Need-a-Bag? Project Update January

Note: Need-a-Bag? is a project to promote sustainable bagging at the Hwy 441 Alachua County Farmer's Market each Saturday morning. We supply resusable tote bags reclaimed from thrift stores and garage sales. Need-a-Bag? also utilizes old tank tops as tote bags by sewing up the bottoms (these are called t-totes). We invite you to read the other posts on the project by clicking the "Need-a-Bag? Project" label at the bottom of this post.

Today was probably the rainiest day we've ever had on a Need-a-Bag? day at the farmer's market. After watching the weather yesterday, I was under the impression that it would start raining after 1pm, when Need-a-Bag? and The Great Air Potato Roundup were all wrapped up. Boy, was I wrong. It started raining as soon as DG picked me up this morning, and it followed us all the way to the farmer's market. Looking at the prospect of some soggy bags, we didn't even bother to get the drop box or any of the signage from the shed (which the kind people at the Farmer's market have been kind enough to let us use to store stuff). So, we put all of the bags, as you can see from the photo, in one big corral under the tent where they keep the wagons. One gentleman did come over with some bags he had used the week before, so that was nice.

Update #1: Erika of the Citrus has become a Need-a-Bag? associate and ally. She kindly offered to gather the bags at the end of the market day and stash them in the shed. This has saved the other two Need-a-Bag? associates (me and DG) from having to drive back out and collect the stuff. She has also included a plug for the Need-a-Bag? Project in each of her emails to local shoppers who receive updates on the market and the oh-so-sweet-and-tasty citrus she and her father sell. There is a special place in heaven for people who support sustainable projects and she is on the fast-track.

Update #2: After mulling over the mechanics of making a tote bag mascot costume, I realized that we wouldn't have to pay a king's ransom on foam sheeting because I have some foam sheeting that my mom-in-law gave me to make seat cushions for our patio set. Comfortable butts, or a Totey the Tote Bag costume? Hmm. The second option definitely has more humor value and is therefore the obvious choice.

DG nixed the idea of buying new covering for the costume and finally brought me around to the idea that the fixings for Totey should be reclaimed items. And she's right -- if we're trying to promote sustainable practices, we should start with a sustainable costume.