Because I live in Igo, I know that the Igo-Ono area west of Redding is the kind of close-knit community where residents leave sacks of used clothing, shoes, books and magazines at the post office, free for the taking.
It’s the kind of place where the monthly Igo-Ono-Platina-Trinity Alps Preserve Neighborhood Watch newsletter publishes updates about Good Samaritans and unsung heroes, and tells of folks in need, just as readily as it writes alerts of illegal dumping and nefarious goings-on.
It’s the kind of town that’s so small that when people give out phone numbers, they only say the last four numbers, because everyone shares the same 396 prefix.
It’s the kind of no-hurry place where the Igo Christmas Parade usually starts late, and spectators are as likely to be drinking Bud Lite as hot chocolate, and Santa never fails to pass out gifts to kids, many of whom wouldn’t have a Christmas otherwise.
So when 77-year-old Marjorie Lewis of Ono helped organize the now 4-week-old Igo-Ono Farmers Market, she knew it would only succeed if the event fit the community’s easy-going personality, especially its low tolerance for red tape and regulations.
“We have such incredible community coherence,” Lewis said. “Our farmers market needed to be a natural extension of it.”
Hence, the Igo-Ono Farmers Market is not a certified farmers market, since certification brings with it requisite hoops and stipulations that didn’t appeal to many Igo-Ono sellers.
Also, there’s no charge to vendors who sell their products.
Plus, perhaps most amazingly (to me, at least) vendors can sell pretty much anything (legal) they want, but rather than signing up, they just show up.
So far, about a dozen people have set up tables and booths to sell things like plants, laying hens, fresh eggs, crafts, fruit, even an Ono-area wine (Hee-Haw Syrah, anyone?).
One thing Lewis acknowledges is the Igo-Ono Farmers Market hours – 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. – are potentially problematic because it’s during the heat of the day.
However, she said the group might try something different this week: a drive-through farmers market for shoppers who don’t want to leave the comfort of their air conditioned cars. Drivers can just troll the street in front of the vendors and pull up next to booths that appeal to them where they can buy directly from the sellers.
And while Lewis would appreciate a phone call from people who’d like to sell at the Igo-Ono Farmers Market, she said really, it’s not necessary.
“It’s OK with me if people just show up,” Lewis said. “Folks seem to like the informality of it.”
Meanwhile, Lewis said that because the farmers market pretty much runs itself, there’s not much for her to do Thursday except join the rest of us who’ll shop and check out the booths, whether they offer a variety of squash, or tiny vegetable seedlings,
or 4-H kids’ tickets to community events,
or Happy Valley Nursery guys with pickups full of flowering plants.
Some gentlemen will even show up to perform live music.
There might be something there you’d like, too.
Or maybe you’ll just show up and sell your own stuff.
What: Igo-Ono Farmers Market
When: 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Downtown Igo, across from the post office (up Placer to Igo, turn left at the first stop sign … you’re there)
What else: The Rany & Katie Fund (named after two special dogs), a non-profit animal-welfare organization that benefits Igo-Ono-area animals, will sell homemade dog biscuits.
More info: (Or to reserve a booth) Marj Lewis, 396-2250
