A Week at the Farm Market Day 1: Sunday
Sunday is probably my least hectic day of the week during market season, as I have no market to go to that day or the next.
People often ask me what life is like as a farm market vendor. It’s wonderful and crazy, fun and insane all at the same time. It ends up kind of being a mad rush at times, where all the days of the week seem to blend into the other, but I love it. Farming is in my blood and I just couldn’t image life without it.
I thought I’d do a little 7-part post series to give you a peek into life on the farm each day of the week during market season. Since Sunday is often considered the first day of the week, I figured I’d start there.
I generally sleep late on Sunday due to usually have having been sleep deprived for the previous day’s market. While there’s still tending to be done on the stand, it’s usually a slower day there too, Saturday being the day most people stop. Sunday for me is the restock day.
My greeting card supply is usually low by Sunday, so it’s time to make more and replenish the box. There are soaps to be made and beeswax candles to be dipped. Since I only use local beeswax (some of it mine from the swarm I caught several years ago and some of it from other local beekeepers), it may be time to clean more wax as well. I have to cook it down to remove all the honey and debris before I can use it to make more sets of tapers.
Depending on how much I have left, it may also be time to restock the catnip toys basket, or go hunting for more catnip out in the field. The sheep is usually good at helping me find it…maybe he thinks he’s a cat. Once I gather a basketfull, I’ll spread it out in the loft (where my own cats can’t be temped to get it) and leave it to dry so I can make more toys for the market.
If it’s later in the season, Sunday is my wreath making day. I’ll sit up in the loft surrounded 
by my piles of dried flowers and wind them onto a wreath frame. My time record was getting one done in an hour and a half, but that only happened once when I had all my flowers perfectly sorted. More often my flowers are strewn around me in a haphazard mess and the wreaths usually take 3-4 hours then. I find it’s best to do it small sections at a time rather than all at once. (Learn how to make one yourself here)
Sunday is special order day as well. Once I’ve finished replenishing the stocks I set about making all the special requests. Sometimes it’s a special color candle or a new scent of soap. Others times it’s a request for a new intricate wheat weaving design; always a fun adventure.
When I need a break from the physical work, I’ll start writing my weekly blog post or filming that week’s how-to video if I don’t already have one done. I tend to multi-task whenever possible on Sunday in order to get more done. I’m usually cooking a batch of candles or soap while I’m making cards (or stripping flowers later in the week). It’s something that’s generally advised against, and I really probably shouldn’t be doing it either, but I watch the candles and soap pretty closely while I’m multi-tasking. Never had a fire yet.
If it’s still early in the season, there are crops to be planted and weeds to be pulled. On the especially dry years there are also rows to be watered. If I’m lucky, I stop before I run the field well dry. If not, I have to wait until the well replenishes during the night to use 
the water again or else haul a load of water from town.
About dusk I go down and pick up my stuff on the stand. Then it’s time for supper and a brief rest before bed and the start of Monday morning.
Copyright © Amber Reifsteck ~ The Woodland Elf
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You’re amazing, Amber. I have so much respect for you. I live on a 5 acre block on the outskirts of a large city. We graze 2 horses but that’s about it. I hope you have a successful week with all your wonderful crafts. Cheers – Amanda 🙂
Aww thanks 🙂 Hope you get to put in a little time riding those horses you graze. As the Arabian Proverb goes: “The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.”