Community Market Thrives in Green Movement

The green movement continues to gain momentum in central Maine towns, as the Sustain Mid-Maine group strengthens its push for a more sustainable Maine. In a Strategic Analysis released in January of 2009, the group announced that it was in the process of implementing a plan to grow and support local food. A direct result of this can be seen on Main Street, Waterville, where Barrels Community Market, a newly developed year-round farmers market, is thriving, giving hope for that sustainability is taking hold.
Barrels Community Market, a nonprofit community market, sells locally produced goods at their downtown Waterville venue. The store sells both food goods as well as locally made products, like lip balm and headbands. Barrels Community Market also provides education and volunteer opportunities for the public, fulfilling the “engage the educational community” goal of the Sustain Mid-Maine project.
As explained within Sustain Mid-Maine’s Strategic Analysis, the expected result of growing and supporting local food would give every Waterville resident access to local, affordable produce every day, as well as space and support to anyone who wants to grow their own food. Members of the team developing this plan included Laura Patterson, Ann Beverage, and David Gulak, among others. Gulak now manages Barrels Market, which is open Monday through Saturday.
“We now average 50-75 transactions a day, with over 100 people coming through the market daily,” Gulak commented in response to how the community reaction has been to Barrels. Gulak also said that their clients range from Colby College staff and students, local business people, and residents. The store also accepts food stamps.
In the future, Sustain Mid-Maine hopes to encourage small gardens, including both community and home gardens, and expand the community supported- agriculture business in Waterville. While there is more to come from the project, the work done by the planning committee, Waterville Main Street, and local government officials is already leading central Maine toward a greener tomorrow.

http://www.barrelsmarket.com/cms/
http://www.waterville-me.gov/content/1233954771sap.pdf