We here at the Simcoe County EFAO branch have been planning an ecological farmers' market since early spring so the arrival of Dynamic Farmers' Market by Jeff Ishee, via the EFAO library, couldn't have been better timed. The book not only covered how and what to sell at a market, but also tips and advice for starting a brand new one. It was chock full of useful ideas on how to set up an attractive display that would get the attention of potential customers, but it also covered things like body language and chlothing dos and don'ts.

The book's easy-to-read format made it fun to read and included a lot of photographs of stalls, big and small. Ishee, a market gardener, gives a lot of encouragement to new vendors and people who may be thinking about joining a market, but he strongly advises them to set goals and establish a business plan first. He helps by going through the many considerations people should think about before they even set up their booth, things like what to grow, raise, make etc, what to charge and even what kind of market would be best suited to meet your needs.

Ishee suggest lots of signs identifying the various items for sale, along with their respective prices, smiling at people, and making suggestions on how to prepare unusual items. He talks about why farmers use farmers' markets and why customers support them and even what you can expect to make should you set up a booth. The book includes several suggested bylaws for people looking to establish a farmers' market and he covers the various administrative responsibilities that come with starting such an endeavor.

Overall, the book was very helpful, and it was passed on to other members in our group.

It could have done without all the shameless self-promotion at the end for his market in the form of newspaper articles and news releases, but all in all, the book carries a lot of valuable information for anyone considering a farmers' market, either as a vendor or as someone looking to establish a new one. It's a valuable resource.

Julie DeBruin