Finding Joy in Wintertime
—Megan Lovely’s memoir Story Seeds: Growing Home at the Farmers Market was launched at the Market in October. Purchase a copy here. A combined 15% of all proceeds will be donated to 32nd Street Farmers Market, Black Yield Institute, and Farm Alliance of Baltimore.
— Photographs by Michael Caballes
In the book Frederick by Leo Lionni, a family of field mice are getting ready for the winter. While most of the family is busy gathering corn, nuts, and straw, Frederick gathers sunlight, colors, and words. When the family have nibbled away all their food, they turn to Frederick, who warms and inspires them with imagery of golden rays, colorful flowers, and words poetically arranged in a tribute to the four seasons. The first time I visited the 32nd Street Farmers Market was in January of 2021, and I was amazed to find local apples in the middle of winter. Those who make the Market part of their weekly routine are fortunate to have fresh produce throughout the winter, and we have the dedicated market community to thank for that—from the farmers who continue to harvest throughout the cold winter months, to every vendor who bundles up each week, to every shopper who makes the trek to support their local growers and makers. From my own experience of frying falafel at the market for two winters, warming my hands by the pot of hot oil, showing up at the winter market is both an act and search for communal love and support.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
In the spirit of Frederick, I’d like to offer something else to get us through these winter months. I’ve had the joy of meeting hundreds of people in the market community through my Story Seeds project, which gathered stories from market goers and vendors over the course of three and a half years. Since I moved to Rochester, New York, in summer 2024, these stories have kept me connected to the market community, as I spent the past year and a half weaving them together into the book, Story Seeds: Growing Home at the Farmers Market.
The stories featured in the book are only a fraction of all that I’ve collected, and I’m excited to announce the launch of my ‘Seed Catalogue,’ a digital extension of the book that documents every Story Seed someone created at the market. You can browse the Seed Catalogue on my website for free. From stories about the bravery of gravitating towards the color orange, to memories of eating falafel in Wyman Park Dell, to learning how to regrow your own green onions… I hope these stories nourish and sustain you throughout the long winter months ahead.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.