Gerrie’s junk-filled Farmers Market garden

~~ A Flea Market Gardening ‘My Big Garden Project’~~

Building a Community Flea market Garden

Last June, Gerrie Brinker set out to create a garden designed just to call attention to her town’s Farmers market.  We’re flattered that she was influenced by our Flea market Gardening style!  You’ll be inspired by how she accomplished this Big Project.

June 2015, St Clair, Missouri
Gerrie Brinker announces,…”May I present The St. Clair Farmer’s Market’s Flea Market Garden! Inspired by you! Thanks!”
When I was elected President of the St. Clair Farmers Market in February of 2015, an enormous challenge laid before me. Our farmers market was in need of recognition. We needed to do something positive that would attract the attention of the community to our location.“

Gerrie  exclaims, “Look what I have for The St. Clair Farmer’s Market “Flea Market” container garden! Yep….I was inspired to create this garden using junk!  Not sure everyone’s on board yet, but by tomorrow they’ll ‘get’ the fun it’s going to be!

Gerrie has a good classic assortment of Flea Market items to garden around here.  She says, “Some tools and items are related to local farming, so it goes well with a farmer’s market theme!

 

 

Gerrie tells us, “We attempted a raised garden a couple of years ago, but the weeds always took over, watering it was a chore and no one was interested in its upkeep. I knew that the weed issue would be addressed if we did container gardening.

Of course, my inspiration came from looking at Flea Market Gardening’s Facebook page. I had a visualization that I drew out on paper of what I thought would be attractive. It was hard trying to describe my vision to everyone so I just jumped in and began to work my plan. People passing by notice this crazy lady laboring in the hot sun, but had no idea what I was up to. Help arrived and the garden began to take shape. The containers I chose were “farm” related and free.”

A crusty rusty toolbox and galvanized chicken waterer, room for blooms, a wheelbarrow for a large ‘planter,’ and rustola galore… what more could a anyone ask for?!  That wheelbarrow will certainly draw people in.

Gerrie says, “The ladder is standing now. I went back and secured it.”  In windy areas, Flea Market gardeners can anchor ladders, and tall items like trellises, arbors and bird house poles with lengths of rebar or angle iron rods pounded securely into the ground.

Creating a crafty sign

 

Gerrie says, “The bees are a wonderful addition which Gerrie made herself! The bees are ceramic. I have a mold that has two bees. I hand paint them with glaze that requires three coats. Labor intense but fun!”

 

Gerrie says, “Our Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday May thru October. We’ve planted sunflower seeds in the middle and they grow fast!  There’s a path in there, too, and we’ll put down stepping stones.  I can’t wait to hear what our customers think. So far our Facebook friends love it. What’s not to love right?”

 

Gerrie says, ”

A wheelbarrow here, wooden boxes there, a chicken feeder and water dispenser, a rusty two wheel brick dolly, a metal toolbox and ladder backs all made their way into the garden. The dream became reality and everyone could see it now. It took a week to get it set up and the whole time we were creating it, people slowed in their cars to look.”

 

“This little one was so happy to get the flowers I wore in my hair at our ‘Save Our Monarch Butterfly Event!’ She kept calling them feathers. She’s 4! Love her to pieces!” Gerrie tells us.

 

 

 

St. Clair Farmers Market Facebook page

Rock painting project

“When it was finally together, we invited children to come to the market and paint rocks that would circle our garden and add color to it. My intention was to make the children part of a community project that they could be proud of. When they come to the market now, they search out their rock and are so proud of what they’ve done.

Acrylic craft paints were used, then I sprayed them with a clear coat UV protected spray to keep them from fading.  It has drawn more people to our market and everyone who comes to the market, takes a stroll around the garden to see how its doing.”

 

“Dressing our market garden for fall!  We replaced the faded flowers and planted the mums in their pots and then mulched. Community loves it and the children who painted the rocks come to find their rock! Involving the kids was the best part! They are proud of their rocks!”

 

“Photographers stop and take pictures from all angles too. The market vendors have even pitched in to help take care of it and are proud to have an attractive garden. I’ve heard nothing but compliments about it. The market garden is a huge success! We are still learning how to take care of containers that get hot in the sun and have a tendency to dry out fast, but we are exploring water collection options, as well as planting so the containers are shaded. I would encourage any community to create a Flea Market Garden. It’s good for the soul and exudes positive vibes!”

Wow! You have done a spectacular job on this, Gerrie! We are so impressed! This really is a great example of a community garden and for imaginative ‘advertising’. Excellent! Please pass on our compliments to your co-workers!

 

2017 Update

Gerrie says, ” This is our third year of having a flea market garden at our farmers market. The sunflowers are volunteers from last year as are the petunias! ‘