It seems that there is a general consensus that college students are broke….to help with that here is a link to a website that has coupons and deals for the Lakeland area!
http://www.dealcatcher.com/local/lakeland
Go out and save some money, kids!
Tag: money saving
Homegrown
By: Rachel Gearhart
Saturday mornings at 8am sharp downtown Lakeland comes alive. Tents pop up, fruits and veggies and flowers and artisan goods of all colors and varieties are articulately laid out. Coffee is brewed and popcorn is popped.
Downtown Lakeland
The Downtown Farmers Curb Market is in town. This weekly event is a mix between a traditional farmers market and an arts and crafts fair. Vendors sell everything from food items and natural soaps and lotions to handmade jewelry and lawn decorations. It’s the perfect time and place for Lakelanders to take a lazy Saturday morning stroll, right through the heart of downtown. On Saturday the 21st of February Kendall Nizza, 19, spent her morning wandering around the market.
“It feels really homey, you can get homegrown fruits and vegetables and also handmade crafts. People are just really friendly,” says Nizza, a Southeastern freshman.
The market gives downtown an old-time feel, almost like Lakeland is in a time where the only place to buy fruits and vegetables is from neighbors and local farms. Fruit and vegetable sellers are among the most popular vendors found at the market. Several of these vendors include EcoFarm, Barefoot Creek/Scotty’s Produce, Bilbrey Family Farms CSA, and AquaOrganics. These vendors pride themselves on producing organic and wholesome produce, without the use of harmful chemicals.
This organic and naturally grown produce is also extremely affordable. Shoppers can get three baskets of Plant City strawberries for $7, a basket of three large sweet potatoes for $2, or a bowl of four to five yellow squash for $2. Being organic and inexpensive, as well as tasty, makes this produce an attractive option Lakeland shoppers to purchase.
“[The fruits and vegetables] looked better and were cheaper than the ones at Publix. They were all organic and looked delicious. You know they’re homegrown because you can meet the people who grew them,” says Nizza of the produce at the market.
Along with fruits and veggies, patrons can purchase handmade jewelry, pottery, and art. The artisans who sell these products produce handmade and quality goods that are also unique and one of a kind. Several of these vendors include Sunspot Creations, Mud Hut Pottery, Images by Ar, and KRAP (Kimberly’s Recycled Art Projects) Art. Sunspot Creations sells unique rocks, jewelry, and flameworked glassbeads and fish, the jewelry and glass work being handmade. Arlene Creevy of Images by Ar takes pictures she has taken and prints them on canvas that does not need a frame. She also restores old photographs and special orders client’s photographs on mouse pads. Sunspot Creations and Images by Ar are just two examples of the wide range of unique and creative artisan creations that can be found at the market.
Of the handmade jewelry items Nizza stated, “It sort of awakened my inner hippie. It also made me want to make stuff like it.”
Another type of product that can be found at the market is natural soaps, lotions, candles, and textiles. These products, like most of the ones at the market, are also organic and homemade.
“They all smell nice and they look real cool, like they look like what they say they are so you know that that’s what they’re made of,” says Nizza.
Several of these vendors include Soap for the Soul, Boondock Studios, and The Soap Magician. Soap for the Soul and The Soap Magician both feature handcrafted vegan soaps, to include soap for dogs. Boondock Studios sells accessories made of blended media and fine leather.
Overall, the Downtown Farmers Curb Market is a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. Attendees can purchase quality produce and other unique and handmade products. Or they can just enjoy the Florida sunshine and see what the creatives of Lakeland have to offer.
In order to gain a better perspective of the general atmosphere and feel of the market, check out the video below. Also, for information regarding the market visit
http://www.ldda.org/Home/FarmersCurbMarket.aspx
Lakeland for the College Student 