One of the best things about life in a small(ish) town is how close you can feel to the people and places around you. But as Boerne continues to grow, some leaders in our community are intentionally trying to preserve that close-knit feeling and make it easy for newcomers to fit right in.
It’s in this spirit that the Boerne Farmers Market launched earlier this year. “My greatest hope for this market is for our community to embrace a farm-to-table lifestyle, forging new personal relationships with local farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders,” says Dondi Persyn, the market’s director of marketing. The effort is grounded in the local market's significant role in Boerne's past. Back when the city was a hub for Hill Country farmers and ranchers, the Boerne Farmers Market was a reliable source for high-quality, locally-grown produce and goods, along with prepared dishes and specialty items.
Today, organizers hope it makes a vital link between the shopper and the farmer. Lorie Diller, the community liaison, puts it this way: "What local farmers need the most is a collaborative community that values their connection with the land and their animals. They need to know that what they are doing will be sustainable and supported." By giving producers a chance to expand their reach, hone their marketing, and innovate, those farmers and artisans have the opportunity to grow, and that’s good for the entire community.
"Fresh, local food is nourishing to both body and spirit, cultivating a deep connection to the land and the farmers who sustain us,” says Market Director Lenore Ockerberg. That’s why the weekly event aims to foster a vibrant community that encourages collaboration and breaks out of the fast-paced consumer mindset to promote healthy and sustainable living. “It builds community bonds and creates healthy people, animals, and soils. It is a system of true freedom."
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"Fresh, local food is nourishing to both body and spirit, cultivating a deep connection to the land and the farmers who sustain us.”