Community Corner
10 Questions at the Farmer's Market
Meet Gay Geiger Hughes and her tea at the Osterville Farmer's Market this Friday from 9-2.
Q: How long have you participated in Farmer’s Markets?
Two years
Q: How long have you owned your farm/business?
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Three years
Q: What do you wish people knew about buying locally?
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It is so important for people to support our local growers, to make a commitment to our community. Buying local also means a healthy way of consuming food products.
Q: What got you interested in this way of life?
My product is a bit unique to this. There is only one tea plantation in the U.S. with a limited supply of tea. I source my teas from a variety of vendors who carry quality, premium loose leaf teas where they can support Fair Trade and Organic practises.
Q: What is the best thing about selling your product on the Cape?
The customers are so welcoming and friendly! The surroundings of where we sell (Osterville Farmer's Market) is just beautiful! Who wouldn't be happy and friendly with the beautiful Osterville Historical Museum's surroundings?
Q: Do you see a good variety of ages buying from you?
There is a definite trend in a mid to older crowd that are customers, but do have customers that are college age also.
Q: What is your favorite local summer item?
Fresh blue fish! Smoked is even better!
Q: Why do you think people might not always support local growers and vendors?
Lack of information and knowledge.
Q: If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Spending time with my wonderful daughter who just graduated from college. She works in theater, with the goals of becoming the artistic director of a theater. She and I are kindred spirits when it comes to theater and the arts. She also enjoys sharing a cup of my English Breakfast tea, with scones, and pears with sliced cheese with her cheeky mum. Yum!
Q: Besides selling tea, what makes you feel like a million bucks?
Things of beauty are of utmost importance to me - the beautiful views, sites, sounds and smells found at beaches and surrounding grounds at Coast Guard Beach, for example. Listening and experiencing moving music, at the BSO, at local coffee houses, or on my CDs. Viewing the simple blossoms of the mountain laurel that are in bloom in my yard. Watching the mother robin feeding and caring for her baby birds that are bursting out of their nest that she made in the umbrella tongs on our deck. Baking scones for the pure pleasure of the senses - smelling, seeing, eating - to be shared with those I love. Walking my dog and meeting up with neighbors to chat. These are the things that make me feel like a million bucks.
