Logan Square Farmers Market opens its 2009 season on Sunday, June 7, 10:00 a.m., and continues Sundays through October, at the southeast corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Boulevard.
In addition to the early summer produce from farms like Temple Farm Organics (click for a June coupon), Mike and Clare’s Farm, and Jake’s Country Meats, this week there will be prepared food from Vella Café, Fonda del Mar and Cook au Vin (next week Treat will also join the market).
And that’s not all, there will be soaps and cookies and yarns and pies.
There will be music and seed-planting and other kids activities.
And then there’s the general neighborhood socializing.
Logan Square Farmers Market as Third Place
You might even call the Logan Square Farmers Market a “third place” in the neighborhood. Ray Oldenberg, in his book The Great Good Place, states that post offices once filled this function (see 2009 New Business of the Year for more on third places). I can see that more in a tiny town like one where my great aunt and uncle used to live, than in Logan Square’s post office, but in Logan Square I think the farmers market does fill that role.
A conversation starter: How do you use the Logan Square Farmers Market? Are you likely to frequent other Logan Square businesses before or after a visit to the market? Are you likely to participate in other neighborhood activities surrounding a visit to the market?
Peopling Places 
The great thing about the Farmer’s Market is that it is not just a shopping experience, it’s an event. I heard people discuss attending as part of their weekend activities, like they would going to a concert or other social event. I was at the Logan Square market for several hours on Sunday and was very surprised to see how people used it. It was not like a shopping experience – or even an Art Fair where people wander the aisles and then walk away(although aesthetically it is sort of set up the same way). People mingled, wandered, sat down, stayed for a very lengthy period time, ate a little, chatted with vendors, ran into friends. There was entertainment for families and all of this brought a lot of depth to what I assumed initially would be a more transactional experience.
I love the Farmer’s Market and have been attending it faithfully with my family since it began, but I wonder if there is a limit to how overpriced the market can get before it just becomes inaccessible to people. I understand (and agree with) the concept of paying a premium for reconnecting community, establishing relationships with farmers and bakers, etc., but last Sunday I shelled out ELEVEN dollars for a baguette and two pastries! We wanted to patronize some of the other stalls, but just like that we were out of cash. It seems like every year the prices just keep going up and up. I know, supply and demand. People are willing to pay these kind of prices. But I’ve also heard much grumbling in the neighborhood that the main reason people don’t make the Market a part of their Sunday routine is the exorbitant prices…what do you think?
That being said, it will be nice to see how New Wave and the Market work in tandem to create some fun (and expensive) Sunday afternoons!
BTW, I just found this blog – it’s a great conversation about the neighborhood.