Waterville market to open

04/23/2009

WATERVILLE -- Locally-grown vegetables and fruits, home-baked breads, fresh cheeses and meats will be offered when the Barrels Community Market opens June 21 at 74 Main St.

It will be like the indoor market of years ago, when shelves were stocked with grains and baked goods, tools, crafts, utensils and home goods -- and patrons exchanged ideas.

Some 70 people turned out to learn about the nonprofit community venture at an open house Wednesday. The market is being launched by the Waterville Main Street Program.

and will be managed by David Gulak.

"Basically, local and affordable is our emphasis -- that is our driving force," Gulak said.

The market is located in the former Lamey-Wellehan shoe store, where volunteers have helped remove walls, restore hardwood floors and paint.

Gulak and Main Street Executive Director Shannon Haines said the market is designed to complement and not compete with existing for-profit businesses or the outdoor farmers' market held Thursdays in The Concourse.

Barrels organizers plan to work with area colleges so that students can learn how markets work; the market also will sell locally-produced foods to institutions such as hospitals and group homes -- and to area schools.

"That's going to be one of the things that's going to help us balance our budget," Gulak said.

Colby College donated $15,000 to fund a feasibility study that included interviewing potential suppliers for the market and developing a financial plan and budgets. Inland Hospital, private donors and in-kind help from Unity College also have helped boost the project. The market also is using and seeking new volunteers to help raise funds, renovate, do marketing and public relations work, help build shelves and do other work.

Donations of commercial refrigeration units, lumber, paint, brushes and barrels of all shapes and sizes would be welcome, said Haines and Gulak.

Visitors to the open house Wednesday included business owners, students, volunteers, community organizers and farmers. They tasted beer, wine, cider, breads, apples and cheese from places like the Kennebec Cheesery of Sidney; The Apple Farm of Fairfield; Good Breads @ R Family Farm, of Newport; and Ricker Hill Orchards of Turner.

"I think it's going to be a wonderful addition to downtown," said Kimberly N. Lindlof, president and chief executive officer of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. "It should really complement existing businesses such as Jorgensen's and Joseph's Market and be a real asset to the restaurants that are here."

Tom Davis, owner of Are You Ready to Party?, was excited about the venture.

"I think it's fantastic idea," Davis said. "I love it."

Davis was referring to a concept John Bunker of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association talked about at the open house -- the importance of looking to the past to reinvent how people will have to do things in the future.

With economies failing and supplies of natural resources such as oil decreasing, we will have no choice but to pursue ventures such as the Barrels market, said Bunker, of Palermo.

"As we reinvent this new future that we are going to invent, we will do best if we look at the past and if we learn from the past," he said.

A Colby College graduate, apple expert and author of the book, "Not Far From the Tree," Bunker encouraged people to act locally by planting gardens and joining their community historical societies to learn about the past so that they can reinvent a new way of living in the future.

Anyone wanting to volunteer, donate or get more information about the market may contact Gulak at david@barrelsmarket.com or go to the Web site, www.barrelsmarket.com.