This article isn't quite what I expected when I signed up to your Substack, Julie, but I'm absolute loving it! You've knocked the nail on the head with this one. Thank you!
I live in leafy SW London and the smugness of the occupants makes me snigger. My mam was very pro education and pushed all her daughters, so we all did well. But you can never really escape the memory of hiding from the rent man, or scrambling to get to Friday payday. It makes you thrifty and when you are doing something lovely, you realise you are lucky, not special.
First off, if I'm not mistaken, farmers markets were originally intended to be a way for farmers to sell their produce at market value without a middleman... It doesn't seem like this is actually benefiting the lowly farmer anymore, but the yuppie homesteader.
Secondly, Julie should have a second career as a comedian. Her articles are so witty and insightful and funny!
I think it is odd how gentrification has separated farming from feeding people, in the same way that it has separated housing from housing people. It is strange how it both assumes (in the absorbent sense) something and at the very same time kicks it to a meta-level. It is almost like in order to engage with the very thing they have taken over they need to make it justifiable to themselves after the fact. So weird.
And yet our rural towns are being royally fucked by supermarkets, not farmers markets. Waitrose is the worst culprit. It gives the impression of quality and choice,
so shoppers (especially visitors) neglect the local specialist stores: greengrocers; off-licences; fishmongers; butchers and even hardware stores. Have you ever tried asking the Waitrose butchers counter for sweetbreads? Or asking them to get in some Vin Orange? Or anything they don’t stock. They look at you as if you’re mad. Meanwhile specialist retailers offering a genuine service go to the wall. Of course, many (but certainly not all) farmers markets are cynical rip-off merchants, but if people are daft enough to pay stupid prices in those places, rather than pop down to Lidl, that’s their choice.
This is so accurate. Our farmer's market the same. Plus farm shop sells a Hobbs sliced loaf at £3.75. Nothing special I'm sure. So extreme with food banks these days
Anger is an Energy. Julie is Pure Punk. Love it.
This article isn't quite what I expected when I signed up to your Substack, Julie, but I'm absolute loving it! You've knocked the nail on the head with this one. Thank you!
So true!!
I live in leafy SW London and the smugness of the occupants makes me snigger. My mam was very pro education and pushed all her daughters, so we all did well. But you can never really escape the memory of hiding from the rent man, or scrambling to get to Friday payday. It makes you thrifty and when you are doing something lovely, you realise you are lucky, not special.
agree
First off, if I'm not mistaken, farmers markets were originally intended to be a way for farmers to sell their produce at market value without a middleman... It doesn't seem like this is actually benefiting the lowly farmer anymore, but the yuppie homesteader.
Secondly, Julie should have a second career as a comedian. Her articles are so witty and insightful and funny!
I think it is odd how gentrification has separated farming from feeding people, in the same way that it has separated housing from housing people. It is strange how it both assumes (in the absorbent sense) something and at the very same time kicks it to a meta-level. It is almost like in order to engage with the very thing they have taken over they need to make it justifiable to themselves after the fact. So weird.
Made us laugh out loud, whilst stating some uncomfortable truths
And yet our rural towns are being royally fucked by supermarkets, not farmers markets. Waitrose is the worst culprit. It gives the impression of quality and choice,
so shoppers (especially visitors) neglect the local specialist stores: greengrocers; off-licences; fishmongers; butchers and even hardware stores. Have you ever tried asking the Waitrose butchers counter for sweetbreads? Or asking them to get in some Vin Orange? Or anything they don’t stock. They look at you as if you’re mad. Meanwhile specialist retailers offering a genuine service go to the wall. Of course, many (but certainly not all) farmers markets are cynical rip-off merchants, but if people are daft enough to pay stupid prices in those places, rather than pop down to Lidl, that’s their choice.
Saw this today and thought of this fantastic article! Biltong (whatever the fuck this is!) and New Forest Trout…ffs
‘Alton Farmers' Market this Saturday 10am to
2pm in the High Street, local produce from
across the county, pies, plants, Biltong,
Tomatoes & New Forest Trout.’
So are you Suzanne. Two heroes in a sea of mediocrity and shite…..
This is so accurate. Our farmer's market the same. Plus farm shop sells a Hobbs sliced loaf at £3.75. Nothing special I'm sure. So extreme with food banks these days
Too true!