What composes an ideal day at the market? 


Suitable weather, amiable humans, appealing music, and of course, Sirocco Ridge Farm’s goat cheese and goat gelato. 


To begin, my name is Claire Gilles, and I am a farmhand for Sirocco Ridge Farm. Over the course of the past several months, I have gotten the pleasure to work extensively with both my co-workers, and my not-so-human co-workers, hence, the goats that so very kindly allow us to utilize their milk supply to produce scrumptious concoctions. 


After having the opportunity to frequently bond with the (goat) girls while milking each evening, I desired to know more about our sales process and our customers who so dearly anticipate each market. So, my experienced co-worker, Josie, and I headed to Douglass Loop Farmers Market in Louisville, Kentucky, where we have a booth each Saturday morning. 


Upon arriving, I was stunned at the amount of vendors that all seemed so genial and welcoming. The other vendors stationed by Sirocco Ridge Farm were incredibly pleasant and notified us as to the best booths for lunch, produce, pastries, you name it. 


In addition, some gentlemen appeared on the porch of a building located in the market cul de sac. They sang cordial folk songs with a banjo and accordion while we prepared for the early morning crowd. Around 10:30 a.m., some couples began gathering outside of our booth and inquiring more questions about our goat cheese. Each couple appeared intrigued by the cheese-making process and wanted to know more. By noon, both Josie and I were astonished by the amount of people who trailed through the market and purchased a variety of our products. 


In between great crowds, I snuck away to further explore the market and visit most vendors. The first booth I visited was a lady who produced a multitude of flowers, each very unique every week. They were bursting with vibrant colors and had quite a lengthy line throughout the hours of the market. 


I then visited a baked goods booth, where a man was selling bruschetta, an Italian bread. Josie recommended I try a loaf, so that I did. It was absolutely mouth-watering and the consistency was extremely soft and fluffy. I will most definitely be investing in another loaf at my next market. 


Also, our booth was set up near a woman who produced micro-greens and used them for smoothies, cold drinks, and more. She invited us to try a sample drink and it was seriously delicious. The colorful liquid was full of flavor and had intense benefits produced from its micro-greens and other organic substances. 


Finally, I could not fail to mention all the furry friends that stopped in our booth. Whether it was the delightful smells or the warm kisses waiting to be shared, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet each critter, especially a three-legged pup named Howie who had nothing but love and a beating tail to offer.


Overall, I would consider my first farmer’s market a sincere success. Between the kindness of the other vendors, the exquisite food, and the ability to be able to see our customers face-to-face, truly paid off. You can certainly catch me at the next farmer’s market enjoying the scenery and fellowship with my community.