Alan Bishop, Vice President of WCAF and proud Anchor Vendor of a new and growing market for the betterment of mind, body, soul, and community!

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Things you should be aware of if visiting or touring Bishop's Homegrown.

As with any business property there are certain legal restrictions we must abide by to protect ourselves and you. This is for your information and is very important for you to read before visiting our farm.

1. Under Indiana law, an agritourism provider is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in agritourism activities at this location if the death or injury results from the inherent risks of agritourism activity.
Inherent risks of agritourism activities include risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death, or for other participants to act in a manner that may cause you injury or cause your death.
You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

2. We love children and understand the excitement children experience when exposed to open spaces and farm animals and we encourage visitors to bring their children. That said, please be a responsible parent and keep a close eye on your children and keep your children at your side at all time. There is to be absolutely no chasing of my animals (regardless of bare hands or baring sticks, stones, or any other instrument of livestock death and despair). Do not enter my enclosures without my express permission and accompanyment. While my animals are mostly calm and tame, go ahead and presume they are the meanest animals on the face of the earth and do not approach them without my consent.

3. Use your brain and dress and prepare appropriately for a farm tour. No open toed shoes

4. I love giving tours and talking and would never charge for information and often times I even give away products for people to try. That said, my time is important, if you feel it is appropriate and warranted I am not opposed to or above the charity of a donation for my time and knowledge, every bit of which you can guarantee will go back into the black hole that is agriculture on this farm. I generally tend to think of my time as being worth $10.00-20.00 an hour. It is not necessary to recompensate me for information gladly shared, but the sentiment is appreciated. This of course does not apply to customers who are purchasing from me or even just checking things out.

The Safe Seed Pledge.

We at Bishop's Homegrown/Face Of The Earth Seed have signed the Safe Seed Pledge which states the following:

"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe
and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who
want an alternative,
We pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.
The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families
or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that
genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is
necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support
agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy
people and communities."

Alfred Reed Bishop and Doris William Butler

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Washington County Artisans and Farmers.

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